Thornton Township High School - Thorntonite Yearbook (Harvey, IL)

Page 17 text:

SUPERINTENDENT WILLIAM E. MCVEY just as a ship is lost without the helmsman, so is a school lost without a man at its head who is at once strong and gentle, stern and kindly, sympathetic and understanding, courageous and conscientious. Thornton has congratulated itself for years because it managed to secure such a man for its superintendent, Mr. William E. McVey, Under the guidance of Mr. McVey Thornton has gone steadily forward. Always abreast of the times and the current movements in education, Mr. McVey has accepted the good and rejected the poor ideas which have come up in recent years. As we hear his voice in the mornings as it utters the day's announcements we feel our faith in the destiny of our school renewed. just as he welcomed us to Thornton four years ago in his kindly, affectionate way, so he has kept in touch with us during the years, now chiding us for some fault or laxity, now congratulating us on some accomplishment. We have learned to ac- cept his advice with gratitudefknowing that for our own good we should follow it. We will never forget the lessons in lovalty, honesty, foresight, and cooperation which he has imparted to us in the years we have been here, now over the public address system, now from the platform in assemblies. We will always be grateful for the kindness and sympathy with which he has heard and helped us to overcome the problems which we have taken to him. The cheery smile which he has for everyone as he walks through the halls becomes one of our cherished memories now that we are about to leave this school in which we have spent four such happy years. As we go out into life and assume the respon- sibilities which await us there, we will hold before us the example lived by Mr. McVey, reminding us of Chaucer's Clerk of Oxenford, for like this famous character gladly would he learn and gladly teach.

Page 16 text:

WF!! TOP Row: Mr. A. H. McDougall, Mr. G. H. Gibson, Mr. W. Haines, Mr. C. W. Waaso. BOTTOM Row: Mr. Frank Cowing, Mr. Edwin Waterman, Mr. Burton Evans, Mr. A. F. Waldschnuidt. lizard, of gjclucafion As we students look ahead we, too, see the struggle that faces us, a struggle to maintain the democracy for which our forefathers fought. We realize that to hold this democracy we must not only have great military, air, and naval strength, but we must also keep the torch of culture, com- posed of such elements as education, religion, art, and music, flaming triumphantly. Here at Thornton the Board of Education is a vital factor in maintaining the type of educa- tion to which we are accustomed. Without the Board of Education, which consists of six capable, understanding, and enthusiastic men, this school certainly could not- function properly. These members not only successfully fill their positions on the Board, but they are also prom- inent in many of the affairs of community life. Mr. Andrew H. McDougall, President, and Mr. G. H. Gibson, Vice-President, possess the excel- lent record. of twenty-nine and thirty years service to the school. Mr. Clarence W. Waaso, Secretary, has served the Board for nine years. v Mr. Walter Haines, sharing with the others the many responsibilities of the Board, has been a member since 1939. Elected in April 1941, Mr. Frank P. Cowing and Mr. Edwin R. Waterinan can now claim one year's accomplishments. The principal duties of the Board are employ- ing faculty members and determining their sal- aries, approving all budgets and expenditures, and an essential duty, approving all of the policies of the school. The Board sets aside the second Wednesday of each month to meet and discuss the various problems whose solution is so necessary for the welfare of the school. Assisting the members in carrying out their duties are Lawyer Burton Evans and Township Treasurer A. F. Waldschmidt. The members of the Board are elected by ballot, with the Secretary being chosen by the Board. The term of office for a member is three years. These men voluntarily and without re- muneration give their time and energy to making Thornton the wonderful school that it is.

Page 18 text:

rr 'K D r C- R, Maddox r . Supervisor of Instruction Mr. 1. F. Zimmerman Principal, Class of '42 Mr. T. R. Birkhead Principal, Class of '45 ,mealgsi ii-.H asgjgaa W Mr. J. B. Stephens Principal, Class of '44 Miss H. E. W1 . Mr. o. F. U b Dean of Gizisson Dean of lgfiyiiugh QCU Without the interest and understanding, the guidance and skillful teaching, the warm sympathy of a well-trained faculty, a school cannot possibly perform its function of sending out into the world thousands of well-equipped students who may take their rightful places in life. Thornton, and we of the student body, have indeed been fortunate to have secured the services of the fine men and women who comprise the faculty and administrators of our school. The main purpose for which teachers are hired is to transmit to the students in the class- rooms the information and the knowledge which the world has come to regard as essential for best participation in life. This primary function the faculty performs ably and well, graduating each year boys and girls who will be well able to acquit themselves in their chosen fields. However, there is another, a more intangible, purpose which only the best of faculties can perform. This purpose is fulfilled in the sympathy, the warm understanding, the gentle guidance with which a teacher meets the problems we students bring to him. These problems may seem small and insignihcant to them, no matter how great they seem to us, but our teachers at Thornton are always ready to lend a sympathetic ear and to give a guiding hand to us. This attribute makes all of the faculty members seem like friends, tried and trusted friends, instead of superior beings whose word is law, and whom we dare not approach except with some classroom problem. Because of these teachers, these friends, whom we have come to know, to respect, and to love in our years at Thornton, more than because of the material things in and around the school, we seniors are sorry to leave Thornton and go out into a world in which we may not have the benefit of such kindness and tactful understanding of our problems. We are proud of our faculty and of the way in which they have taught us and helped us. We and the community know that all of them together make up the Hnest faculty in the country, and we hope in later years to return to Thornton and renew the friendships which we have made here. We wish the faculty all the luck and fortune, in the years to come, which they have earned and so richly deserve.