Thomas Carr Howe Community High School - Hilltopper Yearbook (Indianapolis, IN)

Page 16 text:

Now, Times have changed at Howe and so have the ideas of the people who make it go. The changes aren ' t restricted to this building, though: they ' re spread throughout society. But since this is where many of us spend a lot of time, what we see in school does reflect the differ- ences. The most obvious change is all around us every day— the con- dition of the campus. It seems to point out that respect for the building is way down. As Bruce Beck said, We live in a very dif- ferent world ; and in today ' s world school life isn ' t nearly as important as it was. Howe ' s reputation in the city might indicate that some people involved closely with the school are too critical of it. Through all of the bad publicity in 1979, it ' s amazing that many teachers at other city schools still associate Howe with that snobby, sophis- ticated image. While there may still be a small group which feels this way, the majority of people who attend Howe no longer feel that it is high above all the others. One area where we have shown superiority is in sports. The athletic department now of- fers 19 different sports, which is a big increase over the early years and is far above any other city school. The additions have come mostly in the area of girls ' teams; but the boys ' teams, espe- cially in wrestling, have been given good support. As for school spirit, in general it has gone down like many other things. This is partly due to the fact that so many students are away from school working during the day. There are also many more opportunities available to people now and the school i n ' t looked upon as such an important cen- ter of activity. Howe ' s history is something that will always be around to provide happv memories for those w ho w ere a part of it and information for those who weren ' t, what reallv matter-, though, is now and the future. The future will be bright as long as good opportunities remain at How e for those who want them. (TOM E1ARTON) ABOVE: Even though the really good crowds don ' t appear as often as they used to, Howe teams still man- age to attract a very respectable au- dience. RIGHT: Old formal outfits for dances were much more conservative than today ' s styles. 12— Then and Now

Page 15 text:

Then and If you ' ve ever come into contact w ith any of our long-time teachers, you ' ve prob- ably heard them speak of the Good Old Days. They weren ' t just talking about society in gen- eral; they were talking about Howe. If you ' ve ever asked them to tell you more about the Good Old Days, they prob- ably told you more than you bargained for. In the late 1920 ' s the citizens of the east-side town of Irving- ton realized the need for a high school of their own. Land for the building was purchased in 1928. On September 28, 1938, Thomas Carr Howe High School was officially opened with the starting of the tower clock. That was a very proud day for the many people who had worked so long for the school, and their pride in Howe was overwhelm- ing. The community showed their pride by making Howe the best in every category, especially in the beauty of the campus and building itself. Charles M. Sharp, the first principal, ran a tight ship. According to vice-principal Bruce Beck, Mr. Sharp would send out a bulletin to faculty members informing them of a spot on a wall or a desk that was to be cleaned immediately. Our desks were to be cleared every night and window shades had to be pulled down at a uniform length. The grounds were also very neatly trimmed with fine shrubbery. Mr. Beck attributed the garden-like campus and very clean building not only to the community but also to a highly dedicated custodial crew. The way other schools LEFT: The Howe tower has always been looked on as the architectural center of the school. thought of Howe would be a surprise to many students today . As Robert Bell, a 1955 graduate of Howe, put it, We thought we were th e best in the county. Of course, he went here and natu- rally thought very highly of the school but he wasn ' t alone. Ac- cording to Bruce Beck, Howe had a snobby, sophisticated image all around the county. This was the image that came along with its location in a well- to-do area. Butler University, which for many years was located in Irving- ton, played a big part in Howe ' s image. It made the community a very academic-minded one. There was a big emphasis on pre- paration for college. Roughly 70% of Howe ' s seniors did go on to school. Howe pushed for the first Advanced Placement classes in the county. The AP program came here in the 50 ' s and was largest around for quite a while. Several other advanced classes were added. These classes along with all of the strict rules of the school characterized Howe as a highly traditional and provincial place. In other words, if any- thing was done it was done well, it was done neatly, and it was done strictly according to the high standard associated with Howe. For the most part the high standards didn ' t bother Howe kids. As a matter of fact they were enthusiastically involved in just about every thing. If it was possible to have a club in any area, the Howe students had it — not because the faculty made them have it but because they really wanted it. They were a ery spirited group. Then and Now— 11

Page 17 text:

LEFT: A Howe girl of the 50 ' s would both acceptable and popular. attended by girls who wear long never have worn blue-jean overalls to dresses and guys with hair of varying school, but in today ' s world they are BELOW: Today ' s formal dances are lengths. lj ■ imm ' « — . — .-- • FAR LEFT: Good fan support was automatic for Hornet basketball teams that played in the south gym. ABOVE: Girls ' sports at Howe have come a long way with the addition of girls ' basketball. LEFT: In recent years some students have decided to spend class time roaming the campus. Then and Now- 13