Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1922-05-11
w w Albers Nlins Thanks
Of Citizens for School Work

linked together Tor their unSelnSh and
valuable services TO the public schools
of Wausau are the names of G. d.
Jones and w. w. Albers. Three years
ago Mr.. Jones. after twenty-five years
of constant contact with the school
system, resigned and at the meeting
of the board of education on Monday
evening Mr.. Albers, with twenty-one
years of uninterrupted interest and
work in behalf of these public institu-
lions to his credit, retired. During the
past three years Mr.. Albers had been
the president.
During his long period of member
ship on the board of education Mr.. AL
bers kept in close contact with all
school activities and was constantly
alert to all matters of educational in
terest. His vision was great factor
in keeping the schools of Wausau
abreast of the times and his last mes
sage to the board of education Mon
day urging the completion of the Cen
trail school, the purchase of a site in
the southwest part of the city and
another in the northeast section are
further indicative of his belief in pre-
paredneSs.
Visits Schools
When first elected in 1901 Mr.. Al
bers was one of six who composed
the board of education, then elected
by the council to represent the city
at large. One of the important phases
of his service was his work as chair
man of the committee on teachers. In
this capacity he visited frequently
every school building in the city,
every room in both the grades and
high school and more than one men,
Der of the board of education has re-
marked: Mr.. Albers knew every
teacher by name and was able to tell
exactly what work was being done.
1t is in large measure due to the
vigilant interest of Mr.. Albers in the
matter of the selection and employ
ment of teachers that Wausau has
maintained such excellent scholastic
standards"
In 1911 this intimate contact was
more or less hindered by Mr.. Albers'
election as state senator, in which ca
pacity he represented this district
from 1911 to 1919. However, this
added responsibility brought him in
to contact with educational institu-
tons throughout the state of Wiscon-
sin for at Madison he was immediate
ly appointed member of the senate
committee on education. In this ca
pacity he became thoroughly ac-
quainted with the normal schools, the
Children's school at Sparta, the
School for the Deaf at Delavan,
School for the Blind at Evansville, the
University of Wisconsin and with 9TH
er state institutions.
Vocational Education
His study as a member of this COM
mittee also familiarized him with voca-
tional education and it is fact worthy
of mention that during the last sew
eral years of Mr.. Albers' service as
member of the board in this city,
vocational education has made great
strides and today Wausau boasts one
of the finest institutions of this char
acter in the state. While at Madison
it was Mr.. Albers' privilege on two
occasions to visit and inspect the state
institutions mentioned above. Quite
naturally Wausau has reaped the ben
eft of Mr.. Albers' experience in the
state.
1t did not require much time before
Mr.. Albers became we'll known in ed
ucational circles throughout Wiscon-
sin and he was most highly regarded
both by educators and others inter-
ested in the problem of education. In
1921 the State Association of School
Board Members including both high
and graded schools, elected him
president despite the fact that Mr.. AL
bers was out of the state at the time
and unable to attend their meeting.
Throughout our local school history
it has been our misfortune to underes-
innate the possibilities Of expansion.
One redeeming feature was Mr.. AL
bers' vision of school requirements
and his effort on every hand, despite
serious opposition, to build for the
future as well as the present. 1t is
through Mr.. Albers insistence that we
have a fourteen room building in the
Franklin school instead of a twelve.
Likewise had he not fought yaliantly
for fourteen rooms, the Grant school
would today be but a six room build
ing. He has repeatedly advocated
improvements in educational methods
and in equipment that are today indis-
pensable
Makes Suggestions
Before resigning on Monday even
ing Mr.. Albers called attention to the
ItSOlutIOIl u Tie luSlIuCJluS Tie
superintendent and himself to submit
a communication to the common coun-
Gil relative to the purchase of the
Humboldt school block. He spoke of
the foresight of the board in providing
school sites in advance of need Mr..
Albers urged that at the very earliest
moment all the children be taken out
of the Humboldt school building. He
said that he believed it inadvisable to
attempt to alter or repair the old
structure because of the great cost of
doing this and the fact that the
ground is needed for playground pur-
poses. Mr. Albers expressed his sim
| cere appreciation to the board for it's
courtesies and the cordial support CIV
en- him and expressed his hope to
maintain the high standards OF the
public schools and to improve the op-
| portunities for public education.
While the work of the school board
will continue efficiently for there are
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