George Washington High School - Surveyor Yearbook (San Francisco, CA)

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George Washington High School Has Proud History FIRST YEAR AT WASHINGTON George Washington High was the pride and joy of the students and faculty when it opened; everyone admired the magnificent view and the handsome building, and the faculty and students were filled with enthusiasm in spite of the fact that they were sadly lacking in facilities. These pioneers realized that the responsibility for Washington ' s coming through the first year lay on their shoulders. Only they remembered all the difficulties that had to be overcome; but we, today, know that they emerged with flying colors. The enrollment of the school in its first year consisted of the new low tens and students who had transferred from other schools. These students had to stand up or sit on the floor because of the lack of chairs and desks; the gym classes met in different classrooms, and the library was completely empty, save for one set of encyclopedias. These handicaps seemed minor, however, as compared to the terrible noise caused by the new gymnasium. This construction work, accompanied by the noise, lasted for two years. Despite these difficulties, at the end of the term there were 57 students on the honor roll. The first student government at Washington was organized in the fall of 1936 with David Cunningham, president; Lois Samuels, vice-president; Jane Mayer, secretary; Howard Nelsen, treasurer; Richard Cohn, custodian; and Gordon Mailloux, head yell leader. The spring 1937 officers were: Hal Mendelson, president; Betty Hill, vice-president; Nancy Glaser, secretary; Richard de Graf, treasurer; Phillip Waxman, custodian; and Robert Kahn, head yell leader. The first social event of the term was the Inaugural Ball, held on October 30, 1936 in the school library. The lack of a gym did not stop the students from having social affairs. The rallies were held outside on the courts. The first indoor rally was at Presidio Junior High School. At the first indoor rally held at Washington in 1940 in the newly built auditorium, the speakers had to stand on chairs. The platform had not yet been completed. The first commencement took place at Commerce High School on December 16, 1937. Miss Kirwin had charge of the first graduating class consisting of 148 students. Five students com- pleted their required course six months earlier, in June, but since there were so few eligible for the Spring ' 37 class, the graduation exercises were not held. These students came back in De- cember to graduate with the Fall ' 37 class. There were three girls and two boys in the first official graduating class: Marjorie Astredo, who had entered the school at its opening; Lois Samuel, Washington ' s first vice-president and one of the originators of the Girls ' Service Society; Frank Hultman, Tod Saylor, and Eleanor Worken. During the Fall ' 37 term the Senior Advisory Board was established, and the Senior-Soph Reception, which is now so popular, was first held in the school library. On November 23, 1937, the Senior Luncheon was held in the school ' s cafeteria. December 11, was the date of the Senior Dance, now known as the Farewell Dance. MURALS Over 1,300 square feet of murals, scenes depicting phases in the life of George Washing- ton, cover the walls of the lobby. Victor Arnautoff, painter of these murals, did much research Original architect ' s model of George Wash- ington High School; Timothy L. was architect.

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Former Assistant- Principals For Girls MISS EDITH PENCE, 1936-1939 A graduate of Lowell High and the University of California, Miss Edith Pence came to Washington when it opened and filled the position of Dean of Girls. Previous experience in her teaching career was acquired at Lowell, Polytechnic and Galileo High Schools and San Francisco City College, at the time called San Francisco Junior College, as Assistant Dean. She served as Director of Curriculum for five years after leaving Washington and then became the only woman principal of a San Francisco public high school at Girls ' High and later at Lowell High. MISS ELEANOR PARSONS, 1951-1952 Miss Eleanor Parsons graduated from Alameda High School and the University of California. She taught in Marin County and Continuation. After coming to George Washington in 1936 she taught in the English and Commercial Departments and then became Head Counselor. She was the California Scholarship Federation sponsor until Fall of 1951, when she took Miss Jackson ' s place as Dean of Girls. MISS ELEANOR M. JACKSON, 1939-1951 Miss Eleanor M. Jackson, after graduating from Los Angeles High School and the University of California, taught English and Latin at Galileo. In 1936 she transferred to Washington High where she again taught these subjects. When Miss Pence left in 1939, Miss Jackson was promoted to Dean of Girls. MISS MYRA GREEN. 1952-1956 Miss Mryra Green, who came to George Washington in 1952, devoted timeless energy and many years to the education and development of young minds. For 46 years she taught in California schools. Various positions she held included: Head Counselor at Continuation Senior High, Assistant Principal at Continuation Senior High, and Assistant Principal and Dean of Girls at George Washington Senior High. Miss Parsons became vice-principal when Miss Green retired.

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before starting the work to get the color and feeling of George Washington and the days in which he lived. The murals are done in what the artist calls earth colors, which are made from oxides. For instance, green is made from chrome, red from iron, and black from coal. The base of murals is lime, a very ancient method of mural work. George Harris and Gorden Langdon were the artists who assisted Mr. Arnautoff. Since murals have, to be painted on a wet surface, Mr. Arnautoff had to follow right behind the plasterers, and a scene, once begun had to be completed that same day, in order that the walls did not dry. Carpenters and plasterers worked all around the building, while Mr. Arnautoff was high above on a scaffold. The artist was so rushed for time that he had to improvise as he was painting. Covering about nine feet of wall a day, he sometimes worked from ten to twelve hours a day to finish a given section. The murals took ten months to complete; ironically, the school was not opened until a full year later. STUDENT GOVERNMENT As in any well-organized government, George Washington High School has its written laws vested in a constitution. The completed constitution was adopted in 1941. Under this constitution, the student body offices of president, vice-president, secre- tary, treasurer, custodian, athletic manager, and yell leader were created. Recently established, the office of second vice-president was recorded in the constitutional amendments. The Principal ' s Cabinet, an advisory board to the principal, and the Student Council, the legislative branch of the school, were also created. The Student Council consists of the elected class officers, plus necessary representatives to make the total representation six for each class. The constitution may be amended by proposal and two-thirds vote of the Student Council, and the majority vote of the members of the George Washington High School. WAR EFFORT, SERVICEMEN, PTA George Washington High School students, as one of their first contributions to the war effort, bought a bomber. Other activities, while not so momentous, were carried on faithfully and successfully by those who were too young to fight. Washingtonians procured blood donors for the Red Cross (some students donated blood themselves); they learned first aid and home nursing; they collected clothes, food, and tin cans; they bought war bonds and stamps, and sold them to others; Washington students graduated and went into the armed forces; the girls became nurses; and when the war ended, they did not cease their efforts to help stricke n people in all parts of the world. Fifty-five servicemen who at some time had attended George Washington High School were killed in World War II. On all the war fronts, in all branches of the service, Wash- ingtonians, 1,700 of them to be exact, fought for their country. And fifty-five, in losing the personal side of that fight, helped assure the real cause — and gave their lives for the freedom of the people of the United States of America. WASHINGTON ' S COAT OF ARMS General George Washington ' s Coat of Arms has been adopted by his name-sake school as its official seal. It is used on official letters and documents and on the school book covers. A full color sketch hangs in the principal ' s office.