Kansas City Times July 29, 1954
" JAMES M. COTTINGHAM
HE WAS PRINCIPAL OF THE BENTON SCHOOL FOR FORTY-FIVE YEARS
PUPILS RECALL HIS DEVOTION TO TEACHING, AND THE INNOVATIONS
WHICH ENCOURAGED THE LEARNING PROCESS.
James M. Cottingham, 84, principal of the Benton School from 1895 to 1940, died yesterday afternoon at the home, 2651 East Twenty- ninth street. Mr. Cottingham developed pneumonia Friday, although he had not been previously ill, and his condition became critical the first of the week.
Mr. Cottingham retired in 1940, but he never lost interest in Benton school and continued to attend its functions and graduations.
In 1945, he was presented a golden key in commemoration of his attendance at fifty graduation exercises. A letter from Dr. Herold C. Hunt, then superintendent of schools, was read at this occasion. It said, in part: " I am deeply appreciative of your long and distinguished record of service to the Kansas City public schools, which, in generous measure, is continuing after your well -deserved retirement."
TAUGHT IN RURAL SCHOOLS
Born on a farm near the home of Mark Twain in Monroe County, Missouri, Mr. Cottingham began his teaching career at 19, serving in rural schools of Randolph, Audrain, and Callaway counties.
He had no intention, he remarked later, of becoming a teacher but planned a career in law. It was while studying law at the University of Missouri that he received a telegram from the Kansas City Board of Education informing him of his election as principal of the old Benton school.
In 1895, when Mr. Cottingham accepted this position, the school was at Fourteenth and Hickory streets, a 6-room building.
The neighborhood, halfway between the old union depot and the stockyards, was a hostile one. A distinct religious animosity existed between Protestant and Catholic families and the compulsory education law was virtually ignored. Through his efforts and that of a neighborhood Catholic priest and a Protestant minister, attendance at the school increased from 161 to 600 and the religious prejudices were largely dissolved.
ESTABLISHED AN ARBOR DAY
Several new features, now marked policies of the Board of Education, were introduced at the West Bottoms school by the new principal. Among these were a flag- raising ceremony, which took place in 1896 and the celebration of the first Arbor day here in the spring of that same year.
Mr. Cottingham later recalled to friends how, for the first Arbor day ceremony, he and some of the boys rented a team of mules and a wagon to "go out to the county," to what is now Forty -fifth street and Rockhill road, to get some trees to plant in the school yard. This tree planting and gardening became an annual custom and sixteen years later was made a city-wide school activity.
In 1904, the new Benton school at 3004 Benton boulevard, was opened and Mr. Cottingham continued a principal. In his thirty -six years at the new school, he became the friend of some 4,000 pupils, many of whom are now prominent Kansas Citians.
On the occasion of his eightieth birthday in March 1950, a group of his former students held a surprise celebration at the Westport room of the Union Station. Telegrams and letters from all over the country were received by the family, among these a congratulatory message from Walt Disney, a former student.
At this time, as at many previous reunions, a tribute written by a Benton graduate was read to Mr. Cottingham:
"When I attended old Benton, its windows rattled, the walls of its walls rooms were cracked, and the coal stoves provided the heat and soot. A gymnasium? Well, we heard the word in spelling bees. A swimming pool? The river was a few blocks away. But we of old Benton were inspired by true teachers in the acquisition of knowledge. How Mr. Cottingham came to us from room to room, making himself heard above the din of rattling windows, this the story of the joy of learning. ENCOURAGED PLAY DEVICES
Mr. Cottingham was among the first to recognize the importance of physical training for children, and was an organizer and first president of the Public School Athletic association. Benton school, under his direction, was one of teh first elementary schools in the city to install playground apparatus and a gymnasium.
The school now is called the D. A. Holmes school.
Many of the educator's former students recall Revolutionary war history with surprising clarity, because of an unusual teaching technique initiated by Mr. Cottingham. For several years, upper grade pupils waged Revolutionary war battles on the school playground, armed with snowballs and protected by two ice forts at either end of the ground. Students divided into the English and American camps and restaged the famous battles under the command of generals elected by the pupils.
In spite of his devotion to teaching, Mr. Cottingham never forsook his plans for a law career. After moving to Kansas City, he entered the old Kansas City Law school and was graduated in 1900. Year after year, until his retirement, he planned to give up teaching and begin a law practice, but never could renounce his school ties.
