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

Page 15 text:

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:

Page 14 text:

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

Page 16 text:

Nay Day. For many years this day was one of the gayest and most exciting days of the school year. There was always the beautiful May Queen and her maids in waiting, watching the performance of original poems, dances and plays. And when her Majesty had seen all the acts, she and her maids would lead a procession out to the east field where several senior boys in behalf of the whole class, would plant a sapling tree. Thus each class felt that even after graduation, they had left some part of themselves at their school, planted deep and still growing. Tield Day in 7-farms 'Woods The Parker family- students, teachers and parents-would all troop out to the forest preserve for a picnic lunch and the tradi- tional games of baseball and tug of war. Invariably, some members of the lower school would wander off from the group to look for new plants and flowers. And every year someone came back with poison ivy, ex- claiming, Look at the pretty flower I found. Not too long ago, May Day and Field Day were combined into one event called Class Day. In the morn- ing, the same homage that was once paid to the May Queen is now offered to the Senior Class as a whole, and for our picnic the bagpiper now leads us to Lincoln Park instead of Harms Woods. Though some people miss the more rustic quality of the forest preserve, hardly anyone misses the poison ivy. Although these days are very joyous indeed, hardly anything reaches such spontaneous gaiety as the annual County Fair. Designed, at first to exhibit and sell the produce from the lower school gardens once planted in a section of the east field. County Fair is now a full scale carnival. Parents enter into the fun as well as their children.The school is decorated in gay autumn colors and the building is kept in tact despite the turmoil. Of all the events of the school, one day is devoted exclusively to the lower grades. This is the Christmas Party. The seniors give this gala affair for their younger brothers and sisters. Invariably, St. Nicholas pays a visit to the party in order to watch the games and dances performed by the grades. Some are reluctant and cling to their motheris hand when they are invited to tell their special Christmas wishes to Santa. Others, more courageous, want to sit on his lap or hug him. But somehow, Santa always sees to it that every child in the room gets a big smile and a popcorn ball. On special days like these, one senses especially the family feeling among Parkerites. But it is not confined only to these occasions. For somehow, there is some- thing special about the school that makes the alumni come back year after year. Perhaps it is as one of them puts it that tenuous quality of belonging-of being wanted. Anyway, when, every Christmas holiday season, the whole Parker family converges for the annual tea, one realizes that special something about the school is not forgotten even for those who have long ago left the school. The main attraction at these annual teas is, most certainly, our dear Miss Cooke, who goes about with her habitual smile, greeting all her family and never for- getting a face. A CGMPLETE COMMUNITY However, in a small school like Parker, realizing the first of Col. Parker's dreams for the experiment, being a model home , is not quite so difficult as becoming a complete community. Yet, the Colonel's school has made great strides in doing just this. Though everyone is recognized as an individual, stress is laid on working together. Many former Parkerites will remember the gardens that once grew each year between the portables on the east field and the auditorium. They were planted, cared for and harvested by the lower grades. In this way the class learned to work together on a common project.