Maine East High School encyclopedia topics

History

Maine East was known as Maine Township High School from when it was built in 1929 through 1959 when Maine West High School was built. The original Maine Township High School was housed in a smaller building in Des Plaines from 1902 until 1929. For a short amount of time, in 1959, there were so many students enrolled in the school, approximately 7,000, that the school day was split into two parts, with half of the population attending in the morning, and half in the afternoon. The largest graduating class at Maine East was just over 1,000 students in 1959 prior to opening of Maine West and again in 1964 with just over 1000 graduates prior to the opening of Maine South. Maine North High School opened in 1970 and closed in 1981. The majority of students from Maine North were sent to Maine East High School, with the remainder being sent to Maine West High School and Glenbrook South High School.

During the Great Depression most of the staff taught without financial compensation, as the district could not afford to meet salaries. As thanks, local merchants provided necessities to the staff free of charge.

The school has two swimming pools. One is used by the swim team and water polo team and is also used for swimming classes required by the school. The natatorium is kept for its irreplaceable decorative mosaics, which could be damaged with further exposure to water and chemicals. The school also has a firing range in the basement that was in use when the school opened, as training with firearms was considered essential for young men in the wake of World War II. Though today used for storage, it is believed to be one of the few non-military academies to have a firing range still on the premises. The building also includes six floors and a basement. The basement houses classrooms, equipment, the shooting range and the closed swimming pool. The first through third floors are where the classes and offices are located. The fourth floor and above is blocked off for students under normal circumstances, but the fourth floor contains the new heating and air-conditioning systems. The fifth and sixth floors form the "tower" and are also blocked to students, although there are "tours" that allow students up there, due to the fire hazard formed by having only one exit, a narrow staircase. The "tower" originally housed the art and music rooms, but since 1960 houses the broadcasting transmitter for WMTH-FM, 90.5, the student-operated radio station. Following WWII and up into the late 1960s aviation classes were given with the use of a Link Trainer installed in the tower. The sixth floor also has a balcony on the outside from which there is a far view, in some cases the skyline of Chicago.

In 1936, Maine East's band director, Alexander Harley, along with his wife Frances, founded Maine Music Masters as a way of honoring musicians in the school band. The idea spread, and in 1952, the chapters at individual high schools were incorporated as Modern Music Masters. In 1983, it was renamed Tri-M Music Honor Society. Today, it is the largest international honor society in music education.

Diversity

Maine East is known state wide for its diversity. A large percentage of students are either immigrants or the children of immigrants. Maine East students collectively speak over 54 languages. In all, over 40 nations are represented, mostly from Asia, Central and South America, Europe, and Africa. The school idversity also extends to religious belief. While Roman Catholic may make up the largest representation, the school has a considerable number of Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, Evangelical Christians, Jews, Protestants, and Atheists. Despite the proximity of so many groups that are characterized as having animosity toward each other, Maine East has had virtually no incidents of hate crimes among its students. The Cultural Diversity Celebration is a highlight of the year where the various clubs representing the various groups within the school showcase food, dancing, singing, and a variety of cultural expressions from their native lands.

Academics

In 2006, Maine East had an average composite ACT score of 20.9, and graduated 87.6% of its senior class. Maine East has made Adequate Yearly Progress on the Prairie State Achievements Examination, a state test part of the No Child Left Behind Act. The average class size is 18.1.

The staff comprises 220 teachers.

Activities

Maine East High School is active in United States policy debate and hosts a tournament with regional significance to Great Lakes-region high school debaters, as those advancing far enough receive a bid to attend the national Tournament of Champions.

The CoEd Cheerleading Team has won a national tournament twice.

In the 2006-2007 school year two students from the Maine East Varsity Scholastic Bowl Team were placed on the Illinois All-State team. It also marked the first time in Illinois history that the same two teammates earned All-Sectional honors for three consecutive seasons.

The following teams succeeded in placing in the top four of the IHSA sponsored State Championship Tournament of their respective competitive activity:

Debate: State Champions (1971-72, 79-80, 80-81)
Scholastic Bowl: 4th (1994-95)
Speech Sweepstakes: 3rd (1971-72)

Athletics

Maine East competes in the Central Suburban League. Athletics are offered after school and are either free or very inexpensive to join. Sports are separated into three seasons, fall, winter, and spring.

