University High School - U Highlights Yearbook (Chicago, IL)

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A TMIUTNIUSWMWUQ ROBERT M. HUTCHINS Two years ago, in tlie lall ol 1938, tl1el:our Year College First came into existence Tlwis year lias seen tlie active continuation of that plan and witl'i it many seemingly radical clianges from tlie old University l-ligln Scliool, Under tliis new system tlie last two classes of tl'ie Former lniglw sclwool were combined witli tl'ie First two of tlie University and placed under its supervision. Tlne new unit, under tlwe direction of lVlr. Zens Smitlw, was made partially sell- sutticient witlw its own building and Faculty. Qi course, tlie connecting linlcs between tlwe l-ligli Sclwool under Mr. slacobson and lVliss Smitliies, and tlwose between tlwe University proper and tlie Four Year College lwave not been severed completely. Tlne average stu- dent still lwas classes in tlie buildings ol all tliree units. Messrs. Brumbauglw, Tyler, and Reavis are also extremely active in tlne new plan and lwave guided many of tlwe policies of the administration. Altliougli the Four Year College is a revolutionary step in education, it lsias met with almost universalapproval among tne student body and faculty. RALPH W. TYLER WTLLIAM C. REAVIS AARON J. BRUMBAUGI-l ZENS L. SMITH Page 10

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wi:.wwt'w.f '-,wr f - ...-W.. l- ..v . wk, ' It is much better to Want a teacher than to want the desire to learn. -THOMAS HENRY I-IUXLEY

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PAUL B. JACOBSON ELSIE M. SMITHIES Principal Assistant Principal About a half century ago the advocates of the junior high school began to advance arguments based on child development in an effort to establish a six year secondary school. Changes in our society have made it desirable to extend the secondary school to include the First two years of the traditional college program. This furnishes an elementary school of six years, a junior high school consisting of grades seven through ten, and an upper secondary school or college consisting of grades eleven through fourteen. for many years educators have been considering the benefits which would accrue from the 6-4-4 organization. Some seven years ago the University adopted the form of organization in principle. ln the autumn quarter of 'l939 the plan was placed in full operation when separate housing for the Four Year College was secured on Woodlawn Avenue. No final answer to the benefits or difficulties which will appear here in practice can be given. But the results in the intermediate unit to date have been so satisfactory that the faculty and administrative officers are most encouraged. The activities program has been unusually successful. The council has functioned with distinction. The club program has been successful. Assemblies have been held regularly and successfully. Social affairs have gone even more smoothly than even the most hopeful proponents of the 6-4-4 plan had hoped. A group of pupils without previous experience have edited a newspaper which is a credit to themselves and to the school. ' Curriculum development, begun earlier, has continued with increasing momentum throughout the year. The University l-ligh School has experienced a successful year and loolcs forward to even more satisfactory developments in the future. ln a laboratory school, dedicated to the science of education, there will always be change in administrative organization, classroom methods, curriculum content, guidance service, and activities. But the changes will not be revolutionary. Rather they will evolve over relatively long periods of time and will embody the best thinlcing of educators who are competent to advise on educational practice. We are well pleased with the results in the new administrative unit. We loolt forward to the future with lceen anticipation. -P. B. JACOBSON Page ll