Washington High School - Sunburst Yearbook (Washington Court House, OH)

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.-H' ' W ai... 30 THE SUNBURST W week for the high school and numerous other smaller affairs. We are hoping that we have aroused enough en- thusiasm and support in the school to cause our organization to become, like athletics, a permanent department of student activity. It is our convic- tion that a public school should provide as many opportunities as practicable for the development of the ability of as large a number of its students as possible along their various lines of preference. We are hoping next year for still larger numbers and we believe our hopes will materialize for we lose very few by graduation or removal at the end of the present term, and will undoubtedly receive valuable accessions from the present Eighth Grade Orchestra. We are receiving every encouragement to continue our activities next year, and among other plans which have been suggested to us is the incorporation of all young musicians inlthe high school building, including the pupils of the seventh and eighth grades into a greater Washington High School 'Clrchestra, to be divided into two units-a Senior group, comprising Sophomores, Juniors. and Seniors, a Junior group, comprising Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Year students. Should such a plan seem advisable, we shall follow it with our usual degree of enthusiasm. We wish to take this opportunity to express our great appreciation for all encouragement which we have received, both in school and in the city at large. We shall try earnestly to merit a continu- ation of the support which has been so generously given us. ' Yours for a bigger and better future, THE WASHINGTON HIGH SCHOOL ORCHESTRA Fll'Sf Vl0lll1 Gwendolyn Wolfe Charles Hazard Lillian Teeters Karl J. Kay, Dlrector Second Viol.n Jennie Louise Callendar Robert Mershon Katherine Robinson Cello Pauline A. West Saxophones C Soprano Hugh Perrill B Flat Tenor Charlotte Hazard -- E Flat Alto' Harold F1-ein-h C Melody Raymond Flee , Janet lllhelpley Cofnets Carl Ellison Richard Grove Trombones Bryan Coffey Glendon Norris Bass Viol Ralph Lloyd Xylophone Frances Hall Drums and' Bells Roland Hall Piano and Celeista Enid McClure Virginia Hays , TYPING W. H. S. From the view-point of the Commercial studemts, the typing department stands as one of the busiest and most efficiernt departments in our High School. The course is exceedingily interesting and it is needless to say that every one has taken a great deal of interest in the students and their work of this particular department. llere, not only ability amd skill in using the typewriter is learned, but also the acquiring of habits that are necessary for business people. Of course, you have heard of our speed tests on which we have Worked so hard. Miss Jester has given us a speed test approximately four days out of the week. This helped keep up our speed and accuracy. Another point which we might add to our reasons for accuracy is that no papers were accepted unless they we1'e absolutely perfect with no mistakes and no erasures. If an erasure was found on any one paper, the' student was punish- ed by being compelled to write the Whole lesson it , .. over two times with no mistakes. Another point that aids us in securing speed and accuracy is the finger gymnastics which we were required to take daily before we commenced our regular typing work. Rapid typewriting is both mental and manual. The first thing for the student to do when he takes up the subject -is to get the correct theory. He should make an analysis of every factor that en- ters into what we sum up as speed, There must be a correct understanding of the actual elcments that do make up speed. These may be briefly enumerated-correct key-board technique which means the elimination of every fault or unproduc- tive movement, a development of sureness of touch, and accuracy of stroke, a mental attitude of speed with accuracy, a building up of judgment and de- cision in arrange-ment, the power to concentrate, and the ability to read shorthand as rapidly as one can type. These are habits that can be acquired only by continually striving for theme-but never loosing sight of the objective. tContinued on page 341

