Can you imagine a teacher today throwing a chalkboard eraser at a student for not paying attention in class? Or a coach buying his high school sports team beer and cigars because they won a tournament? How about a school making its boys swim naked in their gym class? Such stories are part of the lore of Wichita High School East, the city’s oldest high school, along with the more serious legacy of educating generations of Wichitans. East is celebrating a big anniversary next month. Though it opened as Wichita High School in 1873, the anniversary celebrates the 100th year the school opened in its current building at Douglas and Grove. “They called it the million dollar school at that time,” said current principal Sara Richardson of the school’s cost, which was $1,044,810.85. Due to the money, innovation and modified Collegiate Gothic style, Richardson said, “It was like the showcase of the Midwest.”
Source: Carrie Rengers: Business Columns & Blogs |