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Early view
of the West Side School, NW corner of Knight & Cleveland.
Constructed from 1958-1960, it was renamed in 1961 for C. R.(Clarence Richard)
Anderson (1901-1979), a noted Helena educator. The first Principal of the
school was Howard W. Jacobson, a post he held until 1968.
Several
additions have been made to the building over the years. In
July of 2005, an earthquake caused moderate damage to a section
of wall on the 1965 west addition, delaying the opening of school
for several weeks.
Your editor
attended C. R. Anderson from 1962-1965. The culture then (apparently
officially sanctioned) was one of oppression and violence. Corporal
punishment, humiliation and degradation of 7th and 8th grade
male students was commonplace. It was my first encounter with
teachers who had no business being in education; I couldn't
wait to get out of this school.
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