Jefferson County Online A part of the IAGenWeb and USGenWeb Projects Who's Who in 1921 & 1922 June Chidester

"The Fairfield Tribune"
Thursday, January 19, 1922
Page FOUR

NO. 43. (sic - should be 45)

JUNE CHIDESTER

Once in a very, very great while we meet with some one who, by concentrated, persistent effort, has attained his or her life's ambition, arrived at the goal set in childhood days. But it is even more rare to find a person who, having reached the aforesaid goal, establishes yet other more distant goals and puts forth renewed efforts to attain them. It is with no small degree of pride and pleasure that we therefore present to you one who has made a business of establishing distant goals just for the fun of climbing to them. Gentlemen, your hats off to Miss June Chidester, Jefferson county's highly efficient superintendent of schools, a lady you are doubtless honored by knowing.

In this column it has been customary, in the interests of exact truth, to speak bluntly of any hobbies the subject may possess, even though these hobbies are sometimes foibles. And, even though chivalric instincts would seem to militate against following this course in the case of a lady, never the less we should feel that we were untrue to our duty as writers of biographies which are destined to live in imperishable history did we permit our natural gallantry to obtrude in the path of truth. Therefore, it must be recorded that Miss Chidester has a hobby, which, abbreviated is "P. E. O." And these symbols, as everyone except the members of that very uncommunicative sisterhood knows, stand for Pass Education On.

For education is Miss June's hobby. Not education for herself, but education for others. For eleven years she has held the position of superintendent of school in this county. and for eleven years she has thought of little else than how she might improve the schools of the county and give to the children better educational facilities. Because she was a country school pupil in Blackhawk township, Miss Chidester knows at first hand some of the short-comings of the country school. This knowledge, together with her natural ability as an educator and her intense interest in her work, has enabled her to place the schools of this county in the ranks of the best in this or any other state.

Miss June always had the teaching bee in her bonnet. Back in the days when she was playing with dolls, the dolls were always her pupils and she was the teacher. Each was provided with a slate and books and were made to study in the playschool. When she secured her first job of teaching, out in No. 6 Penn, she experienced the greatest joy of her life up to that time.

But Miss Chidester had greater ambitions than to become merely a country school teacher. Her one great aim was to attain that field of educational usefulness enjoyed by a county superintendent. As has been stated, she reached this goal but has never been satisfied to just glory in the achievement; she is constantly seeking for opportunities to give greater service in this important position.

And, unless you chance to know something of the facts, you have no idea of the many ways in which a county superintendent of schools may be of service to the people of her community. Miss Chidester's warm sympathy for the under dog, her intensely sane and practical views, have caused her to be the pacific arbiter in many a community quarrel. As an instance of her extremely sane views her opinion on the consolidated school may be quoted:

"I think the consolidated school an excellent institution of great educational value. But I think it is a matter to proceed cautiously with and allow each community to work out its own problems to its own satisfaction."

Miss Chidester is practical enough to realize that it takes money to buy gas for her flivver with which she tours the county in all sorts of weather in the interests of the schools, so naturally is not averse to receiving financial compensation for her services. "But," says she, "the joy of teaching is to know that you have the love and confidence of the children, and to feel that you are doing something worth while for them in preparing them for the battle of life." Pretty good sentiment, that. And when a schoolma'am feels that way about her work school boards are pretty likely to insist on keeping her on the payroll.

"Just be square with people," says Miss Chidester, "and you'll find you'll get along all right." This thing of "being square" is another of her hobbies, and it's one she puts into practice every day.

And there is yet another hobby Miss June has. It is that she can't bear to see anyone suffer or enduring trouble. The happiness she has brought into the world in alleviating pain of this kind will never be recorded on earthly books, for she's a bit backward on the subject and never mentions it. It may be well to state right here that the cartoonist and biographer of Miss June has been banking pretty strongly on this good nature and kind heartedness of hers, or he never would have dared to have given her this publicity for her good works. For it there is any one thing at which Miss June shies it is publicity.

For eleven years June Chidester has served the schools of this county and, from what has been said here, it may be gathered that she had served reasonably well. She is heart and soul in her work, giving to it her best thought and endeavor. It hasn't been eleven years of roses, by any means, either, for even a county superintendent of schools experiences some trifling annoyances in the course of her work. But through it all Miss June has "played square," and has never forgotten to smile. And that's a religion which will win.