Manual Arts High School - Artisan Yearbook (Los Angeles, CA)

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fifil Dr. Albert E. Wilson The Man 99 ilson as principal ol Manual Arts High in 1909. Dr. Wilson now, who is presently residing at South Laguna An institution is but the lengthened shadow of a man. This is par- ticularly true of Manual Arts High School. Albert E. Wilson was born in a Swedish community in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1872. He says that he spoke his family ' s mother tongue before he spoke English. When he was but a few months old, his family homestead in Turkey Creek, near Ragan, Nebraska, where they lived in a one-room sod house. His early education was in frontier schools, though the family did later move to Denver, and his final preparatory work was done at Bethany College during its first years of founding. After graduating from Augustana College in Illinois, he had some practical experience as a contractor in Ogden, Utah. He also read law for a year. But teach- ing drew him ever more strongly, and he taught for a while in Uventa, a country school district back in the mountains. For four years he was principal of Ogden High School and then a professor of modern lan- guages at Utah Agricultural College. After doing some summer gradu- ate work at the University of Chicago, he spent three years in Europe, completing his advanced studies, and received a Doctor of Philosophy degree with Magna Cum Laude from the University of Berlin. During his time abroad he spent his holidays in travel, one one trip visiting his relatives in the old family home in Sweden. It is with delight that he tells of having worn out three motorcycles in travel during those years. Doctor Wilson ' s first position in Los Angeles, after his return from abroad, was the head of the modern language department at LA. High School, then situated on the hill near old Fort Moore. When Olive Street School was opened to receive the overflow en- rollments of B9 ' s from Los Angeles and Polytechnic High Schools, the Board voted Dr. Wilson as principal. His keen interest and confidence in youth won for him the loyal devotion of his students, and many who had left Olive regretfully at the end of each of her three semesters returned to the campus of the new Manual Arts High School when Doctor Wilson opened it on Vermont Avenue in September, 1910. Building together, taking pride in never asking that anything be done for them that they could do for themselves, they established traditions and forged strong links of self-government and school spirit that lasted through the fifty years. Always the sturdy middle-of-the-road philosophy of Doctor Wilson held things steady when war, restless youth, earthquakes, progressive education loomed on the horizon. I never had a creative sense of humor, said Doctor, but I think I had an appreciative one. I en- joyed the students and I enjoyed the teachers, and I entered into all of the fun that didn ' t promise disaster. About discipline he said, I kept my eyes open and when I saw signs of trouble, I gave friendly counsel. When you told them where their actions could lead, they usually took care of things themselves. This same permissive spirit gave joy to his faculty, for he supported them in their beliefs and endeavors and left them free to express thir own ideas in their work. Dr. Wilson possessed the rare skill of develop- ing leaders. As one administrator today puts it, Dr. Wilson gave us student body officers the feeling of participating in our school activities, a feeling of belonging and of contributing to our school. Graduates from the school are to be found in high positions in every walk of life, and amazing numbers of teachers have gone to adminis- trative positions in state and city systems. Behind the success is the attitude of the man. He has given teachers and students alike the opportunity to assume responsibility and utilize their initiative. He has defended them against threats to their integrity. This has enabled them to experience the satisfaction that comes from work well done and to feel that they are partners in the undertakings of the school. Yes, one finds it hard to separate Dr. Wilson, the man, from the school not built with hands that is the embodiment of his beliefs and ideals. Who can measure the influence of a great personality? asked one alumnus. Well may Doctor say of the jubilee reunions that have re- sulted from the magnetic pull of the Manual spirit upon her alumni, They have revitalized me.