Classical High School - Blue and White Yearbook (Springfield, MA)

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Teaching Takes A Turn. ‘A multitude of changes have occurred over the past 200 years of our American independence. One of the outstanding changes has taken place in the field of teaching. When looking back into the history of teaching in America, one can ‘observe the vast differences. In early colonial times, teachers were considered unproductive workers who were “necessities that had to be tolerated.” They were paid low wages and were usually the first item to be cut off the budget when funds became scarce. It was not until the -mid-1800’s that people realized the need for teachers, and the ‘first teaching institutes were open. Teachers of the past were not only judged by their academic qualifications, but were under constant scrutiny by the community on their personal lives. Teachers had strict rules to obey. Some of these rules included no smoking, no dancing, ‘no alcoholic beverages, compulsory and regular church attendance, no political activity, and no companionship of the opposite sex in public what-so-ever. Women teachers also had other rules imposed on them such as no makeup, the banning of certain hairstyles and fashions, no marriage. Time has slowly resulted in relaxing the stringent rules of the past. But the changes have evolved slowly. For example, it was not until May of 1958 that the school board passed a bill allowing married women to teach in Springfield. Today 73% of ‘teachers are married, and 5% run for public office. It seems are not only human, but that variety is what makes them so that people have finally come to the realization that teachers effective in giving us a well-rounded education. Mr. Baron McDuffee — counselor Mrs. Priscilla Skelton — gym

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Mr. Thomas Dowd — social studies “Robert E. Lee. My ideals are fighting a losing battle.” Dr. Jeannette Harris — social studies “Asa history teacher, I strongly believe in the value of examining and attempt- ing to understand the past, in order to interpret the present and plan for the future. However, I refuse to allow my- self to dwell in the past. In my opinion, that period of time is but a tool. I prefer to consider myself as an individual characteristic of 1976 and beyond. One grasps the most realistic rewards of life — not by leaning backward, but, by reaching forward and outward.” Mr. Robert Keough — mathematics “Ben Franklin. I believe in the quote, (Dorasilasaypano tasmlidond Mr. Edward Lundrigan — science “Thomas Jefferson. I feel as he did, that our country needs a constitution to free man from the continually grasp- ing bonds of greed and injustice. (De- mocracy is possible only if we recruit capable and dedicated people to serve the needs of the common good.)” Mr. Baron McDuffee — counselor “In some ways, I envy the settler who was independent and self-sufficient. I guess this would be rather typical of those who might feel that life was bet- ter when less complex.” Mrs. Priscilla Skelton — gym “The one historical character that I can easily identify with is Martha Jane Ca- nary Burke. I find many similarities with her, and to pick out just one What Character In History Do You Identify With? Mr. Thomas Dowd — social studies fe Dr. Jeannette Harris — social studies would be impossible. Here are just a few reasons why | am one of her favor-| ite fans. A skilled horsewoman and an. expert with a rifle, she served our coun-. try as a scout for the cavalry. She was a heroine in an emergency outbreak of small pox in South Dakota. She lived in. Missouri and was a great lover of ani- mals. However, my two favorite rea- sons for admiring her are 1.) She was patriotic, marrying not for love but for the benefit of her town. 2.) I can appre- ciate her spunk, her character, her out- wardness, her joy of life, her variety of emotion, but most of all, her awkward- ness, thus bringing us to her most common name, Calamity Jane.” Mrs. Cathlene Smith — clerk “In this year of bicentenial, I am sure the students identify me with Betsy Ross.” Mr. Adam Montagna — custodian “Reddy Kilowatt. I like his ‘Z’ body shape.” Mr. Edward Lundrigan — science

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Mr. Arthur Barnes — English “When I was in high school, things were different than they are now, but people were the same. Students tend to mold themselves to the time they know and understand best, the present. “One the other hand the faculty must change with the times in order to meet the ever changing needs of the stu- dents. For some this adjustment is more difficult than it is for others.” Mrs. Barbara Bowen — social studies “No, not really. We students took our required subjects like English and U.S. History with grudging grace. We achieved at least one day of truancy each year, and we rowdily followed our school’s basketball team. The town was too poor to afford football.” Mr. John Christie — music “I find that the similarities between high school students of today and those of my own time far outnumber the differences.” Mrs. Nancy Duffy - language “When I was in high school, school spirit was prevalent everywhere. Clubs were crowded and active. Pep rallies were full of pep. There were always buses to away games filled with cheer- ing fans. Students supported their school all the time. It’s a shame all that has changed.” Mr. Armen Jermakian — mathematics “Ice cream parlours, soda fountains in drug stores, and excellent movies.” Miss Velma Jordan — home economics “My high school days were quite en- joyable for that time period. One per- son made a big impression in my life. My high school home economics teacher inspired me to the profession I now work in.” Mr. Euclid Lague — language “During my high school days, many students did not finish high school, not because they voluntarily dropped out, but because they had to go to work at sixteen to help support their families because of poor economic conditions. Those students who graduated from high school generally considered it a privilege to be able to get an education and did not consider it a distasteful ae as too many young people do to- ay.” Mr. Robert Smith — science “The double sessions, going to school from one p.m. to five p.m. for two years.” Mr. Robert Stevens — mathematics “When I look around the cities and towns, I see no more ice cream parlours where the young people congregated for a coke or a frappe. Also missing from the scene is the ‘hot-rodder’ with his homemade car.” Mr. James Walsh — counselor “I am especially impressed with the greater degree of maturity exhibited by What Do You Remember Most About Your High School Days? Mr. Arthur Barnes - English 24 Mr. John Christie — music Mrs. Nancy Duffy — language today’s high school students. The problems that confront them are much more troublesome and require greater maturity than when I attended high school.” Mrs. Jeanne Wessman - language “In at least two respects, Classical High School today bears little resemblance to the Classical of my high school days. “There were only three grades here in my time, and fewer than three hundred students in each class! The whole stu- dent body could meet in the audito- rium. This made for tremendous school spirit. ‘Moreover, at that time, every entering student was in the college preparatory course. While some dropped back into the general course by eleventh or twelfth grade, the majority of students graduated with a college preparatory diploma. This was truly a classical high school during my high school days.” Mr. Armen Jermakian — math