Journal of Education and Human Development

New Light on Marietta Johnson (1864-1938)
Jeroen F. Staring

Abstract
In 1885, Marietta (née Pierce) Johnson graduated from Third State Normal School at Saint Cloud, Minnesota. She built up professionalism in primary teaching in the Midwestern state of Minnesota (1885-1890) and in tertiary teaching of prospecting teachers at Normal Schools in diverse Midwestern states (1890-1900 and 1901-1902). In 1907, she founded the School of Organic Education at Fairhope in the Southern state of Alabama, and remained the school’s principal until her death. Additionally she amassed an impressive curriculum vita as a school principal lecturing throughout the country — especially in the Eastern states. She became an accomplished recruiter of students and progressive teachers. She was a capable speaker, able to explain a novel educational approach in terms of a drawn out emotional, personal, and professional struggle. In 1919 Johnson co-founded the Progressive Education Association (PEA) with four fellow progressive educators. Virtually unknown, however, is the fact that two years earlier she joined the Bureau of Educational Experiments (BEE) in New York City, and worked at Public Schools 64 and 95 during the 1917-1918 season, salaried by the BEE. This article will shed new light on Marietta Johnson and her meandering educational career with high ups and low downs.

Full Text: PDF     DOI: 10.15640/jehd.v3n3a17