KNOWN AS BUILDER ALSO.
In vacation months, Mr. Cottingham engaged in real estate and building contracting. He built several homes and apartment buildings in the Benton neighborhood, among these residences at twenty-ninth and thirtieth streets on Benton boulevard and on Brooklyn avenue.
After he retired he was employed several years at the Commerce Trust company as a guard in the vault department. Since leaving the bank he had devoted much time in the reading and collection of American history material.
Mr. Cottingham is survived by his wife, Mrs. Nellie Lucas Cottingham of the home, whom he married in 1900; three daughters, Miss Laura Frances Cottingham of the home, a teacher at the Milton Moore school; Mrs. Nellie Marie Benjamin of the home, a teacher at the Whittier school, and Mrs. Paul D. Jones, Columbia, S.C.; a son, James M. Cottingham, Jr., Westfield, Mass.; a sister, Mrs. May Padgett, Moberly, Mo., and a grandson, James Benjamin, 1519 East Seventy-sixth street.
Services will he held at 2 o'clock Friday at the Newcomer chapel."
" JAMES M. COTTINGHAM
HE WAS PRINCIPAL OF THE BENTON SCHOOL FOR FORTY-FIVE YEARS
PUPILS RECALL HIS DEVOTION TO TEACHING, AND THE INNOVATIONS
WHICH ENCOURAGED THE LEARNING PROCESS.
James M. Cottingham, 84, principal of the Benton School from 1895 to 1940, died yesterday afternoon at the home, 2651 East Twenty- ninth street. Mr. Cottingham developed pneumonia Friday, although he had not been previously ill, and his condition became critical the first of the week.
Mr. Cottingham retired in 1940, but he never lost interest in Benton school and continued to attend its functions and graduations.
In 1945, he was presented a golden key in commemoration of his attendance at fifty graduation exercises. A letter from Dr. Herold C. Hunt, then superintendent of schools, was read at this occasion. It said, in part: " I am deeply appreciative of your long and distinguished record of service to the Kansas City public schools, which, in generous measure, is continuing after your well -deserved retirement."
TAUGHT IN RURAL SCHOOLS
Born on a farm near the home of Mark Twain in Monroe County, Missouri, Mr. Cottingham began his teaching career at 19, serving in rural schools of Randolph, Audrain, and Callaway counties.
He had no intention, he remarked later, of becoming a teacher but planned a career in law. It was while studying law at the University of Missouri that he received a telegram from the Kansas City Board of Education informing him of his election as principal of the old Benton school.
In 1895, when Mr. Cottingham accepted this position, the school was at Fourteenth and Hickory streets, a 6-room building.
The neighborhood, halfway between the old union depot and the stockyards, was a hostile one. A distinct religious animosity existed between Protestant and Catholic families and the compulsory education law was virtually ignored. Through his efforts and that of a neighborhood Catholic priest and a Protestant minister, attendance at the school increased from 161 to 600 and the religious prejudices were largely dissolved.
ESTABLISHED AN ARBOR DAY
Several new features, now marked policies of the Board of Education, were introduced at the West Bottoms school by the new principal. Among these were a flag- raising ceremony, which took place in 1896 and the celebration of the first Arbor day here in the spring of that same year.
Mr. Cottingham later recalled to friends how, for the first Arbor day ceremony, he and some of the boys rented a team of mules and a wagon to "go out to the county," to what is now Forty -fifth street and Rockhill road, to get some trees to plant in the school yard. This tree planting and gardening became an annual custom and sixteen years later was made a city-wide school activity.
In 1904, the new Benton school at 3004 Benton boulevard, was opened and Mr. Cottingham continued a principal. In his thirty -six years at the new school, he became the friend of some 4,000 pupils, many of whom are now prominent Kansas Citians.
On the occasion of his eightieth birthday in March 1950, a group of his former students held a surprise celebration at the Westport room of the Union Station. Telegrams and letters from all over the country were received by the family, among these a congratulatory message from Walt Disney, a former student.
