Draft:John G. Crabbe
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John G. Crabbe | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 3rd President of University of Northern Colorado | |
| In office September 1, 1916 – January 13, 1924 | |
| Preceded by | Zachariah Xenophon Snyder |
| Succeeded by | George Willard Frasier |
| 3rd President of Eastern Kentucky University | |
| In office April 9, 1910 – September 1, 1916 | |
| Preceded by | Mary Creegan Roark |
| Succeeded by | Thomas J. Coates |
| 17th Kentucky Superintendent of Public Instruction | |
| In office January 6, 1908 – April 2, 1910 | |
| Preceded by | James H. Fuqua |
| Succeeded by | Ellsworth Regenstein |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 29, 1865 Mount Sterling, Ohio |
| Died | January 13, 1924 (aged 58) Greeley, Colorado |
| Resting place | Line Grove Cemetary, Greeley, Colorado |
| Political party | Republican |
| Education | Ohio Wesleyan University (AB) (MA) Ohio University (Pd.M) |
John Grant Crabbe (November 29, 1865 – January 13, 1924) was an American educator and politician who served as the Kentucky Superintendent of Public Instruction before being chosen as the third president of Eastern Kentucky State Normal School (now Eastern Kentucky University). He served in this role for eight years before being chosen as the fourth president of the State Normal School of Colorado (now University of Northern Colorado).[1]
During his two year tenure as Superintendent of Public Instruction, Crabbe oversaw the holistic reorganization of Kentucky's school districts as well as a number of other significant reforms. Crabbe's leadership at Eastern saw improvements to the institution's finances, organizational structure, and curriculum.
Early life and education
[edit]John Grant Crabbe was born on November 29, 1865, in Mount Sterling, Ohio. He was educated locally in Madison County, and was a member of Mount Sterling High School's first graduating class in 1883.[2] Following graduation, he began his career in education teaching in Pickaway County.[3] Crabbe went on to attend Ohio Wesleyan University where he would earn an Artium Baccalaureus in 1889, graduating Phi Beta Kappa. Soon after, Crabbe moved to Flint, Michigan, to become a professor of Greek and Latin as well as the musical director of Flint Normal College.
Crabbe would return to Ohio Wesleyan and earn Master of Arts in 1892. In 1897, he continued his education and earned a Master of Pedagogy from Ohio University.[4][5]
Throughout his life, Crabbe was awarded four honorary degrees. He received two Doctor of Laws, the first being from Berea College in 1909 and the other from the University of Kentucky in 1911. He also received two Doctor of Pedagogy degrees, the first being in 1909 from Miami University and the other from Ohio Wesleyan in 1918.[6] Despite these degrees being honorary, Eastern Kentucky University has since identified him as their first president to hold a doctorate.
Educational leadership
[edit]Superintendent of Ashland City Schools
[edit]During his brief tenure at Flint Normal College, Crabbe became the head of the Greek and Latin department until his move to Ashland, Kentucky in 1892.[7][8] The next year he was selected to be the superintendent of Ashland City Schools, a role he would serve in for the next 18 years.[9]
During his tenure at Ashland, Crabbe was commended as one of the most effective educators in the commonwealth. He emphasized the importance of professional development and enacted a hiring policy which required potential teachers to have at least one year of practical experience.
In 1895, he initiated the construction of a new school to contain both a junior high and high school located in central park. Completed in 1898, the structure was initially named Central High School before being rededicated as Ashland High School and finally as the John Grant Crabbe School. The structure was demolished in 1958, and Crabbe Elementary was built on the site.
Superintendent of Public Instruction
[edit]
On June 19, 1907, the Republican Party of Kentucky held their state convention in order to nominate candidates for constitutional office during that year's elections. Crabbe was put forward as a candidate for Superintendent of Public Instruction alongside J. C. Stapp. Following a failed oral and standing vote, Crabbe was nominated by a vote of the county delegates.
Throughout the campaign Crabbe pledged to depoliticize education, and appoint both a Republican and Democratic member to the state board of examiners. He also supported the Republican education platform of increased teacher wages, and moving the elections of school trustees to a different day apart from regular elections.
The 1907 Kentucky elections saw all Republican candidates for constitutional office elected. Crabbe would win with xx,xxx (xx.x%) against Democratic candidate XXXXX XXXXXX. He was sworn into office on the morning of January 6, 1908, alongside the other elected constitutional officers. Crabbe was the second Republican to serve as Superintendent of Public Instruction, and one of only five Republicans ever to occupy the office prior to its abolishment in 1992.
