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Health & Fitness

Morgan: A Sampling of Septembers Past

For Morgan the times have changed but the goals have not

September  11, 1894 and the doors of The Morgan School opened for another year of studies.  The Catalogue for the year offered the students the options of several courses of study.  The English-Classical Course, the Classical Course, the Scientific Course or the English Course.  Freshman opting for the English Course would be taking English grammar, Elementary Algebra and Inventional Geometry,Physical Geography and Physiology and American Literature.  They would also be preparing for their weekly Rhetorical exercises in which all departments of the school participated. Freshmen were exempt from the bi-weekly exercises in Arithmetic and Shakespeare. 

In September of 1959 the election of class officers took place, the sophomores were in the process of ordering their class rings, and the seniors were sitting for their individual yearbook pictures. “Ivy Leaves”, the school newspaper, was preparing the first of five issues to be published that year.  The Clinton Recorder ran a column “Around Morgan” which a student from Morgan, usually a senior, wrote weekly about activities at the school.  In a September column, Judy Solias, Class of 1960, wrote: “The latest trend has really caught on in Morgan.  The latest trend, if you haven’t already noticed, is the bright red plaids or orange and beige pleated skirts and bulky sweaters of all styles and designs.  Also very popular are the oversize leather handbags in which anything from nail polish to last year’s date book can be found.  The raincoats and windbreakers are very popular with both boys and the girls. The boys’ fashion trend has not changed. They still favor Shetland sweaters and Ivy League slacks.”  A strict dress code was enforced which required skirts or dresses for the girls and slacks and shirts for the boys,no jeans. 

Discussion about Morgan’s smoking policy was among the primary topics of conversation at the beginning of the school year 1977 – 1978.  It was recommended that smoking areas were to be established in both the senior and underclassman courtyards and no longer allowed in the cafeteria. Peer tutoring was a new venture for the year with students volunteering their time and talent in attempt to assist peers who had difficulty in some particular area of study, with a goal of encouraging and reinforcing trust, empathy and responsibility.  A list of goals for the school year was established. A few of them were to continue to develop greater public awareness of the programs and services offered at Morgan; to give students more direction in selecting courses to suit their abilities, future plans and interests; to assign all students homework which is commensurate with their grade level and ability; and to develop in the students a pride in scholarship, in themselves and in The Morgan School. 

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Now, in September, 2012, perhaps we might all, students, faculty, parents, and the community at large, strive to accomplish the goal set in 1977 of  “pride in scholarship, in themselves (each student) and in The Morgan School”.  Become more aware and supportive of the programs and activities at Morgan, encourage all students to take real pride in their scholastic, athletic and artistic achievements and for all of us to take pride in The Morgan School.

 

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