Metropolitan Community College - Sunburst Yearbook (Kansas City, MO)

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XCITINC events were taking shape at the corner of Eleventh and Locust in the fall of 1915, a new school was being born-a school that was des- tined to become a vital influence in the growth of Kansas City, a school that was to give young men and women of Kansas City an education beyond that of high school. That Kansas City was interested in college education could be seen in the unusual success of the University Extension Center lectures that since 1906 had been given to ever-growing audiences, first in the Central high school auditorium and then at the Grand Avenue Temple. For this series, lectures from great universities were brought to Kansas City by a civic women,s group each year . Edward M. Bainter, the first president of this new school, had a vision for the future of Kansas City-a junior college which would be attended by young people who wanted the first two years of university work in Kansas City. Because it was uncertain how many students would enroll in this new junior college, several types of education were combined under one administrative office. The new school was christened the Polytechnic Institute, and under this name six schools operated: the junior College, a teacher train- ing school, a high school, a mechanic arts school, a trade school, and a business training school. Later, a school of nursing was added to these. From the be- ginning, there was also a large night school that as the years went by changed gradually from all high school work to college work. The Board of Education told Mr. Bainter in 1915 that, if by the end of the third year he had 90 stu- dents enrolled in his junior college, the Board would consider the venture a success. When the end of the first year showed a college enrollment of 125, its success was assured, and plans for a splendid future could be made. As the junior College grew in number of students, most of the other departments of the school were moved to other buildings, the high school students went to Manual, the mechanic arts depart- ment and the trade school became the Lathrop Trade School near Convention Hall, and the teacher train- ing department became Teachers College at Eighth and Woodland. In the spring of 1917 while the nation was engaged in World War I, Mr. Bainter served the country in KE 53 if 9 V- if 'ly A, 5 - -fe We ' x x X Y L eiv. A .- i,.,4 pw ,gig , ff X , Q . '-, QL f 'af K Washington as a major in the Department of Or- dinance. Mr. B. M. Stigall, as acting president, ably carried the school forward. When Mr. Bainter re- turned, Mr. Stigall became principal of Northeast High School. Year by year the junior College enrollment grew. To relieve the hard work of studies, there were occasional social activities. There were plays produced by the department of drama, costume parties in which stu- dents and faculty participated, and mixers at which there was always some excellent entertainment. Often faculty members provided a program. Once four couples of the faculty, in Irish costume, gave a rather elaborate square dance, at another time the faculty put on an original one act play. The music depart- ment at Christmas time gave the school an outstand- ing concert that became one of the traditions of the tllllflllllfll nu Nfl'fnffnI1'1'l1gpllgl'

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school. For a time the foreign language classes gave foreign plays in the assembly period. The junior College has stood for high standards of work, scholarship, and integrity. As it grew, its splen- did reputation spread to all parts of the nation, and its graduates were welcomed everywhere, because Junior College students that had preceded them had established by their fine performance a shining name for the Kansas City Junior College. Mr. Bainter retired in 1936 and went to his new home in Encinitas, California, where Qater the beauti- ful iron gates of the Junior College building at Eleventh and Locust were placed in a new setting. The presidency of the college passed to the able hands of Mr. A. M. Swanson, who as vice-president of the school had been working with Mr. Bainter. Mr. Miles C. Blim now became vice-president. In 1942 the days at Eleventh and Locust came to an end, and the school was moved to 3845 McGee street, to the building that had been Westport Junior High School. At the new location Junior College and Teach- ers College were combined, and Mr. Swanson was now Dean ofjunior College, and Mr. C. Bond was Dean of Teachers College. In 1944 the Teachers College was discontinued, and the students who wished to have teacher trainin went to the Universit f 3 Y 9 Kansas City. Mr. Bond became principal of Paseo High School. if Q riff As the years went by, new features were added to the school. In 1942 junior College had offered a summer school in the Westport high school building. In 1943, when junior College was established at its new loca- tion, the summer school was held in its own building. It became a permanent feature and was well attended. An important addition to the school program was the Lecture-Concert series, that began in 1946, consisting of eight or ten programs a year. Distinguished lec- turers, musicians, actors, and dancers have always been brought to Kansas City for these programs. Most of the performances are given in the morning, and all have been open to the public. After the close of World War II many veterans came to junior College to continue their interrupted studies, or to make a beginning toward a university degree. In the early fall of 1952, when it was learned that the old Iunior College building at Eleventh and Locust was to be torn down, alumni of Iunior College and Central high school planned a reunion. This building had also been the home of Central High School, for only two years after the end of the Civil War in 1867, Kansas City built its first high school on this ground and called it the Central School. Central was at Eleventh and Locust from 1867 to 1915, when it moved into its new building and the Polytechnic Institute took over the location. The reunion on September 7, 1952, was a festive