Bay View High School - Oracle Yearbook (Milwaukee, WI)

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Dr. Korn installs an S.G.A, president, in September, 1960, Lance Siian. With two boys of the 1956 team, Coach Mierzwa and Dr. Korn admire the Gillo believed the students' opportunities for good experience must never be curtailed. Creative Writing was introduced into Bay View for English credit over twenty-five years ago, cmd as recently as 1956 Dr. Korn introduced a Seminar in English, the first to be established in the Mid-West. All of these exhibit his courage to accept the results of educational research and his willingness to experiment. Special classes for the rapid learner did not wait for the Russian Sputnik to launch an interest. Special classes in English, history, science, and a double-track in mathematics are only a few of the special classes that came into being over a decade ago, all of these attest to that vision, that alertness to the abilities of youth, which have dominated Dr. Korn's years as a teacher and principal. Nor ma we for et his develo ment of a uidance s stem at Ba 9 View, which gives each student not only a homeroom teacher and several classroom teachers, but also a four- year counselor who is available at all times for s ecial counselin and service. 9 And lest you think that Dr. Korn's day must be heavily serious, let us hasten to admit that he has an infectious sense of humor and that happy laughter is every bit as much a part of office atmosphere as is thoughtful admonition. Perhaps that is why stage pro- ductions give him such pleasure. He thor- oughly enioys school-play and operetta time, and infrequently takes over the come- dians and polishes them off into laugh- Trophy, in Bay View's possession as a result of victory over South. portrait painter, Dr. Korn fairly glows. An ex- perience which many might declare trying, Dr. Korn declares a liberal education. Why? Be- cause he appreciates the artist and his scholarly background, but even more he appreciates his stature not only as an artist but also as a man. Dr. Korn's interest in written communication led to the Oracle Annual's taking first place in the nation as early as i927 and to a continuous sequence of annuals and newspapers, with no discontinuance even during the war years, for he Page Twelve Dr. Korn talks with English Seminar students about their semester proiects,

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who are well-trained in the fundamentals and who have a clear concept of the duties and the privileges of a citizen in a democracy. It is true that energies of youth must be diverted into constructive channels, or areas of negative values will take over, for it needs must be that energy will be expended. Because of his ability to channel youth's energy for the good of their country, Dr. Korn was made a state representative for the War Production Board and was sent to Washington as a consultant in connection with salvage drives and war-bond campaigns. But peace hath its victories no less renowned than war, and after the war years Bay View was never permitted to forget that youth can be trusted, that youth can make sacrifices, that youth can solve problems if adults will encourage them first and condemn them later, and condemn only when condemnation is deserved. Presently, Bay View students are establishing honor class-rooms, class-rooms in which all pledge themselves to be honest and speak up against dishonesty. Suffice it to say some adults are sceptics in this matter, but, true to form, Dr. Korn says, Let them try it. This faith in youth has led to the establishment of an Inter-High Council in which Dr. Korn has been a tireless consultant, sharing his interest in youth not only with his own school but with the high schools of the entire city. Nor are Dr. Korn's interests largely academic. As a one-time coach in football, he has continued to follow all athletic contests ln the presence of Ben Barkin, of Milwaukee County Finance Committee, and of Dr. Korn former Superintendent of Schools Milton Potter hands to a student the bond which carried the purchases of the school over the million-dollar mark. Dr. Korn leaves for Washington in 1944 to tell of Bay View's part in the war effort and to help plan the Fifth War Loan Drive. with interest. His coaching staffs have frequently declared he has that keenly analytical mind which has the happy faculty of evaluating weak- nesses and strengths of various plays and is invaluable in plotting strategy for difficult en- counters. And as for the fine arts, though he will say he has no real ear for music, he can discuss good music with the best of them, has a prize collection of record albums, and delights in every Bay View concert and stage show. Of course, Christmas carols are his first love. That's easy to under- stand, for they deal with man in his moments of doing for others and in his moments of apprecia- tion for all that has been done for him. The art of brush and palette sometimes disturbs him, but he does not hesitate to include modern art in the fine collection of art treasures that hang in the school corridors, treasures declared by authorities to be the best in the city. Having had the privilege this year to sit for his portrait in the studio of Joseph Cummings Chase, world-famous Page Eleven

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clown-laugh characters. Nor does he spare expenses in production. lf it's worth doing, it's worth doing well and paying for, he says. Royalties are gladly paid, and so it is that Broadway hits are frequently produced on the Bay View stage even before the legitimate stage bills them. But, best of all, is Dr. Korn's genuine interest in the community in which he has lived and worked. All but the first four years of his life have been spent in Bay View. Here he served not only as a teacher and principal but as a Bay View Advancement Association secretary, an editor of the Bay View Advance, and an historian of old Bay View, taking his doctorate at Marquette University on the history of the Bay View community. The committees on which he has served are legion, but most interesting to us who compile this biography in the year of his retirement, 1960, is how deep are his roots. Not only did he work in Bay View, he also lived here, here he brought his bride, the lovely Peggy Korn, dear to the hearts of all of us, here he built his home, here he educated the community's children, grand- children and great grandchildren, and here he challenges all of us to keep faith not only with yesterday but also with tomorrow. May each of us say as he did on September 6, 1940, and keep our word as ably as he has - I shall do all in my power to live up to the high standards which have been set. On Commencement night, January 28, 1960, Mrs, Loeber, Dr. Korn's secretary, enter- tains Mrs, Korn, often a guest at Bay View public functions. lfi F'! -cmnmzx ,, gt! Following the program in the auditorium, Dr. Korn and the artist, Mr. Wag- ner, stop at one of the murals on dedication night, March 25, 1957. Page Thirteen