Englewood High School - Purple and White Yearbook (Chicago, IL)

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y 1., .M. .qsmmqunmnw6em-v-nm England . . . Face To Face By Alba Biagini During the 1953-54 school year Miss Biagini, of our Biology Department, taught at the University of London Institute of Education. Thus she exchanged places with Miss Butler. who for two terms took over Miss Biagini's classes at Englewood. It is fitting. therefore, that. having published Miss Butler's stirring impressions of America last year, the PURPLE AND WHITE should this year carry Miss Biaqini's lively impressions of EnglandeThe Editorst The purpose of the exchange of teachers internationally is to provide opportunities for observing people in countries other than one's own while they're at work and play. It is hoped that this will foster better understanding among nations. Vfith that in mind the United States Government sent one hundred American teachers to EngIand, Ireland, and Scotland as unofficial ambassadors of good will to take over for one year the positions left by that number of British teachers who came to A- merica in exactly the same capacity to teach tor the same length of time. What a tremendous experience it was for me to be assigned in London for a whole school year as one of the fortunate hundred. As a result this fabulous old City and the glori- ous English countryside have found a perma- nent lodging pIace in my mind and heart which time will never be able to wear away. Big Ben has left an oft-recurring echo in my consciousness, and the River Thames stiII tIows vividly before my mind's eye. A high school course in Eninsh Iiterature had given me a poetic qumpse of merrie oIde England through the qux; rind a bit of English history. My childhood rrmdjrw had in; troduced me to Robin Hood, The Knights of the Round Table, and a wide range of lords and ladies; but all this had not prepared me for the overwhelming beauty of the tiny land, for the sights and sounds in city and country, town and hamIet, tor the magnificent structures left by generations past. Above all I Was greatly surprised by the warm friendship and generous hospitality shown me by the Enghsh people, whom we misiabel as reserved, aus- tere and haughty. I am firmly convinced that Americans know IittIe or nothing about the British except that we fought to tree ourselves from dominance by their government in 1776-83 and that their smaII island homeland once commanded a world empire. THE BATTLE OF ACCENTS We think of British accents. It surprised me to find I had an American accent 777 about which I was teased constantly, but not without retort. We think of England as the land of high teas and crumpets. What about our hot dogs and cokes? By the way I introduced to my English friends the sharp delights of Wiener roastsi We think of the London fog, and III admit I was heartily disappointed because I managed to glimpse onIy a few respectable pea-soupers all winter! I expected pageantry linked with the 01d traditions, and happily I found it. I saw pages as it were lifted right out of King Arthur's Court, Ivanhoe. Rob Roy, and history books, much to my delight and that of other Americans. We lined the streets to view these coiortut cere- monies and traditional spectacles, in which present-day knights and royaIty partic1pated. Understanding Britishers stepped aside to let American visitors wriggIe up to the front for a better look. I saw patient and courageous people stow- ly but surely putting themselves up, after tour- teen years of meat rationing and thirteen years of butter ratioinq, and clearing away the last remnants of devastation left by World War II. I saw a courteous people 7 7 not merer polite, but genuinely considerate with an extreme respect for the older generation, for their lead- ers in government tregardtess ot partyi, and for their Royal Family, who set the pattern of gentleness and dignity. TAKE TIME TO LOOK A THING OVER The British are said to move at a slower pace than Americans. I think this is true but it stems from a distrust of all extremes as well as a reluctance to change just for the sake of changing. They are more apt to take their time looking a thing over and digesting it thoroughly, discarding that which is of no use and retaining that which has some value. They are determined and unshakeabie when it comes to basic principles. Their spirit of free- dom matches their love of learning and doing tContinued on page 47I

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Our Band Has Three Groups Englewood's Band, which is directed by Mr. Ziatniky is divided into three groups: C1 beginning group, CI junior group, and CI senior group. top section. Those who make good in the primary and intermediary sections are advanced into the At the January, 1955, graduation exercises the Band played Morning So Fair To See ; HPCICifiC Grandeurh' by I. Oiivadoti; t'Our Enqiewood by Espene shade-HQH; HBless This Housef' by Brake, and HMGICh of the Priests,' by Mendelssohn. ii : heazts and hcpes and spirits rendltxn gt fodithnGt cards at GAA. I'TJHY Joy With qtodness and good rheer. They even hke to tell the jokes and have C! few teachers Christmas Party in Decemtwei, 1954, the humor was CIS good as the refreshments, and that's laughs. At ike ice cream, cake and cetteee V ' Amt; 'he Chastmos Season, saying a lot. Teachers Christmas Party y. . w ffh h ,

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Englewood Players Chalk Up Another Bell-Ringing Triumph W'e11, to1ks, just as you would expect from their past performances, the Eng1ewood Players, directed by Mrs. Ledbetter, chalked up another be11-ring- ing triumph Oh the evening ot Ionuary 12, 1955. That evening at Fu11erton Ha11 in the Art Institute they presented the ro11ickinq comedy Mother Is A Freshmanf dramatized by Christopher Serqe1 from Raphael David Blau's nove1 of the same name. Specicd guests on this occasion were the members of the January, 1955, graduating c1053 They had C1 theatre party they'11 probably never forget. Members of the cost were Marguerite Davis, Cami11e Skinner, Edith Lock- hart, G1orio Smith, Gertrude Norris, Ehzabeth Jordan, Shelia Johnson, E1mc1 Heam, Pearl Scott, Lester Rocker, James Lee, Mark Upchurch, Leverne Green, Warren Icnes, and Edward Flanagan. The stage managers were Grant Gibson and Elizabeth Jordan. Scenes from MU Freshmen, produced 13,! the Englewood Pbyers, 1cmuory 12, 1355, unrier :he directmrt of 4 better. m, wry , MMMWIWW WW , ylwrwwmnwhxmwth