Arizona republican., 1921-07-26
DEVELOPMENT |
 THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM OF PHOENIX


 Danil F. Jantzen. principal of the Phoenix Union High school, has been an honored member of the University of Arizona summer school which re- gently closed it's sessions at Bisbee.
 At the last assembly of the summer school MT. Jantzen addressed the faculty, students and a number of in- terested citizens of Bisbee on "The Development of the Public School System of Phoenix during the 14 years that he has been connected with the schools in this city, His ad- dress. which was both intere sting and instructive, was in part as follows:
 Contrary to the experiences of Professor Philbrook and Dean Lock- wood, my life has been without any wonderful experiences. I suppose my native tirnidity has kept me in civili- zation, instead of frontier life. might say at this place that had the advantage of Dr. Lockwood: I had to cross the Atlantic, as I was born on the other side. I was fortunate to be one of those individuals of whom Brooks Fletcher says that no persons is responsible for his birth place. but that every person should be very careful of the choice of his father and mother
 
 be very comfortable to live in Russia and he made up his mind for the sake of his boys he would like to come to the United States, the country of lib- erty. So he brought me over here when I was but seven years of age. The one journey over in the old coun- try that remember was one whole days journey with father. Then the Journey out of Russia when we trav- JNI IL. first time an engine and train through Austria and Hungary. and Belgium to Antwerp. We crossed the ocean in 14 days and and arrived in Philadelphia The important part that impresses me is the fact that we did not remain in Philadelphia: we went to Peabody. Kansas, arriving there on the third day of July.
 Since my uncle was not there to take us out on the prairie we had to take rooms in a hotel in Peabody and we took part in peacefully celebrat- ing the Day of Independence and causing for myself and my brother new birth. It was one of the old fashioned real American patriotic celebrations, and of course my young CT brother and I were out in the street taking it all in. Anybody who would not become good American after such celebration. must have something wrong. My early boyhood days were enjoyed out on the prairies. where I lived among the antelope, coyote. and the prairie chickens, etc
 However, that is not the Phoenix school system. The year 1907. No- vember s. was the date on which I arrived in Phoenix from Ohio. where I had been teaching in a small col lege for several years. I told the people, T am not going west for my health, as my health is splendid but I want some adventure and wish to see some of the western states I had had experience in newspaper work and I though my best oppor- tunity would be in newspaper work. Then I thought the opportunity of real estate was wonderful, but there was very little for me in those lines and I did not seem to fit into the real estate business. Then the op- portunity opened when the lady prin- cipal of Central school resigned on the 27th day of January
 "The following Monday was the be- ginning Of the second semester and choice that made me happy. as it gave me a better opportunity for my profession and I went into the Gen. tral school as principal MT. Long was then state superintendent He was one of the kind of men who was short and quick in his decisions. but I had the pleasure of making his ac- quaintance and he was a very good | friends of mine. Superintendent Still 1 well was then at the head of the | Phoenix public schools.
 The Phoenix schools are under the l dual system. One part of the system l Is now under the manag cement of 1 Supt John D. Loper. the common | schools through the eighth grades.
 The high school system comprises 1 the Union High school serving ter 1 ritory of some 30 square miles. Chill l dren from 12 grade schools come to he high school.
 l The grade schools at that time, | January, 1908, had one grammar | school building which was the Cen | trai school building on centrally To- | cated block of the city that has been | since condemned and demolished. It l was Anticipated that a million dollar hotel was to be built in that block,