At this time, as at many previous reunions, a tribute written by a Benton graduate was read to Mr. Cottingham:
"When I attended old Benton, its windows rattled, the walls of its walls rooms were cracked, and the coal stoves provided the heat and soot. A gymnasium? Well, we heard the word in spelling bees. A swimming pool? The river was a few blocks away. But we of old Benton were inspired by true teachers in the acquisition of knowledge. How Mr. Cottingham came to us from room to room, making himself heard above the din of rattling windows, this the story of the joy of learning. ENCOURAGED PLAY DEVICES
Mr. Cottingham was among the first to recognize the importance of physical training for children, and was an organizer and first president of the Public School Athletic association. Benton school, under his direction, was one of teh first elementary schools in the city to install playground apparatus and a gymnasium.
The school now is called the D. A. Holmes school.
Many of the educator's former students recall Revolutionary war history with surprising clarity, because of an unusual teaching technique initiated by Mr. Cottingham. For several years, upper grade pupils waged Revolutionary war battles on the school playground, armed with snowballs and protected by two ice forts at either end of the ground. Students divided into the English and American camps and restaged the famous battles under the command of generals elected by the pupils.
In spite of his devotion to teaching, Mr. Cottingham never forsook his plans for a law career. After moving to Kansas City, he entered the old Kansas City Law school and was graduated in 1900. Year after year, until his retirement, he planned to give up teaching and begin a law practice, but never could renounce his school ties.
KNOWN AS BUILDER ALSO.
In vacation months, Mr. Cottingham engaged in real estate and building contracting. He built several homes and apartment buildings in the Benton neighborhood, among these residences at twenty-ninth and thirtieth streets on Benton boulevard and on Brooklyn avenue.
After he retired he was employed several years at the Commerce Trust company as a guard in the vault department. Since leaving the bank he had devoted much time in the reading and collection of American history material.
Mr. Cottingham is survived by his wife, Mrs. Nellie Lucas Cottingham of the home, whom he married in 1900; three daughters, Miss Laura Frances Cottingham of the home, a teacher at the Milton Moore school; Mrs. Nellie Marie Benjamin of the home, a teacher at the Whittier school, and Mrs. Paul D. Jones, Columbia, S.C.; a son, James M. Cottingham, Jr., Westfield, Mass.; a sister, Mrs. May Padgett, Moberly, Mo., and a grandson, James Benjamin, 1519 East Seventy-sixth street.
Services will he held at 2 o'clock Friday at the Newcomer chapel."
Kansas City Times July 29, 1954
" JAMES M. COTTINGHAM
HE WAS PRINCIPAL OF THE BENTON SCHOOL FOR FORTY-FIVE YEARS
PUPILS RECALL HIS DEVOTION TO TEACHING, AND THE INNOVATIONS
WHICH ENCOURAGED THE LEARNING PROCESS.
James M. Cottingham, 84, principal of the Benton School from 1895 to 1940, died yesterday afternoon at the home, 2651 East Twenty- ninth street. Mr. Cottingham developed pneumonia Friday, although he had not been previously ill, and his condition became critical the first of the week.
Mr. Cottingham retired in 1940, but he never lost interest in Benton school and continued to attend its functions and graduations.
In 1945, he was presented a golden key in commemoration of his attendance at fifty graduation exercises. A letter from Dr. Herold C. Hunt, then superintendent of schools, was read at this occasion. It said, in part: " I am deeply appreciative of your long and distinguished record of service to the Kansas City public schools, which, in generous measure, is continuing after your well -deserved retirement."
TAUGHT IN RURAL SCHOOLS
Born on a farm near the home of Mark Twain in Monroe County, Missouri, Mr. Cottingham began his teaching career at 19, serving in rural schools of Randolph, Audrain, and Callaway counties.
He had no intention, he remarked later, of becoming a teacher but planned a career in law. It was while studying law at the University of Missouri that he received a telegram from the Kansas City Board of Education informing him of his election as principal of the old Benton school.
In 1895, when Mr. Cottingham accepted this position, the school was at Fourteenth and Hickory streets, a 6-room building.
The neighborhood, halfway between the old union depot and the stockyards, was a hostile one. A distinct religious animosity existed between Protestant and Catholic families and the compulsory education law was virtually ignored. Through his efforts and that of a neighborhood Catholic priest and a Protestant minister, attendance at the school increased from 161 to 600 and the religious prejudices were largely dissolved.
ESTABLISHED AN ARBOR DAY
Several new features, now marked policies of the Board of Education, were introduced at the West Bottoms school by the new principal. Among these were a flag- raising ceremony, which took place in 1896 and the celebration of the first Arbor day here in the spring of that same year.
