Francis W Parker School - Record Yearbook (Chicago, IL)

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PARKER RECORD A WORD FROM THE ALUMNI The activities of the Parker Alumni Association during the past year have only in part been centered around the very successful dinner of the Association during the Christmas vacation. A great number of the Alumni were present at the annual dinner and were elaborately entertained by modernistic clog dances and monologues by the Alumni and members of the Senior Class, and friendly and instructive speeches from the Faculty. The greater activity of the Association resulted in the sending of a questionnaire to three hundred and forty-four of the Alumni in which their opinion was requested concerning their attitude toward the Parker School training. The results of this ques- tionnaire can be considered very gratifying to the school as a whole. By far the great majority of those answering prefer Parker training for their children. A few prefer it only for the grade school and only a very small number do not want it. The greater number stressed the fact that the advantages of Parker training life in its emphasis upon individuality, upon the close contact of the individual student with a faculty of high quality, in the Parker stimulus to intellectual curiosity, in the Parker tradition with its closely knit social life, and in the value of morning exercises for developing community spirit and contacts with many and varied interests. The questionnaire showed that the bulk of Alumni attend the three nearest univer- sities but a considerable number have attended easter-n schools and colleges. In regard to Parker's training for college, the great majority felt it adequate. In their college life, the Alumni showed by their lengthy list of college honors secured, that the school clearly produces leaders. They showed also in their interests pursued, that the schoolis cultural development very strongly affected their lives, and the cultural values established at Parker continued to influence them. Certain important suggestions and criticisms were made by a minority of the Alumni regardi-ng what they consider a lack of discipline in the school particularly in the high school which some felt affected their college preparation These suggestions Paga Tzunlg thru T1 9 3 0 , Q , .

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1e pri:-nl-giiaggi. ,W , W ,'...5.,,..,f., .,. PARKER RECORD Neighborhood Playhouse Where he was actor, dancer, writer, and impersonator. Later he joined the Grand Street Follies, playing the lead, and made this play a great success. Albert is especially well known for his impersonations and pantomimes. Doris Humphrey played the feminine lead opposite Albert in The Servant in the House. Doris, although she was very talented as an actress, decided to make dancing her career. Having Hnished her studies she conducted dancing classes at Oak Park for Eve years. Later she joined Ruth St. Denis and was leading solo dancer for several years. Doris has now founded her own school in New York and is achieving con- siderable success. Christina Affeld while at Parker produced and acted in many plays for the Forum and other school activities. After graduating she went to Wiscmsin University, but after three years left college to go on the stage. Her first engagement was with Sothern and Marlowe. For one year her part consisted of walk-ons, small dances, and under- studying. An amusing story is told which shows Christina's determination and love of the artistic. While she was with Sothern and Marlowe one of the leading men wore a hat which Christina regarded as atrocious. She braced herself and determined to tell the actor and see if he could not see her point. He was unmoved by her arguments and the hat continued to be used. One day the hat was missing, and the actor had to wear the only one he could find, which Christina had carefully placed there. After Sothern and Marlowe broke up she joined a Shakespearian company which made a tour of the South. She played two small parts and was understudy. Upon her return she became leading lady in Laugh, Clown, Laugh, in which Barrymore played. She acted this role very well. After a short time she went on a vaudeville tour of Keith's where she was very successful. Christina married Dr. Percy Davidson and is now producing plays at Rad- cliife. She always loved work and if there was time between engagements would take a job of waitress or anything, just to be busy. There are also many other Parkerites who have chosen the stage for their career and who have met with success. It is really remarkable that so many graduates of this small school have really become well known actors. It can be truly said of Parker graduates on the stage, as in every other profession, that they are leaders in achievement. CARL KROCH KEY TO BABY PICTURES Irma Lyon Virginia Gazlay John Redmond Lou Bailey Betty Henius Alfred Fischer Bernard Messinger Shirley Greene Lester Goddard i-iii Hester Hempstead James Lynch Joseph Kepecs Elizabeth Foster Josephine Pruyn Willard Jaques Meyer Resnikoff Virginia Beard Margaret Mayer Frank Bridges Marion Moses Eleanor Wahlstrom Jack Havemeyer Kathryn Risher Sterling Goddard Roberta Wightmanj Roslyn Robineau John Frankel Helen Roehling Arthur Galt Marie Nelson Sue Hartman Raymond Immerwahr Arthur Keller Howard Rosenthal Isabel Krulewich Richard Bethge Edna Krumholz Dorothy Dasch Doris Cohn Jeanne Baumgartl Billee Nachman Jean Diamond Paul Eckstorm Page Twenty-two -is D3 'I v Q YQ- if' 11930

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PARKER RECORD ,ji 'an were based upon a feeling of a lack in mental discipline in teaching how to study and in the training of pupils to distinguish essentials. The questionnaire showed that a great majority of the Parker Alumni take up professional careers after their graduation. The answers to the questionnaire fully substantiate che basic principles underlying the school regarding an individualistic training of a high cultural order, and heartily endorse its traditions. The results of this questionnaire should be of interest to every present pupil of Parker. The Alumni Association hopes that through the continued support of each graduating class, it may become a closer influence in the development of the school. It heartily congratulates the present graduating class upon the opportunities it has had from attendance in the school and hopes that throughout a worthy life the members of the class will continue to hold the school in high regard and friendship. ALLAN HEALY, Pres. THE PARENTS ASSOCIATION In days gone by, when school meant merely a place where children were kept occupied and out of mischief, the teacher would see signatures on the back of the children's report cards every month and thus would be acquainted with the fact that her pupils really had parents. Times have changed. Today every progressive school has its Parents Association established for the purpose of fostering close contact between faculty and parents. Science has taught us that modern education requires the utmost cooperation between those who have the child during the school hours and those who look after his welfare at home. The natural result is beneficial to teachers and parents as well as to the children. Teachers possessing greater knowledge of the home environment of their pupils, can more efficiently perform the diflicult task with which they are confronted, while parents acquainted with the problem the child presents at school can better do their job of parenthood Parker, as usual, has been one of the leaders in promoting the progressive idea of cooperation between school and home and for many years has had an actively functioning Parents Association. For the year just about to close, the Parents Association held an interesting series of meetings: On November 19, 1929, Dr. Solomon B. Freehof gave an address on Adolescence, the Age of Crisis, which was of great benefit to all of the large audience that heard him. This was followed by a reception to the new parents. As usual, the December meeting was Toy Shop Night, with the largest turnout of carpenters, dress makers, painters, etc., that the school has ever had. This unique event of Parker's affords a great deal of pleasure to the hard-working parents. At the January meeting Dr. Charles G. Obermeyer gave an intellectual talk entitled The Coming Reconstruc tion of Education. Many of the parents attended the intensely interesting lecture by David Seabury given February 6 before the faculty on the subject of Everyday Mental Hygiene, and at the regular February meeting, Mrs. Beatrice Ensor, founder of the New Educational Fellowship, spoke on The Focal Points of the New Education The grade meetings of the year have been more carefully planned and have mark edly improved in value to the mothers The most significant new feature of the Parents Association this year has been the formation of a Study Group to consider seriously the special problems of parents. Six meetings have been scheduled for the spring term, with people of prominence to lead the discussions. In conclusion, I would call attention to the fact that this Association exists for all of the parents, and it is felt that an active participation in the activities will react bene ficially. Our future plans are ambitious ones, requiring the cooperation of all Page Twenty- four P- -I 1441- 1930 7 3 9 il . EDGAR N. GREENEBAUM, Pres.