Ashbrook High School - Leaves of Green Yearbook (Gastonia, NC)

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Sunday, March 15, 1970 was a day of bitter ebate and controversy. A crowd estimated at ver 600, mostly Ashley High students and a few dults, demonstrated their desire to retain the ame Ashley High for the new area high school wder construction on New Hope Road. The ew school would consolidate Ashley and Hol- rook Highs into a new large high school, while shley and Holbrook would become junior high ihools. The previous year the new school was fficially named Ashley, but the school board, in ie wake of protests and petitions, decided to rconsider the name. ln an effort to influence the board's decision, shley students staged a motorcade from Ash- y High to the construction site and followed it 'ith a short rally. Several student leaders spoke 'iefly, including Robert Starnes, president of ie junior class. Starnes said that the purpose of ie procession and rally was 'lto show the com- unity and the school board that we care, and specially that we want the name Ashley re- ined for the new school. l'The ratio of current Ashley students in the ew school to Holbrook students will be six-to- we, and the majority should rule. He added, Ne should not let Mr. Ashley down, referring i the late Frank L. Ashley, a Gastonia educator ir whom the school was named. 'lf the name Ashley is retained, then it will :tually be the first school that Ashley students in completely call their own, because the cur- 'nt Ashley High really has lGastonia High ihool' over the door. fThe school was known Gastonia High School before it was dedicated i Frank L. Ashley.j Sophomore Class President, Dan Page, urged Ashley students to llwork together to keep e name. He expressed concern over the Ash- y athletic, band, and cheerleader uniforms as ell as class rings 'lgoing down the drain if the tme were changed. Senior Class President Bobby Kiser said he was confident that the rally would help gain sup- port for retaining the name. The students placed a banner along the front of the construction site which read, 'lFuture Home of Frank L. Ashley High School. They also carried posters with such slogans as 'Ashley For- ever , 'l'm Going to Ashley High Next Year , and 'Green Power. Green was one of Ashley's school colors. At one point during the s eeches, the crowd began chanting 'Holbrook Never, Ashley Forever. Monday night, however, amid threats and tears, the school board voted 5 to 2 to name the senior high on New Hope Road Ashbrook This was their compromise to the sometimes intense debate between Holbrook High and Ashley High students and parents. Board member Dr. Lowell lennings said: 'lWe're forgetting one thing, though. lt's not stu- dents we're bringing together in one school, we're uniting two schools. lt was vice-chairman Larry Petty of Gastonia who suggested 'Ashbrookn as a compromise name. But the decision did not satisfy some angry students. ln protest, some 400 to 450 students from Ashley High left their classes for one hour, Ashley students carried placards with the same messages seen during Sunday's motorcade. Nevertheless, over the years students grew to accept the new name 'Ashbrookf' Now, 13 years later, all controversy is virtually forgotten. fStudents and parents have learned to llroll with the changes. J Ashbrook is a name students now take pride in. But the name llAshbrook is only a symbol for this institution of learning. Therefore, it is not just the name we are proud of, but the friends, teachers, accomplishments, experiences, and memories connected with it. lt's not the name that counts, but the name the school makes for itself. ln only 13 years Ashbrook has achieved recogni- tion for high standards in academics and sports. ,L ug, hi Today's students have become so much a part of Ashbrook that the division of the past has been forgotten. Openingf5

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Named for the late Frank L. Ashley finsetl, Ashley High School was known for excellence through- out the state. Holbroolcs halls hold many happy memories for almost half of Ashbrooks student body. 25594 .- , Y l iw r 1 'X A A -v wi. m l ' ll' ' l Htlvalw 'Qi' V i X MMM , X x xl H A v i- it 'lily ASHBRGGK: THE QW J l l i Gastonia High School, now Central Elementary, BY Combining A5hl9Y and Holbrook into ASW gfaduated many of Gastoniag most prominent brook, the School Board Cfeated 3 COTTI' Citizens' promise name for the newly-built school. 4!Opening

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.f 1 F , Turning the pages, reflecting on memories, it all comes back clearly now, as I look for the last time, as I face the new It's sad to leave this place. It holds so,much But I walk with the lies y it -by Susan Hager Changes in the seasons remind us of Graduation means leaving behind cherished the many changes each of us must friendships but knowing that new relationships face. will be formed. 6fOpening 'mx' S. Q I' H.. 1. O its 'lAs graduation nears, I reflect on the past and wc der about the future. What will life hold for me? Susan Hager llNow that l'm 18, l'm going to help decide wl runs my country -joe lohnst it .P 'N 1, ,--5 ll KX X m k ' 2' XlK1?l3f's4v n ' 1 t M . gf- . N S . M i L Q 'X I TT.,-tt, T... : I it it W X hh -..-.M-.V ,u -f ' IN A I