The History of Jane Addams High School for Academics and Careers

Jane Addams High School has a long and proud history of educating students in the South Bronx.  Originally an all-girls school, its goal was to train young women to become wage-earning citizens.  The strong vocational foundation of Jane Addams makes as much sense now as it did then.  Today Jane Addams provides students with academics that prepare them for college and also gives students the opportunity to graduate with a career.  When the school was founded women rarely went to college and learning a trade in high school allowed these women to graduate and immediately support themselves and help support their families.  In 1985 Jane Addams became a co-ed school.

This rich history is documented in the yearbooks, school papers, graduation programs,  photographs, and other ephemera housed in the Jane Addams High School Archives.  The collection of materials is sparse, but collection of documents is ongoing.  The materials have not yet been cataloged.

The archives are currently closed to the public and to students.  Teachers and administrators can use the collection by appointment.

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January 25, 2012

Jane Addams High School has become the latest victim in a short-sighted effort to “improve” public education.  Phase out of this school will begin in Fall of 2012, as a charter school and a new CTE school will move in.  Many who love Jane Addams are heart-broken and will not stay to see this injustice come to pass.  The stability and love that students count on from the caring staff is being chipped away as morale continues to decline and high staff turnover is proof of the unsupportive work environment.  Those who have stayed for the love of the school, the community, and the children are now being blamed and threatened by an administration who has done little to  support the extra needs of this unique population.  Safety concerns and cell phone use were cited several times as major reasons for closure, however for the last few years staff requests for the DOE to provide scanners have been denied.  There is currently only 1 full-time Dean on staff.

Three other trade schools in the South Bronx, the poorest congressional district in the United States, are also easy targets as the Bloomberg administration frantically works to fulfill the charter school quota as required by the Race to the Top grant.  The lack of parental involvement guarantees little resistance for closure in these communities.  Teachers who have given their lives to our neediest and most disenfranchised children are branded as selfish union members just looking out for their own jobs, when their hearts are breaking for these students who are shuffled around from school to school.  Closing Jane Addams High School is a mistake that will never be undone.  The damage to our poorest communities will be felt long after the charter schools fad ends and federal funding evaporates.  I only hope that someday the job of educating children will once again be in the hands of educators, who do not need re-training, but support.

I promise that the rich history of Jane Addams High School will never be forgotten.  A permanent archival home will be found for our amazing history.

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Jane Addams Through the Years. . .

In 1929 a school was created to provide young women an opportunity to become wage-earning citizens.

The 1940s

 

The 1950s

 

 

The 1960s

 

The 1970s

 

The 1980s

 

The 1990s

 

The 2000s

 

The 2010s. Please, don't let this be the end. . .