Franklin County High School - Animo Yearbook (Rocky Mount, VA)

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THE NEW SCHOOL PLANT The new Franklin County High School is a beautiful building. It is gen- erally conceded by all who see it to be one of the most artistically finished and attractively furnished schools that they have seen. As one of the students said the first day of school, ‘‘It is so nice it sort of takes your breath.’ But here we have much more than a handsome structure. This school, although in its initial stage, isalready in reality a modern industrial plant. In this plant there is a system by which the students, faculty, and administration are co- ordinated. This system, which is identical with that of other large modern schools all over the country, is geared to facilitate learning processes. There are modern classrooms, laboratories, a typing room, a library, offices, a bookstore, and home economics rooms. Our plant is not yet complete. The gymnasium and cafeteria unit are under construction and work on an auditorium will follow. The plant also provides for additional classrooms and a new shop building. But we are well-equipped at present for a thorough instructional program. This is as it should be, for in the words of Alexander Pope, ““ “Tis education forms the common mind: Just as the twig is bent, the tree’s inclin'd,’’ The nerve center of this vast organization is the office. I say vast because it is already vast, compared with the little red school house of McGuffey's Reader days. Today, the activities of around 700 people must be co- ordinated by the principal. The main business of this plant is the education of the students. It is well-equipped for this work. There is a competent, experienced, well-trained faculty. Instead of the three R's that made up our grandparents’ curriculum, we now have Spanish, Latin, Literature, Grammar, spelling, science, biology, chemistry, mathematics, history, civics, mechanical drawing, metal, wood, and leather working, bookkeeping, typewriting, shorthand, health education, music, and home economics. When our plant is complete, there will be even a wider selection of courses. The burden of student guidance in the selection of courses falls upon the home room teachers. Courses are selected in consultation with the principal, student, and parents. I wish to mention a department in our school which con- sists of a single man - he is the maintenance man of this plant. Mr. Vernon Zeh is the man who sees that the building is heated in winter, that itis kept in repair, that the rooms are kept clean, and that the property is protected. His faithful service is invaluable. In addition to classroom instruction, the students obtain valuable experience through various extra-curricular acti- vities, which include this year the publishing of a $1500 —

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MR. FRED M. BROWN Assistant Principal Director of Athletics

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AND 11S ADMINISTRATION... annual, a page in the Franklin Newspost each week, and schedules of football, basketball and baseball. Our school gives every student an opportunity for filling his mind with golden thoughts from the best litera- ture. In our library we have volumes, furnishing material for reference and for entertainment. This is well, for, as Francis Bacon said, ‘‘Reading maketh a full man.”’ Our lawn is fast becoming very beautiful, and the scenery from our school site can hardly be surpassed, travel the country over. Thus, we have at F. C. H. S., not the little red schoolhouse of yesterday but a large efficient plant in which the educational opportunities are great. It is from the office that we receive the directions that make the school run on schedule. The building is equipped with a modern $1500 Inter-Communication and Public Address System, which is used for directions throughout the entire building and for student programs. It also has a tape-recording machine for use in the instructional program. It is in the office that the records are kept--the records of each student and his progress throughout his five years at F. C. H. S. Miss Margaret Koger, school secretary, is proving herself quite efficient in assisting the principal with the handling of these records. We attend this educational institution five years--we work; we study; we learn and leave in the office indelible records of our successes and of our failures. ‘‘The moving finger writes; and having writ, moves on ....'’ We may be offered a chance to success in later life on the strength of these records, I have described to you our new school--one of the most modern and efficient in the state--we owe its exis- tence to the taxpayers. We are truly thankful for our school and the educational opportunities it is giving us and will give those who follow us as the plant is completed. rags