Robert Cushman Remains One of the Giants in Huntington History

When Robert Cushman sat down on March 31, 1938 and penned a short letter to then Superintendent Raymond C. Burdick, it’s doubtful he could have imagined it would lead to a 30-year career as a teacher and principal in the Huntington School District.  Yet, in the annals of Huntington history, the man affectionately nicknamed “Curly” by students is counted as one of the giants.

It was Mr. Cushman who oversaw the transformation of education in Huntington, including the opening of a large modern high school in late November 1958 and the implementation of a progressive curriculum and innovative teaching methods.  Through the post-war boom that saw school enrollment skyrocket, his was the steady hand that developed solutions to even the most vexing problems associated with programs and facilities.

Robert Adam Cushman was born on March 5, 1911 in Cleveland, Ohio.  He attended elementary school in Lakewood, Ohio and graduated Rayen-Boardman High School in Youngstown in 1928.  The product of an old northern New York family, in 1932 he earned an undergraduate degree at St. Lawrence University in upstate, Canton.  He went on to study at the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration during 1934 and 1935 before returning to St. Lawrence in 1935 to start a graduate program that led to a master’s degree in 1938.

Long Road to Huntington

It was while working as a field secretary at St. Lawrence, visiting high schools in New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut to promote the college and interview potential students, that the Interstate Teachers’ Agency of Rochester notified Mr. Cushman of a vacancy at Huntington High School.   Clearly intrigued, the budding educator wrote of his interest in applying to teach “economic citizenship” and civics.  He was 27 years old, 5’10 and 155 lbs.

“As an undergraduate at St. Lawrence I was active in extracurricular work, having been head cheerleader, manager of freshman football, circulation manager of the college newspaper and a member of the Glee Club and Alpha Tau Omega,” Mr. Cushman wrote in his April 6, 1938 Huntington application. 

“Every summer since 1930 I have been connected with Camp Dudley, Westport-on-Lake Champlain, New York as a leader and administrative assistant,” wrote Mr. Cushman in his application.  “Camp Dudley is the oldest camp in America, and is owned and operated by the NYS YMCA.  In addition to leading cabin groups each summer, I have participated in all forms of the camp activities.  My present position there is that of business secretary.”  He would continue the association with the camp each summer into the 1950’s.

Mr. Cushman’s interview in Huntington went well and Mr. Burdick notified him in an April 28, 1938 letter that the Board of Education had unanimously approved his appointment.  His salary was set at $1,600, the minimum he said he would accept, and he was assigned to teach ninth grade social studies beginning in September 1938.  He moved over to Robert K. Toaz Junior High School when it opened in 1939 and stayed there until returning to the high school in April 1941 to teach American history and work part-time in the guidance office.

War Interrupts Career

When America was plunged into World War II following an attack on Pearl Harbor and declarations of war against the United States by the Axis nations, many members of Huntington’s teaching staff answered their country’s call, including Mr. Cushman, who spent 42 months in the U.S. Air Corps, including stints in Tunisia, North Africa and Italy.  He was mainly assigned to educational work and earned a direct field commission as an Information-Education Officer.  He earned the Bronze Star medal.

In a November 2, 1945 letter to Mr. Burdick written from Bari, Italy, Mr. Cushman noted “It will be a real pleasure to return to my civilian work, and I am looking ahead to seeing old friends.” 

He was formally separated from service on December 24, 1945, carrying the rank of first lieutenant.  In all, he was out of his classroom from June 1942 to February 1946, when he returned for the start of the second semester following a month of reorientation back to civilian life.

Once back in Huntington, Mr. Cushman resumed his work in social studies and guidance.  In September 1946 he began working as an assistant dean at the high school and continued in that post until being elevated to principal after Robert L. Simpson retired following 20 years in the position.

Named Principal of High School

In a June 27, 1950 application letter to then Superintendent Carl V. Warren, Mr. Cushman outlined his goals, which included “greater faculty awareness of the best educational practices and a willingness to try some experimentation, more faculty participation in plans and operations, continued curriculum revision and re-evaluation of the Regents’ system, more vocational guidance and orientation, greater feeling of responsibility and pride on part of [the] student body toward school, its property and equipment,” and “seeking of some student opinion on [the] overall school program.  (Follow-up studies I have made have revealed some interesting student comments.)”

