USA > Ohio > Women of Ohio; a record of their achievements in the history of the state, Volume I > Part 16
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Council of Western Reserve University. In addition to her important work as educator Miss Raymond has excelled in photography and has won several awards in international exhibitions.
ETHEL REYNOLDS
ETHEL REYNOLDS, director of the Visiting Teachers Division of the Cincinnati Vocation Bureau, was born at Davenport, Iowa, the daughter of Lulu A. Burris Reynolds and Osborn Reynolds. She was graduated from Davenport High School with first honors and from the University of Chicago in three years with honors in the field of history. Taught elementary school in Rock Island, Illinois, then high school in Moline, Illinois.
Feeling a desire to work more directly and individually with children than the rather rigid school program with its group approach permitted, Miss Reynolds returned to Chicago to study for social work. Following this study, she joined the staff of the United States Children's Bureau, and later the Child Labor Tax Division of Treasury Department for the administration of the second Child Labor Law.
After this law was declared unconstitutional by the United States Supreme Court, Ethel Reynolds went to Europe as a representative of the American Friends Service Committee to participate in post-war rehabilitation of Austria. The program consisted largely of economic assistance to students to enable them to complete their education and in working out of employment projects which utilized the artistic skills of the Austrians.
She also took part in planning a country-wide drive on tuberculosis, which had increased so greatly due to deprivations suffered by the people during the war. During residence in Vienna, Miss Reynolds deepened her interests in mental hygiene by study at Freud's Institute for Psycho-analysis.
Upon return to the United States, she found that the Commonwealth Fund of New York, engaged in a five-year program for the prevention of delinquency, was developing projects in the field of Child Guidance Clinics, Health Work, and Visiting Teacher Work. The National Committee on Visiting Teachers organized by the Commonwealth Fund to administer the visiting teacher program was combing the country for persons with training and experience in the two fields of education and social work to undertake direction of demonstration centers of visiting teacher work to be set up in thirty representative communities in the United States.
Miss Reynolds was appointed to direct this work in Tulsa, Oklahoma, under the joint auspices of the Board of Education in Tulsa and the National Committee of Visiting Teachers in New York. After the close of the three year demonstration, she remained on for one year's work under the Board of Education, then went to San Diego, California as Acting Director of the Visiting Teacher Department, and then came to Cincinnati as Director of the Visiting Teacher Division of the Vocation Bureau.
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Under Miss Reynolds' direction, the work of the Visiting Teacher Divi- sion has been developed to the point where it has been given national recognition. The visiting teacher field has been of great service to education in acting as the representative of the mental hygiene movement during the early years of that field's growth. The visiting teacher has stood for recog- nition of the influence of emotional and personality development upon the child's educational progress.
In 1936 the Cincinnati Department was asked by Dr. Sheldon Glueck, Professor of Criminology, Harvard Law School, to represent the national visiting teacher field in contributing an article on its work to his book, "Preventing Crime." He chose Ethel Reynolds to write this article.
Miss Reynolds holds membership in important social work, educational, and civic groups and has helped materially to spread throughout the country, understanding of the vital educational work in which she is a known and noted leader.
MARTHA HALL ROSS
MARTHA HALL ROSS, teacher in charge of Douglass Colony School, Cincinnati and daughter of Bishop I. N. and Mary Fletcher Ross, was born in Washington, Pa. During the itinerant ministry of her father, Miss Ross lived and attended school in several cities including Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania ; Toledo, Columbus and Cincinnati, Ohio; Atlanta, Georgia; Washington, D. C. and Baltimore, Maryland.
She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Cincin- nati, being then the fourth Negro student and the second Negro woman student to graduate.
The larger part of her work has been in education. She began her teaching experience as principal of Douglass Night School. Soon after she was appointed as teacher in the day school but served several alternate years as teacher in the night school in addition to her day school work. For five consecutive summers, Miss Ross was director of the Douglass Vacation School.
Her teaching experience was interrupted by five years as Assistant Execu- tive Secretary of the Negro Civic Welfare Association of the Community Chest of Cincinnati, Ohio. She supervised the workers and assisted in the planning and execution of the co-ordinating and promoting program when social work among Negroes was greatly expanded in 1920.
