| |
|
|
from the issue of June 9, 2005
|
| |
|
|
| |
Henzlik Hall to house University High timeline
BY TROY FEDDERSON, UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATION
A piece of forgotten UNL history is rising to the forefront this summer.
Preparing for the first all-class reunion since 1991, the alumni of University High School are preparing a timeline that will display the history of the defunct secondary school in Henzlik Hall.
University High was a lab school organized in 1910, designed to provide college students with classroom experience while also giving Lincoln-area youth a high school education.
Originally housed in the Temple Building, the school moved to the Teachers College building (now Canfield Administration Building) in 1920, then to Henzlik Hall in 1955.
By order of the Nebraska Legislature, University High (also called Temple High) closed in 1967. The Unicameral voted to close all such university-related high schools due to budget constraints and a desire to turn education controls over to communities.
"We've been able to recover very few historic pieces of the high school," said Annette Wiechert, organizer of the reunion and member of the final graduating class of University High. "When it closed, a lot of things were not preserved like they should have been. It just wasn't important at the time.
"Now, we're trying to organize anything we can find."
The history of the high school will be featured in a timeline that will become a permanent part of Henzlik Hall - which is the current home of the College of Education and Human Sciences.
"That timeline is going to be the significant part of the reunion this summer," said Ron Joekel, senior lecturer in educational administration at UNL and was University High's assistant principal when it closed. "We are going to put it in Henzlik. In a place where people can see it and learn about the history behind University High."
Students at University High were hand picked via an application process. Many of the students came from rural areas after graduating from a one-room schoolhouse.
Still, school organizers made a point of selecting a variety of students.
"This was not a grouping of the very best students," Joekel said. "We had a cross representation of the community. We wanted a diverse population that included minorities."
The diversity allowed educators to research new teaching methods, some of which continue to be used today.
"Research was important too,' Joekel said. "It truly was a live lab experience for the students enrolled in the program. And, that allowed them to become better educators."
The students also benefited from the program - having college professors guiding classrooms and being able to tap into university facilities.
"The teachers were very tough and expected a lot from their students," Wiechert said. "But, to come to a university campus for high school was a tremendous opportunity. There was a certain synergy, and it amplified the learning process."
Along with earning the usual classroom lessons, University High students also took part in athletics. And, while they lacked a football team, the Tutors won the Nebraska State Basketball title twice.
"It really was an amazing place to attend classes," Wiechert said.
The unique nature of the school also provides a glue that keeps drawing graduates back together.
While many classes organize reunions on their own in anniversary years, Wiechert said the graduates also organize all-class reunions.
This year, all classes will gather July 15-17 under the theme of, "Remembering and Enjoying the Good Times." While many of the events will take place off campus, UNL will host the reunion for tours of the Teachers College building and Henzlik Hall. Wiechert also hopes to have the University High School timeline completed by then.
"This is something that is very important to all of us," Wiechert said. "It's going to be great to see it on display, letting students and visitors to the university learn about a part of education history in Nebraska."
For more information on University High School and the upcoming reunion, go online to http://manila.unl.edu/unihigh/.
GO TO: ISSUE OF JUNE 9
NEWS HEADLINES FOR JUNE 9
Swanson readies for retirement
$1 million gift given to Sheldon
Henzlik Hall to house University High timeline
A Piece of University History
Computer tool helps under limited irrigation
UNL professor taps unique vein of Chlorella viruses
732106S34660X
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|