Ottumwa High School - Argus Yearbook (Ottumwa, IA)

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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

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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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Classes Teaching Staff 1898 - 1935 This is the year in which we turn our eyes backward over the past. How many changes there have been in the last thirty-five or forty years! When we read the history of only a generation or two ago we marvel at the complexities that have developed from our forbears' simple mode of life. We have listed below a few of the changes that time is responsible for in our high school. Turn back with us for a brief glance at a not so remote past, when grandma and grandpa rode a bicycle built for two, and the horseless carriage was only a crazy man’s dream. CURRICULUM At the turn of the century the following subjects only were taught in the high school: Latin, German. English, science, mathematics, music, drawing, and history. The course of study offered was one which prepared students for college entrance. The classics were emphasized, and the study of music and Latin was compulsory. A little later on the latter was made an elective subject, and in 1905 the manual training department was organized. This was made possible by the class of 1905 when the profits from the class play, “The Rivals. which netted five hundred dollars, were donated for this purpose. Contrast this, however, with our present curriculum. We have now four courses of study to choose from—the general, the normal training, the commercial, and the college preparatory! These make a total of seventy-two subjects. A few of the more recent additions to the curriculum have been Spanish, physical education, commercial subjects, and agriculture. What a wealth of material from w hich to choose! BUILDINGS Up to 1S98 the high school was housed in four rooms on the top floor of the Adams building. In 1899 increased enrollment necessitated moving into the Washington building. Here facilities for secondary education were greatly im- proved, but not until 1923, with the building of our present high school, were they adequate to the needs of a growing population. What city in Iowa can boast of better equipment and housing for its teen age students1 Two gymnasiums, a swimming pool, a greenhouse, sixty-seven classrooms, a library, rest rooms, an auditorium fitted for play production or moving pictures, a cafeteria, study halls these arc just a few of the places in which we carry on our varied activities. TEACHING STAFF Six or seven teachers, aided by a principal, carried on the teaching in 1898. Today we have a principal, an assistant principal and dean of girls, fifty teachers, and two office clerks. Enrollment has jumped from a few hundred to one thousand five hundred and seventy-one. In 1901, ninety-eight seniors were graduated; in 1935, two hundred and sixty-three. EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACT IVITIES The clubs of thirty-five years ago were few. Mens' and womens' debating societies, glee clubs, a football team—these were the major outside interests. Chapel was held once a day. with singing, responsive reading, and speeches an inev itable part of every program. There were no pep chapels nor student council. ARGUS 2.3