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

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BIC BROTHER AND SISTER DAY This is the clay to which the lower school looks forf ward for some time. For on this clay they acquire a reatlyfmacle family, two senior hrothers and two senior sisters, tleliveretl, post-paitl to each particular class, All through the year this relationship continues as a strong link hetween the older and younger part of the Parker family. The Pet show, with jolly Mr. Worthley in his hlack suit and top hat, or, more recently, Mr. Meyer in the tratlitional white lah coat, cheerfully asking, And what have we here? . . . Can he do any tricks T' Usually the reply is that the turtle or goltl Fish can clo some tricks hut is too frightened now to do them. But whether Oscar performs or not, it is a gay and impor- tant tlay for the whole school. No one can help heing gay on the morning of the Pet Show, for every Parker- ite knows that the sun will he shining to welcome the clay . . . it always has heen and as far as anyone knows, it always will. inv- 2 gif' In fl 0qo'H .Wifi gf 1 sl7's.,x ll' X V r ' V if N 'E 'iw 3 5 we 'K K ' My ,gcaww 1? R R

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were also interested in a new type of education and together they decided to see. Mrs. Blaine offered one million dollars to Col. Parker to establish a school where he could carry out his phi- losophy of child training. The gift was accepted and an entire city block Cmost of which is this present sitej was purchased and plans began to take shape for the building. And so it was in September 1900, that the school was opened under the name of The Chicago Institute, in the old Turnverein Bldg. on Wells Street. Col. Parker was making plans for using the million dollar gift in the best way possible when William R. Harper, the President of the University of Chicago, in- vited him to transfer the money to a school on the south side, to be directed by the Colonel but connected with However, it was not long before the parents of the children who had been enrolled in the experimental school-Mrs. Blaine included-realized that this new plan was of no use to their children. The south side school was too far away for the children to attend. Mrs. Blaine, still wishing her son to have the guidance of the Colonel, once more offered a generous gift to him if he would consider re-starting the North side school and becoming the Director of both the north and south side branches. When the Colonel accepted gratefully, Mrs. Blaine went about the business of buying back the old site on Webster Avenue and plans were drawn up for a school building adequate but smaller than the first. Thus a sister-relationship was established be- tween our school and the experimental school of the U. of C. . gjjk ,..,ov ' Uqrzl and share the established name of the University. Parker and Mrs. Blaine discussed the plan many times and finally came to the conclusion that the experiment would be done under the auspices of the U. of C. So the site of the first school was put up for sale. Miss Cooke, whom the Colonel appointed principal of the north side school, and Mr. Ira M. Carley, the assistant principal under Miss Cooke, shared in design- ing the building. The doors of the new school opened as planned in

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September of 1901. The experiment was under way. Colonel Parker and his associates looked forward with one great hope to the future. That hope was, as the Colonel expressed it: To create a school life so wholesome and joyous in spirit, so rich in opportunity for all-around activity and social service, so compelling in its demands for indi- vidual initiative, for judgment that the laws of human development that every child will necessarily respond four years. That was certainly a wonderful day, but not as wonderful as it might have been. For the good Colonel had died three years before, leaving behind him many empty spaces in the hearts of those who had known and loved him. Yet, he had lived long enough to inspire those who had worked with him by his great hope and courage. And with that same hope, that same courage, Miss Cooke and the others continued carrying out his ideals. it ii A My 'Ht . V . PM N l-il eff' ' T to its influence and act from good motives and from good habits of thought and action. With this hope they continued and, in 1905, the ex- perimental school graduated its first senior class-con- sisting of one girl who had attended the school for This school, they said, should be A MODEL HOME, A COMPLETE COMMUNITY, AN EMBRYONIC DEMOCRACY. Through the years Parker has strived to become all this and in many ways has succeeded. THE MODEL HOME As the years have gone by, the Francis W Parker school has taken great strides in becoming just that. In few schools is there such a family feeling. All share in the common experience of learning. Teachers to the Parker student are not merely instructors, they are friends and advisers, and the same friendly attitude also exists between the older and younger students. Every alumnus will remember these special events each year in which the whole Parker family is brought together: