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Former Elkhart student Deborah Thorne recounts local schooling and offers advice to students
Summary
Deborah Thorne, identifying herself as a federal bankruptcy judge originally from Elkhart, described attending Mary Daly Elementary, Westside Junior High and Elkhart High School and urged students to read, write and think critically.
Deborah Thorne, identifying herself as a federal bankruptcy judge from Chicago who grew up in Elkhart, recounted attending Mary Daly Elementary School, Westside Junior High School and Elkhart High School and urged students to read widely, write often and develop critical thinking skills.
Thorne said she walked about a mile to Mary Daly Elementary and started there in kindergarten, continuing through sixth grade. She described Westside Junior High as serving grades seven through nine at the time and said the high school experience included a split sophomore division and a senior division at a newer building. She recalled strong teachers, involvement in student council and attending leadership programs at Indiana University and Girls State.
Thorne also noted family connections to local schools: her mother taught home economics and ran the lunchroom at Roosevelt (school), and family members remained involved in community schools. She recommended students challenge themselves with books, practice writing to build expressive skills and learn to approach unfamiliar problems from multiple perspectives.
