Ottumwa High School - Argus Yearbook (Ottumwa, IA)

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EARLY SCHOOLMASTERS AND SCHOLARS AND THEIR MODERN COUNTERPART Colloquies fit for plays were com- posed by the master written in Latin. In the larger schools the boys were divided into “Forms,” those in the same class sitting together on one bench. The ad- vance from one form to the next seems to have been made at year- ly intervals. There was also a change of position within a class according to the goodness or the badness of the students’ recita- tions. Emulation was freely em- ployed to attract the younger pupils to the position of head of the class. The scholars were drilled on fundamentals. . . .

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The rod and dunce cap were encouragement to the laggard and school life was severe and terrifying

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Classes Seniors Not finished, but begun! Seniors, before we place a closing seal on the finished letter of our high school career—a letter it has taken us four years to write—let us take one last reading of its contents. We see by it that as freshmen we differed very little from other classes in their verdant days, except that the record for scholarship we have consistently maintained was then begun, and the race for leader- ship started with unusual success. But our sophomore year—1932—presented our first real problems. Goaded on by the depression into truly heroic efforts, we ended the year with a formida- ble bank account. And as every loyal O. H. S. student knows, it s the second year that tells the tale. Some of the undertakings brought to a successful financial climax were: the Depression Party at the K. C. Hall, with prizes for the best costumes; the sale of tickets for High School Night, when seventy-seven members of the class sold six hundred tickets; the sale of programs at basketball games. With such a record to our credit we entered on our junior year with high hopes, which were not to be dis- appointed. Again we made a brilliant financial show- ing. This time one hundred and thirty-eight people sold seven hundred and fifty-five tickets for High School Night. The mid-year dance at the Armory, in addition, brought to the attention of the school some excellent dramatic talent. But the climax of our junior year came with the Junior-Senior Party at the Country- Club late in May. After a series of heavy showers the moon suddenly shone, and the air filled with country- odors and the perfume of the roses and daisies given to each girl for favors. But we reach at last that final year of mixed pleas- ure and sadness—our senior year in high school. Through all the happy hours of dancing, basketball and football games, debate, declamatory and music con- tests. plays, and classwork there comes the thought that this is indeed a farewell year. The pleasure we take in our Senior Mid-Year, Senior Spring Formal, Senior Play, Senior Chapel. Presentation of the Annual. Class Gift. Baccalaureate and Commencement serv ices is strengthened by the knowledge that these things lead us away from our past and yet bind us to it. We 1935 22 W. Swaim, B. L. Erbacher. R. O'Dell, P. Canny, Miss Kittleson