Dalton High School - Tiger Yearbook (Dalton, GA)

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«V I 'dtSAi. • + . V J Students: Circa 1776 Rich, industrious, studious, religious and male.” These were the words that might have been used to describe the typical high school” student of the colonial days. For high school then meant Latin grammar school, and since the subjects taught were classical in nature and designed solely for college preparation, children from less well-to-do families were forced to take apprenticeships. (Latin grammar, rheto- ric, etc., have never been heralded for their ability to prepare one for a trade or vocation.) The very wealthy young men (those from the top echelon of colonial society) usually went to Europe for their education or stayed at home (in the South) to be taught by tutors from England or Scotland. The real highbrows” of the day still thought American schools inferior. Students in the lower grade levels were far more heterogeneous. Almost every colony or township, as the case may be, provided for every child to be taught the basics in reading and writing and arithmetic, regardless of sex or social standing. (Girls from middle and upper income families often went on to attend Dame Schools and or the academics. However, more emphasis was placed on the social graces than on academic subject matter. Needlework, singing, music and dancing were deemed more necessary in preparing a girl to assume a woman’s role than astronomy and literature.) The college students were a fun-loving lot, as well as industrious and studious. And, the stria discipline exerted by the schools combined with the heavy academic load produced more than one near catastrophe. In addition to pulling routine pranks such as placing a cow in the chapel, students were frequently expelled for such tricks as setting off powder charges under their tutors’ chairs.” Portraits at modest prices were supplied by itinerant painters who came around with pre- painted figures and pastoral backgrounds. Only the faces had to be painted in during the actual sitting. Most portraits looked alike. Reprinted from ’ Taylor Talk ' issue 3. 1976 By permission of Taylor Publishing Co Dallas. Texas

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0 9TJ .5% t ie (3 c en Q)a fv . . . ★The first Sweetheart of DHS was Geneva Giles elected in 1954. Super- latives were also elected in 1954. The first Sweetheart Dance was in 1955. The first Mr. and Miss DHS was in 1957. ★Superlatives were changed to Un- derclass Favorites and Top Twenty in 1962. The Top Twenty, which was based on an activity point system for election, was changed to an election by popular vote in 1971 and became the Senior Favorites. ★ Many high school students quit school during World War II and took jobs for war causes . Students were urged to give up their jobs and return to the classroom in 1946. Many did not return. ★ It was hard during the War Years to keep a staff of teachers on duty every day, not only in the high school but the elementary schools as well. As a result, the administration decided to use high school students from junior and senior classes in classrooms. Students were allowed to sign up for two hour duty each day in the elemen- tary schools and were given credit on their records. At the high school level, students were pulled from classes as needed for substitute work in 8th and 9th grades. I recall several of these students did an outstanding service. (MBT) ★At one time, the DHS Band paraded through downtown Dalton before EVERY home football game. ★School vaccinations for smallpox were once manditory along with phys- icals and weights, etc. ★A Victory Garden” was kept by the Home Economics students. It was lo- cated between the Old Gym and the presentday Cafeteria. (Wonder if it was planted in the traditional man- ner!?) ★Fire drills were once conducted by the Dalton Fire and Recreation De- partment. ★At one time, chewing gum was not allowed in the classroom. 7 The busy DHS library.

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 2) JCJ «c7ns tAe (9 Ae t Q)qy r . . . ★The first Catamount Annuals were published in 1935 and 1936. The 1935 annual had 63 pages including four pages of advertisements. After a lapse of 17 years, the Catamount Annual was again printed in 1953. ★Bicycle racks were once one of the most important parts of the school campus. ★The first school lunch program was approved by the U.S. Congress in 1948. Dalton High’s first cafeteria was located under the Old Gym where the present Industrial Arts is located. ★DHS students once had an hour for lunch! ★Dalton High had a Bookmobile as their portable library. ★The Spring musical was once con- sidered the Senior Play because only Seniors were allowed to participate. ★Students did the Bunnyhop dur- ing break. ★May Day was a big” celebration with a May King, Queen, and Court along with Maypoles and intramural field competition. ★The Barn was an old army barracks located in the present-day student parking lot. It was used by the band for bandroom and storage. ★October 31 meant another favorite school activity when the Halloween Carnival was celebrated. ★Each homeroom once had a group picture taken and was pictured in the annual and in the city newspaper. ★1954 was the first twelve year school term. Only three students graduated that year. 9 Lane Zbar, a DHS Junior!