Part of PC's Debate Team Circa 1977

1977 was thirty years ago. Jimmy Carter was in charge of the White House and a gallon of gasoline sold for about 62 cents. The U.S. Government's federal debt was more than $8.4 trillion dollars less than it is today. Clearly there have been many things that have changed in America since the 1970's, but after viewing a stack of old PC School Newspapers from 1977(by the way, the 70's newspapers were fancier... more like a magazine), I have discovered that there are many things that have remained the same.

If a person was able to visit our present day Park Center and Park Center circa 1977 back to back, one notable difference would stand out before even setting foot inside the doors. In 1977 an official "smoking area" was available outside where students (and staff) would be allowed to smoke cigarettes. This area was considered by most to be a positive addition to the school as it discouraged students from smoking in the school bathrooms. In 2007 this area no longer exists as tobacco usage has been banned on all school property, outdoors or indoors.
Park Center had a student run radio station for much of the 70's and 80's housed in the Media Center.

Another large change in the school's policy was left unchanged for nearly three decades: the lunch policy. In the 70's the school had an "open lunch" policy, meaning that students were free to leave school during their lunch period and return before their next class. This lunch option was available in the school until about four years ago when additions to the school allowed more room for students in the cafeteria. Even though students enjoyed "open lunch" in the '76-'77 school year, the old newspapers were filled with student's fears that the school would move to a "closed lunch" policy.

One large concern from this time period that is still a concern to Americans is the conservation of energy resources. During the winter of the '76-'77 school year, district 279 employed a new policy to help cut down on the usage of energy. The school district changed its 6.5 hour school days that ran 5 days a week into 7.5 hour school days that ran 4 days a week. The theory was that by not having the school use energy over a 3 day weekend instead of the standard 2 day weekend energy would be saved. This energy crunch was caused by a crisis in the Middle East. In 2007 we have faced a similar issue on a national scale. Daylight savings time was moved forward this year in hopes that families would use less energy in the evening when there is more daylight.

A student donates at the '77 blood drive

Another thing that hasn't changed over the past 30 years is the National Honor Society's sponsoring of the Blood Bank. Every year (usually more than once) Park Center's NHS helps to setup and run a program where students can donate blood. Students that wish to give blood this year may sign up for the April 13th blood drive in the cafeteria during lunch.

One of Park Center's Special Education teachers, Ms. Sue Mingo, has worked in the building since the school opened. When asked what differences she has noticed over the years she said the following: "Back then, fewer students had jobs of their own, and the attendance at concerts, plays, and sporting events was higher than it is now." She also pointed out that when the school first opened there were no walls dividing classrooms around the library on the second floor. This was designed around the theory that having an open environment would help students learn better. The school eventually decided to section off these rooms to cut down on high noise levels. One memorable moment for Ms. Mingo was that the staff would always perform at pep fests. "We had a staff band, cheerleaders, and a choir; it was hard to tell which of these groups needed the most improvement!" Ms. Mingo said.

Mr. Dan Whipple, is another teacher that has worked at Park Center since the 70's. According to Mr. Whipple the school used to run a program where everyone in the school, including all staff, would read for half an hour in the morning. Students would have to write journals on what they read and have them graded on a Pass/Fail basis every day in an attempt to improve reading skills throughout the school. "I enjoyed it," says Mr. Whipple, "It gave me time to put aside specifically for reading."

It is evident that Park Center has made many changes over the past 30 years. Some negative changes, at least from the student's standpoint, have been made such as the abolition of open lunch. Many positive changes have also been made. For example, the diversity of the school has increased greatly from 1977 when the rate of minority students was less than 1%. Today Park Center hosts a minority population of over 60%.

After researching and comparing Park Center in these two eras, one cannot help but to question what life at Park Center will be like in another 30 years. Will Park Center (and the world) still face the same issues that it faces today? Only time will tell.

-Brad Erickson (PSCH Webteam)