Henry W. Grady would be surprised today if he could look at the additions being constructed at Grady High School.
The new addition placed on the former site of the north cafeteria will consist of three stories, following the plan of the main building. Weather conditions permitting, it will be finished by the summer of 1950.
On the second floor will be a modern library, which will be bigger than the present one, and classrooms with many improvements such as green "blackboards." On the third floor will be more classrooms, while on the first will be the main- office and the counselor's office.
Spacious Cafeteria
The new cafeteria, located between the east cafeteria and the walkway to
the girls' gym, will easily take care of or more students each lunch period.
It will have four entrances to avoid congestion, a spacious faculty room,
and a well equipped kitchen. It is hoped that it will be possible to have
new equipment for the team tables. The Grady PTA is interested in helping
to get this equipment.
A hallway will connect the new cafeteria with the northern wing of the building.
It should be finished immediately after the cafeteria is put into use.
According to Mr. E. L. Floyd, "If everything progresses as planned, we should be in the new cafeteria by the end of this first semester, if not before."
More Grounds for Grady
At that time, the east cafeteria will be turned into the PTA-sponsored recreation
center, and the old military building will be destroyed.
The grounds around Grady will be beautified, and space will be provided for ample playgrounds and for military parades.
These changes will make Grady one of the most modern schools in the city.
Sticks, Stones and Broken Bone's
Luckily there have been no stretcher cases since the constructional
work has begun here at Grady. Students have walked around the building amid
failing debris. Several studious ones, who have had their noses, in books,
have narrowly missed having their hair parted by bricks.
We, the students, should help end this period of chaos in the shortest possible time by staying out of the way of the workmen.
Crowded conditions that arose during the first two years of the new school made the need for expansion most evident. The work that is now in progress was begun last summer.
We will all be waiting for the completion of this expansion program, which will make our school not only as good as the rest, but better.
Participation
To the pupil who does not participate in the activities of the school, Grady
is little more than an instrument for personal, scholastic achievement.
No one can take full pride in something unless he has worked directly to
improve it. Through our efforts to produce a better basketball team, cheering
squad, or yearbook, we are cementing ourselves to Grady. However, we need
not feel that we should participate merely to improve Grady. School life
will become more enjoyable for us since we will be a real part of it. In
addition, the value of activities in developing ability and personality
cannot be underestimated.
Another type of participation should be particularly stressed-intellectual participation. By this, we mean taking an active interest in Grady's problems and seeing that our opinions are carried to the student legislature by our representatives. Through such participation all democratic institutions progress.
Friendliness
Secondly, the students must realize that a special effort to be friendly
is needed from them in order to counterbalance the magnitude and diversity
of Grady. Close unity cannot exist at a large school unless its students
make a sincere effort to be friendly. The people of Grady all have unusual
experiences to relate, and all have common interests; therefore, let us
try to benefit from this wealth of friendship at our fingertips. Let's make
a real effort to create an atmosphere of brotherhood at our school.
Faith
The third point, faith, is perhaps the most necessary for progress. Because Grady has not inherited a wealth of binding traditions, songs, and ancient rivalries, all of which come only with time, we should not feel that Grady has no school spirit., We must have faith in our school. We should consider it for what it really is-- three year old. Then we could not help but take pride in its prodigical progress. And this pride would give us faith in the future of our school.