Robert W. Mantz is now entering on his fifth year as the first supervising principal of the Redwood City public schools. Beginning with about 300 pupils under his supervision the schools have now nearly 600 enrolled.
On the initiative of Mr. Mint is the first public school playground in San Mateo County was equipped at Redwood City and a play ground carnival held to celebrate the event. Also on his recommendation sewing, cooking and manual training in all the grades were introduced, this being the first elementary school in the county to adopt these courses. The Redwood City Grammar School now has one of the best manual training laboratories in the state, housed in a separate building, and is successfully accomplishing junior high school work.
The school has an annual exhibit in the school auditorium of hand work from all grades including furniture from the 7th and 8th grades. This exhibit is exceedingly popular, draws large crowds and antedates in its inception, the Junior Exposition of San Francisco by two years.
Three years ago Mr. Mantz arranged for an art exhibit which resulted in the purchase of $400.00 worth of pictures and statuary for the classrooms and corridors. The school holds the state record for returns from such an exhibit. Two new school houses are now being built to accommodate the overflow in the lower grades from the Highlands and Five Points sections.
The 6th, 7th and 8th grades are now practically accomplishing intermediate high school work. The perfect harmony existing at all times in the board of trustees and the cordial cooperation of the trustees and teachers with the principal in his efforts for school betterment -are responsible for the progress of the school. Before being invited by the County Superintendent and the trustees to take charge of the Redwood City schools Mr. Mantz was head of the mathematics department of the Belmont school for boys, W. T. Reid Foundation. Prior to this he was for several years professor of mathematics and dean of the faculty of California College and Academy, of Oakland, an accredited high school and junior college whose graduates were accorded junior standing at the State University.
Though born in Illinois, Mr. Mantz is an ardent Californian, having moved with his parents and sisters to this state when a boy and receiving his education at a State Normal school and State University, besides taking various Stanford and Berkeley summer courses.
He has contributed articles to several newspapers and magazines. Mr. Mantz is a trustee of the First Congregational Church, he is a Mason, an Odd Fellow, a member of the Fraternal Aid and of several clubs. He has two sons in the 8th grade and a daughter at Stanford University. His wife Mrs. Annie F. Mantz was before her marriage a successful teacher. She is now president of the Redwood City Parent-Teachers’ Association, President of the San Mateo County Federation of Parent-Teacher Associations and a member of the executive council of the State Mothers’ Clubs.