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John Muir High School (Pasadena, California)
Encyclopedia
John Muir High School is a four-year comprehensive secondary school
in Pasadena
, California
, United States
and is a part of the Pasadena Unified School District
. The school is named after preservationist John Muir
.
in San Diego, California
). The junior college merged with Pasadena City College
, and converted to a two-year high school in the Fall semester of 1954. (The senior students of the first graduating high-school class in 1955 were freshmen of the previous two-year junior college in the prior year.) It later become a full four-year high school, located on Lincoln Avenue, named after Lincoln, Nebraska
.
Sirhan Sirhan
, the convicted assassin of United States Senator Robert F. Kennedy
, attended this high school after leaving Eliot Jr. High School.
Prior to 1964, many white students from the community of La Canada Flintridge, California
joined those from the black neighborhood of northwest Pasadena and the racially mixed community of Altadena, and enrollment was nearly 3,000 students. In 1965, La Canada Flintridge, California
built its own school system and removed their students. Shortly after that, the Pasadena City School District created Blair High School
, siphoning off another large portion of the school's population.
(API) scores by the state. Consequently, John Muir has been under scrutiny to demonstrate notable improvement to state standards.
In the Fall of 2004, approximately 100 students at John Muir were removed from the regular school system due to poor grades and placed at the remedial Rose City Remedial High School. However the number exceed the school's capacity, and 'Rose City North' was created on the North Western part of the campus, annexing a portion of the classrooms.
with minors. The teacher lured two students from the school in addition to another minor through the internet. Furthermore, numerous instances of cyber sex were conducted between the teacher and various minors as young as 12.
In 2002, white teacher Scott Phelps was the center of controversy when he asserted that the majority of the students who are failing and disruptive were black.
Opinion was divisive with whites and blacks from the community on both sides. While some students and teachers defended that his assertion (that the majority of the under performing students were black) was accurate, others took offense to it. Subsequently he was placed on administrative leave but allowed to return to the school a few days later. In 2005, Phelps was elected to a four-year term on the district's Board of Education.
Racial tension and violence across the campus has become increasingly more common. On December 14, 2007, a fight broke out amongst several students, with a total of eleven students detained and charged. According to the Deputy District Attorney,
On April 5, 2008, History teacher Brandon Michael Landreth was detained and held on $2 million bail for allegedly killing Justo Cesar Morales, a man believed to have been in a relationship with his ex-wife.
John Muir High School (after 1955):
Muir High School is one of two high schools to have produced more than two unrelated Olympic Gold medalists from the same high school.
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
in Pasadena
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and is a part of the Pasadena Unified School District
Pasadena Unified School District
The Pasadena Unified School District is a unified school district that is responsible for the schools of Pasadena, California. , it has 4 high schools, 3 middle schools, 2 K-8 schools and 16 elementary schools...
. The school is named after preservationist John Muir
John Muir
John Muir was a Scottish-born American naturalist, author, and early advocate of preservation of wilderness in the United States. His letters, essays, and books telling of his adventures in nature, especially in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California, have been read by millions...
.
History
The school's buildings were originally a part of John Muir Junior College (not to be confused with John Muir CollegeJohn Muir College
John Muir College is one of the six undergraduate colleges at the University of California, San Diego . The college is named after John Muir, the environmentalist and founder of the Sierra Club. It has a humanitarian emphasis focused on the "spirit of self-sufficiency and individual choice"...
in San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
). The junior college merged with Pasadena City College
Pasadena City College
Pasadena City College is a community college in Pasadena, California, USA, located on Colorado Boulevard. PCC is the third largest community college campus in the United States. PCC was founded in 1924 as Pasadena Junior College. In 1954, Pasadena Junior College merged with another junior...
, and converted to a two-year high school in the Fall semester of 1954. (The senior students of the first graduating high-school class in 1955 were freshmen of the previous two-year junior college in the prior year.) It later become a full four-year high school, located on Lincoln Avenue, named after Lincoln, Nebraska
Lincoln, Nebraska
The City of Lincoln is the capital and the second-most populous city of the US state of Nebraska. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County and the home of the University of Nebraska. Lincoln's 2010 Census population was 258,379....
.
Sirhan Sirhan
Sirhan Sirhan
Sirhan Bishara Sirhan is a Jordanian citizen who was convicted for the assassination of United States Senator Robert F. Kennedy. He is serving a life sentence at Pleasant Valley State Prison in Coalinga, California.Sirhan was a Christian Arab born in Jerusalem who strongly opposed Israel...
