Think of Me: A Eulogy for Rose C. Swart

As a tribute to her many accomplishments, the newly named Oshkosh State Teachers College dedicated its new practice school to Miss Swart in 1929. The Rose C. Swart Training School was a fitting tribute to the teacher who spent a lifetime working toward the development of the training department. At the time, the facility was one of the six most commodious and best training school buildings in the United States. The classrooms of the first six grades were arranged in suits of three. The junior high was located on the third floor. The school had many conveniences, such as a large study hall with a stage and a demonstration room that could seat 144 people. There was a cafeteria, children's clinic, library and gymnasium with showers. In 1942-1943 the building was home to over 1,000 army air corps recruits training in Oshkosh.

As a tribute to her many accomplishments, the newly named Oshkosh State Teachers College dedicated its new practice school to Miss Swart in 1929. The Rose C. Swart Training School was a fitting tribute to the teacher who spent a lifetime working toward the development of the training department. At the time, the facility was one of the six most commodious and best training school buildings in the United States. The classrooms of the first six grades were arranged in suits of three. The junior high was located on the third floor. The school had many conveniences, such as a large study hall with a stage and a demonstration room that could seat 144 people. There was a cafeteria, children's clinic, library and gymnasium with showers. In 1942-1943 the building was home to over 1,000 army air corps recruits training in Oshkosh.

Swart Hall was opened in 1929 and was used for a half-century as a practice school for teachers in training. Today it houses the economics, sociology and mathematics departments, as well as a day care center.
In his dedication of the building, Regent Edward Dempsey, a man who lent his own name to an ONS building, said: Never was a public building more fittingly named. Never was such a tribute more completely earned-more richly deserved. Miss Swart labored herein the development of the department for which the building was erected. She gave to it the best there was in her and no one had more to give….Everything she did was founded upon a sound philosophy of education and a tolerant philosophy of life….Through the years of time that remain to her, Miss Swart's heart will be in this building an after eternity claims her because of need of another shining soul close to the Throne of Light, her spirit will hover over it so long as teachers and children gather within its walls.

Swart's heart for learning continues in Oshkosh as children in 1936 dressed for Good Bood Week on the steps of Rose C. Swart Hall. Present are "Jack & Jill" and Miss Muffet and the spider.

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