Valparaiso High School - Valenian Yearbook (Valparaiso, IN)

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The 1950’s proved to be a relaxing and freer de- cade at VHS. The skirts raised for the war were lowered again in the early 50’s. Bobby socks and saddle shoes at- tired the female popula- tion at VHS. White socks, loafers, and rolled-up blue jeans completed the boys’ wardrobes. Hairstyles at VHS, characteristic of all teen agers at this time, consisted of ponytails on girls and flat tops on boys. These styles marked the up-to-date student at VHS. Like today, prom was an important social event. The ' 57 theme, Our Blue Heaven, with Arnie Brown and his band, spun- out tunes for students to twist by. In ’58, Mr. Paul Miller taught biology classes at VHS. Though facilities were limited, students still could learn about anatomy or how to classify plants. With the ' 50’s coming to a close, things were be- ginning to change around VHS. An intense school spirit was on the rise, not only in sports, but in clubs as well. Y-Teens, the male counterpart of Hi-Y, held candlelight inductions for girls wanting to join dur- ing the early 1960’s. The club was quite popular when Miss Florence Craig became sponsor in 1960. The club sponsored the King of Hearts Dance and h e I d a mother-daughter banquet at the end of the year. The only silent moment for ' 60’s Pep Club was during the playing of the Star Spangled Banner.” Otherwise, it was enthus- iastically backing the Vik- ings. White beanies and gloves donned the 400 members during the bas- ketball season. The club’s duties included decorating goal posts, the football hoop, and sponsor- ing Homecoming. Styles and appearances were also altered in the 60’s. Shorter skirts and white boots appeared in VHS halls during the late 60’s. Boys’ hair grew be- low their ears, a length never before imagined. Students fought the dress code and in the early 1970’s, it was abolished. 1970-72 were exciting years in more ways than one. The ' 70 football team completed its second con- secutive 10-0 season un- der the coaching of Mr. Tom Stokes. The ' 71 Hetero, an un- derground newspaper pub- lished by a group of VHS students, portrayed stu- dents’ changing opinions on Viet Nam, the dress code, and hair length. A quote from Hetero il- lustrated the radical changes occuring at VHS: “Did you ever wonder why the school rules are not written down and passed out to students? Why a dress code is part of the educational process at VHS? Why a teacher would claim he’s God? Why any- one bothers going to a school where attitude, class status and dress comes before education? Why some political speak- ers are banned from the school? Why Hetero is necessary? We did. Students in faded blue jeans and sandles began cropping-up in increasing numbers throughout the ' 71 school year. To accomodate the opinions of the student body, the birth of Student Faculty Senate occured in the last months of 71. Is- sues ranged from student pregnancies to the smok- ing policy. The rise in enrollment began to break the seams at VHS. Overcrowdedness and limited facilities hin- dered students, fac- ulty, and administration throughout 1972. It was clear, something had to be done. by Janet Bochnicka Kim Wellman Above: Twisting at the 1957 prom Left: The 1971 undefeated football team Right: Flat tops and pony tails; distinction of the ' 50s