George Washington High School - Post Yearbook (Indianapolis, IN)

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THE MOUNTAIN PINE Gnarled and twisted, Knotted and bent, Alone on the mountain top Years it has spent, Fighting the rain, And braving the storm. Each stark branch tells a tale all its own. Each stark branch tells of battles fought. 'Gainst gruelling years of Driving sleet, And blinding snow, Of plunging rock, And howing wind, Though the dirt from its roots has long blown away It still stands upright day after day. Years it has stood, Years it will stand, Gnarled and twisted, Knotted and bent, Alone on the mountain top, -Florence Smith THE RIVER OF LIFE Life Hows ever onward Just as a river flows, A continuous stream of humanity, Not knowing whither it goes. There are whirlpools in a river As there are in life, A never ceasing struggle In this world of strife. Life beats against the bank, Of heavy care and sorrow, Slowly wearing through trouble To the joy which comes with the morrow. -Dorothy Swails three

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R PROGRESS MADE IN INDIANAPOLIS SCHOOLS Three hundred years ago the Boston Latin School, the first high school in the United States, was founded. This action was one of the important factors in the furthering of educa- tion. After the Civil War, the high school sys- tem was begun in this city, and now we have six fine high schools. The Indianapolis high school was reorganized in 1867 through the efforts of Abraham C. Shortridge, the first superintendent. In 1897 the name was changed to Shortridge high school. The new school was located at Michigan and Pennsylvania streets. On this corner more buildings were added from time to time, and the school continued at this place until it was moved to its present location on Meridian street in 1929. Manual Training high school was founded in 1893 through the iniiuence of the German peo- ple who lived on the south side. In 1894 it opened its doors with Charles E. Emerich as its first principal. Since that time the plant has been enlarged until it has reached its present state. Arsenal Technical high school was estab- lished in 1912 on the 76 acre plot of ground which had belonged to the United States government since the days of the Civil War. The school has grown very rapidly until now it is the largest high school in the city. The Broad Ripple high school was formed in 1893, and it did not become a part of the city school system until 1922 when Broad Ripple was annexed to the city. Mr. K. V. Ammerman was appointed principal in 1923. From that time it has grown from a small attendance to nearly five hundred students. Crispus,Attucks high school is located at Twelfth and West streets. This is a school for the colored population of high school age. The school was organized in 1927 under the leadership of Matheas Nolcox. From that time to this they have had an increase in numbers of students and faculty. In the fall of 1930 Mr. Nolcox was succeeded by Russell A. Lane. George Washington high school was brought into existence as a result of action taken by the people west of White River, through the leadership of the Rev. Clarence G. Baker, editor of the West Side Messenger. By his iw work, public opinion was focused on the impor- tance of a high school for the west side as early as 1922. Before that time the section west of the river consisted of a series of distinct independent communities known as West Ind- ianapolis, Mount Jackson, Haughville, Fairfax, and Indianola. Delegates from these various sections visited the School Board, and their action caused the Board to select a site for the building. A large tract of land, to the amount of twelve and one-half acres, on Washington street between Sheffield and Tremont avenues, owned by the Aetna Trust Company, was pur- chased, the plans drawn, and construction be- gun in 1924. School was opened in 1927 under the sup- ervision of Mr. Walter G. Gingery, as prin- cipal, a faculty of thirty-five teachers, and an enrollment of 983 students. The school build- ing was planned to accommodate 1,000 students and was almost filled to capacity the first year. From year to year the enrollment has grown by leaps and bounds until during this pre- sent school year of 1934-1935 it has reached the astounding number of 2103 students and a faculty of sixty-seven teachers. George Washington high school has been the means of solidifying the west side into a great community. It has saved its patrons transportation cost and has fostered commun- ity spirit. Music of the finest and highest type is now enjoyed by the fireside and heard in the churches. Art has made the home and its surroundings more beautiful, and domestic science has taught girls culinary technique and the skill and art of dress makingi Shop training has fitted the boys for the local fact- ories, and commercial courses have trained the students for a better economic living. The academic Work has prepared more than two hundred young people for entrance into the best colleges and universities of the state, where before there were very few. Health teaching has made possible the solving of per- sonal and family health problems. George Washington high school is dedicated and conscrated to the work of enobling and enriching the lives of the citizens of the west side, and such training as it gives insures for the future a group of capable community leaders. , 0

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THE CHAMPION The average runner runs until The breath from him has goneg But the Champion has an iron will That makes him carry on. The champion runs on leaden legsg 'Tis his spirit makes them go, But for rest, the average runner begs When weak his muscles grow. The average man's complacent when He's done his best to score, But the champion does his best, and then He does a little more. -John Niermeyer EARLY IN THE MORNING The sun begins his journey Through an azure skyg The fleecy clouds of morning Go softly sailing by Like giant featherbeds put out To air till night comes nigh. -Margaret Ard four