Mr. Cottingham later recalled to friends how, for the first Arbor day ceremony, he and some of the boys rented a team of mules and a wagon to "go out to the county," to what is now Forty -fifth street and Rockhill road, to get some trees to plant in the school yard. This tree planting and gardening became an annual custom and sixteen years later was made a city-wide school activity.
In 1904, the new Benton school at 3004 Benton boulevard, was opened and Mr. Cottingham continued a principal. In his thirty -six years at the new school, he became the friend of some 4,000 pupils, many of whom are now prominent Kansas Citians.
On the occasion of his eightieth birthday in March 1950, a group of his former students held a surprise celebration at the Westport room of the Union Station. Telegrams and letters from all over the country were received by the family, among these a congratulatory message from Walt Disney, a former student.
At this time, as at many previous reunions, a tribute written by a Benton graduate was read to Mr. Cottingham:
"When I attended old Benton, its windows rattled, the walls of its walls rooms were cracked, and the coal stoves provided the heat and soot. A gymnasium? Well, we heard the word in spelling bees. A swimming pool? The river was a few blocks away. But we of old Benton were inspired by true teachers in the acquisition of knowledge. How Mr. Cottingham came to us from room to room, making himself heard above the din of rattling windows, this the story of the joy of learning. ENCOURAGED PLAY DEVICES
Mr. Cottingham was among the first to recognize the importance of physical training for children, and was an organizer and first president of the Public School Athletic association. Benton school, under his direction, was one of teh first elementary schools in the city to install playground apparatus and a gymnasium.
The school now is called the D. A. Holmes school.
Many of the educator's former students recall Revolutionary war history with surprising clarity, because of an unusual teaching technique initiated by Mr. Cottingham. For several years, upper grade pupils waged Revolutionary war battles on the school playground, armed with snowballs and protected by two ice forts at either end of the ground. Students divided into the English and American camps and restaged the famous battles under the command of generals elected by the pupils.
In spite of his devotion to teaching, Mr. Cottingham never forsook his plans for a law career. After moving to Kansas City, he entered the old Kansas City Law school and was graduated in 1900. Year after year, until his retirement, he planned to give up teaching and begin a law practice, but never could renounce his school ties.
KNOWN AS BUILDER ALSO.
In vacation months, Mr. Cottingham engaged in real estate and building contracting. He built several homes and apartment buildings in the Benton neighborhood, among these residences at twenty-ninth and thirtieth streets on Benton boulevard and on Brooklyn avenue.
After he retired he was employed several years at the Commerce Trust company as a guard in the vault department. Since leaving the bank he had devoted much time in the reading and collection of American history material.
Mr. Cottingham is survived by his wife, Mrs. Nellie Lucas Cottingham of the home, whom he married in 1900; three daughters, Miss Laura Frances Cottingham of the home, a teacher at the Milton Moore school; Mrs. Nellie Marie Benjamin of the home, a teacher at the Whittier school, and Mrs. Paul D. Jones, Columbia, S.C.; a son, James M. Cottingham, Jr., Westfield, Mass.; a sister, Mrs. May Padgett, Moberly, Mo., and a grandson, James Benjamin, 1519 East Seventy-sixth street.
Services will he held at 2 o'clock Friday at the Newcomer chapel."
" JAMES M. COTTINGHAM
HE WAS PRINCIPAL OF THE BENTON SCHOOL FOR FORTY-FIVE YEARS
PUPILS RECALL HIS DEVOTION TO TEACHING, AND THE INNOVATIONS
WHICH ENCOURAGED THE LEARNING PROCESS.
James M. Cottingham, 84, principal of the Benton School from 1895 to 1940, died yesterday afternoon at the home, 2651 East Twenty- ninth street. Mr. Cottingham developed pneumonia Friday, although he had not been previously ill, and his condition became critical the first of the week.
Mr. Cottingham retired in 1940, but he never lost interest in Benton school and continued to attend its functions and graduations.
In 1945, he was presented a golden key in commemoration of his attendance at fifty graduation exercises. A letter from Dr. Herold C. Hunt, then superintendent of schools, was read at this occasion. It said, in part: " I am deeply appreciative of your long and distinguished record of service to the Kansas City public schools, which, in generous measure, is continuing after your well -deserved retirement."