On leave of absence for several months, Miss Ross toured the State of Arkansas, traveling as secretary to her father in covering his annual con- ferences. Experienced with work in Sunday School and Young Peoples' Societies since her high school days, she received a background of understand- ing of the longings and needs of her people.
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ETHEL REYNOLDS
Director, Visiting Teachers Division, Cincinnati Public Schools
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Returning to educational work in 1925, Miss Ross taught in the Junior High School until 1931 when she was assigned as teacher in charge of Doug- lass Colony in which position she is serving at present.
In addition to her professional interests, Miss Ross has taken a large part in sorority, club and civic life.
She was a charter member of the local chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and its first president. She has served in succession as parliament- arian, regional director, and vice-president of the Grand Chapter.
She was also a charter member of the local chapter of the College Women's Association and served as elected member of the Executive Committee of the National College Women's Association.
Miss Ross is a member of the National Federation of Colored Women's Clubs. At present, she is parliamentarian of the Southwest District of the Ohio Federation of Colored Women's Clubs.
In inter-racial groups, Miss Ross is a member of the Case Committee of the Children's Home; of the Advisory Board of the Metropolitan Housing Authority and the Division of Negro Welfare.
EDNA B. ROWE
EDNA B. ROWE, organizer and promoter of various kindergartens in Ohio and now head of the Edna B. Rowe School of Organic Education of Toledo, occupies a prominent position in this particular branch of educational activity and has been instrumental in promoting legislation in its favor. A native of Dupont, Ohio, she is a daughter of William S. and Rosa (Stanbaugh) Rowe, who were also born in Ohio, where her father had farming and other business interests relative thereto. He died in 1938, having for six years survived his wife, who passed away in 1932. They were parents of three children, of whom the first born has passed away, while the second, Lloyd, died at the age of three years.
Edna B. Rowe, the only surviving member of the family, attended the grade schools of Toledo and was graduated from the Central high school. Later she completed a course in the Law-Froebel Kindergarten College and subsequently attended the University of Toledo and Columbia College. Taking up the profession of teaching, she became an instructor in the Bowling Green (Ohio) College and afterward in the Teachers College of Toledo. She was next the director of the Nathan Hale Kindergarten and has been the organ- izer of various kindergartens, being a recognized authority on this branch of educational service. She founded the Edna B. Rowe School of Organic Edu- cation, which she has since conducted and in addition to her work as a teacher she has contributed largely to the literature of the profession, being the author of two particularly well known works: The Beginner's Teachers Textbook (3 vols.) and The Kindergarten of the Daily Vacation Bible School. She is also the author of Bible Stories for Little Children and she has written
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a great many magazine articles and articles in the field of education and child psychology. She is also widely known as a lecturer, her public addresses usually relating to the education of young children.
Miss Rowe also did some notable work in the Ohio legislature for the pas- sage of kindergarten measures and in 1933, after presenting a measure before the general assembly, F. M. Heller, legislative correspondent wrote as follows:
"In all my legislative experience, I have not seen an issue presented more clearly to a senate or house committee, nor have I seen a committe act more promptly on a measure than was done today when Miss Rowe brought up the matter of amending the Gunsett school bill to include the kindergarten. It was the best piece of legislative lobbying it has been my pleasure to wit- ness in many years."
Miss Rowe has conducted a great many "Parents Clinics" and while designated as a kindergarten teacher she has done much to instruct adults in the care and training of children, with results that are far-reaching and beneficially effective. That her biography appears in Who's Who in America and in Leading Women in America at once establishes her high professional standing and Ohio is to be congratulated in that her lot has here been cast, and that she has so greatly furthered the foundation principles of all edu- cation among Ohio people.
ELSIE J. ROWE
ELSIE J. ROWE, assistant principal-in-charge of Evanston school, is one of the outstanding women educators of Ohio. She served the Southwestern Ohio Teachers' Association as president, 1936-1937, and was a member of the Association executive board, 1931-1936. She was president of the Cincin- nati Upper Grade Study Council, 1938-1939.
