Karl G. Maeser

Karl Gottfried Maeser (January 16, 1828 – February 15, 1901) was a German secondary school teacher, prominent Utah educator, and a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). He served 16 years as principal of Brigham Young Academy (BYA). Although he was not the first principal of the Academy, he is considered its founder. The Academy later became Brigham Young University (BYU) in 1903. graduating in 1848. Maeser became a schoolteacher and tutored Protestant children in Bohemia for three years.

In December 1848, Maeser was required to enlist in the military for a two-year assignment, but was declared "unfit." Maeser had no major physical or mental disabilities that would have impacted his conscription. Maeser was the first Latter-day Saint baptized in Saxony. He and his family left London in May 1857; their ship arrived in Philadelphia in July. The Maeser's infant son, Karl Gustav Franklin Maeser, died as they arrived and was buried in Philadelphia. Maeser returned with Anna to Philadelphia, where he was called by the church to serve as conference president.

In 1875, Maeser took a second wife, Emilie Damke. He was arrested in 1884 for "unlawful cohabitation" and was charged with a fine of $300 . He also kept books for Leonard H. Hardy to supplement his income.

Brigham Young Academy

Maeser was selected to be the founding principal of Brigham Young Academy (BYA) by Brigham Young, as it had been run by interim appointments since its founding. The school struggled financially for some time and Maeser pondered going elsewhere, but a dream changed his mind. Maeser retired from Brigham Young Academy in 1892 to devote his time to his position as the Superintendent of Church Schools. He was succeeded by Benjamin Cluff.

Superintendent of the Church Educational System In 1887, Maeser proposed creating a Church Board of Education to maintain and supervise LDS church schools. The board was created in April 1888. Maeser was a member, and was later appointed the superintendent of the Church Educational System. As superintendent, Maeser helped establish initial policies for new academies established by the church. He also helped train teachers, and gave suggestions on the architecture of new school designs. By 1889, Maeser oversaw 19 schools that operated under the academy system. The board awarded Maeser a Doctor of Letters and Didactics degree that same year. He also continued writing in the Juvenile Instructor in the 1890s to clarify church educational policies. Maeser participated in the Utah constitutional convention after Abraham Smoot's death in 1895. He proposed an article to support prohibition, but later backed down. Maeser's primary responsibility was to head the Utah exhibit at the Mid-winter Fair in San Francisco in 1894.

Monitorial system

Maeser included the Monitorial system from Andrew Bell and Joseph Lancaster in his teacher training courses. This system suggested that more advanced students monitored the less advanced students and that the layout of a classroom should allow one teacher to oversee a large number of students. Maeser believed that this system was flawed because it focused on developing efficiency and disregarded individuality. Maeser argued that the teacher should have more personal interactions with students.

A song was written in Maeser's memory, "Come, Lay His Books and Papers By". The words were written by Annie Pike Greenwood and the music by L. D. Edwards. This song became an LDS hymn and appeared in the 1948 edition of the church's hymnal.

Maeser also inspired a sister-city relationship between Meissen, where he was born, and Provo, Utah. A public charter high school named Karl G. Maeser Preparatory Academy was established in Lindon, Utah, in 2007.