Westfield High School - Weather Vane Yearbook (Westfield, NJ)

Page 8 text:

'K e dedicate I he class of 1951 dedicates this thirtieth edition of the Weather Vane Annual to Mr, Melvin Michaels, in the hope that it will repay him in part for his faithful interest in teaching and his deep and friendly concern for his students.

Page 7 text:

The graduates of Westfield High will long remember the old tradition of the Senior Door, and the mans- times they risked detention to pass through those portals considered sacred to Seniors and faculty . . . dashing from building to building in the pouring rain . . . carving initials in the sturdy supports of the “chicken run” . . . the falling plaster and leaking radiators that gave zest to class periods... these and many other things which make W. H. S. unique, laughed at, and well loved.

Page 9 text:

Even at the respective ages of two and four, Arthur and David Michaels display the ready smile that characterizes their father. Since Mr. Michaels' arrival at Westfield Senior High his imper-turable patience in class and his friendly assistance in many school activities have won him a firm place in our memories. A native of Union County, Air. Michaels attended Irvington High School and Montclair State Teacher's College. Later he earned lus .Master's degree from New York University and is now working for a Doctorate in Economics from Columbia I r.iversity. During the last war he was in the 76th Division stationed in Europe and received the Bronze Star for meritorious service. Mr. Michaels' imposing task, the teaching of English to the callow Sophomores who enter Westfield 11igh, never daunts him; for he is the kind of teacher who can even make his students like grammar. Scribbling illustrative sentences on the board in almost illegible script or deftly explaining the plot of “Julius Ceasar . he can always find a wav to make English lively, interesting, and lots of fun. Outside school hours. Mr. Michaels is as enthusiastic and hard-working in coaching the Cross Country, Outdoor, and Indoor track teams as he is in coaching his classes in school. Believing that “this school contains a large percentage of our future leaders w ho should be trained as such”, Mr. Michaels has worked earnestly to help us attain our goals. Because of his philosophy not only our class hut also every class that follows us will be better prepared to face - - and to better - - the world. Here Sergeant Michaels receives the Bronze Star from Colonel C. A. Masson as Colonel C. A. Harper looks on. r, v?