KIMBALL, JUSTIN F

Justin F.Kimball
Superintendent of Dallas Schools
Writes 1927 Textbook about the Kessler Plan

The late George E. Kessler, city planner. When a boy he worked in Dallas as a cash boy at Sanger Brothers; when a man he came back to Dallas and rendered immeasurable service in remaking the city.
Words by Justin F. Kimball
Professor of Education, Southern Methodist University.

A PERSONAL WORD

This book is written because of love and appreciation. For a decade the writer served as superintendent of the city schools of Dallas, coming here a stranger from a distant town.

During that time the number of grade teachers and pupils doubled; the high schools grew fourfold; seven or eight million dollars were spent for school buildings; the salaries of the teachers were nearly doubled - our needs increased constantly. Time and again we were under necessity of asking for more money, more houses, more support of every type material and spiritual. During all that time the writer never made a request in the name of the children that was not granted. His appreciation of the manifold kindnesses shown him by the people of Dallas is profound.

During his work here as school superintendent, the writer often felt the need of some book to help in teaching the children to meet the problems of coming citizenship in Dallas. He often
thought that when he could find time to get around to the task, he would organize a group of teachers to write such a book. At the close of his work as school superintendent, there came a year of leisure enforced by the doctor's orders. During this time the leaders of the Kessler Plan Association suggested that he write a pamphlet explaining our city plan to the children. He answered that such a task would be gladly undertaken if it might be expanded into a community civics, and that the labor of writing would be gladly given without charge if the book were made available to the school children without cost to them. Under such an understanding has this little work been wrought.

The writer desires to express obligations for assistance in this task from many Dallas friends, among them notably Mr. John E. Surratt of the Kessler Plan Association, Mr. John Fouts of the Lagow School, Mr. J. L. Gragg, Prof. H. H. Guice of S. M. U., Mr. C. B. Gillespie, Mr. George Cretien, Mr. T. B. Baldwin, the officials of the Chamber of Commerce, the daily newspapers of Dallas, and many, many others. If this little book shall help in any wise to make our city, Dallas, a better and happier place wherein boys and girls may grow to joyous, righteous manhood and womanhood, then the labor of the author will have been amply repaid.