Lansing Central High School - Oracle Yearbook (Lansing, MI)

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DR. 1. W. SEXTON Dr. Sexton, a friend to all and a man whose efforts have made Lansing's school system the best in the state, is retiring from the office of Superintendent of Public Schools. On asking Dr. Sexton what he planned to do in his retirement he replied that he has a great accumulation of things he wants to do. Some of these things are intellectual and some of them are physical- Nothing, he added, that will attract the attention of the world, but merely things for my own grati- fication which I have not found time for in the past. And it is no wonder that he has had no time for them. In his twenty-nine years as Superintendent, Dr. Sexton has introduced and added many things to the Lansing school system. Three junior high schools-West, Pattengill, and Walter French-have been built. Of twenty-two grade school buildings, all but six have been built or rebuilt since he became Superintendent. One of the finest buildings for handicapped children, the Walnut Street School, was built under his guidance. - When Dr. Sexton entered the office of Superintendent, there was no physical education program. There is now a gym in every grade school and a gym and swimming pool in every junior and senior high schoo1L There are twenty- two physical education teachers now employed. He developed our music system. In the past there were no bands or orches- tras. Now there are first and second bands in all the junior and senior high schools. Dr. Sexton also introduced vocational training in the establishment of Technical High School, in which the rudiments for all trades and occupations in Lansing are being taught. In addition to that, on the Industrial Arts basis, printing, woodwork, and drafting are now taught in the high schools. Not only has Dr. Sexton made these improvements and additions, but he has also seen almost all of Lansing's students graduate from high school. He came to Lansing in the fall of 1911 from Fenton to become the principal of the Lansing High School, in which there were between five hundred and six hundred students, including the ninth grade, and only twenty-two members in the faculty. He served as principal for five years and became Superintendent of Schools in 1916. Out of the 17,914 students graduated from Lansing High Schools, inclu'ding the 1944 class, 16,765 of these have graduated since Dr. Sexton first became principal of the old Lansing High School. He has per- sonally signed all of these diplomas-942 of all the diplomas of Lansing graduates! . But this does not close the story of Dr. Sexton's career in the educational system of Lansing. No, the students of Sexton have something even greater and more personal than these achievements to thank him for--our own build- ing, the I. W. Sexton High School. To you, Dr. Sexton, goes our deepest thanks and appreciation for the finest school in the country. We, who now attend Sexton High, are proud and happy to have been given the privilege to do so. ln our memories and in the memories of those, who in later years will pass through the halls of this high school, will be kept an unending respect and appreciation for your untiring efforts in the educational system of Lansing. Page Seven

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I. W. SEXTON, B.S., ILM.. LL.D Superiniendenl of Schools lxmf- IV

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CHRISTIAN H. ROOSENRAAD. A.B.. A.M. Principal DEANE BURNHAM, A.B. ELIZABETH LAWRY. A.B., A.M. Assistant Principal Acting Assistant Principal Puqe Eight