About Us
“While we wish that the ‘Call’ may prove interesting to all our readers, we particularly desire that it may manifest the true spirit and be worthy of the school it represents.” -Original issue from 1918
The Kirkwood Call has been the official newspaper of Kirkwood High School since the first issue was printed in 1918. According to the original 1918 publication, The Call was created shortly after the Webster Groves High School paper The Echo, and was named The Call to appear-rightly so-superior to its Webster counterpart. Today, after surviving through economic depression, war, nuclear threats and St. Louis weather, The Call is now in its 92nd year and its legacy around Kirkwood has continued to grow.
In The Call‘s computer lab resides a framed front page of the January 22-28, 1988 Kirkwood Webster Times; the page features Katie Collins, editor at the time of The Call, responding on the Hazelwood Supreme Court ruling which limited student’s right to free speech. Luckily, the Kirkwood High School administration frequently supports student’s First Amendment rights, reflected by the 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 First Amendment Press Freedom Award given to KHS by the Journalism Education Association (JEA).
The Call also boasts an internationally accredited journalism adviser: H. L. Hall. Hall wrote a text book on journalism education, entitled High School Journalism. This is the exact textbook which Kirkwood’s Journalism-1 class still uses today. Hall also served as the adviser of The Call and Pioneer (yearbook) for 26 years (1973-1999). During his period as adviser for The Call and Pioneer, Hall was awarded various titles by high school journalism organizations such as JEA and the National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA). Currently, there are several scholarships in Hall’s name.
While The Call staff of 49 that exists today is primarily run by student editors, the paper still serves as an educational experience for students. Mitch Eden, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville graduate, holds a b.s. in journalism and English and a Masters in Education from National-Louis University. He became the adviser of The Call in 2006. Since then, Eden has successfully made the newspaper even better, and through his teaching has led the paper to the NSPA National Pacemaker Award (unofficially known as “The Pulitzer Prize” for student journalism”) in 2008 and 2009. The Call has been awarded several other honors under his leadership, but Eden will be remembered most for his furious dedication to Kirkwood High School’s publications, his desire for the success of his students, and his ability to inspire those same students.
Under Eden’s direction, The Call has also become a free publication, supported by advertisements from local businesses and patrons from local families. Keeping The Call free not only has expanded our readership, but it has expanded our sense of responsibility as student journalists.
The first issue of The Call has an editors’ note that reads: “In offering this first number of the Kirkwood High School ‘Call’ to the public, we are not unmindful of the fact that several years ago the school published a paper called the ‘Journal’ which had a very brief existence and a small measure of success. But since the school spirit has improved so amazingly in the last few year, a paper now should have a much greater chance to succeed. If the Student Body boosts, subscribes and contributes, failure should be well nigh impossible… While we wish that the ‘Call’ may prove interesting to all our readers, we particularly desire that it may manifest the true spirit and be worthy of the school it represents.”
The current staff seeks to uphold that responsibility and produce an honest, diverse publication. We find that the poem published in the first issue still applies:
How The “Call” Got Its Name
The Editor was throwing fits, the Staff were all distracted.
They talked and disagreed each day in meetings quite protracted,
Endeavoring to find a name to fit the High School Paper,
From such as “Gimlet,” “Funnygraf,” “Review” and “Shining Taper,”
And many more, but from the list not one could they decide on,
So often did each change his choice that none could be relied on.
At last they chose but found it met with less than scant approval
From Faculty and Students all who pled for its removal.
Another meeting then was called but few cared to attend it
Nor cared what name was picked so long as they need not commend it.
Six editors and teachers two, another list acquired,
And all the old impossibles were soon completely fired.
And if the “Call” you do not like that rose from out the wreck, oh,
You just must watch, my Student friends, that Webster High School “Echo.”