Central High School - Forx Yearbook (Grand Forks, ND)

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as ro IQX would be complete without mention of J. R. McKay, our present Superin- tendent of Buildings, who has been associated with Grand Forks schools for over twenty-five years. Summer school was first introduced in 1910 under the supervision of the Y. M. C. A., under whose direction it continued until 1914 when classes were carried on in the High School under the instruction of a teacher paid by student tuition. Until 1917, the summer session was open only to those who desired to repeat a subject in which they had failed, but in that year advance work was offered and extra teachers were secured to accommodate all. Six weeks were allotted the summer session until 1930, when it was extended to an eight week period. Only semester courses are offered and no laboratory work is given. The summer school, too, has made rapid strides, having grown from an enrollment of twenty-five under a single teacher to its present size-135 students, under the instruction of six teachers. Moreover, '70 per cent of those who attended last summer engaged in advance work. An extra two-week period was added to the regular session in 1912 for the benefit of those who had barely failed in subjects during which time the student was permitted to review and once more take an examination on the subject. This practice was continued until 1929, when it was dropped along with the Normal Course. Throughout the history of the High School, until apparent recency, several distinct courses of study have been offered. At the time of the discontinuation of this system, Science, History, Commercial, Home Eco- nomics, Latin, and Normal courses were offered, each providing excellent Pngc' F'llIll'fl'1'H

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FOQX in two units, the first in the near future while the other was to follow some years later. The new school was completed and first occupied in January, 1920. The second unit, which includes the gymnasium, shop departments, and a number of class rooms, was finished in 1927, a portion of the Old Central Building being removed to provide space. The new High School affords one of the most beautiful sights of the city. It is modern in every particular from the dignified exterior of smooth gray brick and buff limestone to gushing fountains within. In addition to three full stories, it contans a complete basement floor. Together with the usual classrooms, laboratories, and study halls, the building includes music, art, sewing, cooking, and typ- ing rooms, besides excellent Manual Training and Home Mechanics depart- i ments and a fine gymnasium. Wide, l spacious corridors, easy, winding stair- ways and marbled hallways with de- lightful wainscoting contribute to the intrinsic beauty of the interior. The building is well equipped, well ventil- ated, well lighted, and fireproof. Three officials have served Grand Forks schools for periods exceeding twenty years. Too much praise cannot be extended J. Nelson Kelly, whose energy and perseverance contributed largely to the construction of the new High School. Each year, for a quarter century, he was re-elected Superin- tendent of Schools, with never a dis- senting note, by the various Boards that came and went. He retired in 1919 and continues to reside in Grand Forks. W. C. Stebbins entered the High School in 1903 as a science teacher. Four years later, he was made Principal, in which capacity he served most com- mendably for twelve years. He suc- ceeded Mr. Kelly as Superintend- W. C. STEBBINS ent in 1919 and fulfilled the duties of that office until 1929, when the schools suffered the loss of the beloved leader. Our Principal, P. H. Lehman came to Central in 1911 as a teacher of History. He succeeded to the Principalship in 1919 and continues to serve as such in a truly praiseworthy manner. Throughout the years during which he has seen the student body swell from 375 to over one thousand, he has always been actively interested in every forward movement for the betterment of the school. I Miss McCumber, Mr. Howell, Mr. Carter, Miss Davies, and Mr. Har- grave are present members of the faculty who have served the school for very long periods. Mr. Baarman's death in 1930 brought a close to twenty years of distinguished service., Also, no review of Grand Forks schools Page Thirteen A X , ff 1 -we ilff a .

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A-A eFOl2X- -H- training in a specihc line of work, although some subjects remained con- stant in all the courses of study. Although this definite division of courses is not made at present, each of the individual subjects are retained. Central officials have never been adverse to making experiments to determine, if possible, the best methods of instruction. The last of these was carried on during the past year when Mr. Butler successfully conducted a Sophomore English class of 81 pupils during the last nine weeks of the first semester. It was found that, providing physical properties of the class room are of the best, a single instructor, with clerical help, could conduct a class two or three times the normal size with a marked saving. Two years ago, an especially bright Sophomore mathematics class, under Mr. Crossman, covered considerably more than a year's work with ease, which, too, proved suc- cessful. As a whole, Central has always been well represented in athletics. The foot- ball team of 1898 was the school's first athletic team. Albert Ole Collins, an end on that team and still a Grand Forks resident, has the distinction of having made Central's first touchdown. The first contests with Fargo were in 1903, re- sulting in losses by the usually narrow margin. The team that year averaged but 137 pounds. Under the expert coaching of Skuli Skulason, a former University star, Central won the state titles in 1905 and 1906. Each year the Central team would engage in one or more contests with the University eleven, and though the High School never registered a vic- tory, several games were decided by a close score. In addition to the first and second teams, each class boasted a foot- ball team and heated inter-class contests resulted. Despite natural slumps, the foot- J. C. WEST ball situation has constantly improved, until, at present, three coaches mould the squads, the last of which was the best in the state. Basketball was introduced in 1909. Central's first game resulted in a 43-30 loss to Emerado. The same Central team, however, later proved to be the best in the state, losing the state championship to Fargo by a curious misfortune when a Central guard was injured in the second half and there being no one to replace him, a Fargo forward proceeded to score 26 points to win the title by four points. The school has generally maintained a high brand of basketball. Perhaps the greatest achievement by a Central ath- letic team was made by the basketball team of 1927-28, which placed third in the national tourney at Chicago. For years, Central remained one of the strongest powers in North Dakota track and field competition. The interscholastic meets held at the University began in 1903, were often dominated by Central track men and usually each team entered had as its aim the defeat of the Grand Forks Page Fifteen . X x . , ' n xl, A U ggMZf.f7'