Holtville High School - Interpreteur Yearbook (Deatsville, AL)

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QZIZMJZCUJZQ of Jfcwffulffe During the years previous to 1937-38, Holtville was known as a traditional southern rural consoli- dated school. The daily schedule andthe courses of study were practically the same as those in any other high school where students were given daily assignments from textbooks. ln the year 1937-38, Dr. W. L. Spencer, Supervisor of Secondary Education of the State Department of Education of Alabama, recommended to the principal of the Holtville School a curriculum study which was to be made by the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. After state department officials and Dr. F. C- Jenkins, Director of the Southern Study, had taken careful observance of the school, it was accepted as a member in the Southern Study. Holtville was then known as one of the three Southern Study Schools in Alabama. In order to develop new ideas for carrying out such an educational program, Mr. Chrietzberg and members of the faculty attended Southern Study Conferences and summer schools during the summer months. The main obiective of our school program in general is to make life better in the homes, school, and community. Students also are encouraged to think for themselves, and they are graded by their attitude, attendance, and effort. At first students worked 'more or less individually. Teachers helped them to capture their interests, and the main obiective was beginning to be fulfilled, students did iobs that educated them, improved the school, and helped people in the community and improved their environment. During the first year of this experimental program, many changes and accomplishments were made. A group of girls organized a personal service group, which served students and women in the community and helped them to realize the importance of personal grooming. A refrigeration plant and a hatchery were constructed for the purpose of serving the families in the Holtville community and in many other districts. The boys who worked in these plants learned to meet people, to cut meat correctly, and to operate and take care of the equipment. ' ln the year 1939-40 a N. Y. camp was established for boys from all over the state of Alabama. Among their activities these boys built a log cabin, which was referred to as a home for all iunior high school students who were interested in home-making. These iunior students learned to care for the home and to get along in the family- The agriculture boys terraced land, pruned and spraped fruit trees, and did other iobs for farmers in the community. These boys and the home economics girls carried out various home proiects, which resulted in the production of more and better poultry, livestock and orchards, and the general improve- ment of homes. Students made articles for the home in the arts and crafts building and women from the community also worked here. Some of the other groups formed were the lunchroom, choir, dramatics, all com- mercial studies, social science, history, science, physical education, English, algebra, mathematics, chem- istry, biology, journalism, printing, debating, and pottery. As the interests of students developed, new groups were formed. Some of the other groups that have been added to the list during the last three years are speech, speech choir, electrical, mechanics, plumbing, commercial law, current events, survey, dance class, and pre-flight. Through all these years there has been a complete understanding between the parents, students, and faculty. The result of this understanding has been cooperation, if it had not been for this coopera- tion, Holtville would not have succeeded in its curriculum study. Everyone felt the need for such an education, and did his share towards making a success of each undertaking. No individual was forced upon any duty. There has been no trace of Hitlerism, but there is proof ofa great democracy. It's a democracy in which one feels free to work, speak and act in his own manner. The knowledge received by students at Holtville has been appreciated because they realize that they worked in a democracy and that their knowledge is derived greatly from their services to others. Each year our schedule and ways of working have varied. Students have had the opportunity t accept responsibilities, to develop leadership, to think things out for themselves, to improve their ap- pearances'and personalities, and to make the homes, school, and community better places in which to live. This is the fifth year in which this new system has been in effect at Holtville, and it is proving to be a most successful means of educating the boys and girls of each community represented here.

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