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fast 5 " WINNETKA WEEKLY TALK, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1925 School Leaders Rejoice Upon Dedication of Assembly Hall Villagers Hear Inspiring Messages at Horace Mann School Ceremonies Eprtor's Nore: Two inspiring ad- dresses featured last Saturday's dedica- tion ceremonies held in Horace Mann school in observance of the formal open- ing of the mew auditorium and class rooms recently constructed in a general enlargement at the central grade school. Since many citizens were unable to at- tend the dedication, WINNETKA TALK takes pleasure in presenting herewith copies of the talks given by Ernest S. Ballard, president of the Winnetka Board of Education, and Carleton W. Washburne, superintendent of Winnetka schools. The talks preceded a pageant presented by the children of the school, under direction of Miss Douglass White- head, supervisor of dramatics in the public schools. Recounts History BY ERNEST S. BALLARD (President, Board of Education) My family circle includes a doll, now nearing the mature age of ten years, which during a checkered career has had several new heads and at least two new bodies. Yesterday she returned from her latest visit to the doll hospital as fresh as the morning dew and she now looks forward to a long, happy and use- ful career. In many ways this suggests the his- tory of this school. The story com- mences quite far back as time is meas- ured in Winnetka. Prior to 1890 there was no separate board of education and the schools were run directly by the vil- lage. Portions of the Village hall, it- self a private school in earlier days, were used for this purpose. About 1890 a separate board of education was organized and took over the schools but this was a change in form rather than in substance for the Village hall con- tinued to be used as the school house for another 15 years, under an arrange- ment by which the board of education paid nothing for it except the cost of janitor service. Built In 1899 By 1899 the school had overflowed from the Village hall into the library and both buildings were so congested that some new provision had to be made and, accordingly, the original Horace Mann school was built in that year, consisting of three class rooms and the assembly hall and housing four teachers and about 120 children. That original unit is the north end of the present building. About the same number of children continued to be housed in the Village hall and the total enrollment, including the small Columbia school in Hubbard Woods, was at that time 270 pupils. Village Vs. School Board In view of the present cordial and friendly relations between the village administration and the school board, it is difficult to imagine friction in that quarter, but the fact is that friction did develop in 1903 when the village served notice on the board that it could not con- tinue to use the Village hall for school purposes without paying rent. The board, with that passion for economy which characterizes school boards every- where, rebelled at this suggestion and immediately laid its plans to enlarge Horace Mann to a point where it would house all of the children. The project met a temporary set-back when the bids were received and proved to be more than twice as high as the bond issue that had been authorized but the board, under the leadership of Mr. Morris Greeley who was than president, de- voted its best efforts to a solution of the difficulty and finally got the bids far enough down and the bond issue far enough up so that the first addition was built in 1904. As a result of this the school housed ten teachers and about 300 children, representing a very large proportion of the total school population of that date. Heart-Breaking Congestion The next high spot in the chronicle, or perhaps I should say low spot, oc- curred during the years immediately following the war when this school went through a period of heart-breaking con- gestion. In order to meet the situation temporarily the lower grades were all put on half sessions, an additional room was obtained by cutting the assembly in two, another additional room was ob- tained by partitioning off part of the corridor and another by building one in the basement. In addition to this the school overflowed both into the Parish House and the Library. At that time both a grade school and a junior high school, for the entire village were taken care of in this building. That situation of course came to an end with the com- pletion and use of the new Skokie school and since that time we have rot been outgrowing our clothes quite as rapidly as was formerly the case. The latest enlargement of this build- ing, which is the occasion for our gather- ing here tonight, consists in the addi- tion of this very pleasing and adequate auditorium and two new class. rooms, one of which was made available by the vacation of the old assembly hall and the other of which was provided about a year ago by converting a former super- intendent's office into a class room. The building now houses 17 teachers and 427 pupils and represents a very substantial and busy unit by comparison with the modest beginning of 1899. Complete Renovation In connection with the new construc- tion we have rebuilt the entire heating and ventilating system and redecorated the building throughout. As a result no one connected with this school, teachers, parents or pupils, need feel in the slight- est degree apologetic for it. Our physi- cal plant here is today the equal of any- thing in the village and, like the lady whom I mentioned at the opening of my remarks, it now looks forward to a long, happy and useful career. It is almost at the exact center of population of the village and may be expected to do yeo- man service for a long period to come. In behalf of the board I welcome all of you to the school in its new garb-- teachers, parents and pupils, and express the hope that you may find as much satisfaction and pride in its daily use as