Monroe High School - Milestone Yearbook (Portland, OR)

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The MILESTONE 1968 GRADUATES 10 FACULTY 28 CLASSES 38 ACTIVITIES 56 STUDENTS 90 3

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THE JAMES MONROE HIGH SCHOOL WHEREAS: It has been the custom generally of the Portland Public Schools to name its high schools after the great personages of American history, thus honoring them as well as the il- lustrious names which have been selected; and WHEREAS: The great Americans, whose careers have served to inspire the schools named for them, were chosen without regard to political affiliation but rather because of outstanding service in the history of our country; and WHEREAS: JAMES MONROE, fifth President of the United States, during his two terms of office brought to the White House an unswerving courage and a single minded devotion to the public welfare that cut across party lines and selfish interests; and WHEREAS: Association with the name of JAMES MONROE should serve to fill the minds of all students with ideals of patriotic service performed in the highest traditions of our American heritage; therefore BE IT RESOLVED: That the comprehensive high school which has been developed to re- place the specialized secondary school, formerly known as Girls Polytechnic High School, be named the JAMES MONROE HIGH SCHOOL; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That appropriate ceremonies be conducted to dedicate the school to the ideals of public service which JAMES MONROE exemplified; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the effective date of this action be Monday, January 1, 1968. JAMES MONROE HIGH SCHOOL FORMERLY GIRLS POLYTECHNIC HIGH SCHOOL PORTLAND, OREGON

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A good name is rather to he chosen than great riches. PROV. XXII, I. J his year the students, faculty, parents, and alumnae of the former Girls Polytechnic High School did just that . . . they chose a good name, James Monroe High School, a new name for a well established school in Portland, but one for which the entire conception has changed since it was first founded in 1909 as a trade school. Now our school provides a full general education comparable to that of any city high school plus the added opportunity for specialization in several fields. In keeping with this change in the course of study, students and faculty have for some time discussed a name which would denote its changing role in the com- munity. Thomas Jefferson said of James Monroe, ‘‘He was so honest, if you turned his soul inside out, you couldn’t find one spot on it.” He served his country long and well as a diplomat and a statesman. For his second term of office as president, Monroe received all the electoral votes except one which was withheld from him only because a delegate from New York said that no president other than Washington should have the honor of being elected unanimously. He is best remembered for the Monroe Doctrine, a great contribution to America’s foreign policy, which is still in effect. His administration was referred to by his political oppon- ents as an “era of good feeling” which cut across party lines and selfish interests, certainly an admirable goal for any school to attain. Despite the flurry of activity attendant on the name change, it was business as usual at James Monroe. A combination of academic and extra curricular activities, in carefully proportioned amounts, is necessary for a well rounded high school career. 1 he academic aspect is undoubtedly the most important. The courses we take and our degree of success in them determine, to a great extent, our post-high school life. Here the academic program is more extensive and varied than that of other Portland high schools. The distinctive high school program here enables a girl to, on graduation, choose either a career in her major field or further her education in college. The library, which houses more books per student than any other Portland school’s, is the source of valuable information which supplements classroom materials.