As of right now, Maine East offers the following athletics:

Boys

Girls

The following teams succeeded in placing in the top four of the IHSA sponsored State Championship Tournament of their respective sport. These also include IHSA recognized finishes by Maine Township High School prior to 1960:

Baseball: State Champions (1957-58 & 58-59); 2nd (1948-49)
Basketball: Regional Champions (2007-2008)
Cross Country (boys): State Champions (1970-71 & 79-80); 2nd (1947-48); 3rd (1950-51, 69-70 & 71-72); 4th (1955-56)
Golf (boys): 2nd (1949-50)
Gymnastics (boys): State Champions (1978-79); 2nd (1967-68 & 79-80); 3rd (1966-67)
Gymnastics (girls): State Champions (1976-77); 2nd (1979-80); 3rd (1977-78); 4th (1978-79 & 80-81)
Soccer (boys): 2nd (1975-76)
Swimming & Diving: State Champions (1931-32, 33-34, 34-35, 35-36, 36-37); 3rd (1937-38, 51-52, 52-53, 53-54, 54-55, 58-59); 4th (1932-33 & 42-43)
Track & Field: State Champions (1940-41 & 45-46); 2nd (1930-31, 36-37, 43-44)
Wrestling: 2nd (1969-70); 4th (1972-73)

Notable alumni

Melissa Bean - member of the United States House of Representatives; Class of 1980
Jennifer Benka - poet, author of Preamble and A Box of Longing with 50 Drawers; Class of 1986
Karen Black - Oscar-nominated, and 2-time Golden Globe winning actress (5 Easy Pieces, Easy Rider); Class of 1957
Joe Bohannon - Chicago radio personality; morning show (WBBM, 96.3)
Hugh Brannum - actor (Mr. Green Jeans from Captain Kangaroo); Class of 1927
Hillary Rodham Clinton - United States Senator and former First Lady of the United States

Attended from 1961-1964, prior to district boundary changes forcing her to attend and graduate from the newly opened Maine Township High School South for her senior year.

Scott Cohn, Senior Correspondent, CNBC; Class of 1978
Stanton Cook - Former Chicago Tribune publisher and former Chairman of the Chicago Cubs; Class of 1943
Harrison Ford - actor, (Han Solo, Indiana Jones, Jack Ryan); Class of 1960
Gordon Fornell - Lt. General, USAF, former senior military assistant to Caspar Weinberger; Class of 1954
Jami Gertz - actress (The Lost Boys, Twister); Class of 1983
Carolyn Glassman - Diplomat, U.S. Department of State; Rusk Fellow at Institute for the Study of Diplomacy, Georgetown University; Class of 1978
Steve Goodman - folk singer-songwriter; Class of 1965
James Hager & John Hager - The Hager Twins performers on Hee Haw, Class of 1959
Marc Hempel - cartoonist and author; Class of 1975
David Hiller - Publisher, President, CEO, Los Angeles Times
Kevin Houlihan - Professional Lacrosse Player for the Chicago Machine
Derrick Kosinski - Television reality star on MTV's Road Rules: Season 13 and MTV's Real World/Road Rules Challenges
Rich Koz - Chicago radio and television personality (Son of Svengoolie); Class of 1970
James B. Loken - Chief Judge of the 8th Federal Circuit Court; Class of 1958
Richard Maxwell - playwright, 1999 Obie Award winner for House; Class of 1986
Douglas Montgomery - concert pianist and recording artist; Class of 1972
Marshall Seese - 1960, meteorologist, The Weather Channel
Stephen Smith - football player, played in Super Bowl IV for the Minnesota Vikings, Class of 1962
Carrie Snodgress - Oscar-nominated and Golden Globe-winning actress (Diary of a Mad Housewife); Class of 1963
Linda Stabb - actress - wife of actor Robert Vaughn; Class of 1961
David Stahl - Deputy Mayor of Chicago under Richard J. Daley; Class of 1952
Philip Tone - former U.S. District Court & U.S. Court of Appeals judge, investigated Billy Carter's involvement with the government of Libya; Valedictorian of the Class of 1940
Roz Varon, Chicago television news reporter (ABC-7 Chicago News); Class of 1975