La Salle Peru Township High School - Ell Ess Pe Yearbook (La Salle, IL)

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ELL PE TRADITIONS N79 Q We , s . Trista msgs! .Wu M' lf'- aailr' Come all students of L-P. High, We will shout our cheers to the sky With our colors flying on high, Loyalty will never die. ERE at La Salle-Peru we have traditions which we fondly cherish, and rightly too. To play against St. Bede's in all athletic contests, especially football and basketball is something that we always look forward to with great hope and expectation. To us here at L-P. High, that had become an accepted tradition. Just as we patiently wait for the season to roll around so that we can play St. Bede's, then too the Thanksgiving football game encourages us to attain greater success than that which we now enjoy. The Blow Medal, given through the generosity of Mr. George P. Blow, is a traditional award and a very much coveted honor. lt is given annually to the graduating senior boy who has excelled in general athletic contests, who possesses leadership and character, and who has been of service both to the school and the community. The first award was given in 1992. The Old Boys' A. A. Banquet has been held every year so long that it has become a tradition here at Ell Pe. lt is a get-together for the football teams, both heavyweight and lightweight, the coaches, the superintendent, and an outstanding guest speaker is usually present. At this banquet new football cap- tains are elected and football awards are handed out. Traditionally speaking, as each season in its turn rolls 'round, one or another class or classes at La Salle-Peru High School presents a program Fitting to the occasion. Some of these are Armistice Day program, a Thanksgiving assembly, and a Christmas convocation. The honor of participating in the Chirstmas program presentation has been traditionally handed down to the Freshman Girls' Chorus, which annually presents a splendid program. Here at L-P. every student, looks for- ward to Tuesday afternoon, 1:55. Why? Because it is then that we have our weekly get together in our splendid aud- itorium. On that day we have programs, be it home talent or professional appearances. Every student who feels that he has any ability can try out for one of these weekly all-school home room programs. This home-room system of school government is another of our accepted traditions. Report cards are issued every six weeks through the home-rooms. Naturally, some look forward to this day with high hopes and expectations, while by the countenances and downcast looks of others, it is easy indeed to surmise that it is report card day. The sophomores at Christmas give a Christmas party for the members of the faculty, each of whom is presented a gift. Each junior class displays its dramatic abilities in the Junior Play. By the process of repetition it is now the practice for the senior class to present the Senior Play which all eagerly await. ln the late spring of the last two years the juniors have sponsored a party, known as the Junior-Senior Party. At this party, the queen, a senior, is chosen by popular vote. 15

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WE ARE THANKFUL K A :ss L-J.. V 7 I ff' r . V' I, --s ui.. The word progress lhas1'meant to move, go ahead or increase in proficiency. Year by year we find advancements made in every field of life. Some advancements are made slowly, others rapidly. Never- the-less they forget their way to the front to gain recognition. ln our community notable progress has been made in the educational field. The l.a Salle-Peru Town- ship l'ligh School represents proficiency in education. As an institution of learning, it has forged ahead and gained recognition. From a tiny school in the late nineteenth century to a well-equipped and well directed educational center-that is the story of La Salle-Peru's progress. For a community of our size we are fortunate to possess such an educational institution as l.-P. l'ligh. ln it are Fields of opportunity for all students, organizations of more than ordinary interest, athletics for sports-minded youths and an excellent faculty. l.a Salle-Peru gives the student an opportunity to malce friends,gain lcnowledge, cultivate person- ality, follow particular vocations and further develop his character. During his school life certain in- cidents are imprinted upon the student's mind, never to be forgotten. All in all the student thoroughly enjoys his stay at this school, and it is with a sigh and a countenance that the graduate leaves his Alma Mater. During the school's rise to prominence certain generous friends aided greatly. Through con- tributions the high school and junior college possess many worlcs of art which are especially notable in an institution of secondary education. There are a half dozen original oil paintings, several largetap- estries, twelve busts, in both marble and bronze, approximately thirty etchings, fifteen engravings, and imported carbon reproductions,mezzo-tints,and photogravures to the number of one hundred thirty-five. Through the generosity of many persons and the liberal provisions of the Township Board of Education we are able to enjoy a remarlcable library. ln it are volumes of considerable value, which are especially useful for research work. ltalso possesses numerous reference boolcs, some in foreign lang- uages. The Matthiessen Memorial Auditorium is another outstanding feature of our high school. Mrs. Eda Matthiessen and Mrs. Adele Blow made its construction possible, and it has been dedicated to the late Mr. and Mrs. F. W, Matthiessen. The former also contributed an Aeolian organ and a Stein- way Grand piano. The citizens of the community have played an important part in the progress of the high school. To them and to all who contributed to the high school the Class of '37 speaks with sincerity when they say, We are thankful. 14

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,THE ADMINISTRATION U I-IE AIM of La Salle-Peru Township l'ligh School is to surround the high school pupils in the district with that type of environment which will be conducive to the highest development of each individual. What is fundamental, and what is fad and frill in the curriculum depends on the individual that is being considered when judgment is passed. For someone who has musical ability, courses in band, orchestra, and music history would be fundamental, but for such a student excess math- ematics might be fads and frills. ln this highly developed industrial community, ecomonic con- ditions determine the extent of schooling. About ninety out of every hundred students seelc employment upon graduation or shortly after. For students who plan to leave the scholastic atmosphere to step immediately into business or factory, some subjects may be mere fads or frills while other subjects with technical trend might have a moreinatural and practical interest. I Indecision on the part of the student causes problems for the administration to solve. ln some cases the student decides to go to college only to discover that the college preparatory course Y I holds for him nothing but distress. This student alter a year or two DOCTOR JENSEN of fruitlessly seelcing interest in one subject after another finally finds that the commercial course opens a door into a more pleasant and for him as yet an unexplored universe. ln other cases it is the commercial students who suddenly learns that his chief desire in life is to continue on the long enjoyable path of education which will lead to a college of his choice. Therefore a change in course and subject matter, is necessary. The problem presented for solution to the Administration is to see that each individual receives the requir- ed credits for graduation in the program of studies he has selected. Probably the problem next in importance and awaiting solution is that of students who experience difficulty in their studies. After careful examination and research into the source ofthe difficulty the dis- covery is made that one student is struggling through a course because his best friend has registered for it. When the student has chosen a course that has no interest for him, he may create his own interests and thereby malce himself a nuisance to everyone. I-lowever, often times at the suggestion of an instructor, the student changes his course to one that holds for him more pleasure, then subjects cease to be just required worlc and become pleasant recreations. Thus valuable knowledge and a certain amount of vocational guidance is extracted from studies that the individual considers enjoyable pastime. At times hobbies develop out of these studies, and later the hobby becomes a vocation. For example,a person who derives pleasure from drawing designs may not consider putting this gift to any practical use until after he has taken Industrial Arts. Every semester new problems face the Administration. Each problem must be solved to fit the in- dividuals needs. Students are not lilce mechanical products all made on the same pattern, but each has an individual life interest. To discover this interest and to aid whenever possible in its development is the desire of the Administration. 'I6