Allison’s Blurb:
Every Harwood who has ever lived in Lawrence has gone to Lawrence High School. I grew up going to my cousins’ LHS choir concerts and baseball games. My dad’s cousin is the cheer coach. I had learned the alma mater before I had even hit junior high.
Just call me the green and silver sheep of my family.
I love my school. I yell my head off at every LHS vs. Free State game and mock the word “tradition” as much as the next Firebird. That being said, I jumped at the chance to spend the day at LHS. I’ve always been curious about this idea of being a “Lion” that my family is constantly talking about.
And I have to admit I was impressed.
Every Harwood who has ever lived in Lawrence has gone to Lawrence High School. I grew up going to my cousins’ LHS choir concerts and baseball games. My dad’s cousin is the cheer coach. I had learned the alma mater before I had even hit junior high.
Just call me the green and silver sheep of my family.
I love my school. I yell my head off at every LHS vs. Free State game and mock the word “tradition” as much as the next Firebird. That being said, I jumped at the chance to spend the day at LHS. I’ve always been curious about this idea of being a “Lion” that my family is constantly talking about.
And I have to admit I was impressed.
Miranda’s Blurb:
While Allison grew up understanding the storied tradition of LHS, I didn’t. I knew there was another high school in town, but it didn’t affect my life.
LHS always seemed like a black and red blur of tradition “over there.” I grew up on this side of 15th Street, along with all of my friends. I grew up watching my brother play Free State baseball and listening to Firebird football on the radio. I never thought LHS had anything to offer me. It wasn’t that it was a bad place; I had just never really considered it because I was so excited to go to Free State.
Despite all of this, I took the chance to go there, because I was curious about how the “other half” lived.
What I found could not have surprised me more. I had an incredible day there, and it changed my perspective. Knowing how LHS really is made me realize I could have been just as happy there. Make no mistake, I like going to Free State, but LHS made quite the first impression.
While Allison grew up understanding the storied tradition of LHS, I didn’t. I knew there was another high school in town, but it didn’t affect my life.
LHS always seemed like a black and red blur of tradition “over there.” I grew up on this side of 15th Street, along with all of my friends. I grew up watching my brother play Free State baseball and listening to Firebird football on the radio. I never thought LHS had anything to offer me. It wasn’t that it was a bad place; I had just never really considered it because I was so excited to go to Free State.
Despite all of this, I took the chance to go there, because I was curious about how the “other half” lived.
What I found could not have surprised me more. I had an incredible day there, and it changed my perspective. Knowing how LHS really is made me realize I could have been just as happy there. Make no mistake, I like going to Free State, but LHS made quite the first impression.
Hallways and Layout
We have never seen so many people so congested in one place. Ever.
Due to the addition of the freshmen, the main hallways are packed. E2, otherwise known as the mini rotunda, is one of the most crowded areas during passing periods. E2 has four hallways and two staircases feeding into it. We felt like we were going to be trampled.
While Free State has four main hallways that are parallel, LHS is a labyrinth in comparison.We have both been in LHS for various events, and still had no idea how to get around.There are multiple hallways of varying sizes.
Finally, after a few hours of wandering we started to get a general feel for the layout. We made discoveries like staircases that lead to nowhere and the auto shop.
We have never seen so many people so congested in one place. Ever.
Due to the addition of the freshmen, the main hallways are packed. E2, otherwise known as the mini rotunda, is one of the most crowded areas during passing periods. E2 has four hallways and two staircases feeding into it. We felt like we were going to be trampled.
While Free State has four main hallways that are parallel, LHS is a labyrinth in comparison.We have both been in LHS for various events, and still had no idea how to get around.There are multiple hallways of varying sizes.
Finally, after a few hours of wandering we started to get a general feel for the layout. We made discoveries like staircases that lead to nowhere and the auto shop.
Teachers and Classes
While we acknowledge we were only there for a day and only got a small sample of what school is like on the other side of 15th Street, we were impressed by the learning environment.
Students seemed engaged and as though they genuinely respected and liked their teachers. All of the teachers we both had were excellent. Teachers seemed relaxed and that they trusted their students. The control in the classroom was maintained without excessive discipline. When the classes would get unruly, teachers would calmly call for their students’ attention and it was given.
