El Reno High School - Boomer Yearbook (El Reno, OK)

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The Board of Education Mr. Frtd Hampton Mr. Luther C. Gadberry Mr. Harvey C. Dozier Mr. P. W. Jenwn Mr. Tom H. Karris Supt. Paul K. Taylor Miss Alvcra Greer Mr. H. M. Hensley stencil border surrounding the walls and depicting in a very interesting manner the history of El Reno. The suggestion for this border first came from Superintendent Paul R. Taylor: then the design was worked out by Miss Ermalce Moore and students of her art class. The new stage is indeed a work of art, with its taupe front curtain, silver whip-cord cyclorama, and egg-shell tapestry damask proscenium set. making it one of the most modern and beautifully designed in the state. As a compensation for some of the gifts of previous graduating classes, which were destroyed by the fire, a pub- lic address system for the entire high school has been pur- chased and installed. This new addition to the high school equipment is not only a time saver, but is of great benefit because it enables the principal to supervise more easily and to coordinate more quickly any school activity. One of the best features of the public address system is that radio broadcasts may be brought into the class- rooms at any time. Somr of the outstand- ing music and speech programs have be- come a regular part of the class work. The more significant lectures and programs of the social and political world are brought to the students of the social science classes, giving them first hand information con- cerning important world affairs. The governing body of the system of schools is the Board of Education, consist- ing of a group of men who have given much time and thought to furthering the educational program of the community. This group is headed by Mr. H. M. Hensley, president, who has served as a board member since Feb- ruary 3. 1930. Mr. Fred H. Hampton, vice-president, has been a member of the board since January 2, 1933. Mr. Harvey C. Dozier, senior member of the board from the point of view of length of service, has been a member since No- vember 7. 1927, and was unopposed for reelection this year. Mr. P. W. Jensen, whose service as board member began January 2. 1933. was likewise unopposed for reelection this year. Mr. Tom H. Farris has been a member since May 6. 1935. Since 1922. Mr. Luther C. Gadberry has held the office of treasurer. Miss Alvera Greer was appointed clerk of the board June 1, 1936. Too high tribute cannot be paid El Reno’s Board of Edu- cation for its wise guidance and direction of the affairs of the school system and for its unselfish devotion to the cause cf public education. The men who compose the board are e er ready and willing to give unstintingly of their time and energies to make our schools return large dividends on the public investment. It is their ambition that El Reno shall have schools unsurpassed in efficiency of administration and operation. Superintendent Paul R. Taylor, who for the past two years has served suc- cessfully as head of the local system of schools and who has been elected by the Board of Education for a third term, is one of the outstanding educators of the state. Aside from showing interest and enthus- iasm in improving the schools of the city, Mr. Taylor is likewise active in state school affairs, and is a past president of the Ok- lahoma Education Association. Since coming to El Reno, Mr. Taylor has been active in a school building pro- gram. As evidences of his untiring efforts are the new Etta Dale Junior High School, which has just been completed, the ad- ministration building, and the new Webster School, which is now under construction. He has also worked tirelessly and con- scientiously in developing a more progres- sive course of study in the system of schools. At the present time he is outlin- ing tentative plans for a junior college next year. In addition to his services for the school. Mr. Taylor has displayed much interest in community affairs, being an active member of the Kiwanis and Lions civic clubs, and the American Legion. Because of his originality and ability, Mr. Taylor is often called upon to appear as speaker on various civic programs, and he always responds ir. the same gracious manner. He is also active in church work and any program of character training for the young people of the community. Soon after coming to El Reno, (6) Superintendent Paul It. Taylor

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THE ADMIN ISTRATION “Listen to their words of wisdom: Listen to the truth they tell you. For the Master of Life has sent them Front the land of ll«ht and morning.” —Hiawatha IN 1893. the inspiring, energetic citizens of El Reno made a small investment in secondary education for the boys and and girls of the then pioneer city. The result was a very n.odest one-room school building, but from this meager be- ginning has come one of the outstanding high schools of the state. The present high school, in all its massiveness and beauty, located near the business section of the city, repre- sents the untiring efforts of a group of people who have never ceased to strive to make El Reno High School the very best possible. Located in the same block with the high school i; the new administration building, erected in 1935, which contains the superintendent's office and the conference room for the Board of Education. For a short time one day last October. El Reno feared that her beautiful building would be destroyed by fire, but through the efforts of the firemen and volunteer workers the damage was confined largely to the auditorium. Within u few weeks workmen were busy removing the debris and transforming the ruins into a new and more beautiful auditorium. While memories of the old assembly hall will linger on. the new audi- torium has already be- come dear to the hearts of the student body be- cause of its excellent and impressive beauty. Espe- cially attractive is the (5)

