Decatur High School - Decanois Yearbook (Decatur, IL)

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THE DECANOIS 1938 The Silver Anniversary number of the Decatur High School Decanois stresses the fact that the Decanois has become one of the traditions of the school most treasured by the student body. From a very modest beginning it has grown to a book of distinction Through years of discouragement, with funds altogether inadequate to its needs, it has persisted until it now has approximately three thousand dollars yearly to guarantee its success, lt is a treasured record of the school activities of the year. Here you find a roster of your friends. You see their pictured faces and recount their various deed.: Your favorite athletes march to Victory or defeat Scholastic honors are recorded and intel- lectual skill extolled. Music, drama, and art become themes of greatest interest because you and your friends together have advanced along these paths to a higher level of culture. The humorous things of school life are not neglected The candid camera, the snapshot, and the humorous event lend their service to your enjoyment and add to your permanent possessions through the medium of the Decanois, All life is not contained within the covers of the texts you read and all knowledge is not formal. Much that offers you the most valuable lessons is to be found in books of memories such as this You who possess our Decanois in years to come will con its pages and live again its happy day.: of youth Wai! T, Principal, 17

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THE DECANOIS 1938 ln a period of rapid social, economic, and industrial change our public high schools have found it difficult to meet the demands made upon them. The enrollment has been increased seriously because attendance in high school has been the only work many young people could find. This large number of students contains many who are not inter- ested in the traditional high school subjects. This has caused a demand for the offering of educational and vocational guidance and the so-called vocational subjects. Students have asked for such subjects as automobile driving, auto mechanics, cooking for boys, and courses in homemaking for boys and girls. ln attempting to meet some of these requests our efforts have been scattered and we are no doubt guilty of not having devel- oped for all students the ability to study independently and a Willingness to take their school Work seriously. Cur parents frequently tell us that the ability for independent study and a seriousness of purpose characterized the secondary student of twenty-five years ago. The secondary schools are now studying their purposes and the issues that are at stake as never before in their history. As a result of this study the adaptations that will be made will still call for such basic skills and habits as accurate computation, a careful use of the English language, and a deep feeling of responsibility for the best wo.k that a student is capable of doing. Superintendent of Schools. l6 . If 4 f i il l l l l l l 1 l. 1. l j l l l i I l 4 1 t l l 1 l l l l l 1 l l j l l l l I r 1 l l r l l l 1 J f 4 fl f

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THE DECANOIS l. DEAN CONE' BOYS l have heard some people express doubt about the future. l see much hope. There have been many periods in the world's history when the outlook was none too bright. We are undergoing an adjustment to changing social conditions and not necessarily a retro- gression in civilization. There is war and rumors of war, there is corruption in high places. But there is also the good-the true-the beautiful. Let us hold these before us, they are all about us. l wish l could impress upon students how essential it is to seek these three ideals in order to find life's ultimate goal-happiness. There is plenty of the sordid in life to detract us, but there is also much of the highest value to attract us. l like the philosophy and faith of the poet Wlf1O Sflidf God's in his heaven, All's right with the world. 1938 DEAN COMF GIRLS There is a growing recognition among edu- cators that the school environment should pro- vide facilities favorable to a wholesome per- sonality development. The progress and preservation of our demo- cratic society is dependent upon the proper training of our youth and upon the develop- ment of emotionally-mature, socially-minded and socially-efficient individuals. Guidance and counseling play an important part in helping the individual to orient himself to his environment, to survey critically his problems or potentialities and to determine advisable remedial measures or proper train- ing, and to develop within himself that key to effective living-self-direction. Guidance stimulates personality, growth and emotional maturity. ,WLUEY