Phoenix Union High School - Phoenician Yearbook (Phoenix, AZ)

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JC SCHOOL HISTORY EVEN beautiful buildings with a campus of approximately seven acres is the proud boast of Phoenix Union High School today. This is a far cry from the beginning of the institution when, in IS95, it occupied one room in the old Central School building which was torn down several years ago. This splendid development has been the result of tireless effort on the part of many citizens and the faithful services of those who have been members of the School Board: in addition to many thousands of dollars worth of bonds voted by the taxpayers. Foremost among those who have worked for the success of the school was the late B. F. Mclrall. From the time the High School was organized he was keenly interested in its growth. Although not a member of the Board at the time, he was invited to sit in the meeting when the purchase of the Churchill residence was discussed and decided. In March, l903, Mr. lVlcFall was elected as a member of the Board, where he worked contin- ually for the betterment of the school. He was an advocate of the estab- lishment of a separate department for the commercial subjects and after one was created he was sometimes known as the Father of the Commercial Department. As early as 1910, he supported the idea of a junior College in connection with the High School and the fall of l920 saw the realization of his plan. He favored a four year course of English in the High School and it was largely due to his efforts that such a course was introduced. ln january, I924, the twenty-first year of his service, Mr. lVlcFall resigned. He died on December I5, l924, and through his passing the school lost a true and loyal friend. The Phoenix Union High School District was organized in IS95. The superintendent of city schools was then also the superintendent of the high school. It was not until l904 that the two schools were separated and the high school was put under an individual administration. During the first year of the High School's organization, the faculty numbered four, with Hershel H. Brown as superintendent of schools and George Blount as assistant principal. The number of students enrolled that year was IOS. The following year saw the faculty increased to five: and one boy, john Merriam, and one girl, lsolim Coombs, were graduated that year. ln l897, when Mr. Blount was made principal, the faculty had six members, while the graduating class consisted of four boys and four girls. The next year it increased to six boys and eight girls. When the High School became a separate unit in l904, the First graduating class numbered 2l. ln l9l5, the school, with a faculty of 27 and a graduating class of 79, was taken over by R. Thane Cook. ln l9l8, Daniel F. ,lant- zen was appointed principal with a faculty of 52. The present faculty numbers 85 and the class of 1925 will have over 275 students graduated. 'IQ

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In id DOMESTIC ARTS BUII .DINC mn

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V Y se- ' if N Y , Y -I 'Z' The Phoenix High School first occupied a building separate from the Central School in I897 when the site upon which the Commercial Building now stands was purchased. I t was then occupied by the Churchill resi- dence which was remodeled and, made ready for school use. Two years later, in l899, an addition was added to the residence, doubling the capa- city. At the same time, the block south of the school was bought and a temporary building erected. ln the following years, the school continually grew, acquiring additional land, until, in l9l l, the entire site of the present High School had been purchased. ln l9l 2, following a bond issue of Sl 50,000.00, the Auditorium, Domes- tic Arts, and Science Buildings and the heating plant were constructed. These buildings were first used in l9l 3. The first building purchased was then remodeled and turned over to the Commercial Department: being thereafter known as the Commercial Building. ln spite of the already great enlargement, the school soon needed more buildings and more complete equipment. The year of l9l9 was marked by the voting of S500,000.00 worth of bonds by the citizens: making pos- sible the construction of the Liberal Arts and Industrial Arts Buildings. and the Gymnasium. 540,000 was also spent for paving. The present valuation of Phoenix Union High School is over Sl ,250,000. Not only has the number of buildings and size of the faculty increased in these years of growth but Phoenix High School today ranks among the best schools in the country in regard to modern, progressive methods of education. lt is now an accredited school with the State University and the North Central Association of Colleges. This means that the students graduated from the school are admitted without examination to the University of Arizona and to any other accredited college or university in the United States. The California colleges and universities have never accredited Phoenix High School, although her students are always admitted to the California institutions without examination. Stanford University is an exception to this as an entrance examination in English is required there. All teachers in the High School must hold a university degree and these facts all raise the standard of the school to that high degree for which every loyal Coyote strives and is proud of. ln addition to the regular courses offered to the students, some valuable community work has been done. The Night School Department of Phoe- nix High School provides an opportunity to those who work during the day but who are glad of a chance to gain a better education and increase their efficiency. ln the school year l9l5-l9I6, under Mr. C. L. Michael and Mrs. Gertrude Jay Mathews, it began as a private school. Shorthand and Typewriting were the subjects offered. The enrollment for the first year was I5 and Mr. Michael and Mrs. Mathews were the only teachers. Two years later, the School Board took over the work, making Mr. Michael principal and authorizing him to offer any subject for which ten or more students enrolled. The courses now offered include: Bookkeeping, Pen- 20