Our Namesake - Dr. Thomas D. Baker

Sunday 05 Feb 2012

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Our Namesake - Dr. Thomas D. Baker

Dr. Thomas Davidson Baker

(Excerpts from the Eulogy of Dr. Thomas Davidson Baker as delivered by Michael Kostek on May 8th, 1997)

Dr. Thomas Davidson Baker was a good man in every sense of the word - a pioneer educator, a humanitarian, - a devoted husband, father and grandfather and a man who made our city and province a better place in which to live. His untiring devotion to duty and his public spirit are attributes, which made him an outstanding leader and one of the great men of Alberta in the 20th century.

In the perspective of time, Tom Baker was a giant in education, in social work, in health care and in the area of care and compassion for his fellow man.

Born in Coutbridge, Scotland, in 1910, Tom emigrated to Canada as a twelve year old lad. Enrolling in Calgary's Haultain Public School he later attended Central High where he completed Grade XII. He then attended the Calgary Normal School, graduating with a First Class Teacher's Certificate in 1928.

Tom Baker's first teaching post was at Evansburg, Alberta, where he was appointed as assistant principal in charge of the Grade V to VII program. Junior and senior high school teaching positions followed at Leduc and Millet prior to his appointment to the staff of the Edmonton Public Schools in 1940. His first assignment was to Glenora School, then to Westmount and Oliver Schools. In 1947 he was appointed principal of Virginia Park School and four years later headed the New Queen's Avenue School, which once occupied the site of the present Board's warehouse. In 1955 he was appointed Assistant Superintendent and shortly thereafter Deputy Superintendent, a position he held until his retirement in 1971. During the school term 1967-68, he served as Acting superintendent of Schools.

Shortly after his graduation from Normal School, Tom Baker became involved in promoting the cause of the Alberta Teachers Alliance. In the early 1930s his Model T Ford was a familiar sight in rural Alberta on week-ends as he and educational pioneers such as Ray Shaul, Chester Ronning, Bill Kostash and John Barnett solicited contributions from teachers for membership in the Alberta Teachers' Alliance. Compulsory membership in the Alberta Teachers Association did not come about until 1936.

Tom Baker's contribution to education has been of great scope and quality. As a member of the ATA since 1929, he gave 20 years of continuous service in executive capacities including two years as Vice President of the provincial ATA. As Chairman of the Provincial Salary Negotiations Committee, he played a major role in the development of collective bargaining in the province. He negotiated the first salary schedule in Alberta to pay more than the statutory yearly minimum of $840 and he represented various teacher locals in conciliation and arbitration hearings.

Notwithstanding his accomplishments in the tangible aspects of education, Tom Baker served humanity in many other ways - with a special concern for those who had problems. Through his unceasing efforts, thousands of children have been aided by psychologists, social workers, therapists and other specialists. Programs at the W.P. Wagner, and L.Y. Cairns schools in Edmonton reflected in large part Dr. Baker's tireless efforts on behalf of less fortunate children. The Glenrose School Hospital, which provides one of the leading programs in the world, represents the product of his labours. Indeed his name has become synonymous with education for the underprivileged and handicapped. A colleague once referred to him as the patron saint of special education in our Edmonton.

Tom Baker's chairmanship of the Metropolitan Area Educational Television Authority, which pioneered educational television in Alberta and laid the ground work for today's ACCESS TV is also a noted accomplishment in the half century of public service he rendered.

As a crusader in the fight against cancer, Tom Baker had a tremendous impact on the establishment of diagnostic and treatment services throughout Alberta. For 17 years he served as chairman of the Provincial Cancer Board and in recognition of this services was named Citizen of the year in 1971 by the Edmonton Chamber of commerce. In 1974, his alma mater, the U. of A. conferred upon him the Honourary Doctor of Laws degree.

In 1981, Dr. Baker received yet another high tribute as a new health care facility in Calgary was named the Tom Baker Cancer Centre. In 1989, he was awarded the prestigious Sir Frederick Haultain prize for his contribution to the Humanities. In 1991, Edmonton Public Schools honoured Dr. Baker by naming the first junior high school to be built in over a decade, T.D. Baker Junior High School. On several occasions I was privileged to be invited to the school's annual birthday party for Dr. Baker. Usually well composed, his emotions showed when hundreds of students at the assembly sang "Happy Birthday" and paid tribute to him. He was always warmly welcomed at the school and I am convinced that his involvement with the school contributed to his longevity.

On one of my hospital visits with Tom Baker, he revealed why he took such an interest in those who were handicapped. As a small boy, he told of being a guide and mentor to his blind grandfather. Tom remembered his grandfather as a man of uncanny ability. Despite his total blindness, he operated a small store and sold a very special ginger-beer he made step by step, measuring out the herbs and spices and personally supervising the mixing process. Tom would read newspapers and magazines to his grandfather and help him but only when absolutely necessary such as picking up the shards of glass which sometimes littered the store's warehouse. Through this experience Tom Baker learned that handicapped people can do more things than many people would believe.

In later years, as principal of the inner city Queen's Avenue School he had first hand experience with handicapped children and children with learning difficulties and vowed to improve their lot. His mission was to make certain that all disadvantaged children, regardless of their deficiency would be educated in a tax-supported school system, and did everything he could to expand special education services. Through his efforts, the special education Department of the Edmonton Public Schools was the envy of educators throughout Canada.

During his career as an educator Dr. Baker also found time to involve himself in many civic committees and professional organizations. These included membership in the Edmonton Exhibition Association, the YMCA and the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce. His roster of professional associations included membership in the Edmonton Education Society, Phi Delta Kappa, Canadian College of Teachers, the Canadian Association of School Inspectors and School Superintendents, and the American Association of School Superintendents.

Dr. Baker' s accomplishments were many but the full measure of a man goes beyond what he did - what he was is even more important. Those of you who knew Tom Baker well will remember him for his flawless integrity, his sagacity, his determination, his clarity of purpose and above all his omnipresent dignity. Often, he was a man of stern demeanor but he was always a gentleman, even when called upon by the school board or superintendent to discipline an employee for dereliction of duty or some serious indiscretion. Watching Tom Baker conduct a meeting was a real lesson in precision and orderliness. And those of us who had the opportunity to work for him or with him will always remember his very special talent in communicating (in that delightful Scottish brogue) and telling us that our contribution was really important.

These qualities have given a fullness and a genuineness to his contacts with people, which in its value surpasses even the admiration of his work.

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