James Merriam Howard Jr.
Born1922
Morris town, New Jersey.
Died2002
Alma materHarvard University.
OccupationTeaching

James Merriam Howard Jr. (1922–2002) was an American teacher, educational advocate, and national expert on the use of writing to enhance learning and improve critical thinking. Howard served as the headmaster of Blair Academy, a private boarding school in Blairstown, New Jersey, for 22 years (1954–1976).[1] While serving in this role, he guided the revival of Blair's academic reputation.[2] Blair Academy awarded Howard their Citation of Merit, the school's highest honor, in 1994.[3]

Early life, education, and career launch

Howard was born in Morristown, New Jersey in 1922. He graduated from Morristown School (now Morristown-Beard School) in 1938 and then completed a post-graduate year at All Saints School in Bloxham, England. Howard received his bachelor's degree from Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut in 1943. During his time at the school, Howard sang in The Whiffenpoofs, an a cappella group. He was the first second-generation member of the group, which his father co-founded in 1919.[4] Howard graduated from Yale after receiving election to Phi Beta Kappa.[5]

In 1953, Howard completed his master's degree at Harvard University. Launching his educational career, he worked as a history teacher at Lawrenceville School, a private boarding school in Lawrence Township, Mercer County, New Jersey, for nine years.[4]

Authorship and seminars

Howard served as editor for the Council for Basic Education in Washington D.C. from 1976 to 1982. During this period, he co-authored Empty Pages: A Search for Writing Competence in School and Society. The 1979 text analyzed the writing instruction crisis in America. Howard's second book, Writing to Learn, achieved national recognition as a handbook on how to teach writing and helped launch his consulting career.

During the 1980s, Howard ran writing seminars for staff members at the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Internal Revenue Service. He also led writing seminars for public school systems around the U.S. and promoting writing instruction by teachers of all subjects. While consulting for governmental and private organizations, Howard penned articles and book reviews for Federal Bar News & Journal (the Federal Bar Association's journal) and other periodicals.[6]

Military service

Howard enlisted with the U.S. Marine Corps as a private in December 1943. Three months later, he received a commission of second lieutenant. Howard served overseas in the Pacific Theatre of World War II until returning to the U.S. for the birth his first son on March 19, 1944.[7]

Recognition and legacy

During his career, Howard received multiple honors for his educational advocacy. The Educational Press Association (now the Association of Educational Publishers) awarded him their Distinguished Service Award for Excellence in Educational Journalism in 1985. Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania awarded Howard an honorary doctorate in literature in 1963. Following his death in 2002, the Westport River Watershed Alliance in Westport, Massachusetts named their book award for significant improvement in writing after Howard. Howard had served as editor-in-chief of the watershed alliance's newsletter and assisted students who worked on the student insert to the newsletter.[8]

Family

James Howard married Sarah Seymour Howard on September 25, 1942. They had one child together, James M. Howard, III. Sally Howard died in 1945 after she contracted poliomyelitis. Four years later, James Howard married Selena Tatlock Howard.[7] They had three children together: Alida Howard Woods, Mollie Howard Conklin, and Eleanor Howard.[2]

References

  1. ↑ Zhao, Yilu. "James M. Howard Jr., 80, Teacher of Writing", The New York Times, June 21, 2002. Accessed December 29, 2013.
  2. 1 2 "Obituaries". South Coast Today. 20 June 2002.
  3. ↑ Blair Academy: Citation of Merit Archived 2014-02-24 at the Wayback Machine "1994 James M. Howard Jr. – A generation of young men passed under your care and leadership as you moved Blair through the most dramatic societal change in this country’s history. ... as Blair moves forward, we do so with deep appreciation for your immeasurable contributions to the history of this School. To honor your years of service, we are proud to award you Blair’s highest honor, the Citation of Merit."
  4. 1 2 "Education Notes: Varied Activities on the Campus and in the Classroom". The New York Times. 20 June 1954.
  5. ↑ "Name JM Howard New Head of Blair". The Hackettstown Gazette. 8 July 1954.
  6. ↑ "Clear and Effective Legal Writing, Reviewed by James M. Howard Jr". Federal Bar News & Journal. Vol. 34. 1987.
  7. 1 2 Seymour Family Papers MS 440: Series XVI. Howard Family "Sarah (Seymour) Howard, the youngest of Charles and Gladys Seymour's three children, was born July 4, 1920. Like her sister Betsey, Sarah, known as Sally, attended Le Cours Maintenon, Cannes, France. ... On September 25, 1942, Sally married James Merriam Howard Jr., a senior at Yale. Three months later Jim Howard enlisted as a private in the U.S. Marine Corps. In March of 1943 he was commissioned a second lieutenant. ... He was eventually sent overseas to the South Pacific but returned to the United States in time for the birth of their son James M. Howard, III (Jerry) on March 19, 1944. ... Early in December, 1945, Sally contracted infantile paralysis and died. Jerry Howard lived with his maternal grandparents until his father's marriage in 1949 to Selena Tatlock."
  8. ↑ Beth Perdue (3 March 2003). "Senior honored with writing award". Standard-Times.
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