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

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74 elcame Who am I? I am the ghost of Thornton Past. I have seen Thornton grow from an infant through adolescence to the proud beauty she is today. What am I doing here? I have come to tell you her history. It all started back in 1892 when Harvey High School, under the leadership of Mr. J. E. Cable and a faculty of four, was organized. The school was very small, and soon the district was demanding a larger unit. Answering this call, Thornton Township High School was born. No one then expected its enrollment of ninety-six to be increased thirty-fold. In order to accommodate an ever increasing student body, plans for a new building were drawn up, and in 1900 the original section of the present building was dedicated. The portals of this structure still bear the proud title of Main Entrance and continue to awe freshmen with their manifest pride. And so Thornton grew. In 1910 additions were made to accommodate eighteen teachers and one hundred and thirty four pupils. As Thornton grew in number, it grew in spirit. Her pupils held their heads high and swelled with pride at mention of her name. By the turn of the decade Thornton ' s number soared to more than five hundred and was still growing, growing, growing. In 1926 additional units were completed, and finally in 1937 when the enrollment was about 2500, the latest additions were made. This is the story of Thornton ' s first half-century of progress! Though her size and number may not continue to increase indefinitely, her spirit and endeavor will continue to soar and her alumni will always strive to live up to her motto, Knowledge is Power.

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I ' m the ghost of Thornton Present. I watch Thornton work and play. I see her build strong, intelligent citizens from giddy grade-school youngsters. I see her send boys and girls off to war armed with the best weapon of all, knowledge that is power. Let me tell you about the other things I see at Thornton today. I see lathes, cylinders, engines of all kinds being studied by, of all things, girls ! In their grimy overalls they are preparing themselves for war jobs. There are boys too. They are preparing themselves to release a man to fight or to be better fighters themselves. I see more students than ever before studying the ever-important mathematics, a necessary tool for better pilots and officers for victory. I see the homemakers of the future. They will be well-fortified with information on how to build a healthier populace. I see people preparing themselves for the business world. They are answering that desperate call for more typists, more stenographers, more and better trained business people ! I see and hear those talented students who bring cheer and comfort to a downhearted world, the musicians. Through their experience in the musical organizations, Thornton- ites learn to appreciate both vocal and social harmony. I also see and hear boys and girls learning to speak correctly, to write entertainingly, and to understand more thoroughly the English language. The students of today will be the leaders of tomorrow, inspiring the world through pen and tongue. Speaking of tongues, I see and hear them twisting in all directions in the mouths of the foreign language students. These linguists will help to bring about better inter- national peace through their understanding of the other fellow. I see bubbling acids, smoking Bunsen burners, dirty test tubes, all agents for teaching practical chemistry to the rising Curies and George Washington Carvers of Thornton. My science department builds a sound foundation for the knowledge and practice of better things through better living . I see strong and healthy bodies being formed in my physical education classes. This department offers practice in good sportsmanship, which is so essential in our lives. And I see boys and girls studying history. They are learning of modern man ' s ante- cedents, they are studying political history, they are learning the principals of democracy. They will make intelligent voters for the future. This is Thornton today, living for the present, preparing for the future.