[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 120 (Thursday, September 5, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1527-E1528]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   TRIBUTE TO ALUMNI OF FROEBEL HIGH SCHOOL AND ROOSEVELT HIGH SCHOOL

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                        HON. PETER J. VISCLOSKY

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 5, 1996

  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker: It is with great pleasure that I commend 
the alumni of Froebel High School on the celebration of the 12th 
anniversary of their first reunion family picnic. This picnic was held 
on Saturday, August 10, 1996, on the grounds of what used to be Froebel 
High School in Gary, IN.
  An originator of the event and current chairman of the Froebel class 
of 1962, the honorable Vernon Smith, State representative for Indiana's 
fourteenth district, stated that this picnic was originated in 1984 to 
maintain the inner city spirit and rivalry between the alumni of the 
Froebel Blue Devils and the Gary Roosevelt Panthers. Initially, the 
graduating classes of 1962 from both high schools combined efforts to 
create a nostalgia reunion. This

[[Page E1528]]

began with a basketball game between the two alumni groups and was 
followed by a dance. Recently, however, the Roosevelt class of 1972 has 
taken over responsibility from its class of 1962 and the two schools 
have separated a few of their events. The current chairman of 
Roosevelt's class of 1972 is Dwight E. Pointer.
  Representative Smith stated that Roosevelt and Froebel were the most 
competitive schools in this area. Therefore, they created this event to 
recapture the great memories and allow the generations of graduates to 
continue the tradition. In fact, many people return to Gary to attend 
this celebratory event.
  This event, which usually attracts over 3,000 people, was again held 
in conjunction with the week-long nostalgia event. On August 7, a 
casino night was held at the Genesis Center followed by the picnic and 
nostalgia dance on August 10. On August 11, a church service and block 
party were held in Gary.
  Froebel, which was also known as the immigrant school, is presently 
being surveyed for landmark status. The Pony Express and stage coaches 
changed horses at a way station located on the Froebel property en 
route to Chicago. Friedrich Froebel, who believed toddlers could be 
educated, instituted the first kindergartens and invented the 
alphabetical/numerical building blocks that are used worldwide by 
preschoolers. On September 9, 1907, actual class work began at the 14th 
street school as it was called before Froebel opened. In 1910, the city 
of Gary authorized a 10-acre site for the construction of Froebel. It 
was completed and opened in September 1912. William A. Wirt, a student 
of Froebel's philosophies, made it mandatory that the Gary schools 
implement kindergarten through 12th grade at this school. All of the 
high tech concepts of the era were realized in the Froebel curriculum 
and soon this Gary plan gained prominence and was adopted by many 
school districts nationwide. Froebel High School was converted into a 
middle school in 1969 and the last class that was held in that building 
was in 1977. Since that time, Froebel School has remained closed.
  Mr. Speaker, I am thrilled that the residents of Gary took the time 
to celebrate and appreciate their city's history. May the alumni of 
Froebel and Roosevelt High Schools continue to honor their schools and 
exude the pride that has persevered to unite everyone in Gary.

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