Lafayette High School - Oak Yearbook (St Joseph, MO)

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VERNON G. MAYS

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AT-in ,PP f .fs x 1 f ' A., 51' -1 Xe 1 f Robert Lee Denning, Ph.B.,M.A. OBEHT LEE DENNING, the principal of our high school, is especially well equipped educationally and temperamentally to be the leader of Lafayette High School, for a leader indeed he is, with high ideals as to what constitutes values in the educa- tion ot' the American boy and girl. His gentleness and dignity have had a marked effect upon the atmosphere which surrounds the stu- dent body. Culture comes not through great study alone, but it weaves itself into the mind and heart hy constant Contact with one who has won admiration and confidence, and this Mr. Denning has donu from the beginning. Sinee his graduation from Central College, at Fayette, Missouri, Mr. Denning has been in educational work almost continuouslyg from 1895 to 1903 he taught Latin and German in the Maryville Seminaryg from 1903 to 1908 he taught English, Latin and German in Northwest Missouri College, Albany, Missouri: from 1908 to 1018 he was teaeher of history and Latin in Central High School, St. Joseph, Missouri. For these superior educational advantages which gave broad insight into many subjects, it is readily seen why the administration chose hiln for the more important work of directing the affairs ol' a very new, growing school, where every action must he fostered. Lafayette is indeed fortunate in having so fitting a lnan available. Inspired by his enthusiasm in every activity. the boys and girls of Lafayette have achieved recognition and honors and will continue to do so, it' the coming years permit her the privilege ot' retaining Mr. Denning as principal. E 2----ees g H ee f.-- g X ski, mt' ty,

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K I l 1 fit ,ee , t -1535 Vernon G. Mays, A.B.,M,A. lt. VICIINUN tiltlFFlTH MAYS has bcen superintendent ot' the city schools throughout the high school life of the class of nineteen hundred and twen- ty, Ilis devotion lo tho interest of the youth of St. .lost-ph, which has been most Iaithtul and genuine, has included the Lafaycttc School people and community, for it is to him they are indebted more than any one other person, for the splcndidly equipped laboratories, gymnasium and lnanual training shops. So it is with gratitude and pleasure we' quote from an address given by a member of the Board of Education before the patrons of the North Sidei just one year ago. This is the substance of the add1'ess: Mr. Mays was invited by the Board of Education to become the candidate for a position here. The Board had written to the several universities of the Middle- wcst and to llarvard, Yale, and Columbia in the East for nominations, and, after very careful investigation, coneludcd that Nlr. Mays was the strongest man avail- able. Ile had been nominated by the University of Michigan from which he had received his degree of Master of Arts and a fellowship in Columbia University, New York City. Ile was endorsed by the University of Chicago and Columbia where he had done much graduate work. This in addition to his many years of experience as superintendent of various schools, and principal of a large city high school, left no doubt in the minds of the Board that they had found t X ' man for the place. hc right Although the building had been erected it was left to Mr. Mays to organize He has and equip and bring it into harmony with the other schools of the city. done this with absolute fairness and impartiality and this year the first graduat- ing class of Lafayette will take its place in the auditorium with Benton, Central, and Iiobidoux Polytechnic for the Unien Commencement Program. Mr. Mays' gl'cat aim in his school work has been made manifest by the many new progressive features of his administration. His ideal is Americanism and democracy. Throughout his entire adniinistration these have been most pro- nounced. Since his term of office has been eontemporaneous with the Lafayette lligh School, and as she may have been partially inspired by the class of nineteen twenty, a statement ot a few of the accomplishments will not be out of place here. The advantages of education were brought to the many boys and girls who had formerly dropped from school because thc school did not meet their needs. This was done through the establishment of the vocational school which this year with the commercial department formerly at Central lligh School has become the Polytechnic lligh Schoolg through the creation of the department of vocational guidance with Mr. A. XV. Bloomfield, an enthusiastic supporter of the Lafayette School, as counselorg through the l'Si2llJllSllllll'lli of two open-air schools for ara-niic ehildreng special teachers for backward or irregularly attending pupils Cthis was et rtainly not inspired by the class of nineteen twentyl: through the furs nishing ol' tunchcons for the poor children at the schools. For the benefit and pleasure of :ill the people, community singing was promoted and the ltlay Festival association organized, This association, with Mr, Mays as its president. has given a txno-rlav program each spring for four years. These have grown in popularity. tht city ot St. .loscph has been materially and spiritually benefited bv the toui vi-:us ot' patient and enthusiastic elforl which Nlr. Mays has 'fiven to her . . s. Iltllllli -wliools, H iq 44-..-,. ,sy - ,.- 4 l x