Crabbe proved to be a dynamic leader, and is credited with pushing the state superintendent into becoming a more policy focused office rather than its previously clerical-focused duties. This is most evident from his instrumental role during the 1908 Kentucky General Assembly, which would come to be referred to as "The Education Legislature." During that year's legislative session, numerous bills were passed to centralize and improve education across the commonwealth, most notable of which was House Bill 141.
The Sullivan Bill
[edit]
Otherwise known as the Sullivan Bill, HB 141 transformed Kentucky's primary and secondary education systems. Chief amongst the bill's provisions was the replacement of the ineffective school trustee system. Under the trustee system, local school districts were formed for every one-hundred students and governed by three locally elected trustees. However, state law only required these trustees to be "literate when practical," and the position would often be accused of being easily corruptible due to its authority over school hirings.
- Nominated during the 1907 Republican Party of Kentucky Convention by county vote against J. C. Stapp following failed oral and standing votes[10]
- Sworn into office on the morning of January 6, 1908.[11]
- 2nd republican elected, one of five republicans to serve in the position total
- Campaigned as non-political[12]
- Oversaw transition from trustee system to county district system
- Oversaw vast educational reforms "Sullivan Law - HB 141"[13]
- Began whirlwind campaigns w/ public speakers in order to draw interest in public education
Presidency of Eastern Kentucky State Normal School
[edit]Presidency of the State Normal School of Colorado
[edit]- Selected for presidency on June 9, 1916, by the board of trustees and announced to the public the next morning.[16]
- Assumed office on September 1, 1916[5]
- Broadened the curriculum, and placed a higher emphasis on the liberal arts.
- Saw the completion of the Home Economics Building in 1919 (renamed Crabbe Hall in 1931).
Personal Life
[edit]He married Jennie Florence Graff, a fellow graduate of Ohio Wesleyan and resident of Delaware, Ohio, on January 29, 1889. They had no children, and remained together until John's death in 1924.
Crabbe was active in freemasonry, and was a member of the Shriners, Scottish Rite, and Knight's Templar. He also composed numerous musical works.
Death and legacy
[edit]_at_Eastern_Kentucky_University.jpg)
- John Grant Crabbe Library - Eastern Kentucky University
- John Grant Crabbe School - Ashland, Kentucky (Demolished 1958)
- Crabbe Elementary School - Ashland, Kentucky
- Crabbe Hall - University of Northern Colorado
https://books.google.com/books?id=o58mJavC4msC&q=crabbe#v=snippet&q=crabbe&f=false
References
[edit]- ^ Ellis, Bill (2005). A History of Eastern Kentucky University: The School of Opportunity. University of Kentucky Press. pp. 21–28.
- ^ "Neighborhood". The Circleville Democrat and Watchman. June 15, 1883. p. 2. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
- ^ "Local Brevities". The Circleville Democrat and Watchman. June 29, 1883. p. 3. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
- ^ Stone, Wilbur Fisk, ed. (1918). History of Colorado. Vol. II. The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. pp. 340–342.
- ^ a b c "The Death of President Crabbe" (PDF). Alumni Courier. Vol. IV. pp. 6–9. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
- ^ "President Crabbe". The American School. II (1): 175. January 1916 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b "Eastern Kentucky State Normal School". The Richmond Climax. September 14, 1910. p. 10. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
- ^ Johnson, E. Polk (1912). A History of Kentucky and Kentuckians. Vol. II. Lewis Publishing Company. p. 643.
- ^ Crabbe, John Grant (July 23, 1908). "Negro Schools Discussed by Crabbe in Bulletin". Hopkinsville Kentuckian. p. 11.
- ^ "Have Acted - Republicans in State Convention Adopt Platform and Nominate Candidates". Mt. Sterling Advocate. June 26, 1907. p. 15.
- ^ "Kentucky Now Republican - All Departments Transferred to the Enemy". Hopkinsville Kentuckian. January 9, 1908. p. 1.
- ^ "Democrats Named - Professor Crabbe has Non-Partisan Board". The Paducah Evening Sun. December 27, 1907. p. 13.
- ^ "New School Law Explained". Hopkinsville Kentuckian. July 4, 1908. p. 1.
- ^ "The Jeffersonian, April 21, 1910". The Jeffersonian. April 21, 1910. p. 2.
- ^ Engle, Fred (2012-09-04). "EKU library named for a former president, John Grant Crabbe". Richmond Register. Retrieved 2024-08-17.
- ^ "Prof. John G. Crabbe Selected as Head of Teachers College". The Greely Daily News and The Greely Republican. June 10, 1916. p. 1.