Mr. Cushman wrote of his interest in pursuing “administrative efficiency in the office of the school principal, more efficient custodial service, business economies throughout the school” and “more efficient administration of the high school budget.”

In the years leading up to the application, Mr. Cushman’s work as assistant dean included the scheduling and guidance of high school boys, teaching one social studies class and two years as department chairman.  By this time he also had served a term as president of the teacher’s union, formally known as the Associated Teachers of Huntington (1946-47) and could boast of a litany of committee memberships and leadership posts, including chairman of the Metropolitan School Study Council.

School Board members were convinced Mr. Cushman was the man to lead the high school forward and hired him as principal.  His tenure was filled with innovation and program additions, as well as the continued prominence of Blue Devil athletic teams and music programs.  Friday night bonfires, football and baseball games and track meets in Heckscher Park and basketball games and wrestling meets that saw huge crowds hanging over the walkway that circled the top of gym were typical of the era.

School Center of Universe

The high school was the center of town’s universe and when the new building, located within the grounds of the old H. Bellas Hess estate, was ready for opening in November 1958, a parade was held as students, faculty and the entire school community marched from the old building on Main Street to the facility still used today.

The new building had modern labs, a huge auditorium, spacious fields, generous gym space and expanded teaching areas.  Mr. Cushman and his lieutenants quickly went about remaking the curriculum to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the new facility, which received even more square footage when another wing was added in 1966.

Mr. Cushman was well-liked and well-regarded by both the district and the community.  Shortly before his retirement, Superintendent J. Taylor Finley wrote a letter to the principal dated June 18, 1963.  “I have appreciated the many, many hours of hard work that you have given to the development of Huntington High School.”  That statement summed up the prevailing sentiment held by many.

Sought Slower Pace

After an 18-year run in the top spot Mr. Cushman was ready to prepare for a change.  “The thirty years in District Three have been rewarding ones,” he wrote in a November 19, 1967 letter of resignation, which would become effective June 30, 1968.  “Working with students and teachers in the classroom and elsewhere in the ever-fascinating process of learning has been and continues to be a very exciting experience.  The impression I gained during my first few months in Huntington in 1938 has never changed – Union Free School District #3 strives to provide the best kind of public education for every child.”

He said he was retiring because “I wish to continue working in the field of education at a different level and at a slightly slower pace.”  He set his sights on a position at Columbia University, where he had completed courses in educational administration and supervision from 1939 to 1950. 

In a February 26, 1968 recommendation letter to Columbia’s placement office on behalf of Mr. Cushman, Huntington Superintendent Christopher R. Vagts wrote “he has much true wisdom and practical experience to offer,” adding “I can think of no educational enterprise that could not profit by Robert Cushman’s services.”  By the time he retired his salary was $22,645.25.

During his years as principal, Mr. Cushman saw the faculty grow from 44 to 116 and the student body swell from about 700 to 1,800.  His innovations included Advanced Placement courses, vocational classes, language labs (which lined the front hallway at the new high school) and team teaching.  He also served a term as president of the Suffolk County Public High School Athletic Association – the forerunner to Section XI. 

Lived out Life in Huntington

Huntington had become home to Mr. Cushman and his wife Jean and he resided at 13 Merrill Place and later at 16 East Elm Street while working in the school district.  He was an elder in the Old First Church and Sunday school teacher and he participated in many community, civic and cultural activities.

He lived out an active retirement, which included founding Meals on Wheels of Huntington in 1977 with six other individuals.  He was also involved in the Rotary Club and YMCA and was named Man of the Year by the Kiwanis Club in 1968. Mr. Cushman passed away at home on May 6, 1996 at the age of 85.  He left behind his wife, two daughters, Martha of Connecticut and Mary of Manhattan and a son, Robert A. Jr. of Baltimore.  A memorial service was held on May 9 at 3 p.m. at the Old First Church on Main Street.