Central High School - Girardot Yearbook (Cape Girardeau, MO)

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RARDOT History of the Schools of Cape Girardeau When the states west of the Mississippi River were transferred to the United States, more attention was given to education. In the Missouri district there had been, previously, only occasional schools but with continued settlement there came a higher esteem for edu- cation. With the establishing of Lutheran and Catholic denominations came the demand for parochial schools. In 1854 the Lutheran parochial school was, established and classes were held in a rented house and later in the church. The school having grown, a special building became necessary, and in 1865 a two-story brick building was erected on Themis Street on the lot adjoining the church. This structure served until 1925 when the present Lutheran school Was built. The Catholics have two elementary schools, one high school and a preparatory col- lege. A St. Mary's Catholic parochial: school was built in 1882 but was replaced in 1912 by a new building. St. Mary's also has a high school which was started in 1925 and is conducted at present in the old St. Mary's Hospital building. St. Vincent's school was constructed in 1841 and the preparatory college in 1843. The old convent, which was built in 1838, served as a girls, school for about seventy-eight years. Another institution that has been very influential in Cape Girardeau's education is our college for teachers. Established, in 1873 as the Missouri State Normal School, it was changed in 1919 to the Southeast Missouri State Teachers College. There has always been a steady growth within our public school system which accounts for the number of schools in our city. The first was the old Lorimier School, built in 1878, then jefferson School in 1904, Broadway in 1907, Washington in 1914, May Greene in 1920, and the Franklin School in 1926. The first high school in Cape Girardeau was held in the Broadway School from 1907 to 1911 and consisted of only the ninth and tenth grades. There were ten pupils in the former and three in the latter. Only four subjects, Latin, Algebra, English, and History, were taught. With increased enrollment the classes were transferred in 1911 to the Lorimier School which was built in the year 1878. A wider branch of subjects was available, with algebra, geometry, Latin, English, history, biology, physical geography, physics, music, benchwork, mechanical drawing, and domestic science from which to choose. During the next four years the following courses were added: Manual training, advanced algebra, drawing, bookkeeping, shorthand, typing, trigonometry, with the addition of Caesar and Cicero to the Latin course. In the spring of 1915 the present Central High School was completed and the pupils were more than happy to occupy such a large building. During the next few years six subjects - Civics, physics, government, Spanish, vocational agriculture, commercial English - were added tq the curriculum. With a contined growth, an annex became necessary and in 1921 it was completed. Music, manual training, biology, and commercial subjects were moved to this section of the building. In 1924, because of the overcrowdedness of the grade schools, the seventh, eighth, and ninth grades were taught here at Central, the senior division attending school in the morn- ings and the junior division in the afternoons. Added to the curriculum were French, household arts, sociology, and Missouri history. With the exception of dropping vocational agriculture in 1929, until 1930 when we adopted the present course of studies, this cur- riculum prevailed. The required subjects are: English, 4 units, History, 3 units, Math- ematics, 1 unit, Science, 1 unit, Government, X2 unit, Hygiene, Z unit, Physical Educa- tion, M unit, Electives, sn units. Our electives are: Latin, Sociology, Economics, Com- mercial Law, Plane Geometry, Solid Geometry, Art, Vocational Home Economics, Advanced Algebra, Commercial Arithmetic, Civics, Typing, Shorthand, Bookkeeping, Manual Train- ing, Mechanical Drawing, and Music. ln the music department are the band, orchestra, girls' and boys' glee club, a mixed chorus, and a general chorus class. At present there are 631 pupils enrolled at Central, and 30 faculty members are employed. -15-

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Faculty O. E. ROBINSON, B. S. in Ed. Physical Education, H yygiene University of Illinois MARTIN ROTH, B. S. in Ed. Industrial Arts Southeast Missouri State Teachers College University of Iowa W. A. SHIVELBINE Music Southeast Missouri State Teachers College Christian Brothers College, St. Louis Northwestern University IRENE SMITH, B. S. in Ed. English, Debate, Dramatics Southeast Missouri State Teachers College University of VVisconsin IDA M. WARNER, B. S. in H. Ec., M. S Home Economics Nebraska State Teachers College University of Nebraska Iowa State College ALBERT J. WEIS, A. B. Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics Southeast Missouri State Teachers College University of Chicago MARTHA J. WELMAN, B. S. in Ed. English, Dramatics Southeast Missouri State Teachers College University of Southern California GRACE WILLIAMS, B. S. in Ed. Mathematics Southeast Missouri State Teachers College University of VVisconsin HERBERT S. WRIGHT, A. B., M. A. Social Sciences Central College, Fayette, Missouri University of Iowa

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,s River commerce was instrumental in the successful settlement of Cape Girardeau, for it has been the basis of our present system of industries. Be- ginning with the employment of the skiff by the early settlers and Indians, we advanced to the use of the barge and the steamboat and have now completed the accessibility of the river by the spans of our bridge. Likewise the four classes of our school represent the stages of development through which we pass to greater knowledge and higher attainment.