William M. Brish

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William M. Brish
File:William M Brish.jpg
Born(1906-09-06)September 6, 1906
Frederick, Maryland, USA
DiedJune 1, 1999(1999-06-01) (aged 92)
Hagerstown, Maryland, USA
Alma mater
OccupationSuperintendent of schools
Known forclassroom closed-circuit instructional television
File:Washington County CCTV logo.jpg
Washington County CCTV logo 1959

William Murray Brish (September 6, 1906-June 1, 1999) was a leader in the implementation of closed-circuit instructional television in public school elementary classrooms. This interest came about because of his wide range of educational positions as a teacher and instructor, especially in the elementary and secondary schools in the state of Maryland. He held various positions as a director or superintendent in the education field in Maryland and other places. He also conducted specialized educational work around the world.

Early life and education

Brish was born in Frederick, Maryland, on September 6, 1906. His parents were William Wachter Brish and Katherine Devilbiss Brish.[1] He went to Frederick High School and graduated in 1924. Brish then attended Franklin and Marshall College and received a Bachelor of Arts in 1928. He also received a master's degree from Columbia University in 1932.[2] Brish attended Franklin and Marshall College and received a PhD in pedagogy in 1956. He also attended George Washington University for some additional graduate work in 1947.[3][4]

Career

Brish's first education job was as a world history teacher at Frederick High School in 1928 and by 1940 he was the principal of the Frederick County schools.[2] He was also a science instructor at Thurmont High School at this time. From 1940 to 1943, he was head teacher of the Elm Street School in the city of Frederick, Maryland. He was then promoted as an Elementary Education Assistant Superintendent of the Schools for Prince George County, Maryland and was there until 1945. He then advanced in 1946 to superintendent of the district schools in Kent County, Maryland. His next career change was in 1947 as the superintendent of the area schools in Washington County, Maryland. He was superintendent of the Washington Schools until he retired in 1973.[2] Brish brought to fruition the Washington County Closed-Circuit Educational Television Project while there. It was the first closed circuit instructional television in United States public school elementary classrooms.[5][6]

Brish was a Maryland counselor for the Flying Classroom that went to Europe in 1950. He was a member to the Ford Foundation Workshop on Educational Television in 1959 and the person in charge of the Associated Public School Systems in 1960. Brish was in charge of the new technology of educational television in Washington County and by 1960 had his pupils spend about an hour a day watching TV images given to them from a special studio behind the school system's main office.[7] He was a spokesperson at the International Educational Television Conference in London in 1964 and Ditchley Foundation International Conference in 1966 in London.[2] He was a lifetime member of the Maryland State Retired Teachers Association and the Washington County Retired Teachers Association.[1]

Brish became a specialist in instructional television for teaching elementary students.[4] He was selected by the United States government to assist in developing Nigeria's educational system from 1963 to 1969 using television.[2] He was in several workshops of educational television at universities across the United States from 1957 to 1950. He was an advisor to All India Radio in educational television as part of a 1960 to 1961 Ford Foundation project in India.[8][9] Brish was a director of MD-WVA Appalachian Educational Satellite Program from 1973 to 1975. Another of his jobs he took on from 1976 to 1987 was that of educational television consultant for the Appalachian Regional Commission and the Learning Channel in Washington, D.C.[4]

Personal life and legacy

Brish belonged to the Zion Reformed United Church of Christ where he lived in Hagerstown, Maryland. He died at the age of 92 in Williamsport, Maryland, on June 1, 1999. He married Rachel (Stottlemyer) Brish on August 19, 1931, and she had died in 1997.[10] Brish was awarded the BHS Alumni Literary Medal during his high school graduation in 1924; Landis History Award at his graduation from Franklin & Marshall College in 1928; and Tuition Plan Award for Outstanding Service to Education in 1960.[1]

Brish helped develop the Hagerstown Community College and its library was given his name. The William M. Brish Planetarium in Washington County is named in his honor. He served on the board of directors of the Hagerstown City Chamber of Commerce, Old Washington County Library, Boy Scouts Mason Dixon Council, the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, and the Boy Scouts of America.[11]

The innovation of educational television that Brish pioneered in Washington County became a model for school systems in the state Maryland, throughout the United States, and around the world. When he became superintendent of Washington County 20 of the 45 schools did not have indoor plumbing or heating, but at the end of his 26-year tenure one-room and two-room schools had been replaced by new structures. During his term the system began a kindergarten program, opened the Outdoor School and a vocational-technical center. Brish was known as a bookaholic and at one time owned over 12,000 books.[2] Brish helped develop Hagerstown Community College during its critical years and now provides a two-year vocational and career education.[12]

Works

References

  1. ^ a b c "Dr. William Brish". The Frederick News-Post. June 3, 1999. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Simmons, Greg (June 2, 1999). "Brish remembered as 'Great Innovator'. Former schools superintendent, educational TV pioneer, dies at 92 (Pages A!, A8)". The Daily Mail. Hagerstown, Maryland.
  3. ^ "Brish, William M., 1906-1999". Social Networks and Archival Context. 2022. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  4. ^ a b c Keefer, Greg. "Dr. William M. Brish". Washington County school district. Webmaster Greg Keefer. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  5. ^ Kane, Joseph Nathan (1997). Famous first facts : a record of first happenings, discoveries, and inventions in American history. Steven Anzovin, Janet Podell (5th ed.). New York: H.W. Wilson. p. 184. ISBN 0-8242-0930-3. OCLC 37499872.
  6. ^ "William M. Brish Papers". University of Maryland Libraries. 2007. hdl:1903.1/1573. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  7. ^ Nordlinger, Stephen E. (February 14, 1960). "Television Now In Classroom". The Baltimore Sun. Baltimore, Maryland. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
  8. ^ "TVs Role In Educational Is Explained". The News. Frederick, Maryland. September 20, 1961. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
  9. ^ "Supt. Brish To Return Next Week". The Daily Mail. Hagerstown, Maryland. March 11, 1960. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
  10. ^ "William M. Brish - Rachel Stottlemyer". New York, New York, Marriage Licenses, 1907–2018, New York Municipal Archives, Borough Manhattan, Volume No. 8. New York City. 1909–1997. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  11. ^ Simmons, Greg (June 3, 1999). "Brish, William M., 92 (Page B3/3)". The Daily Mail. Hagerstown, Maryland.
  12. ^ "Brish Leaves A Legacy". The Daily Mail. Hagerstown, Maryland. June 23, 1973. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
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