Alexander Graham High School - Snips and Cuts Yearbook (Charlotte, NC)

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And now we come to the second great era in the life of Charlotte High School. In the spring of 1920, the high school moved from the old building on Ninth and Brevard to a handsome new edifice on East Morehead. The old high school is now devoted to a Junior High. The new high school was called Alexander Graham High School, in honor of Dr. Alexander Graham, who for more than forty years has been a public educator of North Carolina, for about twenty-six years was the superintendent of the city schools, and is now assistant superintendent. The new building has not yet been completed, but, as far as it has gone, it is distinctly modern in all equipments. The science laboratories, especially, are equipped with all modern conveniences, and biology has recently been added to the science course. The Class of 'Twenty had the distinction of being the first to graduate from Alexander Graham High School. In the fall of 1920, it was made possible for a student to have three years of a modern language instead of two. The Class of 'Twenty founded a monthly magazine, The AI-Gm-Hy. This, however, has been displaced this year by a weekly paper, The fldU0f'llfl'6',U which we hope will remain permanent. In the fall of 1921, a new Wing was added to the high school, and also an excellent cafeteria. Dr. Elmer H. Garinger came as our new principal. Under his direction, the entire high school system was changed. Instead of having six forty-five-minute periods, we now have four eighty- minute periods-half of each of which is used for reciting, and the other half for studying. This plan is in accordance with that adopted by the best high schools in the country. This year, for the first time, the student-body was organized. A new system of clubs, also, was introduced. For Alexander Graham High School, growing now by leaps and bounds, and anticipating in the near future an athletic field, a gymnasium, and another new wing, we have every right to predict a brilliant future. X. 1 -ul

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1 A li. School Ipisturp P TO the year 1912, the public school system of Charlotte made no distinction ii. M W M01 between the grammar grades and the higher grades. Until 1909, there were only ten grades. The last year pupils studied English, Latin, algebra, geometry, and history, and had no election of subjects. In. 1909, when Mr. Harding, the present superintendent of the city schools, became principal of what is now the Junior High School, on the corner of Ninth and Brevard Streets, an eleventh grade was added to the school system. The eighth and ninth grades were then held in the South School, on the corner of South Boulevard and East Morehead, while the tenth and eleventh were placed in the Junior High. build- ing. These four upper classes were recognized as a part of the graded school system. Two elective subjects were introduced-physics and French-while trigonometry was added to the geometry course. In this year the first real graduation took place. Diplomas were presented to about ten students. And on this Commencement Day the present custom of holding Class Day Exercises in the morning, as a separate event from the graduation at night, was instituted. It was in this eventful year of 1909, also, that the first volume of HSNIPS AND CUTS appeared. In 1912, the eighth and ninth grades were taken away from the South School, and combined with the tenth and eleventh in the building on Ninth and Brevard. Thus the first Charlotte High School was established, and from this time dates its remarkable progress. Mr. F. P. Wyche became the first principal, and remained for two years. In 1912, two new subjects were added to the high school course-German, and domestic science. In the following year, when Mr. Harding became superintendent of the city schools, a commercial course, consisting of bookkeeping, stenography, and typewriting, was given a place by the side of the old academic course. The year '14 saw the addition of manual training, and '15, of chemistry and physical geography. In 1914, Mr. W. Barham Davis assumed the executive power of Charlotte High School, which he held for five years. Nineteen hundred sixteen and seventeen was aptly called by the seniors of that year UC. H. S. year. ' Charlotte High School won the State foot- ball championship and the State debating championship. Moreover, 'William Bobbit, of the Class of 'Seventeen, was acknowledged the State high school declaimer. As this was the year in which the United States went to war with Germany, the Spanish language was substituted for the German in the school course. Mr. Fred B. McCall became the high school principal in 1919, which position he held for two years. During the period from 1912 to 1920, the publication of a high school paper, The Tafflerf' was tried at three different times. Each time, however, for various reasons, the paper was allowed to die. X I l 1 i l l jr I e I l v I l ll if li if lr lr' l xl' iii! il il I ,lg L

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