Robert SPARLING / Sarah Elizabeth KING

INDEX

[700] Robert Sparling. educator and lecturer, whose life work has been one of continuous activity in the educational field, is now principal of the Aberdeen school of Vancouver. He was born near Seaforth, in McKillop township, in the county of Huron, Ontario, August 8, 1862, a son of Edward and Mary (Smith) Sparling, the former having been born near Limerick, Ireland, and the latter near Brockville, Ontario, her parents having settled in that province on coming to the new world from Londonderry, Ireland. Mr. Sparling was a contractor and builder of Huron county, where he and his wife have made their home for many years. While he was long an active factor in industrial circles, he is now living retired and both he and his wife are enjoying good health, although now well advanced in years. They have ever had the respect and confidence of the community in which they reside and during the long period of their residence there have gained many warm friends.
Robert Sparling was educated in the rural public schools of Huron county, the Seaforth Collegiate Institute and the Model school at Goderich, Ontario. Turning to the profession of teaching as a life work, he taught for two years in the district schools of Huron county and then turned aside for a brief period from the educational field. In March, 1888, he founded the Algoma Advocate, which he published at Thessalon, Ontario, becoming the first editor and proprietor. He conducted that paper for two and a half years and then sold out. In August, 1890, he came to Vancouver, where for a short time he was substitute teacher in the Vancouver public schools. He afterward went to Seattle, Washington, where he spent a few months but later returned to Vancouver and in January, 1891, accepted the position of teacher of the school on Lulu island, where he remained for six months. In August of the same year he joined the staff of teachers of the Vancouver public schools, becoming first assistant in the West End school, where he remained for one term. There were then only four schools in the city. He next became principal of the East End school, in which he continued for a year and a half. In 1893 he opened a private academy for training teachers for the public schools, which he conducted for two and a half years during which time he graduated more than seventy teachers. In January, 1896, he was called to the principalship of the public schools at Vernon, holding that position until August, 1900, at which date he became first assistant at the Central school of Vancouver. In 1907 he was appointed principal of the Aberdeen school and so continues to the present. He is also well known on the lecture platform, in which connection he has won wide renown. He has traveled extensively along the Pacific coast, going as far south as Mexico and traveling eastward through the United States and Canada almost to the Atlantic ocean. His lectures are illustrated with stereopticon views, he giving travel talks on the Yellowstone National Park, the Yosemite Valley, the Grand Canyon of Arizona, another lecture called "From Ocean to Ocean," and many other interesting subjects. Many of these lectures are delivered to children in the public schools and before various young people's societies. Professor Sparling is widely recognized as a man of scholarly attainments and broad general information and is continually extending his knowledge through reading, study and research. He is a member of the Art, Historical and Scientific Society of Vancouver, the Archaeological Institute of America and is moreover identified with many interests formed to promote educational work. He is a member of the Vancouver public library board, is president of the Vancouver Schools' Principals' Association and president of the Coast Teachers' Institute, which includes Vancouver island and the Coast of British Columbia. He is also an active member of the National Educational Association of America and is especially interested in the development of school libraries. Aside from his activities along those lines he is the president and one of the directors of the Burrard Building Society, becoming one of its founders arid charter members on its organization in Vancouver in 1905.
On the 28th of April, 1886, at Wingham. Ontario, Professor Sparling was married to Miss Sarah Elizabeth King, of a United Empire Loyalist family of Ontario, and they have one daughter, Ellen M., who is a teacher in the Fairview school. In politics Professor Sparling is independent. While in the east and in newspaper work he was very active in support of the conservative party but now casts an independent ballot, supporting men and measures as his judgment dictates. For the past twelve years he has been a trustee and the treasurer of the Mount Pleasant Methodist church and he is deeply interested in all that pertains to the social and moral as well as the intellectual progress of the city.

- BRITISH COLUMBIA, From the Earliest Times to the Present, Biographical - Volume III, by Ethelbert Olaf Staurt Scholefield, Published by The S J Clarke Publishing Company (Vancouver Portland San Francisco Chicago) - 1914, Pgs 555,556

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