For six years Mrs. Rowe was editor in charge of the Teachers' Page of the Cincinnati Parent-Teachers' Magazine. She is frequently called upon to address P. T. A. and church groups on recent developments in teaching techniques and philosophy.
She has served as co-operating teacher in charge of fifth year students of the University of Cincinnati and for nine years was demonstration teacher in grades I and II at the University of Cincinnati summer session.
She was vice president of both the Cincinnati Public Schools Girls' Ath- letic League and Cincinnati Council for Childhood Education, 1937-1938, and a member of the Executive Board of Federated Council of Teachers' Organi- zations.
Mrs. Rowe was a member of the Supplementary Book Committee and several other important committees including Physical Education Primary Curriculum Committee, Central Reading Committee and Language Curriculum Committee.
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She is a member of Kappa Delta Pi, Honorary fraternity, Cincinnati Teachers' Association, National Education Association, Ohio Educational Asso- ciation, University of Cincinnati Alumnal Association, Evanston P. T. A. execu- tive board, and a member of the A. C. E. Convention Committee, Cincinnati, 1938.
In 1935-1937 she was a member of the Women's Teachers' Bowling League, and has served as a member of the Social Planning Committee for the C. T. A., and as chairman of the Allie M. Hines Memorial Committee.
HELEN J. SAMUELS
HELEN J. SAMUELS, since 1938 has been in charge of Robert Fulton Colony School where she began her teaching career in 1930. Her work was with mentally defective children and also with third grade students prior to the time she was made head of the school.
Born in Cincinnati she received her education at the University of Cin- cinnati, receiving her A. B. from there in 1929 and her B. E. degree in 1930 from Teachers' College, University of Cincinnati. She will obtain her M. A. from Columbia University in 1939.
Miss Samuels is a member of the Progressive Education Association, National Education Association, Cincinnati and Ohio Educational Associations and the A. C. E. She also belongs to the Peace League, Foreign Policy Asso- ciation, Committee of One Hundred and Eta Sigma Phi, honorary classical fraternity.
MARCELLINE BATARD SARAZIN
MARCELLINE BATARD SARAZIN, teacher of French and resident of Cincinnati for 52 years, known to her pupils as "Madame", was born at Paris, March 31, 1848. She often said that while the United States was filled with French teachers she was a teacher of French born in France. Although exceedingly democratic and proud of belonging to the haute bourgeois, she traced her ancestry to de la Motte Cadillac, the founder of Detroit.
The coup d'etat of 1852 sent her republican father to Algiers, an exile, but he returned the following year and devoted himself to the education of his only child. She was given a most thorough grounding in the French classics and a training in pronunciation from which she acquired an accent that was likened to that of Sarah Bernhardt of the golden voice. In the grow- ing glory of the Bonaparte regime her family found itself in increasingly straightened circumstances, so to help meet expenses the young daughter was sent to England as a governess. In 1868 she was teaching in boarding schools in York and London and later became a governess in the family of the Duke of Sutherland.
In after years she regaled her pupils with many a tale of her life at Stafford House and at Robin Hood Castle in Scotland. Both Queen Victoria
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and the Prince of Wales visited the family while she was teaching the Duke's sons. The Queen's visit was a great disappointment-no lavish fetes a la Louis Quatorze-no brilliant conversation-just tea on the terrace with the Duke's piper followed by the Queen's piper playing mournful Highland music. It was during this visit that the future Edward VII burst into her school-room to ask her to excuse her pupils to spend the day outdoors with him. Although she recognized him, the stern governess took a sardonic pleas- ure in refusing his bold request and it was only when he sent his equerry who made a proper formal request in perfect French in the name of M. le Prince de Galles, that the boys were freed. When the Duke's brother, Lord Grey, was appointed Governor of Jamaica in 1872, "Madame" went with him and his lady as governess for their family. She loved Jamaica and became an expert horsewoman, spending many happy hours riding over the lovely coun- try. But the tropical climate did not agree with her and in 1874 she left for New York where she taught in Miss Reed's fashionable finishing school. Again the extremes of climate disagreed with her and a physician advised her to go to Cincinnati, where she taught at Miss Nourse's School from 1879 until 1882 when she joined the faculty of Woodward High School on recom- mendation of Charles P. Taft. Many a well known citizen of Cincinnati today proudly recalls her "instruction and education" in French.
