Kansas City Teachers College - Ye Pedagogue Yearbook (Kansas City, MO)

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44ol2Act MANN CENTENNIAL-1937 This year we celebrate a centennial in American Education that is highly significant. One hundred years ago the first of next luly, Horace Mann became the secretary of the State Board of Education of Massachu- setts. He became an apostle for good schools not only in his own state but throughout America, and so great was his influence that he has been called the Hlfather of the American Public School. Possessing a brilliant mind, a statesmanlike vision of the purposes of public education, a practical grasp of school organization and administration, and a com- mand of language equalled in his own state only by Daniel Webster, Horace Mann laid strongly and securely the broad foundations upon which American public education has developed. When asked to be- come secretary of the newly created Board, he accepted, saying in a letter to a friend, l'The Bar is no longer my forum. l have . . . taken myself to the larger sphere of mind and morals. During his secretaryship of twelve years he aroused public sentiment to an understanding of educa- tional needs, brought about laws which reestablished the common school system of Massachusetts, founded the first normal schools, and prepared a series of memorable reports on education which were widely read and which helped to arouse educational consciousness in favor of a free public school system throughout America. His success as a pioneer educational leader and statesman was due in no small degree to his devotion to the cause of human betterment. ln his last public address to the graduating class of Antioch College, he gave the key to his character in these words: Be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity. We honor Horace Mann for what he accomplished for public educa- tion: but even more than his accomplishments, his character and high ideals should be a challenge to every teacher and future teacher of America. G. W. Diemer, President. l22l

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The freshmen have more than fulfilled President Diemer's expec- tations. With their entrance into our big, happy family the at- mosphere took on that essence of all things spring-like. Such cavortings as did go onl The advisers, Tl IE 1 1-rewevef, kept pace Withthem, andthe group pronounced them tops. Not only did the freshmen orient themselves in the fields of education Kohl those mad dashes for reference books at the three o'clock bellll, but also in the realms of the gay social whirl. Their first event, the scavenger hunt land their mortification on demanding traffic ticketsl-Then the l:'ll's with their ice skating party for the Sll's, the chili supper at lrWin's, the Fl's Valentine party, and-but they are too numerous to mention. Although they did a great deal of playing, the fresh- men soon realized the truth of the guip-HNo Work and all play, and accomplished some Worthwhile undertakings. What would the Fall Fiesta have been Without that Modern Interpretation of Iulius Caesar ? lShakespeare must have turned several times.J Then Rose Evelyn Kurs in l'The Villain Still Pursues Her -no doubt she learned all those musical intonations from Ear Training, and those artistic poses from Art Appreciation. Of course, the freshmen walked away with honors in the snapshot contest, due .credit being given to Mr. Al Schwaneke and his all- too-candid cameral Ped staff renounces all claims to honors. And now pity the amoeba, bacillus, and streptococcus, for they no longer hold the spotlight under the gleaming eyes of the class of 1940. Ye frosh are now sophs. f21l

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