Hammond High School - Dunes Yearbook (Hammond, IN)

Page 22 text:

The roots of the “Family Tree of ’63” characterize the administrators and teachers — educators whose goal is to im- plant into students the desire to seek knowledge and apply it for a fruitful life. In the comprehension of mathemati- cal logic and the complexities of English grammar, and in the magnitude of world history and the manipulation of business macnines, teachers strive to transform the arduous into the accessible, and the accessible into the applicable. As the roots of a tree hold the tim- ber erect and absorb nourishment for it, so do teachers anchor students in a fruit- ful soil of learning drawn from their specialized educations. And, as roots grow longer to secure more and better nutrient, so do teachers extend their educations to keep abreast of contem- porary ideas in an ultra-modern world. These many efforts contributed to the success of Hammond High School in 1962-1963.

Page 24 text:

MR. R. B. MILLER Superintendent of Schools Dr. F. Kenneth Feuerbach Principal of Hammond High School The theme of the Dunes this year, “The Family Tree of ’63”, seems to me to be quite appropriate. For example, there are many persons in many kinds of jobs or pursuits that make possible the wonderful organization that we affectionately know as Hammond High School. There are students and teachers, of course, but there are also cooks and custodians, secretaries and counsellors, an assistant principal and a principal. All of these people “live” and work at Hammond High School and, in a way, constitute one big family. The effectiveness with which this “family” lives and works together helps to determine whether We can achieve that goal which is the chief aim of secondary education in the United States of America — the prepara- tion of young people for effective adult citizenship in a democracy. We must remember, however, that just as “no man is an island” neither is a school building filled with the above-mentioned persons an island. No, we have “family” ties with others in our central administrative offices, with others in our churches and in our homes, and we have ties with others in our local communities and in the larger communities of which we are all a part. It is wonderful to meditate upon how far we can carry the idea contained in our theme “The Family Tree of ’63.” F. KENNETH FEUERBACH Principal, Hammond High School A tree consists of more than the trunk and branches. The tiniest roots and leaves all play an important part in the life of a tree. If either the leaves or the tiny roots do not function, the trunk and branches of the tree will not grow properly. When disease strikes certain parts of a tree, the hor- ticulturist, or forester, may have to cut out the diseased parts. In certain kinds of trees grafting may be necessary to improve the fruit or the product of the tree. The same application may be made to a school. The school consists of many parts, the least of which may be the building in which it is housed. The community, and the school board, may be likened to the roots of the tree. The administrative staff and teachers may represent the trunk and larger branches. The leaves and twigs, might be likened to the students. All have a part to play. The moral fiber and high ideals and principles of any of these parts will determine the strength and product of the school. A weakness in any one part may jeopardize any other part. Sometimes it may be necessary to prune out anything which hinders the growth. The fine reputation which Hammond High School en- joys after 76 years of growth has been due to a community which believes in good schools, a dedicated faculty, and a student body which has taken advantage of the many opportunities offered by the school. The Bible says that Christ grew in wisdom and stature and in favour with God and man. My wish is that the great family tree of Hammond High School will continue to grow in stature and favour with God and all men. R. B. MILLER Superintendent of Schools Admlnut iaio u