While living at the Burnet House she formed the first Cercle Francais of Cincinnati, having invited a group of men and women to meet with her on Sunday afternoons to discuss current topics in French-perhaps the nearest approach Cincinnati has ever had to a "salon".
Forced to leave Woodward High School in 1892 because of blindness, alone in an alien land, she bravely and successfully continued teaching French until she died June 4th 1931. She developed her own method, which was strictly traditionalist, for she scorned any theory of "French in ten easy lessons" and her pupils were drilled by a most exacting mistress, but they won prizes at colleges and the French they spoke was understood even in Paris.
The World War was a difficult period for her but in its darkest hours when Big Bertha was shelling her beloved Paris, her superb courage reasserted itself and to the cry "They will wipe out Paris", she answered, "Paris n'est pas La France. They will never destroy France".
During the trying years of advancing age under affliction she still kept a group of devoted pupil friends who eagerly sent their children and grand- children to her, so that they too might feel the inspiration of her fine courage.
At her funeral services Victor Hugo's lovely poem, "L'Amitie" was read aloud and it was said that, "although 'Madame' had never married, the room was filled with her children of the spirit".
ARIA PARKE SCHAWE
ARIA PARKE SCHAWE, English teacher at Hughes High School, Cin- cinnati, received her Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education degrees,
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also an M.A. degree in English Literature, from the University of Cincinnati. She is now working toward her Ph.D. in the College of Education at the same university. She is majoring in administration.
Miss Schawe holds a Bachelor of Literature degree from Columbia University, Pulitzer School of Journalism, and has furthered her education at the Sorbonne in Paris, University of Wisconsin and the University of California.
She has been of service to schools in many ways in addition to teaching. She served the Cincinnati Teachers Association as news reporter from Avondale school where she taught seventh and eighth grade subjects. She also occupied the position of hospitality chairman for the board of the same Association.
Music is one of her chief interests and she has been the Cincinnati Teachers Association representative on the Women's Symphony Committee for two years.
In 1939 she assumed sponsorship of the Junior Girl Reserves, Y.W.C.A., at Hughes High School. Her teaching career has also included dramatic instruction at Washington Junior High School.
She is affiliated with the National Education Association, Ohio Education Association, Southwestern Ohio Teachers Association, Cincinnati Teachers Association, Kappa Delta Pi, honorary teachers association, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Cincinnati Woman's Club, Cincinnati College Club and the English Speaking Union.
BESSE IKE SCHIFF
BESSE IKE SCHIFF, educator and writer of verse, has long been well known in literary circles, doing much to stimulate public interest along that line, while her own publications have been widely read. She is not only the author of several volumes, but has also written quite extensively for public journals, all of which has given her an outstanding position among the women of Sidney and of Ohio.
Mrs. Schiff was born in St. Paris, Ohio, a daughter of Smith D. and Anna M. (Helman) Ike, the former a native of this state, while the mother was born in Pennsylvania. She died when her daughter Mrs. Schiff was in her infancy. The father was a photographer and poet and for a time was employed as ticket agent by the Frisco Railroad in Missouri living at West Plains, that state. When seventy years of age he was retired from railroad service, and he has now departed this life. He was married twice and Mrs. Schiff has a half sister and half brother. The former resides in West Plains, Missouri, where she is employed in the postoffice. She too has much of the literary talent that distinguishes the family and has published several books and poems, while the brother is known as the "poet laureate of Missouri," and as such broadcasts over the radio, while he too is known for his poetic writings.
