Janesville High School - Phoenix Yearbook (Janesville, WI)

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-N M ,,,ee:s:s,q1,r,,mv J W... . R 4 af H s-.T '- ' ifffflei .sf W , . . .1.. N M -st ,, f -f c. f gm gy w M21zsy,.,6wh3m . - We-if l - 9 A THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEBI For nearly ten years under the village charter Janesville maintained her district schools, but these were crude in methods and, as the population increased, a higher grade of culture was demanded. .VX few enterprising citizens with wise forethought determined upon thorough organization, and enthusiastic promoters of this achievement were Hon. R. Pease, Dr. Lyman J. Barrows, Hon. NV. .-X. Lawrence, Hon. james Sutherland, judge M. S. Pritchard, and Hon. B. 13. lildredge. In April. 1855. the present system of schools was adopted, although it was not in practical operation until the schools were thoroughly graded in 1856. At this time a record of educational and literary institutions of the city em- braced a central high school, eight schools of lower grade, three select schools. the state institution for the blind. and the Janesville Lyceum and Mechanics' Institute, the latter society assembling for improvement in arts and sciences. SCHOOL BUILDING In 1856 commodious buildings were erected in the Second and Fifth wards, and the schools were graded into high school, grammar. intermediate, and pri- mary departments, the old academy becoming the central or high school of the system. A demand for more room secured the erection of a high school building in 1858 at a cost of 340.000, and in 1859 the high school department, with Levi Cass as principal, was transferred to its new location. An increase of population soon rendered additional accommodations neces- sary, and in 1866 and 1873 buildings were erected in the 'First and Fourth wards. In 1875 requisite appropriation was made for the Lincoln School building, which was erected on the site of the old academy, now the Jefferson School. Since then the Second ward school house has been rebuilt. new buildings have been erected in the lifth, fourth, Hrst, and third wards. and in 1895 the second new high school building, thus, year by year the school property has- increased until its valuation in 1912 was approximately estimated at 31,300,000 with accommodations for nearly 4,000 pupils, THE HIGH SCHOOL The High School proper was organized in 1856. The first class of three was graduated in 1858. Since the first commencement in the old academy build- ing, which occurred without public exercise, the school has graduated 2151 stu- dents. Of this number 787 are boys and 1364 are girls. It is interesting toi note that about thirty per cent. of the 977 graduates since 1912 have continued their learning in schools of higher education. Of the Freshmen who entered in 1919, about eighty per cent. graduated. The average has been about fifty per cent. ' In February of 1923 the school was moved to the present site on South Main Street. This new structure was erected at a cost of S800,000. It is one of the very few completely equipped high schools in this section of the country. It includes forty nine class rooms, four study halls, a music room, a lecture room, a library, five complete laboratories for experimental work in, science, two large gymnasiums and swimming pools, commodious room for the manual training and for the domestic science department, a fine locker system, a splendid cafeteria equipped to serve 450, and a spacious auditorium which ac- commodates I500. At present there are sixty-three members of the faculty and 1255 students. Sewelzlecaz

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