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he was selected as teacher of the newly organized Fel- lowship Bible Class of the Central Methodist Church and is still serving in that capacity. This year, through Mr. Taylor's efforts, in cooperation with the Ministerial Alliance of the city, a character building contest has been instituted in both the elementary schools and the high school. As a result of this contest there has been a decided increase in Sunday School attendance among the grade school children, and the attendance at a major church service of the high school stu- dents. Mr. Walter P. Marsh is completing his second year as principal of El Reno High School. Because of his interest in and un«lerstanding of young people and their problems, he has earned for himself a place of high esteem in the hearts of the high school student body. Before coming to El Reno, Mr. Marsh served as principal of the Elk City High School for eleven years and as registrar at the Northwestern State Teachers’ College, Alva, Oklahoma, for three years. He holds an M. A. degree from Oklahoma A. and M. College at Still- water. Mr. Marsh is also active in civic affairs, being vice- president of the Kiwanis club and a member of the Legion. Among the innovations suggested by Mr. Marsh for the improvement of the El Reno High School is the flag raising ceremony, which has been initiated to start each school day. At a specific time each morning the call “To the Colors is given, and everyone stands at attention until the flag is raised; then the pledge of allegiance to the flag is repeated by all. Also, through the efforts of Mr. Marsh, in coopera- tion with a student committee, the design for an official school emblem has been worked out and adopted. Although Mr. Marsh has been with us only two years, he has already proved a great inspiration to the student body that recognizes him as a friend and helper who has a personal interest in the welfare of every student. Through his pep and enthusiastic attitude. Mr. Marsh promotes a feeling of good will and friendship throughout the school. The administrators of the system of schools, feeling a need of someone who could have a more personal contact with a student in assisting him to solve his prob- lems. met this need by appointing Miss Rose Witcher, dean of girls, and Mr. C. L McGill, dean of boys, last year. In connection with her work as dean of girls. Miss Witcher has organized the Girls' Inter-Club Council to promote a better coordination of the work of the var- ious girls' clubs of the high school. Miss Witcher is one of the pioneer teachers of the El Reno High School, having served as teacher and ad- ministrator for twenty-four years. She received her M. A. degree from Columbia University in New York City, last summer. As well as being dean of girls, she is curriculum director in the high school, a position which she has held for the past two years. This year she has stressed an im- proved reading program throughout the high school. In con- nection with this reading project, she has given some valuable suggestions to teachers in all departments. To know Miss Witcher is to love her. Because of her charm, congeniality, and un- selfishness, Miss Witcher has won the honor, respect, and friendship of all who have had the pleasure of working with her. In connection with his work as dean of boys. Mr. McGill has arranged score cards, whereby teachers may check the student's charac- ter traits and attitude. One of the cards stresses the at- titude toward the various phases of school life, while the other is based primarily upon a pe-sonal rating of «iter I . M«r h the boy. Both of these record sheets were designed to help the boy to improve his achievement in class work, and his general behavior and conduct in school. Mr. McGill has been a member of El Reno High School faculty for seventeen years. Since 1930, when he was ap- pointed vocational guidance director, he has devoted much time and energy to the promotion of a better balanced edu- cational course for students. Under his direction, bulletins which offer educational information have been placed in the hands of all students for study and consideration in selecting their vocations. Mr. McGill believes that this type of func- tional education will better prepare high school people to select a program of studies that will best equip them to be- come useful, successful citizens. Assisted by the heads of the various departments. Mr. McGill has outlined a program of studies broad in scope and content for El Reno High School. At the present time seven types of diplomas are offered: commercial, home economics. industrial arts, academic, language arts, scientific, and fine arts. To qualify for any type of diploma one must include in his course of study four units of English, one of mathematics, one of laboratory science, and one of American history. Sixteen units are required for graduation. Other than the basic requirements for graduation each type of diploma calls for additional requirements in that particular course of study. In erder to qualify for a commercial diploma one must choose five units from the commercial depart- ment. For the home economics diploma one must select two units of sewing, two of cooking and one of modern living. To secure the industrial arts diploma, the student must complete five units from the manual training and mechanical drawing courses. The ad- ditional requirements for an academic diploma are one unit of history, one of mathematics, one of science, and two of foreign language. Those for a language arts diploma are four units of foreign language, and one of natural science. To qualify for a scientific diploma one must include in his schedule three units of natural science, and two of mathe- matics. T H E I) K A N S Mi»» lto»c Witcher Mr. V. L McGill (7)