It's not always easy to get high school students to see the value in multiplying polynomials or solving quadratic equations, but Bennett (Ross) Taylor stressed the importance of learning mathematics and brought many highly qualified instructors to the Minneapolis public schools.
For 23 years, Taylor served as mathematics supervisor for the district and helped shape curriculum, wrote and selected textbooks, held workshops for teachers and encouraged girls to study math. After retirement, he served on the school board for 10 years.
"He was really obsessed with giving students a high- quality math education," said Judy Farmer, a longtime Minneapolis school board member. "He was very serious about students and about math."
Taylor, 81, died Feb. 7 at home in Minneapolis as a result of kidney failure.
He began his career as a high school math teacher in the Elmhurst, Ill., School District in 1953, the same year he graduated with a master's degree in secondary education from Northwestern University. He also earned a bachelor's degree in physics from Northwestern and later a doctoral degree in mathematics education from the University of Minnesota.
He taught in Illinois until 1965, when he was granted a fellowship at Harvard University. A newspaper ad seeking a math consultant brought him to Minneapolis, said his wife, Doris, of Minneapolis.
In that position, one of Taylor's accomplishments was boosting the number of girls taking advanced math courses. He often visited with teachers to support their efforts and started math clubs to spur students' interest in math. He won several awards for his dedication and service, his wife said.
"He was a man of generosity and committed to public education and particularly the Minneapolis public schools," said Bill Green, who served with Taylor on the school board before becoming superintendent. "He believed in the potential of every child and dedicated his life to improve the way kids learn.
Taylor retired from the district in 1990 and went on to teach math as an adjunct professor at St. Cloud State University and Macalester College in St. Paul. He wrote several textbooks that were adopted in several U.S. districts. He also was a president of the National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics. He joined the Minneapolis school board in 1994 and fought for equality for students of color. His signature touch during his time on the board was writing poems for retiring board members, which he would present at a member's last meeting, Farmer said.
Taylor liked to travel, ski and ride his bike and walk around the Minneapolis chain of lakes, Doris said.
In addition to his wife, Taylor is survived by a son, Ben, of Maple Grove, and two granddaughters. Services have been held.