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In her early girlhood Mrs. Schiff attended the township school near her home and later continued her education in the high school and in Normal school. Since then she has taken courses of study in Miami and Athens, Ohio and at Columbia University. For a number of years she engaged in teaching during the regular school year and devoted the summer months to study, being anxious at all times to broaden her own education. She still follows her profession as a substitute teacher and likewise gives private instruction and has spent much time in substituting. Her teaching activities also extend to the church for she has a Bible class of forty-five women and she also sings in the choir of St. John's Lutheran Church, of which both Mr. and Mrs. Schiff are members.
In 1912 Besse Ike became the bride of Melvin C. Schiff, a native of Shelby County, Ohio, who is now occupying a clerical position in a hardware store of Sidney. They have one son, Darwin R., who was graduated from the Sidney High School and in 1936 from Ohio State University, where he specialized in journalism, majoring in advertising. Mrs. Schiff's most recent book, "The Traveling Gallery," is dedicated to her son, as follows: "To my son, whose encouragement made this book possible." She has written quite extensively on the subject of poetry as well as being the author of many poems. She began her literary work very early and while in high school wrote the class poems, while for several years, for the Dayton News, she wrote the section known as "Back Yard Gardens." She has always been fond of giving programs for juveniles and has planned and prepared her own puppets as auxiliaries in these performances, and several years ago she conducted a number of Shakespeare Clubs, the membership numbering about sixty. She has always known the joy which comes through intellectual stimulus and has inspired many to find their pleasure along similar lines.
ESTHER SCHROEDER
ESTHER SCHROEDER, principal of Raschig School, Cincinnati was born in Cincinnati, the daughter of Fred and Caroline Schroeder. She was graduated from Walnut Hills High School, took her A.B. at the University of Cincinnati and her M.A. at. Columbia with other graduate courses at Chicago University.
Miss Schroeder began her professional career as primary teacher at the Twenty-third District School, was made principal of Sherman School in 1926 and three years later of Raschig School. These schools, in the basin of the city are largely attended by under-privileged children whose need of social service intensified Miss Schroeder's interest in welfare problems and developed her marked skill in dealing with them.
She has co-operated closely in exeprimental primary classes and has helped to establish nutrition projects whereby young children have greatly benefitted, mentally and physically.
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Esther Schroeder is a life member of the National Education Association, is active in the Elementary Principals Association and in various civic and welfare groups.
ELEANOR LOUISE SKINNER
ELEANOR LOUISE SKINNER, vice principal of North High School, Columbus, was born at Worcester, Eng., the daughter of Frances and Em- meline Skinner, attended Ohio State University and Columbus Art School and soon after entered the public school system. She is joint author with her sister, Ada Maria Skinner, of several text books and has herself written many children's stories and plays.
GRACE SMITH SLADE
GRACE SMITH SLADE, teacher and civic worker, was born in Cincin- nati, in the house in which she still lives. She was the second of a family of five children born to James Harvey and Mary (Wallace) Smith, whose home maintained ideals of culture and education toward which the children were guided.
Completing Douglass School course at the age of twelve years, Grace went to Woodward High School and the University of Cincinnati from which she graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Science in education. She has studied at the University of Chicago, Harvard Summer School and is doing graduate work at the University of Cincinnati.
Mrs. Slade chose teaching as her career. She has had wide experience in this field, having taught in the primary and elementary grades of Douglass and Stowe Junior High where she is now an outstanding teacher. Mrs. Slade's association with her pupils does not end when they leave her classes for she has drawn around her a large circle of former pupils who frequently seek her society and advice.
Grace Slade was one of the organizers, is an active worker and a past president of the Cincinnati Federation of Colored Women's Clubs. As chair- man of the City Federation Program Committee she, with her efficient co- workers, raised the down payment of one thousand dollars for the Federated Clubhouse at 1010 Chapel Street.
She has recently been made organizer for the South-Western District of the Ohio State Federation of Colored Women's Clubs and has already brought in two new clubs to the Federation. She was elected delegate to two national conventions and was a member of the program committee of the national convention which met at Wilberforce in 1914. She has been a member and officer of the Optimist Club since the organization of this well-known group twenty-nine years ago.
In educational groups she is treasurer of the Zeta Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, vice-president of the Cincinnati Branch of the National
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Association of College Women, and a member of the first contributing group of the McCall School.
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