The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-11-18
PIONEER TEACHER
LAID To REST

Mrs. Caroline Burgess Beals, one OF
San Franchises most distinguished pio-
neer teachers. passed away in Berkeley
last week, and although many Oak
Ianders attended her funeral in the
college town Unitarian church, the
news Of her death will come as a sad
surprise TO the thousands of San
Francisco women who studied with her
at some time during the twenty-one
years OF her labors at the Girls High
School
Born in 1926, Mrs Beals' life fur
nishes an important chapter in the his
tory Of CALIFORNIA; intellectual growth
Educated in BoSton's cultured atmos-
phers, her first professional work was
done in the Quincy CMsss-) High
School and then for six years she
taught in a private school on Mount
Vernon street. Boston. conducted by
Lincoln Emerson. q close relative Of
Ralph Waldo Emerson She left this
loved work TO become q bride, but in
less than a year was widowed. With
the courage that marked her eharac-
ter, she resumed her calling as teach
81, coming 20 San Francisco IN the
sixties. where she became an instructor
IN the State Normal School, then IN
this city. After a time she entered the
faculty of the Girls High School.
where, holding the position OF vice
principal she was head Of the English
department for twenty-one years, un-
I'll her resignation, In 1855. Possessed
OF a brilliant mind and q thorough
knowledge of the work Of English
writer's, she guided. oroadened and i'm
proved the minds OF her pupils as few
teachers could For she brought to
her work fine New England ideals and
4 deep reverence for her profession
Mrs Alexander Morrison. one OF her
former pupils. and in turn president
Of the Association of Collegiate Alum
nae and OF the Girls High School
AIumnae, says Of this noble teacher.
During the period of Mrs BeaE serv-
ice she came In touch with at least
four thousand young women. These
young wemen are now for the main
part wives and mothers. As teacher,
she did not merely touch their inteIIec-
tuai lives. but she influenced them for
all that was noblest and best Prob
ably no one teacher in San Francisco
ever left behind her a larger host of
devoted pupils. and the devotion she
awakened was in no way merely emo
tionsI. but paFtook Of deep reverence
and unbounded respect. She will live
in the memories Of her pupils as a
woman who awakened in them a love
Of all that is best and good. a woman
arousing slumberinE ambition, e wo-
man who unfaiiingiy urged upon them
the value Of high character. Her pu-
pills had the example Of her character
before them. unswerving in it's integ-
Tity. and Incorporating with wrong.
Her New England principles and strict
adherence 20 them made her an ideal
teacher for the early days of San
Francisco life. in fact an ideal teacher
fot any period of time in any city Her
work will live after her. for her teach
ings are imbedded IN the hearts and
minds Of many thousands OF San Fran
cisco women"
Mrs Beals did not pass away until
she had drunk long and sweetIy of
life Her eightieth birthday. which oe-
CURED q few months ago. was marked
and recognized by hundreds of affec-
tionste letters and gifts from former
pupils. and was indeed a Beautiful an
niTeTsary-