Truman State University - Echo Yearbook (Kirksville, MO)

Page 26 text:

cDr. John R. Kirk ” TOHN R. . . . .the name by which John R. Kirk, Educator, was known to every one of his students, co-workers, and employees. A name applied for various reasons by different individuals, in the end it was always used for the same reason it was a term of affectionate familiarity. The man who became a trail blazer in the world of educa tion was not so “upstage that he could not mingle with every day folk; hence the “John R.” Has there ever been a student here for any length of time whose name Mr. Kirk did not know? The writer is neither a student nor a graduate; he was never prominent in the activities of K. S. T. C., yet Mr. Kirk, knowing his students, knew this pne too, by name. Such a human quality is a precious one to have, and Dr. Kirk possesses it to a remarkable degree. This quality of friendliness, then, is one that has endeared our “John R. to many student generations. One can easily have respect for achievement, and Dr. Kirk merits a full measure of this, for he stands tfxlay, as he has for two or more decades, among the always small group of leaders. The daily news of the educational world contains word of many activities and movements in which Dr. Kirk has blazed the trail at his famous Teachers College. Physical Education, Public Health, a dozen others, can be named. The first educator to say, “Musically talented children should receive their opportunity in the public schools was Dr. Kirk. Such an expression, delivered at a time when public school music was a minus quantity, is typical of the man. Unmindful of criticisms he has always pursued the way of progress. Never afraid to experiment, he has been more than once rewarded by seeing the successful results adopted widely. The man today, for the present not in the old intimate touch with his students, still commands our admiration, for he is with characteristic vigor doing graduate work at one of America's great professional schools. The Stream of Life flows on, but to-day, as yesterday, John R. , with flashing eye and ringing voice, stands to the front, proclaiming the too- often-forgotten truth that Education must not stagnate, must grow or die.

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H. G. SWANSON Born in Schuyler County. Missouri. September T 1886. Attended one room rural school in Schuylei County. Student State Nor- mal School. Kirksville, Missouri, 1905 1912. B. S. in Education. State Normal School, Kirksville, Mis- soni i, 1015; A. M., George Peabody College for Teachers, 1917. Taught in Schuyler County rural schools 1904-1905. Principal of Greentop High School, 1909-1910. Principal of Glenwood High School, 1911. Superintendent of Queen City Schools, 1912. Assist- ant in Demonstration School, State Normal School, 1912 1915. Principal of Demonstration Schools, George Peabody College for Teachers, Nashville, Tennessee, 1915 1918. City Superintendent of Schools and Di- rector of Practice Teaching, State Teachers College, Greenville, North Carolina, 1918-1920. Head of De- partment of Education, State Teachers College, Kirks- ville, Missouri, 1920-1925. Dean of the Faculty, State Teachers College, Kirksville, Missouri, 1925-. In selecting H. G. Swanson to be Dean of the institution. Dr. Fair selected a man who is well known in educational circles throughout the state. Dean Swanson is a capable, reliable man and it is to him that we feel a great deal of praise should be given. Through co-operation with the student body he has been able to give great service to K. S. T. C. H. G. Swanson. Dean M $ PROF. BYRON COSBY has behind him an en- viable student record. This is mirrored in Ins degrees of A. B., B. S., and A. M. from the University of Missouri and Ins graduate work in the University of Chicago. He has been for more than fifteen years a prominent teacher of Mathematics in this school. His contact with the public and with teachers in the state is extensive. His work on the Recommenda- tions Committee of this Teachers College has been of outstanding value. As our Business Administrator he lias been so efficient that the school has profited by thousands of dollars. He has a most fortunate combination of education and business sense. His publicity work foi the Teachers College is unequalled. Byron Cosby, Business Administrator