North High School - Polaris Yearbook (Minneapolis, MN)

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ELSA M. HUEBNER Commercial JESSIE R. I IL'STON Science JOHN J. JACOBI Industrial Arts MARY P. JAMES Home Economics GEORGE A. JENSEN Social Science EDITH H. JONES English KATHERINE KELLY English MARTIN T. KENNEDY Physical Education W. W. Kl.AUSI.ER Industrial Arts HERMINE K. KON1G language MATHILDA L. KREFTING Science MYRTLE O. LARSON Commercial AGNES M. LERSCHEN Commercial MYRON F. LESLIE Mathematics DELLA UNDSTEN English MARIE LUNDEEN Language HARRIET MADIGAN Mathematics W. N. MANDEVILI.E Social Science IDA V. MANN. luinguage VIOLA A. MAR TI Mathematics ELSIE H. MATSON History JUNE M. M LAIRD History MARY C. MOSES Social Science THERESA MURP1IY Vocational Adriscr LILLIAN M. NELSON English MELVIN A. OLSON Social Science BEULAH B. PIERCE English GEORGE H. POLI.ARI Commercial MARY A. POWELL English MARY P. PUTNAM Science ESTHER C. QUEI.I.O Science ORIN A. RING WALT Industrial Arts ELIZABETH ROBINSON History RUBY M. SANDERSON History JOHN H. SANTEE Science 15 • Faculty

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Pratt, the son of a man influential in the creation of the school, was the first North Side boy to give his life. The enrollment here steadily increased after the war ended and additions were under construction when on a morning in June, 1914, the day before commencement, the North Side, in fact the whole city, was aroused by fire sirens. North High was burning. The flames raged all day and when at last the fire had been extinguished, two firemen had lost their lives and the building was in ruins. Contrary to custom, the graduating exercises were held on Friday at West High. Fortunately for North, Central was just moving into new quarters and our classes could be held in the old Central building. Immediately, however, the rebuilding of the school was begun and by January, 1915, commencement exercises were held in our own auditorium. Everything progressed smoothly until in 1917, America was drawn into the World War. North again played an important part in the struggle. Active as ever, our school supported Red Cross work and gave many young men to the cause. Seventeen students and graduates were killed in service. After the World War ended, our school began to grow by leaps and bounds until enrollment fairly taxed the building for room. Despite the addition of the west wing, other measures had to be used. Junior Highs were built to relieve the pressure of ninth graders. Still the fl x)d of education-seeking young people poured into North until a policy of keeping some sophomores at Junior Highs had to be adopted. The highest enrollment North has had was 3450 in 1952, and at the present time, if the tenth graders attending Junior Highs were to be counted, we would have the same number. To satisfy the demands for different types of work, new subjects were introduced at North. The character of three of these new courses, the music, the creative writing, and the commercial, will be explained by the speakers to follow. To say that we, the graduating class of January, 1935, appreciate the efforts of Mr. Hobbs, Mr. Greer, Mr. Gates, and all the others instrumental in the growth of North, is unnecessary. Sacrifices such as they have made cannot be repaid with mere words. The only true recompense we can ever make is to fulfill their dreams for us, and to be as eager to better our community as they were theirs. Commencement s| ecch of George Faust, January “A Senior President. NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN MUSIC Our present department of music is a far cry from the original one. Among the new organizations introduced in our vocal department is the A Capella Choir, which has won much praise. No doubt, many of you have enjoyed hearing this splendid group sing. The choirs of a number of our northside churches are composed principally of former North High choir members. Two interesting phases of our instrumental department with which you may not be so familiar, are the brass class and the string class which were introduced five years ago. Previous musical training was not then required of those who wished to be admitted to these classes, provided that they had a real desire to learn to play a musical instrument. At that time, the classes had an enrollment of seven, while today they have an enrollment of 318, and as many as 50 to 100 pupils are turned away each semester because it is impossible to accommodate them. The students in the brass class are encouraged to take up the instrument which fits them best. They A Glim MX of the office force chows each one at work: Left to right: Mr . Sandberg. Mies Rittcn, Mrs. Miller. Mr . Pratt, and Mr . Simonson. • it

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arc started right at the beginning and are taught fingering, proper posture, correct placement of the mouth on the instrument, and the essentials of note reading. They also learn the principles of the technique of the baton, so they may lead the class when they are called u| on to do so. The string class takes a beginner and teaches him to play the seemingly large anil cumbersome stringed instruments, such as the bass viol and the cello. After a term in this class, the pupils go directly into the school symphony in their respective sections. In the last five years, our orchestra has won two state championships and has been runner-up three times, losing first place by one point in each case. The band has won state championship in 1930 and 1932. The instrumental department believes that because these people are desirous of learning music, they should be given the best opportunity. The instruments in these classes are the ones used in the big orchestra and the big band, and arc school property. While they are not the finest that can be had, they are good, well-kept, standard instruments. There is no cost to the student except a twenty-five cent laboratory fee which the Board of Education recommends. This fee makes it | ossible for the department to maintain its musical library and keep its instruments in good playing order, as well as to furnish many services to those who own their own instruments, which services would not be available if the laboratory fee were not required. Those who play wind instruments, such as the clarinet, own their own mouthpieces Hi is practice safeguards the health of the students, as the instruments pass through many hands during the year. The question is often raised as to the cost of some of the subjects on the curriculum which are thought of as fads and frills. At the present time, the pupils who lake music every day in the instrumental department are given about 70,000 lessons per year, making the cost about three cents-a day per pupil. Many jxroplc have turned to music as a means of passing time with both cultural and financial profit. Therefore, the instrumental department is preparing students to play well, not because it wishes to turn out professional musicians, but because it feels that nothing gives enjoyment which is not thoroughly done, and while some educators think that it is not the function of the school to teach instrumental music too thoroughly because they do not believe in turning out professional musicians, yet it must be admitted that poor preparation never prixluccd proper appreciation of any subject, much less of a thing so beautiful and ethereal as music. Commencement speech of Grace Mengelkoch. THE COMMERCIAL COURSE One of the most practical of the many courses offered in North High School is the commercial course. The commercial department was first organized in 1904. Then the total enrollment was five students. They met in one small room, which had five typewriters in the rear and desks in the front for study. In this tiny room, the five toiled for four terms to learn the principles of shorthand, typewriting, and bookkeeping. Today, this department has an enrollment of over 800 students, who use 110 typewriters. The work embraces not only the origin of shorthand, typewriting, and book keeping, but also business conip: -sition anil office training. Its purpose is to give a thorough knowledge of business methods; the commercial graduate is fitted to go out and secure a position. He has gained a I'm TiiKti Mi rm.s pi, lured were made by the .irt detriment U»t lull. This exhibit displaved ut (be Women' Exposition in the Minneapolis auditorium during the winter. • te