New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-29
FIFTY YEARS Il TEACHER.
Jonathan ID. Hyatt Retires from
Public School Service.

Surrounded by three generations 20 whom he has
been an instructor and a friend Jonathan D.
Hyatt retired yesterday from the prncipalship Of
Public School No. 9. at One-hundred and thirty
eghth-st and Brown Place after forty-seven years
of consecutive service principal in the public
schools of The Bronx. He is seventy nine years
old
Fathers and mothers who were chubby faced
boys and girls when he taught them came back
with their children congratulate the white haired
old man who up to yesterday teaching their
childTen's children. Teachers this years gradual
ing class TO the number of 124 public men of The
Bronx. the local school board parents and scores
of young and women who have gone forth
from the school to take their place in the life of the
city crowded into the schoOlrOom 10 show their
affectionate respect for the and the teacher.
Jonathan D Hyatt born Of Quaker stock In
! Stamford. Duchess County. y. Y July 4, 1875.
| His father James Hyatt his mother Sarah
| Deuel., who lived be 101 Magistrate Deuel. is
distant connection. After being graduated from the
district school. he continued to study by himself.
then returned to become master of district school
| himself in his native town.
His long and honorable connection with the pub
lie schools of New-York City began in 1857. when
he was appointed tc Public School No. Of the
Union Free School District of the towns of Mor,
risania and West Farms. This schoo later
| known as No. 63. and is No. I, The Bronx.
! For twenty years he principal of old Public
School No 90. College-ave. and O hundred and
| Torty-nfth-st During the civil War he was Prin-
cpal of old Merose School. Third ave-. one
hundred andhfty siXth-st.. and at the time Of the
Draft Riots the rioters passed his school recess
and carried of all ;hs older boys. who, however,
| escaped later and returned TO school. " hen the
present building. known Public School No. g. Tie
! Bronx. was opened in June. 1889. he became Its
principal and has remained at the head ever since.
| Louis Haffen, president Of the Borough Of The
| Bronx; Theodore Thompson of the Board OF Euu-
| cation, and Sidney r. Walker chairman of the
local school board, were once pupils OF Mr. Hyatt.
! Mr. Hyatt is thoroughly modern in his ideas He
| did away with corporal punishment in his schools
forty years ago and when President Oliver of the
Board OF Education introduced the original resolu
| ton aboshing corporal punishment he seconded it
Manual training nature study and cooking lessons
were branches whose value he early perceived. and
after they introduced into the schools he used
to take his teachers TO his house every Saturday
and instruct them in the chemistry of foods He
also took them on excursions into the country for
! tNe study of nature His school building not being
:ovided with suitable quarters for the teaching Of
cookery and manual training, he made application
ior extensions. and these were added TO his school
! plant.
In addition his exactng duties as principal of
great public school. Mr.. Hyatt has found time for
advanced scientific studies He one OF the
founders of the New-York Microscopic Society, and
its president for several years. In 1879 he was
elected fellow OF the Royal Ancroscoptc Society," OF
London. He is also member OF the Torrey
Botanical Club the New-York meteorological Club
ana the American Association for the Advance
Inent OF Science. His work an original inVesu-
gator has received worldwide recognition his most
important contributions TO knowledge being his
series of articles on the structure and anatomy OF
the bee, which embodied the result Of original
searches covering period of i've years. His work
referred principally 10 the mouth and sting. 1t is
said be the first correct investigation along these
lines, and has proved OF inestimabIe value to bee
growers throughout the world.
Mr. Hyatt lives in handsome villa at New
Rochelle In the audience yesterday were his wife
and their daughter, Mrs. V &. Barlow.
The Hyatt celebration held in connection
with the common cement exercises Of the school,
which included debate on corporal punishment in
the public schools between six graduates There
was special significance in this. in view OF the
presence OF Mr.. Oliver. the mover of the original
resolution abolish corpora! punishment, and Mr..
Hyatt who many years ago threw his rattan out
of the window. \ farewell song by Arthur J. Yves
termayer, dedicated to Mr.. Hyatt sung by the
pupils to the of Aud Lang Syne." and three
cheers and tiger were given for him enthusi-
asticalIy.
The veteran schooImaster was the recipient OF
many valuable gifts From former pupils, the
parents Of pupils and the local School Board he
received a splendid silver loving cup with this
Inscription: