The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
by Mary Eaves, Special For The Quill
"It's an outstanding class."
That's how Charles Apt describes La Harpe High School's 2004 graduating class. And Mr. Apt has always found something positive to say about all twenty of the classes who've graduated since he was named principal in 1984. He's retiring from that position this summer.
"After twenty years as principal and 34 in education, I think that it is time to do something else," he states.
Charlie Apt entered LHS as a student "in the first year of the Unit District."
It was eight years after starting school in 1952 at North Prairie, a one-room country school that had an enrollment of 18-20 students and one teacher for all eight grades, and then, after consolidation, moving on to Disco, "a much larger school made up of two rooms and two teachers (Keith Lefler and Maxine Hilton)" for grades 5 through 8.
With typical modesty and humor, Mr. Apt reports that he was not known for diligence in his student days.
"If my high school principals had still been here they would probably not have considered me as a serious applicant" for the position of building trades teacher. He accepted the teaching position in La Harpe the summer of 1976 after graduating from Western Illinois University and teaching for six years at United Township High School in East Moline, Illinois.
The Apts returned to La Harpe in time to enroll their oldest child, Josie (now 33), in kindergarten.
In the Quad Cities, "she was going to be in a class of 30 students. When she started school here she was in a class of 15 students with a teacher and teacher's aide."
Mr. Apt has served as the high school vocational director and athletic director and was named principal in 1984. But he says that he hadn't started "thinking about being principal until my predecessor, Jan Logan, and Superintendent Larry Crim asked me if I would be interested."
Mr. Apt is very positive about small-town life where residents are "surrounded by people who care about each other whether they are related or not".
When asked to reflect on how today's students are different from past students, Mr. Apt replies simply, "They are younger."
Mr. Apt believes that now as always, parents are the key to students' success in school. "If they take an interest in their child's education and see it as important, then the child will be successful.
"On the other hand, parents who place a low priority on school, blame others for discipline problems, or expect the school to feed, clothe and take care of every need for them will usually be disappointed with the outcome of the educational process.
"Parents have to have an active supportive role in the education of their children."
Though he remains positive about today's youth, Mr. Apt is less positive about today's politicians and their effects on education.
"Over the last thirty years education has been criticized and people have been told that our system is in trouble. I couldn't disagree more.
"Politicians are probably the biggest obstacles to our educational system. State mandates, lack of equitable funding, people who think they are an authority just because they attended school. NCLB legislation is an example. A catchy name with some pretty stupid requirements, part of which is a School Improvement Plan, another catchy name, but a big waste of time doing paper work."
Mr. Apt says that he has "enjoyed the kids and being part of their lives and watching them mature and become young adults right in front of my eyes".
Looking back on his 20 years as principal, Mr. Apt says that he's proudest of "the ability of this school to maintain the vocational programs when all surrounding schools let theirs go as teachers retired or moved on.
"Secondly, maintaining a safe disciplined place for our students to receive a good basic education.
"Third, keeping and updating a challenging curriculum for all students.
"Fourth, finding and being able to keep a faculty that care about kids and are willing to stay in a small school even though they could make more money moving on to larger schools.
"Fifth, the formation of the sports co-ops with Northwestern when at the time it was a new thing to do and we really did not know how it would be accepted by the communities.
"Sixth, the new building addition that the community allowed us to build."
For the past fifteen of his twenty years as principal, Mr. Apt's partner in the high school office has been his wife, Claudia Apt.
Mr. Apt reminisces that "I don't recall a certain time and place of meeting Claudia. I think we knew of each other through the latter years of grade school and became more acquainted through a mutual friend." The Apts were married on August 16, 1969 in La Harpe.
After they returned to La Harpe from the Quad Cities, Mrs. Apt worked as a substitute for secretaries in the district.
"I enjoyed the work, and, when the high school position became available, Charlie and I agreed I should apply for the job. I'd spent eighteen years being a homemaker, and raising our three children.
"As I remember, it was a bit of a challenge since my principal was also my husband. Josie was entering W.I.U as a freshman, Molly was a junior in high school, and Jason was entering kindergarten. There were a lot of adjustments! I had to become more organized than I had ever been.
"I had to make sure that the office ran smoothly, the morning announcements were prepared, the phones were answered, subs called, attendance recorded, bills paid, concession supplies ordered, money boxes ready for all ball games in the district, activity accounts balanced at the end of each month, and so on.
"The past three years I've been fortunate to have Kelly Lafferty as the part-time secretary, working with me in the mornings. After a while, we could almost anticipate each other's needs. Kelly has been hired as the full-time secretary next year. Good luck, Kelly!"
Mrs. Apt is characteristically cheerful when describing her duties over the past fifteen years.
"It has been a demanding job, but a rewarding one. I have enjoyed working in the same office with my husband, even though we did not necessary spend that much time together. We each had our own responsibilities. I felt that I could give him support, possibly taking a little pressure off his very stressful position. And if I had a computer problem or something, he always took the time to help me out.
"Since Charlie was required to attend all home games and events, that meant many evenings spent at school. Our children were always involved in sports and other activities, so up until Jason graduated, we also spent many evenings at games and other activities. It has been a positive experience to work with the administration, faculty, staff, students and parents. I will miss that a lot."
The Apts already have plans for their retirement. Mr. Apt says that he is "currently building a building in our back yard for the purpose of refinishing/repairing antique furniture.
"I have already taken on some carpentry jobs for this coming summer; and just recently decided to teach the building trades class next year. I am surprised at the number of students who signed up (16)."
Mrs. Apt says that she plans to "catch up with a lot of things at home. I look forward to having more time to spend with our children, five grandchildren, family and friends, and look forward to doing many things that I have put on hold."
The district will honor the Apts with a retirement dinner at the Nauvoo Hotel on June 10th.