Hellgate High School - Halberd Yearbook (Missoula, MT)

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Elizabeth Taylor lias spent her entire career of 17 years teaching at Hellgate. She started with freshman social science courses and worked up to senior government classes, hut she returned to the junior level because she preferred American History to U.S. Government. “ l eaching is a great profession,” said Mrs. 'Taylor. “Kids are so optimistic and don’t have the oppressing problems many adults have.” Mrs. Taylor noticed the changes in Hellgate’s student body from 1957. She said she sees a major change in the students’ attitudes toward social values. “Students today are more mature, less easily satisfied, and more concerned and serious,” she remarked. Mrs. 'Taylor is looking forward to having some spare time. She plans to travel, utilize her culinary skills, and work with other hobbies that she did not have time for while teaching. Mrs. Elizabeth Taylor Retiring Teachers I Mrs. Pearl Felker After teaching 34 years, 12 of them at Hellgate, Mrs. Pearl Felker left the profession at the end of the 1973-74 year. Mrs. Felker, a member of Hellgate’s English Department since 1962, said she has many fine memories. She witnessed the establishment of Hellgate as an independent high school in 1964. She said she has always preferred this time-worn building to the shiny, modern Sentinel building. “Hellgate is like an old home that has been renovated. I’ve watched it grow.” During her stay at Hellgate, Mrs. Felker taught mostly freshmen and sophomores but also had begun working with an individual study group of about 15 seniors. “I worked with a wonderful faculty and student body,’ said Mrs. Felker. “I found myself growing more and more fond of Hellgate as the time grew close for me to leave.”