Tamaqua High School - Sphinx Yearbook (Tamaqua, PA)

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AX X Avg' wwf- -24-57717 :QQ - Ti A SUPERINTENDENT J. F. DERR .Iiii-. , ?1.,,.-- l. V 1 1 ' Page Six

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PROFE f I by whose untiring efforts as Super- intendent the schools of Tamaqua have materially benefitedg whose deep devotion in the interest of the students and whose sterling character have enshrined him in the hearts of all, and whose retirement creates an irretrievable lossg we respectfully dedicate this volume of The Sphinx. Z6 f i S ssoR J. F. DERR, If 5 ff ti- S.L..g '11

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LX X ,, 41 - . 7' 4 .4,'4z Mn -za, iris'-5775 A-'N Professor ll. F. Derr J. F. DERR, Superintendent of the Tamaqua Public Schools, was born at Tulpehocken, Berks County, Pa., attended the public schools at his place of birth, graduated from the Keystone State Normal School, Kutztown, and holds the degree of A. M1 from Ursinus, Collegeville, Pa. After his graduation from the Normal School, he taught for three years an intermediate grade school at Ironton, Lehigh County, and had supervision of Primary grade schools. Subsequently, he taught a grammar grade school at I-Iokendauqua, Lehigh County, for a period of four years. In 1887, Mr. Derr was elected Principal of the Tamaqua High School, which position he held for twenty-one years, when, in 1908, he was elected Superintendent of the Tamaqua Public Schools. When he became superin- tendent the school population was 1500 and had a teaching force of 34 teachers. Today, Tamaqua has a public school population of more than 2800, and a corps of teachers numbering 61. Then, there were two teachers in the high school, today, there are twelve teachers in that department. The high school enrollment in 1908 was 101g this term the enrollment has been more than 500. The largest class graduated during the time Mr. Derr was principal was 25, the largest class graduated from high school during the time he has been superintendent, has been 85. Since 1908 the high school building was enlarged to almost twice its former size. Two four-room buildings were erected, a new five-room annex was put to the South Ward building, the Pine Street and North Ward buildings were both remodeled and enlarged, the former from six rooms to twelve rooms, the latter from six rooms to ten rooms. Now there are seven school buildings in the district. Superintendent Derr understands the problem of public schools and is an indefarigable worker who endeavors to hold his teachers to a high standard of requirement. He is a good public speaker, a fine man, who exerts a splendid influence for good in the community, and who has been instrumental in awaken- ing a desire for the continuance of their education in the hearts of many of the graduates. r Superintendent Derr has the proud distinction of having given forty-seven years of service to the profession of teaching. .4-.-- vii: ' ii ' ' d esi - ' -.,,-,..f.T.,-ax Pagv Seven