New Trier Township High School - Echoes Yearbook (Winnetka, IL)

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MUSIC - ART - HEALTH - LIBRARY- MUSIIIIILIIGY MUSIC Thirty-two years of history lie behind the beautiful drama-music building. It was through the inspir- ing leadership of Mr. and Mrs. Homer Cotton that New Trier's Music Department became what it is today. When Mr. Cotton came to this school as an English teacher in 1915, our music department con- sisted of a small glee club and or- chestra. This was soon changed, for Mr. Cotton had a great desire to fully develop music at New Trier. When he passed away in 1918 his wife, Mama Cot- ton, carried on his unfinished job. The year 1919 marked the beginning of Gilbert and Sullivan operettas at our school. Even the boys, who had thus far left music to the girls, were stimulated into participation. These operettas and the Christmas and Spring Festivals turned the North Shore's interest to- wards the music department. Music classes were transferred from the old engine room to the 2nd floor of the Industrial Arts Building. Finally, in the spring of 1950, together with her staff and over a thousand students, Mama Cotton moved into the long-awaited drama-music building. ART The Art Department began in 1901, with Miss Olive Grover as its head, until 1935, when it came under the auspices of Miss Catherine Murphy. The art studios on the fourth floor are the fourth location the Art Depart- ment has had. In 1901 the studio was located on the first floor of the main building, in the space now occupied by the superintendent's office. The studio was used for other classes and as a biology museum. Out of New Trier's seventy-two students, at the time, fifteen were enrolled in the Art Department. Even then, as now, art was a popular and educational course. T SCHUMACHER LIBRARY The original location of the New Trier Library was ir the assembly hall, at that time on the second floor of the main building. 1,200 volumes were kept in the back of the combination library-study hall, and books could be taken out only overnight. In 1912, the library was moved to the Re istrar's Offices' present locale, There books were cfassified and catalogued. Mary S. King, the first fulltime librar- ian, came in 1913. The library was moved for the second time in about 1924. The new location was rooms 201 and 202, then connected by an archway. Miss Libbey, our present head librarian, came in 1928, when the library had grown to 9,000 volumes. In 1934 the library was moved to its present site, which, had served as the boys' gym. The running track was levelled to make a balcony where books, tables, and chairs now stand. Thus, New Trier' has developed a well-equipped library, which now has over 13,900 volumes. HEALTH In the early days at New Trier the first aid work was done by the teachers, mainly by Miss Elizabeth Packer and Miss Olive Grover. The influenza epidemic of 1917-18 brought the need of a full time nurse to the attention of the School Board who employed at first one nurse, then later, two, Mrs. Schoenenberger and Mrs. Hendrick are the present capable nurses. - MUSICOLOGY Started twelve years ago as an independent division, New Trier's Musicology division is probably its most unique. Mrs. Kidd, its director, joined the faculty after her occasional lectures here. Under her supervision, the Musicology division integrated music with English, History, and Foreign Languages. These classes meet with Mrs. Kidd once every two or three weeks so that students may realize the importance of music as related to many other subjects. MURPHY cAseu.A FEARHEILEYIL' A 'HOLLAND sum-I ' ' 'STENVALLHM . AI LN. , Na, D.. ..-..-...-.. KIDD 5 .lrlflfr I ri'i T1 . V-Eg -I V I 1' M 45 r. Page 2I

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., ml, FOREIGN LANGUAGE ' EISLER Y LGVQREY McDOWELL MOELLERLV A 'r MORRIS V PATTERSON PAUL The foreign languages are popular with New Trier students, and many of them con- tinue their particular language in college. In fact, they find that their preparation is so thorough that they are put into advanced classes in college. New Trier has not always had a Foreign Language Department, as such. Originally, there were merely separate classes in which the foreign languages were taught. As the school grew, separate language departments were formed: Latin, French, German, and Spanish. New Trier began with a large en- rollment in Latin and French, a fair Spanish group, and some'classes in German. It is interesting to note that Greek was also a part of the language curriculum in the early years of the school. Following World War Il, Spanish became and is today the most popular language offered. At the present time, the Foreign Language Department contains sixteen teachers, f six Spanish, five Latin, four French, and one Germanj teaching seventy language classes, with a total of approximately 1800 students. Miss Elizabeth E. Packer was, at first. Page 20 New Trier's only Latin teacher. Later, she became Department head of Latin, Dean of Girls, assistant Principal, and, for a time, Principal. W Miss Shaw and Miss Brady, teachers of Latin, and Mrs. Collins, teacher of French, retired recently. Dr. Small, present head of the Foreign Language Department, came to New Trier in 1913. At first, Dr, Small taught both Latin and English classes, and a Greek class. At the time of the definite formation of departments, all the foreign languages were combined into one department under Dr. Small's chairmanship. From time, to time, special courses are created by the department to meet certain needs. Such courses have been the Spanish Life course for those who wish to know more about South American life. Mrs. Collins con- ducted a special extensive reading course in French work for advanced students. The Foreign Language Department has grown and expanded to meet the needs of the student body, and it will undoubtedly cons tinue to do so for another Hfty years.

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PHYSICAL EDUCATION Every year New Trier is visited by many people who come to see the physical education plant and program. In 1908, Ray Albertson and Miss Velna Yeaw headed the program. Class work was Optional, but a fair percentage of the students turned out for the school teams. New Trier's first gymnasium had no locker rooms and only one shower bath. lt was on the second floor of the main building, over the present radio room, and was only 35 feet by 50 feet. The east wing of the building, which now houses the library, study halls, and the South Gymnasium, was built in 1913. Containing the wOrld's first high school swimming pool, it was considered one of the finest physical education plants in the country. Also in 1913, a new field, which now serves for girls' sports, was added to the plant. The girls then used a small play Held now occupied by Our four tennis courts. K BOULTON ABBOTT BYRNE KING 'W . f it-P. A 1' . PETERSON SANWICK VAN HORN vEAcH CHILDS . 'CRAMLET FRANTZBN eiAl,LOMsARoo A tremendous interest in athletics resulted from the new athletic plant. The school was represented by teams in football, baseball, bas- ketball, swimming, track, soccer, tennis, and golf. New Trier was one of the twelve original schools in the Chicago Suburban League. Through the years New Trier has had a line lntra-Mural sports program, under the direction of Mr. Showley. Daily participation in physical education classes is required of all boys. They receive coaching in nearly all sports, physical fitness drills, social and square dancing, and roller skating. Under the instruction of Ioe Giallombardo, boys also receive gymnastic training. Girls' physical education activities have also advanced throughout the years. In 1915 four years Of physical training became a graduation requirement. Miss Goodman was department head in 1920, and was succeeded by Miss May Fogg in 1925, who served for over ten years. Miss Iris Boulton became Head of the Depart- ment in February, 1936. 1928-29 was an excit- ing year, because the Leslie Gates Gymnasium was completed. Now that more space was available, the physical education program ex- panded and many activities were added, from the present posture program, initiated in 1930. to the coeducational social dancing, games, and square dancing, which now are included in the program. ln 1931-32 the boys moved their activities to Phelps Field. and participation in girls' sports boomed as a result of the extra space. Begin- ning with the spring of 1932, a dance recital was held every year until 1937, when dance pro- grams and water pageants began to be held alternately. HURLEY, SCHMITT I JACKSON .IODA LAUER McFADZEAN ROBERTSON sHOwLEY OSLAND Page 22