TAUGHT IN RURAL SCHOOLS
Born on a farm near the home of Mark Twain in Monroe County, Missouri, Mr. Cottingham began his teaching career at 19, serving in rural schools of Randolph, Audrain, and Callaway counties.
He had no intention, he remarked later, of becoming a teacher but planned a career in law. It was while studying law at the University of Missouri that he received a telegram from the Kansas City Board of Education informing him of his election as principal of the old Benton school.
In 1895, when Mr. Cottingham accepted this position, the school was at Fourteenth and Hickory streets, a 6-room building.
The neighborhood, halfway between the old union depot and the stockyards, was a hostile one. A distinct religious animosity existed between Protestant and Catholic families and the compulsory education law was virtually ignored. Through his efforts and that of a neighborhood Catholic priest and a Protestant minister, attendance at the school increased from 161 to 600 and the religious prejudices were largely dissolved.
ESTABLISHED AN ARBOR DAY
Several new features, now marked policies of the Board of Education, were introduced at the West Bottoms school by the new principal. Among these were a flag- raising ceremony, which took place in 1896 and the celebration of the first Arbor day here in the spring of that same year.
Mr. Cottingham later recalled to friends how, for the first Arbor day ceremony, he and some of the boys rented a team of mules and a wagon to "go out to the county," to what is now Forty -fifth street and Rockhill road, to get some trees to plant in the school yard. This tree planting and gardening became an annual custom and sixteen years later was made a city-wide school activity.
In 1904, the new Benton school at 3004 Benton boulevard, was opened and Mr. Cottingham continued a principal. In his thirty -six years at the new school, he became the friend of some 4,000 pupils, many of whom are now prominent Kansas Citians.
On the occasion of his eightieth birthday in March 1950, a group of his former students held a surprise celebration at the Westport room of the Union Station. Telegrams and letters from all over the country were received by the family, among these a congratulatory message from Walt Disney, a former student.
At this time, as at many previous reunions, a tribute written by a Benton graduate was read to Mr. Cottingham:
"When I attended old Benton, its windows rattled, the walls of its walls rooms were cracked, and the coal stoves provided the heat and soot. A gymnasium? Well, we heard the word in spelling bees. A swimming pool? The river was a few blocks away. But we of old Benton were inspired by true teachers in the acquisition of knowledge. How Mr. Cottingham came to us from room to room, making himself heard above the din of rattling windows, this the story of the joy of learning. ENCOURAGED PLAY DEVICES
Mr. Cottingham was among the first to recognize the importance of physical training for children, and was an organizer and first president of the Public School Athletic association. Benton school, under his direction, was one of teh first elementary schools in the city to install playground apparatus and a gymnasium.
The school now is called the D. A. Holmes school.
Many of the educator's former students recall Revolutionary war history with surprising clarity, because of an unusual teaching technique initiated by Mr. Cottingham. For several years, upper grade pupils waged Revolutionary war battles on the school playground, armed with snowballs and protected by two ice forts at either end of the ground. Students divided into the English and American camps and restaged the famous battles under the command of generals elected by the pupils.
In spite of his devotion to teaching, Mr. Cottingham never forsook his plans for a law career. After moving to Kansas City, he entered the old Kansas City Law school and was graduated in 1900. Year after year, until his retirement, he planned to give up teaching and begin a law practice, but never could renounce his school ties.
KNOWN AS BUILDER ALSO.
In vacation months, Mr. Cottingham engaged in real estate and building contracting. He built several homes and apartment buildings in the Benton neighborhood, among these residences at twenty-ninth and thirtieth streets on Benton boulevard and on Brooklyn avenue.
After he retired he was employed several years at the Commerce Trust company as a guard in the vault department. Since leaving the bank he had devoted much time in the reading and collection of American history material.
Mr. Cottingham is survived by his wife, Mrs. Nellie Lucas Cottingham of the home, whom he married in 1900; three daughters, Miss Laura Frances Cottingham of the home, a teacher at the Milton Moore school; Mrs. Nellie Marie Benjamin of the home, a teacher at the Whittier school, and Mrs. Paul D. Jones, Columbia, S.C.; a son, James M. Cottingham, Jr., Westfield, Mass.; a sister, Mrs. May Padgett, Moberly, Mo., and a grandson, James Benjamin, 1519 East Seventy-sixth street.
Services will he held at 2 o'clock Friday at the Newcomer chapel."
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