the board has felt in being able to pro- vide it. Cites Benefits BY C. W. WASHBURNE (Superintendent of Schools) The dedication of this assembly to- night marks the fulfillment of an ideal toward which we have been working for years. Twelve years ago there was not a single. adequate assembly hall in the schools. Five years ago the only as- sembly was that at the Hubbard Woods school--the inadequate little ones in this building and at Greeley had been made over into class rooms. Now every school in Winnetka has a large and beautiful assembly hall. This policy has a deep root education- ally. It is in the assemblies that some of the most valuable lessons of school are learned--Ilessons more necessary to the welfare of the race than is any amount of book knowledge. Learn Citizenship In the assemblies the children learn citizenship through the practice of citi- zenship. Here children address their fellows and plan the management of school affairs. Here their committees report. Here their officers are elected. It is the assemblies which make it possi- ble to organize the schools as children's communities in which children may learn to play their part in the big community to which we all belong. It is here, in the assembly hall, that we can give children an opportunity to listen to people who have a message --travelers from foreign lands, or story- tellers, or people who know the birds and flowers. Here they can hear music- ans and learn to appreciate music. Without a place in which all the children of the school can gather these oppor- tunities would be lost. Build Ideals There And it is in this room that children can dramatize episodes from history, bits of literature, ideals, or their own fancies. It is difficult to over-estimate the value of these dramatizations. Through them are impressed vital elements in the life of the race. But above all, in prepar- ing these dramatizations children learn to cooperate. Each child must contribute his special ability to the welfare of all. Fach child must subordinate himself to the group of which he is a part. In the pageant you are about to wit- ness, you will see all these things: Ideals are impressed upon the children through giving expression to those ideals. Glimpses of great events in the world's story are vouchsafed to the children who depict them. And in the preparation of this pageant the children have learned that most important of all lessons--how to work together. It is fitting that this should be a pageant of service, and that such a pag- eant should dedicate this hall. For the ultimate purpose of this assembly room 1s to prepare our children to be of serv- ice to mankind. ' THE SHOP OF ELIZABETH DUNCAN Phone 2272 812 Elm St. WINNETKA GIFTS Of Unusual Merit For Weddings, Anniversaries, Bridge Parties Air of Mystery About Sunday Club Gathering By J. A. H. All the young people who are attend- ing meetings of the Winnetka Sunday Evening club will agree that each pro- gram in recent weeks has been more and more varied and interesting. The plan to make one member responsible for each evening's program is proving very suc- cessful in that a variety of talent has been secured. For example, the meeting of last Sun- day evening consisted of dramatic read- ings by Mrs. George L. Cherry, former- ly of Winnetka, and of a pleasing group of vocal selections by Thomas H. Rat- cliffe. Mr. Ratcliffe was accompanied on the piano by Miss Marion Lasier. As the last part of the evening's pro- gram, the entire group found great en- joyment in the $inging of old familiar hymns under the leadership of Mr. Rat- cliffe. Young people who are not attending these meetings are losing an opportunity that is not available in Winnetka in any other group. The committee in charge of the pro- gram for next Sunday evening is not making an advance announcement con- cerning its plans. This must mean that there is a surprise in store for the club. The meeting will be held as usual at 6:30 o'clock in the Camp Fire room of Com- munity House. Supper will be served. Red Top Cabs Latest on Winnetka Highways Residents living in Winnetka who have been wondering where the new, attrac- tive Red Top cabs have come from and to whom they belong, will be interested in learning they are part of the equip- ment of the Black and White cab service, 552 Lincoln avenue. There are no others like them on the north shore, the owner, William Merrill, assures us. The Black and White cab service has also purchased the Brown and White Company, and the cabs now on hand un- der one management for the use of Win- netka people number 12, besides two limousines. Alter Play Program of Horace Mann Children Miss Elizabeth Kirchner, physical culture teacher at the Horace Mann school, announces a change in the play schedule for the school. The children will hereafter have one period of outdoor play and one period of gymnasium work during the day. This is possible because of the recent addition of a gymnasium to the school facilities. Mr. and Mrs. F. O. Neubacher of 792 Walden road left on Saturday for Florida. k tongregational ) Church J) ZINES 9:30. THE CHURCH for All Ages. "Abraham 11:00. THE Missions Music: wiolin Borowski : Great," Dawn," legro" Sunday Room. Young SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 38 AT SCHOOL. Classes Lincoln." CHURCH AT WORSHIP. In church auditorium. Through," quartets, Righini, Speaks; from Guilmant's In Rudolph Matz hall, Sermon to chil- dren, "Endure Hardness," Evening People's a Senior boys discuss Sermon, "Thinking Mr. Richards. prelude, "Adoration," "The Lord "Is "Twilight and postlude, "Al- third sonata. and organ Mr. Davies. Club: Camp Fire Club Neighborhood 8:00. James Room; leader, Margaret Stults; topic, "Why do we honor Lincoln so highly?" Recital: violins, Mrs. Brewer and Mrs. Kingery; organ, Mr. Smith. A. Adagio, Moscowski; B. Londonderry Air (Old Irish), Kreisler. Lecture: "Abraham: a character study," Mr. Richards. MINISTERS Austin Richards J. W. F. 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