Abington High School - Oracle Yearbook (Abington, PA)

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Through the Years- 19911, 19951945 and 1955 Traditions are the common heritage of every high school student in Abington. Every person who has ever danced at the Senior Prom, been a class Thespian, or participated in the Thanksgiv- ing gridiron clash knows what a vivid picture re- mains in his mind. As one who adheres to these long-established customs, he feels a part of the school's history. However, looking forward to life in the new high school now under construction, he is helping .to establish precedents which shall become a part of that history. As a part of Abington's traditions, each student is rostered in that course which he and his par- ents feel best fits his needs. A student from each of the four courses - the Business Education, the General, the Vocational, and the College Preparatory - has expressed his feelings in his selection. Students in the Business Education course aside from the mechanical dexterity are taught other invaluable skills such as bookkeeping which will help them secure an even better position in the business world. Amid a whirl of brief forms and rapid dictation, the future secretaries learn by hard work one of the most difficult of the clerical skills. Typewriters, adding machines, calculating ma- chines, mimeoscope, and voice writers have their place. Class officers of '51 are Secretary .Ioan Norman, Treasurer Roland Young, jr. Students in the General Course have the best onortunit for a liberal education. l l Y They have an opportunity to elect from a wide field. Perhaps their choice is band or A Cappella for their own pleasure as well as for the enjoyment of others. Or their choice may he Home Arts or Fine Arts, both of which provide creative outlets for those artistically inclined. Also one may enroll in this course and have sufficient credits to enter the college of his choice. Upon graduation, the boy who has selected the Vocational Course, faces a series of steps, or if you will, a ladder of success. Anyone of these steps is complete in itself, the first could be direct en- trance into a variety of occupations. Further technical schooling may be the next stage which will result in a career in mechanical engineering or one of the related fields. ln any event the Vocational Course has provided the high school boy with a background of knowl- edge and experience. The College Preparatory Course represents the sum of many experiences - the classes we attend, old friendships and the opportunity to make new acquaintances, and finally co-curricular activities - sports, dramatic productions, and after-hours social events. It means developing an interest in democratic living by learning cooperation. Abing- ton represents an aid and a step to a brighter and better future. XVest, Vice-l'1'csidenI XVallcr Pickwell, and President XValtcr

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Sealed: Mrs. Helen I.. Shaffer, Mrs. Grace A. Niblock, Mrs. Jennie Neely, and Mrs, Vallee YV. Niblock. Standing: Mr. E. Raymond Ambler, Mr. Albert B. Shaffer, and Mr, Daniel Neely. Loyal Alumni liherish Alma Mater Mrs. Albert B. Shaffer Qnee Helen Leffertsj attended Abington Schools from l89G to l906. At the commencement exercises for the three graduates of the class of lflflti were addresses by the valedictorian, the salutatorian and class his- torian, selected according to the highest rating in the class. My entire family, including my two brothers and our three children, graduated from Abington High School, All of the grandchildren are attending the Abington Schools at the present time. I salute the Class of 55 as a member of the Alumni Association. Mrs. Albert B. Shaffer Xlr. Albert B. Shaffer, who attended Abington Schools from l89l to l90l, graduated from the Old Brown Stone Buildingl' which was built in 1888. At that time the High School consisted of one classroom which contained three classes taught by one teacher Qklrs. Bessie Stewart Engardj. The major subjects were mental arithmetic, history, geography, etomolo-gy, and Latin. The old bell tolled for the opening exercises, recess, and lunch. As l look back fifty-four years and see the prog- ress of the Abington High School, it gives me a feeling of great pride for Old Abington. Mr. Albert B. Shaffer My stay as a pupil at Abington High School was of rather short duration owing to the fact that I entered as a junior in March l900. Since the Class of l900 had only four members, I was asked to write and deliver the Class Prophecy. After another year of hard studying, our Class of lfltll, consisting of ten pupils, was ready for the Commencement exercises and our diplomas. I have in my possession now my diploma and our class picture. I am very proud of Abington High School, the wonderful work that it has done, and the progress that it is making. Vallee l'Villiams Niblock Teachers have always been more important to me in any learning situation than buildings, tra- ditions, or activities. One of them stimulated and trained me in writ- ing. One of them instilled in me such a love for literature and language that she was instrumental in my decision to teach English. And one of them challenged my thinking' in a field where I lacked facility and had to work extra hard to earn my grades. new teachers replace retired ones, you can still be sure that there will always be someone at Abington who will have made your three years there a valuable part of your life. David R. Cook

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e .e 4.5, F H -g -5513, ' r' f gggl-5,3 -- i, . AW 2 4 V , 2 - 159 -f BEBQ IWUX U I' lil Ci s 1. 61 A e ii ?S'w tai? i Leadership . . . that dedication to high ideals of profession . . personal integrity, honor . . . ambitions for us . . . intelligence . . . competence . . . wisdom as legislators . . . righteousness as judges . . . warmth as friends . . . deep-rooted goodness . . . all of which lead to coopera- tion among selves and with community . . . extra effort to give usa better chance . . . sacrifice . . . encourage- ment for us to work with others, but not lose our indi- viduality . . . assurance that we shall have the freedom to think . . . our ability to make our mark . . . well- molded characters . . . freedom to smile our way through the gateway to success . . . determination that we shall know and be glad we know. ,J L' x, Q if 9 l fd f 30200 ' - 4 -r it 'lm y ' I X 'Za ' ' I+- t x E1 N.E-V