University High School - U Highlights Yearbook (Chicago, IL)

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Volume Five The C011-e19,1j0f Nineteen-Eight The Chicago Manual Training School . A SKE'rc1-1. The Commercial Club of Chicago is composed of not more than sixty promi- nent merchants and manufacturers of Chicago. For years this Club had believed that the 'high school education prevalent in the country, which consisted exclu- sively of academic studies, was defective, because it neglected the education of the hands, and failed to develop the brain power resulting therefrom. The Club determined to found a school which should give a living illustration of its idea of what a boy's education should be. At its regular monthly meeting, March 23l'Cl, 1882, one hundred thousand dollars were subscribed for this purpose. It is from this meeting that the history of the Chicago Manual Training School dates. The Chicago Manual Training School Association, composed exclusively of those members of the Commercial Club who had contributed, was organized under the laws of the State April 19, 1883. The lot on Michigan Avenue and Twelfth Street ,was purchased Marcvh 28, 1883. The corner-stone of the building was laid with appropriate ceremonies September 24, 1883. The first examination for admission was held january 4, 1884, and on February 4, 1884, the unfinished building was opened, and regular school work was begun. In the meantime, June 25, 1883, the Director of the School was elected, Mr. Henry H. Belneld, at that time Principal -of the North Division High School, who had for years advocated the introduction of hand training into schools. To him was committed, under the general direction of the Board of Trustees, the entire managementoi the new enterprise. The Commercial Club contributed to the support of the school during its in- fancy, and in I8QI enlarged the building at an expense of fifteen thousand dollars. As the needs of the school grew, additional equipment was furnished. Money for the school was never refused. In a few years the school became self-supporting, as is shown by the fact that when, in 18917, the school was given by the Commer- cial Club to the University of Chicago, the Io-hn Crerar endowment fund had in- creased, by the addition of unexpended interest, from 350,000 to over 356,000 The names of the original Board of Trustees are as follows: MEMBERS. E. VV. BLATCHFORD, President. W. A. FULLER, Secretary. R. T. CRANE, Vice-President. TWTARSHALL FIELD, Treasurer. JOHN CRERAR. J-OI-IN VV. DOANE. N. K. FAIRBANK. EDsoN KEITH. GEORGE M. PULLMAN. Messrs. Blatchford, Fuller and Field were continually re-elected to member- ship on the Board and to their respective offices, until the transfer of the school to the University. Mr. Crane is the gentleman after whom the R. T. Crane Manual Training School is named. Mr. Crerar bequeathed 9,350,000 to the school. The Chicago Manual Training School was the first independent manual train- ing high school in the country, the St. Louis school being a part of XVashington 23

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Volume Five Nineteen-Eight For the tirst time in the history of the school, the scholarship ot the members of the teams has been such that no team has been seriously crippled by the loss ot its members on account ot ineligibility. From the hrst, the faculty and deans have taken a strong stand against ineffective eligibility rules, At no time in the history of the school has it been possible for any player to take part in school athletics who has not been above in his studies. At first. the stringent rules were fought against on the ground that school athletics would be killed it less stringent rules were not adopted. It is true that many teams were disrupted by the applica- tion of the rules. VVhen the players saw that the faculty was hrm in its intention of having athletics in the school which really represented the students, they began to study. Each year fewer athletes were compelled to remain out ot the games for poor scholarship, until this year the teams have in no way been affected by the stringent eligibility rules. The far-sighted men behind the athletics have been vindicated in their intentions, and for the nrst time athletics have been on the proper level. The past year has marked the hrst successful season of inter-class athletics. Since the formation of the school it has been the intention ot the athletic board to have as many members of the school as possible take part in the athletic sports, The school teams have been improved by the training the men have received on the class teams. Several of the years best athletes have been home grown, having found out and cultivated their abilities in the inter-class games. The tact that so many members of the school have received athletic training. instead ot just the members of the teams, is no insignificant fact in reviewing the schools athletics. As has been said. the athletics in general have been a success this year. when success means more than the mere winning of a title or a banner. Slay next year and each succeeding year witness such an improvement in athletic conditions in the school as this year has witnessed over previous ones! ZZ

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Chicago Manual Training School Building if