Cheney High School - Alfalfa Blossoms Yearbook (Cheney, KS)

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School History So short a time ago that our old men of today were in the prime of life, and our middle aged men were boys, and yet so long ago that the school boys of today were not yet born, there was no Cheney school, nor even the town of Cheney. Until 1884, the present Cheney district was included in the Morton Cen- ter district, whose school house was the only one in Morton Township. In 1884, the Cheney district was organized and, until the new building was completed, school was held in a store room The next year the school occupied a two story, two room, frame building. A few years later a third room was added and these three rooms were used until 1903 when the frame portion of the present building was erected. The brick portion of the present building, with its two large rooms and well lighted basement, was added in the fall of 1907. The furnace was installed the same winter. Mr. Fifer was enabled, by the erection of the new building in 1903, to leave most of the grade work to his assistant teachers, and to devote most of his time to the High School. lle really laid the foundation for the present High School, though he had only the Ninth and Tenth grades. Then Mr. Kabler was principal for two years and the same policy of strengthening the High School was con- tinued. The Barnes High School Law was passed during the time and the principal and board set about to meet the requirements necessary to get the benefits of the county tax. A third year was added to the course, two teachers were employed to no exclusively lligh School work, and two courses were offered: a college prepar- atory course and a general course. This put the school in a position to receive county aid the next year, The present principal, Mr. Mahin, took charge the fall of 1907. The plans of Mr. Kabler were continued in the High School. To strengthen the efficiency of the work in the grades, a teacher was ad-- ded, thus making two grades for each teacher below the High School, and two teachers in the High School. Cheney received all the Barnes lligh School tax from Sedgwick County that year. The Uni- versity Bulletin of 1907 had Cheney classed in class C of the ac-- credited schools of the state. The board and principal saw no good reason why it should not be in class A and decided to make the work so efficient that the University would raise the classification. Accordingly, a reasonable amount of the science labratory apparatus and history and English reference books, recommended by the Uni- versity, was purchased, a fourth year in both the classical and gen- eral courses was added, German and some business branches were put into the course, a third teacher was employedg each teacher was limited to six classes a day and to two lines of work, only teachers with state certificates were given positions, and many other things were done to improve the building and the courses. The result was, that the next Bulletin published by the University placed the Cheney High School in Class A , on a par with the best schools in state. These conditions placed the school in such a favorable light be- fore the State Board of Education, that the school secured the ap- proval of the State Board for the Normal Training Course in Sedg- wick County. Cheney, therefore received enough money from the

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School Building

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l State to employ a fourth teacher for this work. Sevne pupils have taken this course this year and, upon passing the state examination, will be given State certificates to teach, certificates to continue in force indefinitely. The enrollment of the High School has increased from thirty- nine to seventy-two during the last three years. Ten pupils have been graduated from a four year course. Of these, five are enrolled in college, three are teaching, and two have been enrolled this year in Cheney, for post graduate work. Of the fourteen Seniors of 1910, six intend to teach, six to go to college, and two to enroll for the Normal work next year. School Song Our School, it is a jolly home, Swe-de-le-we-dum-bum, We love it still whe're we roam, Swe-de-le-we-dum-bum, The very songs We used to sing, Swe-de-le-we-tchu-hi-'ra-sa, 'Mid Inemory's echoes long shall ring, Swe-de-le-We-dum-bum, CHORUS. Oh, Cheney High! Oh, Cheney High! Swe-de-le-we-tchu-hisra-sa, Oh, Cheney High! Oh,' Cheney High! Swe-de-le-we-dum-bum, As Freshmen when we entered first, Swe-de-le-we-dum-bum, Examinations were the worst, Swe-de-le-we-dum-bum, But when we reach our Senior year, Swe-de-le-we-tchu-hi-ra-sa, Of such things we have lost our fear, Swe-de-le-we-dum-bum, In Senior year we act our part, Swe-de-le-we-dum-bum, In making love and winning hearts, Swe-de-le-we-dum-bum, The saddest tale we have to tell, Swe-de-le-we-tchu-hilra-sa, Is when we bid our friends farewell, Swe-de-le-we-dum-bum, . And then into the world we come, Swe-de-le-we-dum-bum, We've made good friends and studied some, Swe-de-le-we-dum-bum, And till the sun and moon shall set, Swe-de-le-we-tchu-hi-ra-sa., We'll love and reverence Cheney yet, Swe-de-le-we-dum-bum,