Casey High School - Flame Yearbook (Casey, IL)

Page 15 text:

- THE flame: = CASEY HIGH SCHOOL TODAY The philosophy guiding those who administer our modern secondary schools must provide for an adjustment of education to a changing civilization. Education in the past has been primarily concerned with making people literate. Book learning that develops abilities to memorize, to read, to comprehend and to recite has been of fundamental importance. However, education today must be recognized as a continuous process from birth to death and not something that goes on for a few hours a day within four walls of a school. Education arises from, exists in, and will continue to flourish as a part of its surrounding social culture. It cannot be completely isolated from life outside of the school. We find our local high school attempting to adjust itself as the years go by to the changing social culture as well as assisting in the molding process of those who compose this social culture. Casey Township High School is not the same school which it replaced in 1915, nor will it be the same a decade hence as it is today. Changes are constantly taking place in all phases of its existence. From the older city unit it expanded into the large township unit for taxation and attendance purposes. From the smaller buildings accommodating less than one hundred high school students, it grew into the present plant capable of accommodating over four hundred. From the one building designed to care for academic subjects largely, it has expanded into two major buildings and two minor buildings. From little playground equipment it now comprises over twenty acres accommodating all the major outdoor sports, as well as a large and a small gymnasium to accommodate indoor games and physical education activities. The beauty of the grounds has been increased by carefully planned landscaping and ample shrubbery. The school plant is an object of beauty and worthy of display both inside and out. From a plant serving a few local children only, it now extends its services to both young and old as a school and as a community gathering place. It reaches out in its influence to attract students from many miles distant as well as to attract events and meetings of great importance to a large section of the state. Page 11 19 3 5 ■

Page 14 text:

THE FLAME Mr. J. Bruce Buckler Superintendent University of Illinois, A.B.; M.A. 19 3 5 Page 10

Page 16 text:

THE FLAME With the increase in agricultural and industrial interest, the constant shifting of our population, and the recognition of specific training, the demands made upon the high school program are much greater than those older academic and literary demands. From merely sufficient offerings to enable a student to enter college, the program has more than doubled the number of courses offered. The additional courses have been made largely as introductory to the basic vocations of the economic world. Youth must be trained to better find its place in the work of the world. With 50 to 60 per cent of the graduates never having the opportunity for further training, the secondary school must become more and more the apprentice school for the occupations of later life. At the present, the requirements for graduation are either college entrance, or non-college entrance; the difference being in the matter of mathematics not required for the latter and greater opportunities in the vocational subjects. The departments now being offered include (1) Natural Science—General Science, Biology, Chemistry and Physics; (2) Language—English, Latin and French; (3) Mathematics—Algebra, Geometry, Advanced Algebra and Solid Geometry; (4) Social Sciences—Ancient History, Modern History, Commercial Geography, Economics, Civics, U. S. History; (5) Vocations—Manual Arts, Agriculture, Commercial, Home Economics and Music; and (6) Physical Education. In preparation for the wider cultural demands of society to the regular curricular work of the school has been added the extra-curricular activities program. These activities provide that social training that is necessaiy for the youth to possess to be able to take his proper place in society and as a citizen. They take the form of club work, class organizations, team work, demonstrations in programs, development and display of special talent, athletic exhibitions, etc. Although most of this program is from within the school itself, there is interspersed considerable from outside talent that is both entertaining and instructive in the nature of Lyceum Bureau programs, special lectures, etc. The proper conduct of a changing program has necessitated changes in the personnel of the staff. Requirements placed upon faculty members and administrative officers have advanced far beyond those of the earlier years. The Bachelor’s Degree is a requirement for practically all departments with the Master’s Degree representing five years of college training being increasingly approved. The Master’s Degree is now required of the principal. These higher requirements are bringing to the student men and women who are better able to present their subject and who can better lead the mind of youth into future paths of learning. With increasing standards being met in material equipment and in personnel of the staff, our secondary schools are now given the highest rating offered by governing bodies. The State Department of Public Instruction, the State University of Illinois and the North Central Association of High Schools and Colleges have placed their approval upon Casey Township High School as a properl)' regulated and equipped school for many years past. 19 3 5 Page 12