Newton North High School - Newtonian Yearbook (Newton, MA)

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AARON PINK 1,1 ' . - y, 3 ,lf Y' Ana 'Elin Aaron Fink has been Superintendent of Newton Schools since 1969. A graduate of Rutgers and Harvard Uni- versities, Mr. Fink worked as a high school principal in Stoughton, Massachusetts, Schenectady and Scarsdale, New York prior to coming to Newton. For many years he taught summers and part-time in the graduate schools of education at the University of New Hampshire, Northeastern and Harvard. How to extend education in an era of fiscal austerity is a particularly challenging problem to Mr. Fink. He feels strongly that expanding education at both ends of the spectrum -for young children and for adults - opens up new opportunities for public education. Educating older and younger people together, such as in the program of adults attending regular courses at Newton North during the regular school day, is of great interest to him. Per- haps some day we will not think of schools being organized between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. for students between the ages of five and eighteen, he says. Formal education - or schooling - will start at an earlier age, will be life-long and will be had at times and in places that provide for the needs of the whole popula- tion, Mr. Fink is still nostalgic about being a school principal, a time in his career when he could work more closely with students and teachers in areas of their concern. With 27 schools to visit my observations and contacts in the schools are sporadic at best, he says. Sometimes I feel as though l'm a part of everything and yet not a part of that which really matters, the relationship between teachers and students. As superintendent, Mr. Fink observes that in Newton he has worked with a staff superior to any he has encoun- tered elsewhere. The responsiveness of the students at Newton North to the tremendous opportunities made available to them has helped to make this an exciting place to teach, as well as to learn. The Class of '80 can be proud of the part it has played in maintaining this cIimate.

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Richard Mechem has been the principal of Newton North High School since 1960. Born in Evanston, lllinois, he attended Illinois public schools, St. Paul's School in New Hampshire, and Harvard College from which he graduated with honors. He also attended the Harvard Graduate School of Education where he received a Masters Degree. Mr. Mechem worked as a teacher, housemaster, and a coach of St. Paul's School, and held the position of Director of Studies there for two years. He then acted as principal of Walnut Hills High School in Ohio before coming to Newton. As Principal, Mr. Mechem has a vast amount of responsibilities. He supervises the curriculum, the house plan, and various student activities. Mr. Mechem also discusses the school's problems and possible solutions with students, parents, faculty, department heads and housemasters. Facilitating changes and improvements at Newton North is a large and demanding facet of Mr. Mechem's total job responsibility. Through his training and experience, Mr. Mechem has acquired a strong personal commitment to the indi- vidual, along with knowledge, skill, and a sense of humor. Although the ultimate responsibility of the school is his, Mr. Mechem is always ready to listen to the ideas of others, and is willing to lend his support and leader- ship. ? - , ' TV 2 5 , M ff Z 1 'iflvii wi If X 4 W ii ffz fa ff' 'Q fa mf: f 1 'f J. ,iQ,,,?Z.,, ,fx r ' ' '. ,af RICHARD IVIECHEIVI