The teachers also didn’t speak down to their students. It felt more like an educational conversation than a typical teacher-student interaction.
While we acknowledge we were only there for a day and only got a small sample of what school is like on the other side of 15th Street, we were impressed by the learning environment.
Students seemed engaged and as though they genuinely respected and liked their teachers. All of the teachers we both had were excellent. Teachers seemed relaxed and that they trusted their students. The control in the classroom was maintained without excessive discipline. When the classes would get unruly, teachers would calmly call for their students’ attention and it was given.
The teachers also didn’t speak down to their students. It felt more like an educational conversation than a typical teacher-student interaction.
Atmosphere
Senior boys, you might want to close the paper.
It’s no secret that the girl to boy ratio in the senior class at Free State is lopsided. The official count is 224 females and 145 males according to Free State registrar Teresa Arevalo. It was honestly strange seeing an equal ratio of boys to girls in LHS classes. According to LHS registrar Diannia Affalter, there are 189 females and 215 males in the senior class. Having guys our own age took some getting used to. Not that we’re complaining.
LHS is also an incredibly chill environment. The student body president came up and shook our hands. Everyone seemed very relaxed and friendly. Complete strangers would offer us help finding classes without being prompted. There was a definite sense of unity throughout the school.
Senior boys, you might want to close the paper.
It’s no secret that the girl to boy ratio in the senior class at Free State is lopsided. The official count is 224 females and 145 males according to Free State registrar Teresa Arevalo. It was honestly strange seeing an equal ratio of boys to girls in LHS classes. According to LHS registrar Diannia Affalter, there are 189 females and 215 males in the senior class. Having guys our own age took some getting used to. Not that we’re complaining.
LHS is also an incredibly chill environment. The student body president came up and shook our hands. Everyone seemed very relaxed and friendly. Complete strangers would offer us help finding classes without being prompted. There was a definite sense of unity throughout the school.
Tradition
Now before anyone starts twitching because we’re talking about the T word, it’s really not that bad.
It’s easy to see why LHS has so much school spirit. Their trophy cases are full of state championships. They have the first boy’s basketball state championship. There are lions of every shape and size everywhere. Posters with the words “tradition,” “roar” and “lions” cover the walls. It creates a sense of community which is awesome.
We were both jealous of the amount of school spirit from the time we walked through the doors. Everyone seemed proud of their school. Looking around was like seeing a sea of red and black.After our day at LHS we returned to being proud Firebirds, but we have to say that it really was a great day to be a Lion.
Now before anyone starts twitching because we’re talking about the T word, it’s really not that bad.
It’s easy to see why LHS has so much school spirit. Their trophy cases are full of state championships. They have the first boy’s basketball state championship. There are lions of every shape and size everywhere. Posters with the words “tradition,” “roar” and “lions” cover the walls. It creates a sense of community which is awesome.
We were both jealous of the amount of school spirit from the time we walked through the doors. Everyone seemed proud of their school. Looking around was like seeing a sea of red and black.After our day at LHS we returned to being proud Firebirds, but we have to say that it really was a great day to be a Lion.
FordSVTRaptor • Nov 4, 2011 at 1:04 pm
I think that the two high schools are both good schools. I have friends that go to LHS and think that it is wonderful but they do complain about the hallways being small. Whereas Free State was built to accommodate more kids so the hallways are wider, LHS hallways are smaller. Another thing that my friends complain about is the parking lot being crowded but I think that both parking lots are crowded. So in my opinion both schools are equal.
livingit_24 • Nov 4, 2011 at 12:52 pm
The rivalry between LHS and Free State is always being taken to a different level. Everyone automatically assumes that LHS is a bad school, the school itself is not a bad school it is just because of how some people act at sporting events that make people think that it is. I have always been around people who have gone to Free State but some of my family actually goes to LHS. Not everyone is going to like going to a different place because for some change is not something they are used to.
freestater • Nov 4, 2011 at 12:48 pm
I think the reason why it seems LHS is so crowded is because their school isn’t as well built as Free State’s. Our halls are bigger and there are many entrances and exits to hallways for an easier flow of students. Free State also has many staircases to get to the top and bottom floors. This however is why I think it seems like it is more crowded at LHS than Free State.