Palmer High was founded in 1875 and has played a defining role in the history of Colorado Springs and Colorado. Being founded before Colorado was named a state in 1876, it has stayed in the same place all these years and has many people graduate from its halls such as Keith Ferguson who graduated in 2004 and now works as a teacher here at Palmer.
Mr. Ferguson teaches all grades 9-12 as an honors US Government and Theory of Knowledge for juniors and seniors who are in the IB Diploma Program.
Palmer has continued to stay in downtown Colorado Springs since the beginning which makes it standout among the newer more established buildings. It’s in the center of the downtown city. “We exist in the community which is so distinguished because we’re literally walking around the community to go to class.” Mr. Ferguson said when asked about what makes Palmer so different compared to other schools in Colorado Springs.
“The fact that we are an open campus integrated with small businesses and residences nearby I think it requires students to approach their day to day experience in school with a greater sense of connection to community and responsibility.” He states.
Palmer has been through many changes throughout the years, and still is right now with the new renovations. Palmer at some point was almost going to shut down due to lack of enrollment. Kids from not just D11 but from all places come to Palmer because of what it has to offer for students. I don’t live near the D11 area but I chose to come to Palmer because it intrigued my interest.
I asked Mr. Ferguson, how he thinks Palmer has been able to stay alive for all this time. He says: “One part that keeps Palmer as strong as it does is that it’s a family tradition. The students who’ve gone here have aunts, uncles, parents, or even grandparents who’ve gone here. So there’s to some degree just a real sense of ownership that exists at a family level.”
What he said is quite common with students around the school. I have friends who’s siblings or parents went to Palmer which does give Palmer an almost college-like legacy that they can claim to have multiple generations of the same family attend their school.
Not only students’ family members have attended Palmer, but along with teachers as well. Many teachers have graduated or attended Palmer during their teenage years such as Ms. Gunter, Mrs. Hook, and Mr. Ferguson. Who graduated in 2004 as I stated earlier.
“Being a student here from the late 90s to early 2000s, did really change the course of my life because going here I was interacting with so many peers and teachers who helped me understand the world and myself in a fuller and more optimistic way.” Mr. Ferguson said when asked what his experience was being a student at Palmer.
Mr. Ferguson works with all grades of students and has known many of them starting out as freshmen all the way till they graduate. I had Mr. Ferguson as a teacher as a freshman and I could tell he genuinely cares about all of his students no matter who or where they came from.
“As a teacher, I truly love that everyday I get to work with young people who are navigating all types of questions and realizations about themselves, each other, the world, and about their own power and freedom in the context of a democracy. Everyday young people prove to me it’s a waste to be pessimistic. Young people have given me a lot of hope.”
