Slatington High School - Reflections Yearbook (Slatington, PA)

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The Juniors interested in debating reported to Miss Naylor. The question this year was whether or not the United States should adopt a system of crime detection similar to that of the English Scotland Yard. The debaters climaxed their successful season by debating Allentown Preparatory School over the radio. The chorus was very active, ren- dering an impressive Christmas carol ser- vice and presenting a joint chorus with the Slatington Mah Chorus in the spring. The next activity of the juniors was they highly successful Junior Play, called UBashful Bobby.n Dudley Clowes had the leading role of Robert Downing, the bashful Bobby of the play, who was exceedingly embarrassed by his bashful- ness but was unable to overcome it. The play was very amusing, During the year Robert LaBold was elected the president of our class: Ray- mond DeFrain,vice president: Lynn Ritten treasurer: and Marie Yeanish. secretary. A group of our classmates spent the last two months of their junior year in preparation for the annual Junior Declamation Contest. The competition was very strong, First prizes went to Ro- berta Kern and Oliver Peters, second prizes were awarded to Lucy Snyder andmi Ray Rex, while the third prizes were given to Arlene Stehler and Owen Grif- fiths. Honorable mention went to Mae Sensinger, Mae Jones, John Kern, and William Steckel. The one evening for which everyjun-1 ior had been eagerly awaiting finally arrived-it was the night of the Junior Prom. At 6:30 we enjoyed a well-pre- pared banquet at the Reformed Church: and upon the completion of a short pro- gram presented after the dinner, we went to the gym where everyone had an enjoy- able time dancing to the music of Claude Hays and his orchestra. With all the troubles and fun of three years left behind, we entered our last year in S.H.S. and tried very hard to act as dignified seniors. This year we were again greeted by two new teach- ers: Miss Robinson in the physical edu- cation department and Mr. Saltzer in the commercial department. Students became interested in jour- nalism and wrHing,and Mr.Prestwood then organized a Creative Writing Club, This club consisted of twenty seniors. Some of these seniors participated in several contests sponsored by well-known maga- zines. The Slate staff, comprised of leading seniors, enjoyed press confer- ences at Lehigh University, Palmerton, and Behighton. The most important event of our senior year, excepting the graduation exercises, was the dedication of Smith Hall. It occurred on December 7 and 8. The first night the formal exercises were held. The program follows! Chairman----Dr. H. B, Kern, President of Board of Education Trumpet Herald U Star Spangled Banner ---------- All dience and School Band Invocation --------- Rev. R. Maxwell Paine Address of Welcome Mr. Mervin J. Wertman, Superintendent of Schools of Lehigh County Ulndependentiane---School Band, Edgar M. Acker, Director Address ---- Dr. A. Lester Crapser, Direc- tor of Health and Bhysical Education E. Stroudsburg Teachers College uSa1uteU ------ - -------------- School Band Dedication of Smith Hall and Unveiling Of Rev. c. G, Snyder, S.T.M. School Dis- Miss Arms Louise Smith trict and American Le- gion Plaques Presentation of State Council Youth Responds? Pres. Introduction of H. B. Closing Prayer- Alma Mater ----- The second Flag-- Mr, C, W, Brinser, Secretary of F. P. A. ----Mr. Robert C, LaBold, Class of '38 Platform Guests ---- -Dr. Kern ----Rev. William C. Evans -Audience and School Band night's program was a com- bined gymnastic exhibition, given by members of the physical education depart- ment of East Stroudsburg State Teachers College and a basketball game with Slatington's principal rival--Palmerton. Early in December ten seniors answered Mr. Prestwood's call for debat- IUQSSSI

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: -09535: 'ma z-lnafcmv of 'ma ---- clfxss of We have just completed a long jour- ney: and instead of going home to rest, we shall continue on a still longer journey--down the unfamiliar and com- plicated pathway of life. But before we close the chapter that we started four years ago, let us recall the most important and outstanding events that occurred. In September, 1934, we entered S.H.S. as freshmen, very much bewildered and uncertain about the long months ahead of us. As a class, we numbered 175, the largest class in the history of the school. We were very proud of that achievement, but the seniors soon made us realize that we were just another of the traditional ugreenu freshmen-- only we were ugreener.n There were not many activities open to the freshmen: thus our first year was uneventful save for the field day exercises, where the freshmen supplied keen competition. Con- sequently our first year was one of adapting ourselves to strange conditions along with laying the foundations for our education. As our freshmen year became a pleasant memory, we moved on to our sec- ond year in S.H.S. The very first day of our sophomore year was one of suspense because four new teachers were joining the faculty, They were Miss Arnold and Mr. Williams in the newly established physical education department along with commercial department Mr. Garman in the and Mr. Maass, the new coach and history instructor. The students active in all extra-curricular activities. Debating under Mr. Evans drew a large number of students who discussed the question, Resolved! That a vocational education is a better preparation for la- ter llfe than a cultural education. During the fall of our sophmmore year in Slatington sport was introduced. ing game of football, themselves became High School a new It was the excit- and several of our classmates, including Stanley Fritzinger provided us with and Chester Zellner, many thrill-packed moments. In basketball, Margaret Skutches, Gladys Jones, and Sarah Wassum showed excellent possibilities. Also Robert LaBo1d, Russel Bear, Lynn Ritter, Donald Rowlands, and William Davies became fa- miliar figures on the basketball court. In the field of baseball, Dale Scheffler, with his fatal nhooks,n gained the ad- miration of all the students. Two new activities gained the attention of many sophomores: one was the Gym Club established for the purpose of developing material for the gym ex- hibit, and the other was the frequent dances sponsored by the seniors. To encourage the habit of saving, S.H.S. installed the savings bank system This became a popular measure and many of the sophomores became depositors. As the freshman classes became larger, many began torealize that S.H,S. was becoming overcrowded. This fact led to the rumor of a new school building. and this idea materialized when the question of a bond issue was raised and passed by a large majority of the residents of Slatington. With the prospect of a new build- ing in the foreground, we entered our eventful junior year. There were again, three new teachers joining the faculty! Mr. Rex, who assumed the post created by the retirement of Mr. Joseph Freder- ick, Mr. Hess, commercial instructor, and Mr. Acker, our first art instructor as well as the conductor of a new activ- ity--the band. Three of our class be- came prominent members of this new organization! Russel Bear. William 39159. and Dudley Clowes. There also was a change in an administrative function of the school. the A new marking system was installed! year was divided into semesters and re- port cards were distributed every six weeks. This year sports again headed the list of activities. Our football season was more successful: and William Skutches, Chester Zellner, Wilbert Peters, and Dale Scheffler became the junior girls's football heroes. Russel Bear, Dale Scheffler, and Robert LaBold were seriously considered for the basketball varsity, while John Schneck, Lynn Ritter, William Davies, Donald Row- lands, and William Skutches made up the Junior varsity.

