Vohime25. issue 9 January 13,19S8
Southwards
Maint' Smilh High Scliool
Westman makes all-state band When Dean Westman first heard about the Chicagoland district band his sophomore year, he wasn't even thinking of the Illinois All-State Band. Now, he is the first Maine South student to qualify for the All-State Band. "My interest in the district bandfirstgrew when I heard about it in music camp my sophomore year at the University of Kansas," said Dean. When the students were aware of the tryouts for this band, they were given three weeks to prepare for it. Most kids had been practicing since July. In late October Dean, along with other Maine South band members, went to West Leyden High School for the tryouls. "There were three different judges. We were tested on scales, sight reading, and a prepared piece," Dean said. In the Chicagoland area. Dean was in from New Trier and Buffalo Grove," Dean competition with 45 other tuba-players. The stated. Ifop nine players made the district band, and Dean described the district band as "an )ean was third. "The main competition came experience I wouldn't give up for the world. It
was different being a follower instead of a leader in the district band, because even the worst in the band is still the best." The band practiced four hours before the contest at West Aurora High during November. John Poynter, a musical director at Northwestern, directed the band. "Hearing the band play made me reaUze that our band has a lot of potential. It gives a goal to shoot for on improvement." Two weeks later, Dean heard from Mr. McLean that he qualified for the All-State Band. Tryouts for the band arc in late January in Peoria. "I'm hoping to rank in the top three. It isn't a longshot because ours is the hardest district and it will go the same as the district competition did. Two bands are formed— All-State and All-State Honors. The difference between the two is in sightreading." Dean has also participated in a wide range of activities at Maine South such as V-show, musical, orchestra, and concert choir. In college Dean plans to major in Music Education with hopes of becoming a band director.
King day^more than Just a day off What does January 16 mean to you? A Monday? The day beforefinalexams? A day off from school? It is all of these, but it is also a federal holiday honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. In 1985, Congress passed a bill stating that the third Monday of January be proclaimed Martin Luther King Day. On January 20, 1986, the U.S. officially observed the holiday for the first time. Even though Martin Luther King Day had been a holiday in many states for several years before '86, it took several years for the bill to pass through Congress. Many citizens and congressmen opposed the bill. Most opposition claimed that King was not as important as George Washington, the only American to liave a federal holiday named after him. Racism may have been another factor leading to opposition. Martin Luther King, Jr., was bom January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia. He graduated from Morehouse College and received a diBi inity degree from Crozer Theological Seminary. Dr. King earned his doctorate degree from Boston University. Dr. King became nationally famous in 1955, when he led a boycott of public buses in Montgomery, Alabama. This boycott was
successful; in 1956 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that segregation on transportation was unlawful. He later organized the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, which began the struggle for black equality. Peaceful reform was a major point of King's struggle for black rights. Even though he was tempted many times to act violently.
King rarely succumbed. King also stressed that blacks must never give in to poverty, and must strive for a high standard of living. Unfortunately, Dr. King died on April 4, 1968; he was shot by James Earl Ray while standing on a hotel balcony. All Americans owe a debt of gratitude to this man and his dream of equality.
MS nominated for national award Recently, Maine South, along with 23 other Illinois schools, has been nominated by the Illinois State Board of Education for the National Secondary School Recognition Award. Begun in 1982, the purpose of the award is to give public recognition to outstanding secondary schools across the United States. To be nominated the school had tofillout an application consisting of three parts. The first part deals with the demography, the school's and district's characteristics, followed by a second section on eligibility criteria. Thefinal,most involved part is the effective schooling section containing six underlying areas composed of three tofifteenquestions each. Areas covered include leadership.
learning and teaching environment, institutional vitaUty, parental and community support, and indications of success. There is also a special emphasis area which focuses on education in geography and strengthening curriculum requirements. Two committees collaborated to compile information for the application. One of the committees, the Administrative Council, comprised of department chairmen, lead teachers, deans, and vice-principals, worked to find information for the report. The writing committee, consisting of Miss Pierce, Mr. Kohler, Miss Pfiederer, Miss Purdy, Miss Feurer, Dr. Cachur, parent Mrs. Duerkop, and District 207 administrator Joel Morris, helped with the phrasing and construction of the continued on page 2