Barringer High School - Athenaeum Yearbook (Newark, NJ)

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8 THE PARTHENON SENIOR ASSEMBLY NOTES On Newark Day the school assembled in the auditorium to hear interesting talks on Barringer High School's History given by dis- tinguished visitors and members of our facul- ty. Mr. Stearns, our principal, gave a brief history of Newark’s first high school. Newark was the third city in the country to establish a high school for the education of its boys. The number of students who enroll- ed for the first term was ninety-one. The average attendance was seventy-five. Admis- sion to high school was obtained by examina- tion. Although a resolution for a Boys’ H. S. was passed in 1838. the Newark H. S. building on Washington and Linden streets, which now is the Girls’ Vocational School, was not erected until 1855. Girls were also admitted to high school in the new building, and strange to say. the number of boys and girls admitted was the same, namely one hundred and ninety- seven. However, the boys and girls were or- ganized in separate departments. In 1850 the first high school library in Newark was started with the book called “De Boc’s Classical Cen- sus Statistics for 1850.” From this beginning grew our large high school library now on the second floor of our building. Newark High School moved in 1899 to the present Barringer High School building and the school was nam- ed after Dr. Barringer, superintendent of New- ark Schools, who did much for the advance- ment of high school education. Mr. Richard C. Jenkinson, an alumnus, spoke of the great citizens of Newark, lie pictured Newark in his youth as a small, in- dustrious town bounded on the north by State street, on the east by Railroad avenue, on the south by Lincoln Park, and on the west by Belmont Avenue. Within a radius of twenty- five miles of Newark dwelt and worked the nations greatest men. such as Morse and Ful- ton, and even Newark had its inventors, such as Seth Boyden and Thomas Edison, the form- er of whom invented the process of making malleable iron and made Newark a very im- portant shoe-manufacturing town, while the latter, who had his shop on Mechanic street, invented the phonograph and incandescent lamp. Miss Margaret Coult spoke on Recollections of her days in the Girls’ High School. The high school, as before mentioned, was not co- educational. The bovs and girls were taught in separate rooms and likewise had separate entrances. The girls entered on Washington Street, while the boys entered on Linden Street. Consequently the girls who came to school by cars running on Broad Street had to pass the boys entrance on Linden Street. The boys would stand in lines and watch the girls pass by. Miss Coult said that she soon discovered that by looking steadfastly at the boys’ shoes, the boys became nervous, started to fidget, ami soon “evaporated.” Mr. Arthur Taylor, also a Barringer alum- nus, spoke to us about the boys in the high school. He listed the many things which the

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THE PARTHENON 7 FOREWORD With the hearty co-operation of the Class of January, 1922. the Parthenon Board has compiled this memory book, as a record of the deeds of its classmates. In its more serious sections, we aimed to make it historically cor- rect. Into the remaining ones, we have tried to put things which might appeal to one’s sense of humor. Our foremost thought throughout has been good fun, and we hope all will take it as such. FAREWELL As a last word, we, the Class of January. 1922, in full appreciation of all that you have done for us. wish to extend our hearty thanks to the Faculty. We realize that words of thanks are of small value, but at present we are at a loss to express ourselves in any other way. When we entered these halls, fresh from the grammar schools, we were proud of what we knew. Soon this pride gave way to fear. That goal of graduation, which we had de- termined to reach, appeared so far away that we doubted our ability to attain it. We list- ened open-mouthed and wide-eyed to the talcs of the upper classmen. How this one had been in school for at least seven years, how that one had been expelled by the mere “wave of the hand” for practically nothing, and how still another had acquired hours and hours of indefi- nite detention, for being tardy. It was then that we were in the plastic state, ready to be molded in any way that the fates decreed, and it was then that you took hold of us and steered us into the right channels. From then on we have been struggling upward con- tinually becoming better Americans and bet- ter able to carry on our struggle for existence Now we arc within sight of our goal. Some attaining it in few and some in many years, but all determined to go out into the world and do our best to reflect honor and glory upon our Alma Mater. WHERE WE GOT IT Dear Editor: When your class adviser was graduated, long years ago. from a Newark grammar school, he had the great privilege of receiving his diploma from the hand of William Bar- ringer who had recently laid down the task of the Superintendent of Schools. Part of what Mr. Barringer said at that time has remained fresh in memory. ‘‘The Athenians,” he said “used to assert, ‘All the world centers in Greece, all Greece center in Athens; all Athens centers in the Acropolis.’ So perhaps we may say. ‘All the world centers in America: all America centers in Newark; all Newark cen- ters in its educational system, all the educa- tional system centers in the High School.” Then he urged us all to continue our studies in this, “the new high school,” then nearing com- pletion. From those words of Dr. Barringer, it seems probable arose the name of our school paper. The Acropolis. Since you have asked me to suggest a name for this special number. I offer the name. Parthenon. The old Parthenon was the crown of the Acropolis, the most beautiful building ever created by the hand and brain of man. As used in Athens, the word meant the maiden’s chamber.” the abode of the chaste maid of Athens. Athena, goddess of wisdom. But the word can mean more than that. “Parthenon” might mean not only a virgin, but also a boy just turning to manhood, in all the splendor of his young strength and purity. Therefore as a symbol of the beauty, purity, strength and youth of both boys and girls. I suggest that you take for your paper the name, Parthenon. Very sincerely yours, R. F. HAULENBF.F.K.