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The night of IUDLB8?-I ers. Immediately preparations were begun on the question, Resolved! That the several states should adopt a uni- cameral system of legislation. One of the first contests was the traditional Triangular debate with Catasauqua and Emaus: unfortunately the seniors lost both decisions. One of the highlights of the season was the tournament held at Allentown Preparatory School in which many schools from Pennsylvania and New Jersey competed. One of the Slatington teams reached the semi-finals. The de- bate season was closed at Bethlehem, where four seniors participated in an open forum composed of a number of high schools of this vicinity. In addition to the annual carol service the chorus presented a Christmas cantata.Many seniors sang leading parts. Sylvia Ertel revealed her ability as a soprano. In the spring the chorus pre- sented an operetta called nAn Old-Fash- ioned Charm,n with the leading parts played by prominent seniors. An extremely interesting trip to Ilentown was taken by the class on April 26. The seniors witnessed a trial in the court house andinspected the County Ja , the State Hospital, and the Cal1-Chroni- cle Press. We also had the privilege of seeing the House of Magic, the General Electric demonstration. at the Allentown Fair Grounds. This demonstration was the same as that shown at the World's Fair. On May 7 an unusual honor came to Slatington when Dorothy Waidelich placed first in the typing contest sponsored by Bloomsburg State Teachers College. Other members of the senior class did well in the various commercial contests. Marie Yeanish placed fourth in the typing di- vision, David Frantz achieved fourth position in the bookkeeping competition, and Ray Rex and Irene Olewine finished seventh and thirteenth respectively in the shorthand tests. The band under the direction of Mr. Aeker also rendered an excellent concert on May 19. They had as their guests the A Cappella Choir of Allentown High School During the course of the program Russel Bear played a cornet solo. i 1 i 1 ! i 5 I i I 1 I 1 5 I ! I 6 E i 1 E 5 .! 3 On June 3 a new type of program was presented by the Slatington schools. This innovation, a spring festival con- sisting of dancing and pantomime numbers by the grade schools and a gymnastic ex- hibition by several Qdischool students, including many of our class, was made possible because of the large gymnasium we now have. This presentation served to emphasize the fact that'Smith Hall is not only an athletic center. The theme of the program presented by the grade schools was NMother Goose in Flower Land. All the dancing and pantomime numbers portrayed familiar nursery rhyme figures. The climax of the evening's entertainment was the procession of the May Queen accompanied by characters from Mother Goose. The gymnastic exhibition consisted of boys' tumbling, boys' appae ratus work, and girls' tap dancing. On the evenings of June lO and June ll the seniors presented WGuess Againn as their annual play. The leading roles were filled by Mae Jones, Lucy Snyder, John Schneck, and Owen Griffiths. Our final week in Slatington High School was opened with the Baccalaureate service. We shall always remember the inspiring message well Paine. The afforded us many program consisted dress of Welcome, given by Reverend Maze antics of Class Night amusing moments. The of the following! Ad- Oliver Peters: Class History, Mae Jones: Class Will, Ray Rex: Class Flower, Marie Yeanishg Presenta- tions, Lucy Snyder and Raymond DeFrain: Class Prophecy, Roberta Kern and John Kern: Class Poem, Owen Griffiths: Class lotto, Dorothy Kern. Commencement, June 23, with its serious moments, arrived and then it was gone,leaving wht us thoughts of work and success. The principal adv dress was delivered by Dr. John R. Hart of the University of Pennsylvania. William Steckel, valedictorian, and Dor- othy Waidelich, salutatorian, were our class speakers. And so our high school education is completed, and each of the one hundred and fifteen seniors closes this chapter of his book of life with a feeling of pride and satisfaction.