Volume 48, Edition 3, February 2022 HISTORICAL STORIES...
The History Edition
TIMELY OPINIONS...
MEDIA REVIEWS...
PEOPLE YOU LOVE...
THE COMMUNICATOR IN OVER OUR HEADS!
FIELD DAY ‘86 May 23, Delhi Park
ROWDY AND REVOLUTIONARY STORY OF ALTERNATIVE HIGH SCHOOLS In 1971, Ann Arbor Public Schools (AAPS) tried something new. Under the leadership of Dr. Bruce McPherson, the district’s newly-minted superintendent, a team of teachers at Pioneer High School dreamed up a radical idea. The group, which called itself “Teachers for Change,” proposed the establishment of Ann Arbor’s first alternative high school: Pioneer II, later renamed Earth-
works. On Oct. 11, 1971 — only seven weeks after the school’s initial conception — Earthworks opened its doors. The students, 108 strong, selected gray and clear as the school’s colors. The building, formerly Fritz Elementary School, consisted of three main rooms. Inside, narrow lockers were covered in artwork and scribbled handwriting, a sofa sat against the wall and
tires hung from the rafters, serving as repurposed chairs. The school’s bathroom was coed and covered in graffiti — including a gargoyle next to the urinal sneering “He’s back.” And the two adults in the building, Tom Dodd and Allan Schreiber, designed a curriculum that included “Creative Assholism,” “Imagination Marathon” and the inno-
vative Community Resource (CR) program. Only a year later, in 1972, Community High School (CHS) followed in Earthworks’s footsteps. That September, roughly 300 students ventured to the old Jones Elementary School on Division Street in Kerrytown — a historic district in Ann Arbor. Given its name and proximity
to downtown and the University of Michigan’s campus, the school was uniquely positioned to pursue McPherson’s “school without borders” philosophy. In the nursery, school-aged parents dropped off their children, who were cared for throughout the day. In the classroom, Preston Slosson, an 81-yearold professor emeritus at the University
NEW COLUMN “Give Earth a Chance” As the health of Michigan’s natural resources rapidly declined, Ann Arborites of the ‘70s stepped up to make a change; their impact carries through to activists of the present.
Disclaimer: I am only 18 years old, and I have no professional or academic experience in “ethics.” The following answer stems from my personal opinions, which have been built by my experiences, the people around me and my own learning (and unlearning). “Is it okay or
not okay to walk out of class due to your principles conflicting with the material?” What are “principles?” What does it mean to hold principles of your own? Where do those fundamental beliefs on which you base your morals, your decisions, your very way of life, come from?
of Michigan, taught history. In the parking lot, Greg Clark, a junior at CHS, taught a CR on motorcycle maintenance. In the fire escapes, students listened to Earth, Wind and Fire, smoked weed and played Euchre... Cont. on Page #
9:30 Board the bus 10:00 Begin Tug o’ War games Egg Drop 11:00 6-person relay race 11:30 3-Legged Race 12:00 Lunch Time 12:30 Non-senior Awards 1:00 Arm and Leg Wrestling 1:30 Clean up, Board Bus - Softball, volleyball and hackeysack tournaments will run all day. - Students will need permission slips to participate.
Using her own opinions and experiences, senior Cate Weiser answers a schoolrelated ethical question from a CHS student. When — if ever — is it okay to walk away from something that challenges those beliefs? My answer: Sometimes. Personal principles can come from anywhere: In-school education, real-world experiences, your parents or friends. Principles also can hold different signif-
icance; for example, you can hold principles about your identity and political principles. If the material — whether it be a reading, a movie or a class discussion — is upsetting enough to make you want to leave class, there are a few questions you must ask yourself: Cont. on Page #
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