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THE PARTHENON 9 high school did not have, such as telephones, phonographs, teacher who had automobiles, or a principal who played golf. The boys did not have athletics or athletic teams save com- petition with putty blowers. He assured us that in his days they did not have Ponies.” The first Pony” that he ever heard of or saw was shown to him when he was studying Cicero and even this he could not use because it was a Caesar Pony.” Miss Jeannette Hattersley, a senior student, dressed in the costume of a lady of the form- er days recited a Mock Heroic Speech of An- thony entitled the Need of a New High School.” I)r. Corson, Superintendent of Schools, urg- ed us all to become worthy representatives of Newark's High Schools—to become citizens of character—and to advance the spiritual side of life in Newark as much as the material side oi it was advanced by our ancestors. The exercises were closed with a few cheers and the singing of “Alma Mater.” Dr. Carlisle, of the Forest Hill Presbyterian Church, spoke to the school at the Armistice Day Exercises on Thursday. November 10. Dr. Carlisle urged us all to consider Friday, No- vember 11, a Holy Day. since it marked the cessation of hostilities in the Great War. His experiences at the “Front” fully convinced him of the uselessness and folly of the whole war. Many of our soldiers lost their lives in France in trying to kill the German Spirit. This they did not succeed in doing, for the German Spirit is stronger than it ever was before the war. Dr. Carlisle said, you cannot kill the spirit by beating the body.” This was shown in this war to be true, for many Germans lost their lives, but the Spirit still remained. Dr. Carlisle asked all to join with him in a move- ment for peace, for soldiers of peace, such as doctors, teachers, scientists, clergymen, etc., instead of soldiers of destruction, the banc of mortals. We all, along with Dr. Carlisle, hope that the present Disarmament Conference at Wash- ington will bring about a lasting peace, so that the coming generations may enjoy sweet peace and the fruits thereof, instead of dreaded war and heavy taxation. ROSTRUM. The Rostrum this term has not flourished as well as we should like to have it. This may be due to the fact that the season for inter- scholastic debating does not coincide with the football season, but is held in the spring. It is true that the Rostrum was very suc- cessful the term before when debates were held with Montclair and East Orange. How- ever. a few interesting meetings have been held at which interesting questions have been dis- cussed and debated. It is also said that plans for a debate with East Side are being consid- ered. The spirit of debating ought to be kept alive in the school continuously and not only when interscholastic debates arc arranged. The practice received in debating is something that cannot be overlooked. Time and again it plays an important role in the life of the suc- cessful business man. We would like to see the Rostrum much more successful next term and arrange some snappy and interesting debates such as have been held in the past. y ITALIAN CLUB Miss Mancusi-Ungaro, Faculty Adviser. .J Council lilerry Garfola Vinvcnt Barra Ralph Ricciardi L. Rizzolo Genevieve Weyand A regular meeting of the Italian Club was held on October 23. Plans for the Barn Dance were adopted. The dance took place November 13. D’AUcgro was appointed chair- man of the dance committee. Fusello was de- cided upon as chairman of the decoration com- mittee. Miss Caprio chairman of the refresh- ment committee, and Miss Leonora Rizzolo chairman of sympathy committee. It was decided that the club give a large Christmas party to the orphans of St. Lucy’s Church. The Italian Club this term has been very successful, in fact, this term it has prospered more than ever before. With the fine work of Miss Mancusi-Ungaro together with the help of the Council and the members, the club has