Edsel Ford High School - Flight Yearbook (Dearborn, MI)

Page 17 text:

On memoriam Mr. C. Willard Thornley (1906- 1963) Students and faculty at Edsel Ford were saddened by the loss of assistant principal Mr. C. Willard Thornley, who passed away this spring after a long illness. Mr. Thornley was a member of the original Edsel Ford planning group and had served as assistant principal in charge of schedul- ing since the school opened in 1955. Students who knew him will always remember him as an excellent administrator and a warm and kindly human being. works for order and efficiency Providing schedules and materials for students and teachers at Edsel Ford places many duties at the desk of the school's assistant principal. Among the most important problems confronted by this individual is the demanding task of arranging student enrollment, sche- dules, and orientation, in cooperation with the Guidance Department. Another duty related to student affairs is the distribution of textbooks and other work materials. Edsel Ford's assistant principal also devotes much of his time to staff affairs, which include teacher sche- dules and the enlistment of substitutes. The office staff, particularly supervision of office duties and daily bulletins, is still another major area of concern. An important out-school function of the assistant principal is making annual visits to neighboring junior high schools to address 9A s. There is no doubt that such tasks are of utmost importance in the administration of a large high school. Sharing the duties of assistant principal in charge of scheduling and materials at Edsel Ford this year were Mr. C. Willard Thornley and Mr. Robert Evans. Mr. Evans assumed Mr. Thornley's duties when the latter became ill. In charge of scheduling, acting assistant principal Mr. Robert Evans spends a great deal of time on paperwork. 13

Page 16 text:

4 Mr. Anthony J. Lawski, Principal of Edsel Ford, performs many tasks both within and beyond the school w'alls. His primary concern is with school curriculum and personnel, including such specific duties as curriculum improvement and teacher assignment. Matters of policy and organ- ization are next in importance in Mr. Lawski’s busy schedule, which also includes maintaining favorable relations with the public, as well as higher institutions of learning, preparing the main- tenance and equipment budget, and supervising the office staff. In his effort to continue and extend efficient school operation, the principal of Edsel Ford High School indeed has many responsibilities and obligations. The equipment in one of the newly-converted upstairs sci- ence rooms is inspected by Mr. Anthony Lawski, princi- pal of Edsel Ford. The role of Mr. Albert May as assistant prin- cipal at Edsel Ford almost invariably involves contact with a student or a parent. Working with parents and students concerning behavior and scholastic problems, enforcing school rules in all parts of the building, and supervising the testing program and the attendance records in the Guidance Department involve many personal and public relations. Also of great importance is the assistant principal’s leadership in school activities, such as student government, assem- blies, clubs and organizations, and dances or parties. Mr. May’s other duties include maintaining attractiveness and safety within the school and working with the office staff. Thus, a great deal of responsibility for main- taining order and efficiency at Edsel Ford rests with assistant principal, Mr. Albert May. Administration Assistant principal Mr. Albert May explains the details of a driver's training application to 11B Veida Stubbs,as Anita Megyesi observes. 12

Page 18 text:

English-Humanities Edsel Ford students and teachers alike speak with great pride of the school's English-Humanities program. In this unique plan, three days of the school week are spent studying English, one day is devoted to art, and one day to music. English classes stress both the literary style and the idea contained in each selection, which may be the work of a novelist, a poet, a short-story writer, or a playwright. Hence, in the themes written by students, the idea expressed is of prime impor- tance, although careful consideration is also given to the mechanics. As in the art and music humanities courses, students first study the works of others, then try to apply their observations to the problems facing them in their own work, whether it is a theme, a collage, or a wooden spoon. As a result of these experiences, Edsel Ford students are better able to participate in broader types of artistic expression. While preparing to leave school, Mrs. Gladys Blossfeld and Mrs. Jaylee Alley discuss the former’s paperwork which needs correcting.