Grab a cup of liberty! Let's talk about John W. Heston, a man who once walked the hallowed halls of academia with purpose and pride. Born in the United States during a time when core American values reigned supreme, Heston was a kind of academic pioneer you don't hear much about in today's, let's say, more fashionable narratives. Who was he, you ask? John W. Heston was a dedicated educator and administrator, primarily known for his presidency at multiple American universities around the turn of the 20th century. His stint as the President of the South Dakota Agricultural College (now South Dakota State University) and Washington State University left an indelible mark on both institutions.
Heston grew up in an era of burgeoning America, thriving on values that seem quaint by today's bewildering standards. Why care about him in 2023? Because he exemplifies what happens when commitment to responsibility, educational excellence, and national pride drive leadership. We need a reminder of what it takes to manage institutions that serve the country, not some disconnected globalist agenda. For instance, Heston was pivotal in expanding the university curricula to include a wider array of vocational and technical subjects. These weren't just fancy add-ons to tick diversity quotas; these were deliberate choices to uplift a burgeoning nation. He understood that a strong country required a skilled workforce. He made hard choices that forged paths for generations of Americans.
Why does this matter, especially now? The education sector today seems more interested in indoctrination than education. But Heston wasn't swayed by fads or radical activism masquerading as academic progress. Under his leadership in Washington, universities were incubators for ingenuity—not ideological battlegrounds where students are groomed to dismiss real-world challenges through virtue signals and hashtag activism. Heston's contributions came during a time when universities served their original purpose: to uplift citizens with quality education, not plunge them into debt for degrees that qualify them for little more than filling out online petitions.
During his tenure at South Dakota Agricultural College, Heston made hand-in-hand advances in agriculture and technology. He supported research programs directly benefiting local farmers and the economy. His work helped South Dakota grow more than just crops; opportunities flourished, and prosperity bloomed. In contrast to today's fixation on abstract concepts, he put tangible outcomes first.
People often overlook individuals like Heston when discussing American history. Why? Because his kind of leadership isn't the kind that gets paraded about in today's post-modernist narratives. His work isn't easily morphed into some grand tale of victimhood or systemic oppression. He was simply an unyielding advocate for education as a foundational block of national strength. More than a century later, Heston's vision should challenge us to look hard at our current cultural and educational pathways.
What can Heston teach modern America? Well, in an age where higher education sways with less regard for actual knowledge and more for ideological grooming, his blueprint remains noteworthy. A well-educated populace, equipped with practical skills and an understanding of national imperatives, is what makes a country thrive. Heston wasn't worried about triggering anyone. He was concerned with real-world skills, economic prosperity, and national success—much more valuable pursuits than the art of finding microaggressions.
While many from academia are either politicians in everything but name or unelected influencers of questionable merit, Heston stood apart by engaging in leadership that was steadfast and results-oriented. While lip-service masquerades as policy these days, he took concrete steps to advance educational reform. It's high time we reconsider how leaders like him could once again shape our institutions. America is in desperate need of a reaffirmation of the principles that made it exceptional in the first place. Just imagine the audacity to prioritize American interests in academia without bending to the whims of popular culture.
Sometimes a glance back is needed for a way forward—there is no shame in learning from history, especially if it features someone like John W. Heston. So the next time you hear dubious pronouncements on university campuses, remember there's another model rooted in legacy and actual contribution to the nation. Let's see more Hestons, shall we?