George D. Stoddard
George D. Stoddard | |
---|---|
10th President of the University of Illinois system | |
In office 1946–1953 | |
Preceded by | Arthur Cutts Willard |
Succeeded by | Lloyd Morey |
Personal details | |
Born | George Dinsmore Stoddard October 8, 1897 Carbondale, Pennsylvania, US |
Died | December 28, 1981 | (aged 84)
Spouse |
Margaret Trautwein (m. 1925) |
Education |
|
George Dinsmore Stoddard (October 8, 1897 – December 28, 1981)
Early life
Stoddard was born in
After graduating high school he worked at a bank before enrolling at
Career
University of Iowa
His teaching career began at the University of Iowa where he became a professor of psychology after graduation. He would go on to be the department chair and dean of the graduate school.[3]
In 1929 he was appointed director of the Iowa Child Welfare Research Station.[5] While director of the station he would debate with Dr. Lewis Terman of Stanford University on the nature of intelligence and the usefulness of intelligence testing. Stoddard defended the view that environment and intelligence influenced each other. Terman advocated that intelligence was unchanging and based almost entirely on heredity.[4]
University of the State of New York
Stoddard was named president of the University of the State of New York and Commissioner of Education in September 1942. As commissioner he was vocally against letting 14 year olds drop out of school to work because they could potentially be exploited.[3]
Japan
In 1946, he was assigned to General
University of Illinois
Later in 1946, Stoddard was named president of the University of Illinois. While at Illinois, he oversaw postwar expansion which included doubling the faculty and opening branch campuses in Chicago and Galesburg. His tenure was marred by left-wing student activism and disputes over academic philosophies in the economics department which led to clashes with the state's legislature.[6]
He had a falling out with the Board of Trustees over university-supported research on Krebiozen, a drug claimed to be a cancer cure. When he ordered an end to funding for the research in 1953, he lost a “no confidence” vote with the trustees and resigned.[3]
New York University
After leaving Illinois, Stoddard was hired by NYU to chair a self-study of the university's role in the urban community. The study led to the reorganization of the School of Education's curriculum and administration.[7]
Stoddard became dean of the department of education in 1956. In 1960 he was named chancellor and executive vice president of the university. In 1962 he opened the first center for Hebrew studies at a public university. He retired in 1964 but remained a distinguished professor of education for three years.[3]
Long Island University
In 1967 he came out of retirement to serve as vice chancellor of LIU. His main focus was starting the university's Brooklyn center. He was promoted to chancellor and eventually retired again in 1969.[3]
Educational views
Stoddard's first love was always elementary education. He championed departmentalized elementary education and educational technology. He also advocated the social value of play where he said, On the playing fields of America, our youth each day can learn to accept and understand racial and religious differences.[3]
Outside of Academia
Stoddard was active in many groups outside of education. He was a member of the board of the
Personal life and death
Stoddard married Margaret Trautwein on December 26, 1925.[9] They had three sons, Phillip, Arthur, and Alfred, and two daughters, Caroline and Eleanor.[3][10]
Stoddard died on December 28, 1981.
Works
- “Krebiozen,” The Great Cancer Mystery (Boston: Beacon Press, 1955)
- Paranoids Versus the People (Kalamazoo, 1953).
- The Pursuit of Education: An Autobiography (New York: Vantage Press, 1981).
- The Meaning of Intelligence (New York: Macmillan Company, 1943).
References
- ^ "United States Passport Applications, 1795–1925". National Archives and Records Administration.
- ISBN 978-1-55028-711-0. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "GEORGE STODDARD DIES AT 84 – EDUCATOR LED 4 UNIVERSITIES – NYTimes.com". nytimes.com. Retrieved 2016-11-27.
- ^ a b McNutt, Steve (Winter 2013). "A Dangerous Man: Lewis Terman and George Stoddard, their Debates on Intelligence Testing, and the Legacy of the Iowa Child Welfare Research Station". The Annals of Iowa. Vol. 72, no. 1. pp. 1–30. Archived from the original on November 30, 2015.
- ^ a b "Theta Alumnus is Advanced" (PDF). The Emerald of Sigma Pi. Vol. 23, no. 1. May 1936. p. 22.
- ^ "The Rise and Fall of President George D. Stoddard". archives.library.illinois.edu. Student Life and Culture Archival Program – University of Illinois. Archived from the original on 2016-10-28.
- ^ "History of the Deans – Snapshots of Steinhardt – NYU Steinhardt". steinhardt.nyu.edu. Retrieved 2016-11-27.
- ^ "Alumni News From Everywhere" (PDF). The Emerald of Sigma Pi. Vol. 56, no. 2. Summer 1969. p. 70.
- ^ "Miss Margaret Trautwein and George D Stoddard Wedding Announcement". Scranton (PA) Republican. 29 December 1925. p. 4. Retrieved 10 July 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Alfred Stoddard Obituary". Iowa City (IA) Press-Citizen. 19 December 1974. p. 2. Retrieved 10 July 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "George Stoddard". www.hartisland.net. Retrieved 2021-01-03.