Communications from the Director

The University of Chicago Laboratory Schools

Communications from the Director

On the Same Page - A Lab Schools Story I'll Never Forget

February 2008
David W. Magill, Director

The stories that come from Lab’s history are among the most fulfilling and inspiring that I have ever heard. They are told by alumni and faculty of all ages, and there are themes that tie so many of them together—learning to think; life-long friendships; exposure to different customs, cultures, and languages; quirky individuals; academic preparedness; and freedom to be creative are but a few.

My favorite story just happened and in order to share it while it is fresh, I am postponing the next commentary on A Whole New Mind until March 1. Speaking of which, please reserve Monday evening, February 25 at 7:30 p.m. to hear the author Daniel Pink speak to the greater Laboratory Schools community.

It was late on a Friday afternoon in early January when my assistant announced that there was an alumna waiting to speak to me on the telephone. Not sure what to expect, I answered the phone. The caller identified herself and indicated that she was the first African-American student who ever attended the Laboratory Schools. Beginning as a nursery school student in the early 1940s, this alum indicated that she was the true definition of a “lifer.” Not only did she graduate from U-High, but she proceeded to the College and later finished a graduate degree at the University of Chicago.

Marriage took her away from Chicago, and she settled in the Washington, D.C., area. Looking for a school like the Laboratory Schools in the nation’s capitol for her son was frustrating, and she chose a well-known independent school with a Quaker origin. “Good place but didn’t compare to Lab,” she said.

A life of service was her career path that led her to urban areas where she began working with promising adolescents who were in need of an excellent education and change in venue in order to succeed. She became president and served for twenty years of A Better Chance (ABC), a preeminent national organization devoted to identifying, recruiting, and developing leaders among young people of color. I was immediately impressed since I was very familiar with the ABC Community Schools Program in which students live as boarders in high-achieving public school districts. With that experience, she now heads a similar organization devoted to finding financial aid and scholarships to deserving students of color who want to attend college.

She shared with me memories of Lab teachers and adults, all of whom treated her with love and respect. Not all was perfect, however, and she noted that she experienced some unpleasant situations that occurred after school and in the summer. She emphasized the high expectations that were held for her by her parents and by her teachers. At a young age, she felt that her contributions were valued and that she had the freedom to experiment and be creative. Particularly inspiring to her was a young English teacher by the name of Eunice Helkamp. Ms. Helkamp later became Mrs. McGuire, and in her name, there is an endowed gift award for creative writing given annually to two of our seniors.

I really don’t know how long we conversed, but I enjoyed every moment of it. At the end, she said, “Today, I opened an alumni appeal from you, and I just had to tell someone how much the place has meant to me in my life. Everything that I am, everything that I have done has been influenced by my time at Lab. Not only will I be sending a gift today, but Lab is also part of my estate. It is the most special school I know!”

So consider this story as an introduction to an alumnus who made history at the Laboratory Schools over 60 years ago. With her permission, many more details, including her name, will be shared with you in the coming months. Our new Lab Life will be a great place to feature her. She has pictures, many stories, and, like so many other alumni, a deep appreciation for how well she was prepared for life. Sure made my day!