They graduated over 50 years ago, but it seems like yesterday when Phyllis Meadows, Melvin McGuire, Sandra Woods, Bob Bernard and Barbara Hall walked the halls of Indianapolis Public School (IPS) John Hope School #26.
“This is where we took shop class,” said McGuire as he toured his alma mater now occupied by The Oaks Academy.
The group graduated from the school in the late 1950s, went on to live their lives and is now in the sunset of their professional careers. After all of this time, they remain Mustangs at heart. On that day, Bernard showed his school pride by wearing a royal blue polo shirt embroidered with the school’s mascot and nickname.
“One of my fondest memories was running track. We used to always win,” chuckled Meadows. “I also liked home (economics) because I loved to sew. As a matter of fact, I still have the first thing I made in ‘home ec,’ which was an apron.”
Whether it was receiving free dental care; standing in awe of talented upper classmen; attending class with individuals whose names would later be etched in history books as the greatest in their field; or learning from teachers who could have easily been professors in college classrooms – alumni of School #26 remain tied to their middle school largely because of the value of what they learned beyond reading and math. John Hope School laid a foundation and helped shape them into the adults they are today.
“Our teachers wanted us to represent the school well, but drove home the idea that we represented the Negro race. That’s what we were called at that time,” said Bernard. “They gave us all the desire to learn.”
At the K–9 school, students learned personal care, communication skills and other valuable life skills from both male and female teachers. Instructors didn’t just talk the talk, but served as living examples of what being an upstanding adult looked like. Students also saw how their teachers lived outside of the classroom, because everyone lived in the same neighborhoods.
“We took pride in coming to school because our teachers supported us,” said Woods. “Sometimes you still see teachers and you get a good feeling.”
Bernard referenced teacher Francis Taylor who sometimes didn’t invoke positive thoughts. He said she was a stickler for perfection. His recollection drew groans, then laughter from the other alumni.
“She carried a mean ruler. We all felt that ruler. Then you’d go home and get in trouble,” joked Hall. “We laugh, but they did that because they cared.”
Hall said in addition to teachers who valued student’s lives, she believed prayer in school also helped shape students’ character.
The school’s namesake, John Hope, also instilled a sense of pride in students. Bernard said Hope was a bi-racial educator and activist who served as president of Morehouse College and Emory University, both in Atlanta, Georgia.
The group graduated from John Hope School and successfully transitioned into Crispus Attucks and Arsenal Technical High Schools. A committee of alumni currently work to maintain the history of the school, and although they graduated in the 1950s, John Hope School #26 alumni gather annually for an all-class reunion. The upcoming reunion is Sept. 26 at the school, which is located on east 16th Street.
This year’s reunion will be a little different because of recent changes. The school is now occupied by The Oaks Academy.
“We are a Christ-centered, independent school,” said Laura Grammer, head of school at The Oaks Academy, Middle School.
There, students take classes such as Latin, handwriting, art, history, music, science and classic literature, but also are immersed in an environment that values the personhood of the child; relationship building; reflects the truths of God; and challenges students to be “catalysts for renewal” upon graduation.
Forty five percent of students are white, 45 percent are Black, and 10 percent represent various races. About half of The Oaks Academy students are considered low-income and attend classes via scholarships; 25 percent are considered middle income and pay some tuition; and the remaining 25 percent pay full tuition.
A ministry called Heart Change is also in the building and occupies 12 rooms on the school’s second and third floor.
As she soaked in the history of School #26, Grammer quelled alumni’s fears and stated that The Oaks Academy’s middle school is currently renting the school – the building is still owned by IPS. The Oaks Academy also leases space in old IPS School #45 at 23rd Street and Park Avenue; and School #81 in Brookside Park. Both are for pre-k through fifth grade. Sixth graders then transition to School #26 and stay until they graduate eight grade.
Grammer also said the school is dedicating a portion of the building’s old library, which used to be the Paul Laurence Dunbar Memorial Library and is now the Oaks’ band room, as a memorial to the history of IPS #26.
Old School #26 alumni were happy learning students at The Oaks Academy Middle School were receiving a good education. They all agreed that overall, education has changed for the worse and are disappointed by government cutbacks in education. As IPS alumni, they also said they were disappointed by today’s IPS students’ behavior and how students don’t value their education. They said over time, teachers lost their support from families and to get that back, it’s going to take strong family values.
Despite this, they are proud School #26 still stands and believes it serves as a memorial to the days when IPS functioned well and students were positive products of IPS.
As they walked on the original floors during the tour of their beloved John Hope school, fond memories flooded their minds. The original doors still remain and even have the class name painted on them. Seeing this, alumni beam with pride.
“When we talk about John Hope school, people say ‘what? You doing all of that for your grade school?’ But you just had to come here,” said McGuire. “As long as this building is here, we’re going to stay connected.”
