Gratz High School - Gratzonian Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

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ur Yesterda crlucating thc thousands that would cntcr its portals in scarch of a highcr :incl worth- whilc cducation. lfrmn thc tiinc Uratz was mlcclicatcml in 1927. thc school has grown with thc surrounrling connnunitics until. from an original cnrollnicnt of thrcc thon- sancl. wc now havc inorc than forty-thrcc hunclrcrl studcnts guimlcll hy onc llllllIll'K'tl thirty tcachcrs. Gradually all thc clcniocratic principlcs of thc outsiclc worlcl wcrc :uloptccl with a fcw ncccssary modifications. 'l'hc primary fcaturc was a stuclcnt govcrnnu-nt. known as thc Stumlcnts Association unclmr thc capalilc guiclancc of Mrs. Marion Wvallacc. lvnclcr this systcin. thcrc is a group of stuclcnts who arc clcctccl hy thcir fs-llow classniatcs to rcprcscnt thcni in thc Scnatc. Court. ancl Housc of licprcscntatircs- thcsc arc closcly niorlclcd aftcr thc l'nitcd Statcs Congrcss and Suprcnmc Vourt. Thus a ina-ior stcp has hccn takcn to procurc unity among thc stuzlcnts. a mlcniocratic unity-fa syinhol of Anim-rica's lihcrty and frccrlom. 'l'hc cntirc school connnunity was shockccl at thc passing of our liclovcrl prin- cipal. J. lillwoocl Calhoun. on lfclxruary 8. 19238. His intcrcst in school affairs had cnrlcarccl hini to thc hcarts of all. Mr. f'alhoun's succcssor. llr. li. Carl XVQ-rncr. has carricrl on our latc principal's work with gratifying rcsnlts. Dr. YV4-rncr is familiar with thc prohlcnis of our school as hc was fornicrly thc hcatl of our coni- lncrcial mlcpartincnt hcforc hccoining principal of thc Pcnn Trcaty Junior lligh School. 'l'hc first issuc of thc school papcr. christcnccl Thr Spoiliyllf, appcarcal on lll'Ck'llllN'l' 19, 1927. laulcr thc ahlc litcrary guimlancc of Mr. lidgar .l. YVilli:nns and thc financial dircction of Mr. Bcnjaniin Kuykcndall, thc papcr has niaclc tru- SIMON GRATZ HIGH SCHOOL sax we wg ,, MM W he 131.1 f ew gr, H is my -zz: vz fwsfwfz--Ml: -.M Lev:-wi. ML Q G 1 . mir K 2, , Q ' V sws ffT3Q.j .jg' f5i'i1.f'SSw:?sf2 . ' . -try ,At N f-? S13rsfbg Qffqiii iii ' - i Q., 14 IH . t X ,. L, Xxx' 'Ig-is X an ' tif-K f 4 1: f 4'

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'A' UT of the darkness of ignorance and illiteracy beamed a light of magnificent radiance-the torch of Free Education. The establishment of a free educa- tional system was one of the iirst steps in the development of America. Our vast country was never destined to be held. in submission of thought and intelligence. Every opportunity possible was given to Arnericais youth to prolong the con- tinuance of that liberty-loving feeling which is so essentially American. Among the educational leaders, who have given their untiring eiforts on behalf of public instruction in Philadelphia, there stands one whose work toward this end was so distinguished that he earned the honor of having one of the finest high schools in the city bear his name, Sinlon Gratz High School. The plot of land at Seventeenth and Luzerne Streets, was the site chosen for the new school. From these grounds rose a beautiful and modern five-story build- ing containing the finest equipment possible and provided with an excellent faculty of one hundred and fifteen teachers. This building was dedicated to the task of High! MAIN ENTRANCE

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All 0ur Yesterdays nn-ndous advances in both the quantity and quality of its material. For several years The Spotlight has been recognized as outstanding by the Columbia Press Conference. The nanie of Simon Gratz has been synonymous with leaders in every con- ceivable educational and sporting field. During 24--L0's stay at Gratz, we have been the proud recipients of the Public High Soccer, Tennis. Chess, and Basketball chznnpionships as well as the coveted Basketball Crown. Our Gala Nights have been rated as among the best student productions in the city. These extra-curricular activities have been instituted to offer the recreation necessary for the maintenance of a sound nlind in a sound body--an asset that is truly American. Simon Gratz, our school. has contributed its share toward breaking down the barriers of ignorance and darkness to replace them with the Torch of Free Edu- cation. WVe Americans have nourished that flanie and have watched it grow until today its brilliance lights the wav toward unprejudieed education of the massesi thc ideal upon which America was founded. MARBLE HALL V W ,Luis Wig. ' rm,,,,, L, , V mggggu,mm,,m K B, rm V