, the convicted assassin of United States Senator Robert F. Kennedy
Robert F. Kennedy
Robert Francis "Bobby" Kennedy , also referred to by his initials RFK, was an American politician, a Democratic senator from New York, and a noted civil rights activist. An icon of modern American liberalism and member of the Kennedy family, he was a younger brother of President John F...
, attended this high school after leaving Eliot Jr. High School.
Prior to 1964, many white students from the community of La Canada Flintridge, California
La Cañada Flintridge, California
La Cañada Flintridge is a small and affluent city in Los Angeles County, California, United States whose population at the 2010 census was 20,246, down from 20,318 at the 2000 census. According to Forbes, as of 2010, La Cañada Flintridge ranks as the 143rd most expensive U.S...
joined those from the black neighborhood of northwest Pasadena and the racially mixed community of Altadena, and enrollment was nearly 3,000 students. In 1965, La Canada Flintridge, California
La Cañada Flintridge, California
La Cañada Flintridge is a small and affluent city in Los Angeles County, California, United States whose population at the 2010 census was 20,246, down from 20,318 at the 2000 census. According to Forbes, as of 2010, La Cañada Flintridge ranks as the 143rd most expensive U.S...
built its own school system and removed their students. Shortly after that, the Pasadena City School District created Blair High School
Blair International Baccalaureate School
Blair International Baccalaureate School is located at 1201 S. Marengo Avenue, Pasadena, California 91106 and is in the Pasadena Unified School District ....
, siphoning off another large portion of the school's population.
Student profile
Approximately 1300 students attend each year. The student body is 47% black, 42% Hispanic, 9% non-Hispanic White, and 2% "other", including 1.1% Asian. The school maintained an average class size of 27 students and a pupil-to-teacher ratio of 21:1 in the 2002-03 school year, during which a total of 49 fully credentialed teachers were on staff. Beginning in 2004, John Muir has received failing Academic Performance IndexAcademic Performance Index
The Academic Performance Index is a measurement of academic performance and progress of individual schools in California, United States. It is one of the main components of the Public Schools Accountability Act passed by the California legislature in 1999...
(API) scores by the state. Consequently, John Muir has been under scrutiny to demonstrate notable improvement to state standards.
In the Fall of 2004, approximately 100 students at John Muir were removed from the regular school system due to poor grades and placed at the remedial Rose City Remedial High School. However the number exceed the school's capacity, and 'Rose City North' was created on the North Western part of the campus, annexing a portion of the classrooms.
Controversies
In 2000 a teacher, Cyrus Javaheri, pleaded guilty to engaging in group sexGroup sex
Group sex is sexual behavior involving more than two participants. Group sex can occur amongst people of all sexual orientations and genders...
with minors. The teacher lured two students from the school in addition to another minor through the internet. Furthermore, numerous instances of cyber sex were conducted between the teacher and various minors as young as 12.
In 2002, white teacher Scott Phelps was the center of controversy when he asserted that the majority of the students who are failing and disruptive were black.
Opinion was divisive with whites and blacks from the community on both sides. While some students and teachers defended that his assertion (that the majority of the under performing students were black) was accurate, others took offense to it. Subsequently he was placed on administrative leave but allowed to return to the school a few days later. In 2005, Phelps was elected to a four-year term on the district's Board of Education.
Racial tension and violence across the campus has become increasingly more common. On December 14, 2007, a fight broke out amongst several students, with a total of eleven students detained and charged. According to the Deputy District Attorney,
On April 5, 2008, History teacher Brandon Michael Landreth was detained and held on $2 million bail for allegedly killing Justo Cesar Morales, a man believed to have been in a relationship with his ex-wife.
Notable alumni
John Muir Junior College (prior to 1955):- John Van de KampJohn Van de KampJohn Kalar Van de Kamp is an American politician. He served as Los Angeles County District Attorney from 1975 until 1981, and then as 28th Attorney General of California from 1983 until 1991....
(1952), Attorney General of California (1982–1991).
- Jackie RobinsonJackie RobinsonJack Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson was the first black Major League Baseball player of the modern era. Robinson broke the baseball color line when he debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947...
(1936), first black major league baseball player
- Fred PhelpsFred PhelpsFred Waldron Phelps, Sr. is an American pastor heading the Westboro Baptist Church , an independent Baptist church based in Topeka, Kansas...
(1951),controversial religious figure and founder of the Westboro Baptist ChurchWestboro Baptist ChurchThe Westboro Baptist Church is an independent Baptist church known for its extreme stance against homosexuality and its protest activities, which include picketing funerals and desecrating the American flag. The church is widely described as a hate group and is monitored as such by the...