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TUE SUNBURST 29 ' ran WASH1NG?Il!GH iHLGH s'oaoo1a..1oaoHE.sTRii One morning early in the fall of 1921, the writer of this article met a member of his physics class carrying a trumpet case. The student in question paused for a moment explaining that he would be absent from school that day owing to an engagement to play with a band i11 a neighboring town. A short conversation followed in which it developed that there were numerous students of varying de- grees of musical ability playing a variety of instruments and enrolled in no one particular musical organization of Washington High School. This was the first of two occurrences leading to the organization of Washington High School Or- chestra. The second occurrence was the visit of the teachers to the meeting of the Central Ohio Teachers' Association at Dayton, during the same Autumn. One of the most enjoyablebfeatures of this meeting was the very able performance of the Stivers High School Orchestra, an organization which must have comprised from lifty to seventyglive mem Lers. T. Immediately upon returning from this meeting, after a conference with our Principal, M Thompson, it was decided to makeian efort to bring all students interested in orchestral instru ments into one organization to be known as the Washington High School Orchestra, having' for it purpose the encouragement of the development of musical talent, the increase of interest in school ac tivities and the creation of an organizition capable of functioning musically at the ,various public gatherings and entertainments held under the auspices of the high school. 5 From the beginning the orchestra proved itself composed of a group of young people who, were very congenial in tisle and behavior, and an examination of the deportment records in high school showed that they were all persons of a high standard of conduct in school. So, while the -ciriginal membership was Lased upon musical ability only, it was decided to make high deportment and reason- ably satisfactory scholarship a requirement for membership in seeking new recruits. We feel that this Las bsen a very of sound in our gatherings, and makes authorities any reasonable concession ments. In fact, in this connection it it easier for necessary in may be said wise provision, for it insures harmony ot conduct as well as the organization to secure from the school working up and fullillinfr our various engage- that there is no reason why an organization such as a high school orchestra, should not be 011 the same general status as the members of the athletic squads where scholarship and deportment are an invariable requirement for participation in tl1e var- ious aptivitics. At the time of our organization we hoped to be ahle to play in public by the end of the school year, but to our surprise, we found ourselves giving our initial performance at the time of the Christmas Glee Club Concert, 1921. During the remainder of the school year we played at various functions, the Vocational Agriculture Dinner, the Sophomore Carnival, Public Speaking Class Play, Senlmr Play, Class Night, Baccalaureate Sermon and Commencement. . To a mild degree the Orchestra has been a. social as well as musical organizition. We finished the year 1921 and 1922 with a very enjoyable picnic in the country, held a reunion during the summer at the Highland County caves, and entered the present school year full of enthusiasm for a period of incrased growth and activity. V This year has been one of great activity, progress and enjoyment for members of the orchestra. We have constantly striven to improve both in the quality and rendition of our repertoire. From the first of our organization, we have resolutely avoided playing inferior, low-grade music. We have had not the slightest desire to qualify a jazz orchestra, but have earnestly desired, to keep the quality of our work as an orchestra up to the same ments of the high, school strive to ,maintain in their During the Christmas holidays, backed by Mr. Viol and Celesta, to be paid for from the earnings all music bills paid by the end of the school year, by generously granted to us by the Board of Eclucition. occasions: Three times at New Holland: once at Good Hop County Teachers' Associationg for tl1e American Leg Carnival, for the Rotary Club, for the Fox Hunters: Blossom, for the Senior Play and Commencement general standard in music as the other depart- -articular work. Rees and Mr. Thompson, we purchased a Bass of the orchestra. This debt' will be removed and means of our earnings plus twenty-five dollars We have played this year upon the following e, Buena Vista and Wflson Schoolg twice for the ion, for the Mothers' Circle, for the Sophomore for the Gypsy Rover Opcretta: for Cherry events besides playing one or more times each

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THE SUNBURST l Top row, let't to rig'ht4Tanquary, McLean, Defricli, liarney, Ellies. Bottom row-lioby, Brownell, Mr. Sittler, Neal. Dl'1BA'l'ING TEAM Several years have elapsed before lVashingrton High Sehool could boast of a debating team. tlratory had been among the minor interests ot' our school in the past but this was no lit reason that it should always remain in that light. At the beginning- of the school year Washington Ili entered the state inter-scholastic debate with the determination of showing what ttkind ot' stint Washington High School was made of. Two teams were selected from the begun at once. classes in Public Speaking and work was The tirst debating' triangle was composed of Lancaster Hi, Cireleville Hi and Wasliing- ton Hi, with our negative team debating' at Lancaster and our atlirmative team remaining' at home. Not only was the interest great at scholl but the town-people were just as eager that we should win as anyone. The decision ot' the loth, our negative and attirnlative teams. Due to the tact that we were victorious in second debatng triangle which was composed ton Hi: this time the nepgative team remaining' 'jlltljL't'H at our tirst debate was in favor ot' both of our debates we were included in the of P0l'ifSI11.U11tl1 Hi, Athens Hi and lYashing- at home and the affirmative journeying to Portsmouth. W. H. S. was not quite so fortunate this time for the decision of both debates was in favor of their opponents. The success ot' th's yea1 s teams is partly' instiuctor ot' public speaking. .Xltliougli our school was eliminatefl in the due to the excellent coaching of Mr. Sittlcr. second il'lTlllQ'l'll2ll' debate we hope the suc- cess ot' the lirst debate will furnish an added st mulus to interest inter-scholastic debating' and it is hoped that the interest in debating' will b' enhanced during' the next school year. The stated resolution ot' the State inter- :cholastic debates was as follows: ttliesolved. The l'lng'lish l'arliamentarv Uabinet Form of tt ivernnient Would More l'ert'er-tly Advance the lligrlust Interests ot' the United States than Dots its Present l'lUI'Ill.H