Eugene Youngert

At a time when our schools and colleges are crowded as never before, we think it may be stimulating to look into the performance of outstanding American high schools. Here we turn the spotlight on Newton, Massachusetts, and thereafter we shall publish articles about the East High School in Denver, the William Allen High School of Allentown, Pennsylvania, the nongraded high school in Melbourne, Florida, and the Dunbar School in Chicago. To introduce the series we call upon DR. EUGENE YOUNGERT, who served for sixteen years as superintendent of the Oak Park and River Forest High School in Illinois before joining the research team of James Bryant Conant.

A native of Illinois who served for sixteen years as superintendent of the Oak Park and River Forest High School, EUGENE YOUNGERT first became aware of the practices and pressures which he here condemns when he was a member of the Intercollegiate Athletic Committee of the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools, He has recently been working as senior associate to Dr. James Bryant Conant on the Study of the American High School.

As Superintendent of the Oak Park and River Forest High School, EUGENE YOUNGERTdirects one of the most invigorating school communities in the Middle West. and foremost in his policy is his belief that every pupil should be given the fullest opportunity to get ahead. As a result many in his senior class are doing work of college level. A native of Illinois who took his bachelor’s degree at Augustana College in Rock Island and his master’s degree and doctorate at Columbia University, Mr. Youngert taught at the University of Vermont before returning to his home state.