John Muir High School (after 1955):
- Roger DawsonRoger DawsonRoger Dawson is a jazz percussionist, conga drummer, bandleader and jazz composer. He was a leading jazz and salsa disc jockey in the USA and acknowledged as at the forefront of New York's Salsa music explosion of the seventies and early eighties...
(1958), Jazz and Salsa musician, award winning New York deejay. - Bobby HutchersonBobby HutchersonBobby Hutcherson is a jazz vibraphone and marimba player. His vibraphone playing is suggestive of the style of Milt Jackson in its free-flowing melodicism, but his sense of harmony and group interaction is thoroughly modern...
(1958), Award winning Jazz vibraphonist, composer and bandleader. - Herbie LewisHerbie LewisHerbie Lewis was an American hard bop double bassist.He played or recorded with many prominent jazz musicians, including Cannonball Adderley, Stanley Turrentine, Bobby Hutcherson, Freddie Hubbard, Harold Land, Jackie McLean, Archie Shepp, and McCoy Tyner.Herbie recorded his last CD Just a Lucky So...
(1958), Jazz bassist and teacher. - Rod ShermanRod ShermanRodney Jarvis "Rod" Sherman is a former American football wide receiver who played professionally in the American Football League and the National Football League .-High school career:...
(1962), professional football player. - Albert StinsonAlbert StinsonAlbert Stinson was an American jazz double-bassist.Stinson learned to play piano, trombone, and tuba before settling on bass at age 14...
(1962), Jazz bassist. - Sirhan SirhanSirhan SirhanSirhan Bishara Sirhan is a Jordanian citizen who was convicted for the assassination of United States Senator Robert F. Kennedy. He is serving a life sentence at Pleasant Valley State Prison in Coalinga, California.Sirhan was a Christian Arab born in Jerusalem who strongly opposed Israel...
(1963), convicted assassin of Robert F. KennedyRobert F. KennedyRobert Francis "Bobby" Kennedy , also referred to by his initials RFK, was an American politician, a Democratic senator from New York, and a noted civil rights activist. An icon of modern American liberalism and member of the Kennedy family, he was a younger brother of President John F...
. - John BealJohn Beal (composer)John Beal is an American film composer working in Hollywood, California, and is notable for composing the music for numerous hit television series, such as Vega$ and Eight is Enough, as an orchestral conductor, composer of movie trailer music, and for his work with the Hollywood Symphony...
(1964), award-winning film and television composer. - Richard BellisRichard BellisRichard Bellis is notable as an Emmy Award winning composer for the mini-series "Stephen King's It." Bellis is a former President of the Society of Composers & Lyricists, former governor of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences a USC lecturer and the composer of music for numerous TV...
(1964), award-winning film and television composer. - Octavia Butler (1965), award-winning science fictionScience fictionScience fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
author (d. 2006) - Darrell EvansDarrell EvansDarrell Wayne Evans is a former third baseman and first baseman in Major League Baseball who played from 1969 to 1989 with the Atlanta Braves , San Francisco Giants and Detroit Tigers . He is also the former manager and director of player personnel for the Victoria Seals of the Golden Baseball...
(1965), major league baseball player, 1969-89 - Steven ClarkeSteven ClarkeSteven G. Clarke, an American biochemist, is a director of the UCLA Molecular Biology Institute, a professor of chemistry and biochemistry at UCLA biochemistry department. Clarke heads a laboratory at UCLA's department of chemistry and biochemistry...
(1966), Biochemist and pioneer in aging research - Andre ColemanAndre ColemanAndre Clintonian Coleman is a former professional American football wide receiver in the National Football League. He attended Hickory High School in Hermitage, Pennsylvania playing on the AAA state championship team. He played collegiately at Kansas State University...
(1982) Author and award-winning journalist - David Lee RothDavid Lee RothDavid Lee Roth is an American rock vocalist, songwriter, actor, author, and former radio personality. Roth was ranked nineteenth by Hit Parader on their list of the 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Singers of All Time....
(1972), lead singer of Van HalenVan HalenVan Halen is an American hard rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. The band has enjoyed success since the release of its debut album, Van Halen, . As of 2007 Van Halen has sold 80 million albums worldwide and has had the most #1 hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart...
1974-85, 1996, 2007-current. - Julie BunnJulie BunnJulie Bunn is a Minnesota politician and a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives representing District 56A, which includes portions of Washington County in the eastern Twin Cities metropolitan area. A Democrat, she is also an economist, policy analyst and consultant.Bunn was first...
