Ben Blewett High School - Brochure Yearbook (St Louis, MO)

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In 1838, the first school for pub- lic education west of the Missis- sippi was established in St. Louis. A little later, in 1853, the first high school work was begun in old Benton School. This century has marked the development of a fine public school system, and the new Southwest High School, with many others, has been built to accommodate the increasing num- ber of students. EENTENNIAL Om BENTON SCHOOL NEW SOUTHWEST HIGH SCHOOL Page Seven

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UEUIEATIUN MR. HOLDEN Assistant Principal as - 1 1 d igg K we cv' I f f. i'::'-- if' 4 y FRAN K SHou LDERS Class President Only one hundred years ago the liberty loving pioneers established pub- lic schools in St. Louis. Their increased efficiency, widened scope, and growth in one brief century encourage us to expect that the public schools will transcend every prejudice of sect, cult. or creed: integrate all that is provincial or petty, and become the great central force in the establishment of social unity. We, of the Iune Class of 1938, have received all the opportunities which a century of progress in public education has been able to provide for us. It has been our aim to be worthy of the advantages which we have so en- joyed and appreciated. Page Six

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ST. LUUIS SEHUUL EENTENNIAL This year marks the glorious cul- mination of one hundred years of progressive education in the public schools of St. Louis. A century ago the few citizens had no idea that the educational project which they started would develop into the splen- did school system which exists now. Most of the population in that period were illiterate, but they realized their lack of education and the desperate need of public education for their children and the succeeding genera- tions. Therefore, on April 2, in 1838, the first public school was opened in St. Louis by the patriotic and civic minded people of the city. From this old-fashioned two-story school building, the glorious efforts of many valiant educators who have come and gone, have aided the edu- cational project to advance toward a shining goal-public education. The early public schools suffered from lack of funds and scarcity of trained teachers during the first ten years. The school board of the first schools had to send to the East for trained teachers to take advantage of the opportunities opened by an in- creased attendance. In 1849 the citizens of the city demonstrated their interest and confidence in the public schools by voting funds, for the first time, to maintain them. ln 1853 the first public high school west of the Mississippi River was opened in St. Louis with a principal, four teachers, and seventy pupils. It was housed on the first floor of a grade school building until the high school was built at Fifteenth and Olive Streets, then near the city limits. The same year saw the beginning of evening schools originated by Ralph Sellew. a self-made business man deeply in- terested in boys whose economic con- dition forced them into the factory rather than the school. During the years 1857-67 very notable progress was made. A school census was taken which showed that eight thousand children in the city did not attend any school. Eight new schools were built. Graded schools with one principal and one organization in each building re- placed the old system and for the first time both boys and girls were taught together by the same teacher. Later, during the period of educa- tional development known as the St. Louis Movement, the efforts of many well-known leaders, including Mr. Harris, Mr. Linoll, and Susan Blow, the schools were well de- veloped: the first kindergarten was begun in 1873, and others were established in the grade schools later. Thus through the century the public school system has grown until today it has more than one hundred fifty school buildings valued at mil- lions of dollars. These include grade schools, high schools, voca- tional schools, and colleges. Many opportunities and advan- tages are offered to the student of today which the student of yesterday never dreamed of-auditoriums, big buildings, work shops, laboratories, and equipment. ln addition to these there are a number of special schools in St. Louis for the education of the children who suffer from physical handicaps, blindness, deafness, and mental defectiveness. Such an ad- vancement would have been entirely impossible without the tireless efforts and devotion of educators and citi- zens whose influence has inspired a greater service from others. So to them we offer our deepest apprecia- tion and gratitude, and the present schools now stand as a memorial to their achievements. Page Eight