Manual High School - Mirror Yearbook (Peoria, IL)

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'Elie Mirror i' ' MR. E. C. FISHER Superintendent of Schools America is the melting pot of the world. Inter-racial antipathies and international misunderstandings are not innate: they are the fruits of false education. They' may be removed by true education. In the American Public Schools, young people are being taught to judge people by their attitudes in friendly co-operation and by their achievements in justice and beauty. Sow educated, American ideals will carry over, and the generation of tomorrow will turn its back upon racial discrimination, and men of all races will take their part in this huge experiment in govern- ment by the peoplen in these United States of America. -E. C. FISHER. Twelve

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History of Manual Since Manual has passed its twenty-lirst birthday and is now of age, it is time to record its biography. Few schools have lived more eventful lives, or have done more for their communities than has Manual for the South Side. At the time of the erection of the building, many people ridiculed its size, saying a half-century would pass before it would be filled with students. It was planned to accommodate about nine hundred, but before the school was twelve years old, it housed one thousand. Manual opened in September, l909, with one hundred Hfty students and eight teachers. At its head was Mr. W. N. Brown, a man of unusual ability as a principal, and with a vision which ever guided him to build years in advance of the methods of the time. The teachers and students who worked with him during the twelve years he was at the head of Manual, speak of him with deepest respect and gratitude. During the first twelve years the school Hlled so rapidly that it was found necessary to build an addition containing two large gym- nasiums and six class rooms. A cafeteria was installed, and Manual became modern. Although this school is called Manual Training High School, it maintains the same curriculum as academic high schools, but with, in addition, several well-equipped shops-wood, machine, and metal. The young men and women in business life, as well as the many students in colleges and universities, bear witness to the kind of instruction, moral. academic, and physical, that Manual gives. At the call of the World War, three hundred young men- students, graduates. and teachers of this school-gave service to their country. Five of them never returned. In 1921 upon the resignation of Mr. Brown, Mr. W. G. Russell was made principal of Manual. With keen appreciation of the ideals of the school, he carried on, changing and enlarging it to meet the needs of the constantly increasing number of students. Under his guidance Manual has not only kept, but advanced its high standing in athletics, and has taken its place with the best schools in the state in scholarship and general culture. He has been zealous and proud to preserve and foster the Manual Spirit , which is the most cherished possession of this school, and for which it is widely known. Of the educational projects which are the idea of this principal, one which has been carried out is the silent influence of fine pictures for character building. On the walls of Manual hangs the largest and choicest collection of pictures owned by any high school in the State. At the present time Manual is filled to overfiowing with approxi- mately Hfteen hundred students and over sixty instructors. In another year it is probable that within her walls will not be found the ubiquitous and down-trodden freshman, but that Manual will become a Senior High School. Only time can silently tell what Manual has meant, not only to the South Side, but to Peoria in general. -EDNA L. EARNEST.

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'Ghz Mirror l MR. W. G. RUSSELL Principal For more than twenty years Manual has been known in our city as a school founded on' equality for all. on comradeship, and on the expectation that each would give his best. This has been the chief factor in building up in our school a spirit that has made growth natural, and has gone far to do away with prejudice and class misunderstanding. Young people from all kinds of homes and conditions of life haue mingled as one large family with respect and affection, which in turn have led to helpfulness each to the other. With this spirit they have gone from our halls out into the world prepared to meet it and its problems as good American citizens. -W. G. RUSSELL. Thirteen