, (1975), Legislator, Minnesota House of Representatives (2007-current) - Renee Tajima-PeñaRenee Tajima-PeñaRenee Tajima-Peña is an award-winning film director and producer, notable for "Who Killed Vincent Chin?" , for which she received an Academy Award nomination, and "MY AMERICA...or Honk if You Love Buddha."-Education:...
(1976), award-winning documentary filmmaker. - Alice BrownAlice Brown (athlete)Alice Regina Brown is a retired American sprinter. She was a silver medalist in the 1984 Olympic 100m final in a time of 11.13 seconds...
(1978) Track and Field OlympicOlympic GamesThe Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
Gold Medalist - Anthony Miller (1983), former NFL wide receiver
- Linetta WilsonLinetta WilsonLinetta Wilson was a 1996 Olympic gold medalist in the women's 4x400 meter relay for the United States. She competed with in the opening round with Rochelle Stevens, Kim Graham, and Maicel Malone and was replaced by Jearl Miles in the Final.Wilson grew up in Pasadena, attending Muir High School...
(1985), Olympic Gold Medalist, Track and Field - Stacey AugmonStacey AugmonStacey Orlando Augmon is a retired American professional basketball player, formerly in the NBA. He gained the nickname "Plastic Man" due to his athletic ability to "stretch"...
, (1986), basketball player, NBA and Olympics - Inger MillerInger MillerInger Miller is a track and field sprint athlete, competing internationally for United States. She is the daughter of Lennox Miller, an Olympic champion runner from Jamaica....
(1988), track and field Olympic Gold Medalist - Darick HolmesDarick HolmesDarick Holmes is a former American football running back in the NFL who played for the Buffalo Bills from 1995–1998, for the Green Bay Packers in 1998 and for the Indianapolis Colts in 1999....
, (1989) NFL Player for the Buffalo Bills, Green Bay Packers, & Indianapolis Colts - Brandon RogersBrandon Rogers (singer)Brandon Rogers is an American singer who has worked as a professional backup vocalist, and who was the 12th place finalist on the sixth season of American Idol.-Early years:...
(1996) American IdolAmerican IdolAmerican Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
Season 6 12th place finalist - Jackie LongJackie LongJackie Long is an American actor, writer, producer, singer, director, comedian, and musician from Pasadena, California...
(1998), Actor - Sultan McCulloughSultan McCulloughSultan McCullough is an American football running back in the National Football League who has also previously been a member of the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League...
(1998), NFL football player, 2003 - Ruwanga SamathRuwanga SamathRuwanga Samath , also known as Ru, is a Sri Lankan record producer and the president of The Bird Call Productions. Ru has lived in Los Angeles, CA since December 1997.-Early life:...
(1998–2000), record producer and president of The Bird Call Productions - Ryan HollinsRyan HollinsRyan Kenwood Hollins is an American professional basketball player who is currently a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers of the NBA. He is a 7-foot center who played collegiately for the UCLA Bruins.-High school:...
(2002), NBA player and starting center for the Minnesota Timberwolves - Richard BellRichard Bell (American football)Richard Aaron Bell is a former American football player who played a single season in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers.-Early life:...
, NFL player for the Pittsburgh Steelers - Ricky ErvinsRicky ErvinsRichard Ervins is a former American football running back in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins and San Francisco 49ers...
(1987),USC Rose Bowl MVP 1990, NFL Washingtion Redskins Super Bowl XXVI leading rusher, San Francisco 49ers 1995 - Chad Brown (1988), Pittsburgh Steelers, and Seattle Seahawks
- Marcus RobertsonMarcus RobertsonMarcus Aaron Robertson is a former American football safety in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Houston Oilers in the fourth round of the 1991 NFL Draft. He played college football at Iowa State.Robertson is currently the secondary coach for the Tennessee Titans.-External links:*...
(1987), Houston Oilers/ Tennessee Titans and Seattle Seahawks - Johnnie LynnJohnnie LynnJohnnie Ross Lynn is a former American football defensive back who played for the New York Jets in the National Football League. He is the current secondary/cornerbacks coach of the Philadelphia Eagles. He also coached the secondary for the San Francisco 49ers until when he resigned for personal...
(1975), NFL Football Player, New York Jets, NFL Assistant Coach San Francisco 49ers, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles
Muir High School is one of two high schools to have produced more than two unrelated Olympic Gold medalists from the same high school.
External links
- John Muir High School official website
- John Muir High School profile provided by the Pasadena Unified School DistrictPasadena Unified School DistrictThe Pasadena Unified School District is a unified school district that is responsible for the schools of Pasadena, California. , it has 4 high schools, 3 middle schools, 2 K-8 schools and 16 elementary schools...