Luther L Wright High School - Hematite Yearbook (Ironwood, MI)

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In Retrospect and Prospect Arthur E. Erickson Recently a Founder’s Day Program for the P.T.A. was presented before a capacity audience at the Sleight School. The theme of the meeting was ‘‘Respect for Tradition . This is a most important idea, urgently needing to be observed in schools nowadays. All was not bad with things past, and much needs to be preserved for the future. In the Ironwood schools, after nearly a quarter century of experience, I dwell on the following remembrances of things past which need future observance, pride, and respect. The Ironwood schools have always had a nation-wide reputation for being good schools, with parents interested in keeping them that way. Luther L. Wright, in 1903, built one of the earliest “Domestic Science buildings in the United States. In 1907 he built the “Ironwood Manual Training Schools , with equipment and ideas far beyond the trend at that time. Then, as now, too many believed that those working with their hands deserved no training at public expense. In 1945 the shops were moved into the main building. This gave us a comprehensive high school, combining vocational shops, homemaking, commercial art, secretarial and accounting, agriculture, and academic courses, all in one building. The facilities of both academic and vocational departments are available to all. Since only one type of diploma is given, there are no second-class citizens in the Ironwood schools. Ironwood has always had strong, intelligent leadership in elementary supervision. This has given to the schools the final ten per cent of quality which would not otherwise be there. Ironwood has modern, fire-resistant buildings throughout the elementary, high school, and college levels. Military preparation of the students has not been neglected. We have had a high school R.O.T.C. since 1932, enrolling on a voluntary basis almost one hundred per cent of the potential number of students. The National Guard unit, which is very successful, is one of few in the United States connected with a college. The community college serves all the people, regardless of age or previous education. Started in 1932 as the Ironwood Junior College, it later became the Gogebic Junior College, in recognition of its service to the whole range. These are only a few of the traditions of this school of which we should all be proud and respectful. This is a good school and its only future is to become a better one. To do so requires high grade personnel, spurred on and supported by unselfish and intelligent leade rship.