Rockford East High School - Argus Yearbook (Rockford, IL)

Page 16 text:

6 Mr. Selmer A. Berg, Siiperiiztenaieni of Schools As the governing body of Rockford schools, it is the re- sponsibility of the Board of Education to plan for the educa- tion of Rockford students. At the head of the group is Mr. Selmer A. Berg, Superintendent of Schools. The duties and responsibilities of Mr. Berg are many and varied. He alone is directly responsible to the Board of Edu- cation for the efficient conduct and operation of the schools. He must keep abreast of progress, continuously presenting to the board theories and plans of education to improve the schools under his supervision. Mr. Harry C. Muth, Principal As principal of East high, Mr. Harry C. Muth is directly re- sponsible not only for the smooth operation of the faculty and classroom procedure, but also for co-ordinating the extra cur- ricular activities for the enrichment of the whole school pro- gram. macho-iw SELMER H. BERG Superintendent of Schools HARRY C, MUTH Principal The Board of Education The Board of Education concerns itself with formulating and approving the administrative policies of the schools. In order that this may be more easily done, the Board is divided into three committees. The Building and Grounds Committee has to do with the maintenance, repair, and upkeep of schools as well as the purchasing and improving of school sites and grounds. It is the duty of the Educational Committee to hire teachers and all other employees. Planning the budget, approving the purchasing of supplies, and keeping financial records is the job of the Finance and Purchasing Committee. The Board also employs an Attorney-at-Law to represent the Board of Educa- tion in all law-suits to which the board is a party. All board members are appointed by the mayor. They rep- resent citizens who are concerned with the public education of the youth of today and tomorrow. These members render the highest type of service and devote hours of work to the solution of problems with which the school system is faced. Snmiiing: Leonard Key, John Barelli, Harry Shaw, Charles Davis, George C. Olin, Lawrence A. Johnson, Ernest Estwing, Charles W. Roe, S. Peter Ekstrom. Sitting: Vera Walling, Thomas Walling, Mrs. Murrell England, Mrs. Marion Bates, Loren Whitehead, Selmer Berg.

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, ' 1:0 SDew.eg, By H. C. MUTH Those of us who have known Elmer Dewey and have been associated with him in the schools for many years find it very hard to realize that he is gone. Everyone knew and liked Elmer. He was a good companion, friendly, easy to know, and a good conversationalist. He had a wide range of inter- ests and his information in many fields was most authoritative. Elmer had a keen sense of humor and his witticisms were appreciated by all who knew him. He poked fun at people in a kindly manner, and yet if you knew him well, you knew also that he despised sham and hypocrisy. His opinions were defi- nite, but I don't believe that he ever carried any malice in his heart. He just wasn't that kind of a fellow. Elmer liked young people and, in turn, they liked him. He could joke with them, talk their language, and listen to them. I know that in a quiet, modest, and unassuming way, he helped many young people adjust themselves to difficult situations by lending a sympathetic ear and quietly giving advice and help- ful suggestionseoften in a half joking-way. But the young people knew that was Elmer's way of saying things, and it helped them take their problem in a more realis- tic fashion without an outburst of emotionalism that was often very close to the surface' E The boys who came back from war and stopped in the office quite often ended their conversation by saying-- By the way, is Mr. Dewey still here? - Yes, he is still up in 2l6. Then the boy or the man would say, I must go up and see Elmer. There was no disrespect intended when they said Elmer in- stead of Mr. Dewey. Rather it was a word of affection and comradeship. There just isn't any way to measure the influence that Elmer had on the lives of young people-as a matter of fact he wouldn't want it measured. Yes, it's hard to realize that he is gone because the influence of his personality is still with us and will remain.

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After teaching school for more years than I care to recall, I feel qualified to con- clude that there are always many very fine people among you students at East High School. You may differ in ability, in personality, and in willingness to accept responsibility, but you have the youth and enthusiasm which this sad old world needs. Make the most of your school days in preparation for mature living. WINIFRED LEDGER Dean of Girlr In retrospect, we view the events of an- other school year. To many it may have been a year of success, to others, success may not have been the kind you thought it would be. As a graduate, your experience at East High School now approximates twelve years of educational endeavor. ' Let the best that has come to you from East High School be a strong motivating factor in your life, and your influence will be felt in making this a more peaceful world in which to live. HARRY KROLI, WINIFRED LEDGER Dean of Girls Arrirmnt Principal Qeanaarud Jiclilum HARRY W. KROLI.. Arsirtant Principal HAZEL KOCH - RUTH WHITE CATHERINE NEEDHAM 5'e'1i0f Advifef lumof Adwfef Sophomore Adviser Miss Winifred Ledger, dean of girls, schedules school activities, checks the irregular list and is always willing to help a girl when in need of advice. Besides her duties as dean she teaches history. Assistant Principal Mr. Kroll is also the dean of boys. He makes out student programs, supervises tickets and attendance for all games, acts as adviser of Student Council and helps students with their prob- lems pertaining to school. TO THE SENIORS The twelfth year is the year of fulfillment. The senior is important, admired, looked up to. He leads the ROTC, edits the paper and year book, and struts a little before his younger classmen. He orders his cap and gown, brings his mother and his best manners to the tea, and really splurges at the Senior Prom. And then Time plays his little trick. One minute John Senior is swaggering down the hall toward 129, lord of high school creation, and then in a whiff of a second the orchestra is playing Auld Lang Sync at the Senior Prom. His throat feels a little queer--bit of a cold, maybe-as he looks around the gym, It is his last party there. And then the Choir sings The Lord Bless Thee and Keep Thee, his diploma is in his hand, and he is laying off his cap and gown, leaving it there in the lonely theatre. It may be a commencement, but it is also the end of his high school days. Fine chapters remain to be written, but a very dear one has been Enishedf' HAZEL KOCH, Senior Advirer TO THE JUNIORS Today as never before, every boy and girl must be educated in order to preserve civilization in the atomic age we are now entering. Education is the most powerful agent in the world. Through the lack of it or the misuse of it wars have been brought upon civilization. Only through education-and education of the right kind-can peace be brought. Therefore, my message is this: Accept cheerfully and appreciatively your opportunity to attend school, and read, study, think -do these three diligently in the interest of your own happiness and welfare and that of posterity. A MISS RUTH WHITE, lnnior Adviser TO THE SOPHOMORES I hope your sophomore year has proved an interesting one. Con- sider the variety of interests you have experienced which helped you decide and plan for further study. The Kuder Preference Record which indicated your interest rating in the mechanical, computational, sci- entific, persuasive, literary, musical, social service, and clerical fields, served to help direct your attention toward an occupation for which you -might be suited. Does your course of study fit in with your place for the future? MISS CATHERINE NEEDHAM, Sophomore Azloirer