WHEN WE WERE NORMAL
A Historical Augmented Reality Walking Tour
Willis Anthony Brings Fame to Fitchburg
LOCATION: QUAD ENTRANCE (WEST)
Willis B. Anthony was a pioneer of practical education, leading by example with his own educational accomplishments. Growing up in Adams, Massachusetts, he first attended public schools there before joining the Massachusetts Normal Art School in Boston. He graduated from the four year course in 1900 as president and valedictorian of his class before teaching drawing for nine years at the normal school in Adams.
In a few short years, Fitchburg drew Anthony’s attention. Believing that education should equip students with the tools and training they needed to succeed, he joined the Fitchburg Normal School faculty in 1909 as a Practical Arts teacher. To further this educational ideal, he and Principal John Thompson established a Practical Arts training course for teachers so that this type of education could spread to children throughout the Commonwealth. For Anthony,
“The Practical Arts movement is bringing to school the life of the day. It is trying to appreciate the life of the boy’s days ten years hence. With this as a basis it is working back through the pages of the past. Such are the growing demands of a liberal education.”
In 1935, Anthony spearheaded the movement to bring the Practical Arts program from the basement and attic of the Junior High School (now Percival Hall) into its own building. This new Practical Arts building was appropriately named after Anthony himself. Anthony eventually retired in 1947, after fulfilling a great service to the school and to Fitchburg.