Frederic Lister Burk

Frederic Lister Burk (September 1, 1862 – June 12, 1924) was a Canadian-born American educator, educational theorist, superintendent, educational reformer, university president, and journalist. He served as the founding President of San Francisco State University (formerly San Francisco State Normal School). He lived for many years in Kentfield, Marin County, California.

Early life and education Burk was born September 1, 1862, in Blenheim, Canada West. His parents were Matilda Turner (1822–1905), his English mother; and Erastus Burk (1816–1897), his American father.

Burk developed an original system of individual learning based on teaching aids, like self-correction and self-drill. However his pedagogy was criticized by noted educators William T. Harris and Francis Parker.

Burk was a member of the California State Board of Education and the California Teachers Association.

He died on June 12, 1924, in Oakland, California, during a surgical procedure and is buried in Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland.

Publications