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

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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.

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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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