Glen Nor High School - Chieftain Yearbook (Glenolden, PA)

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HISTORY OF GLEN-NOR FOUNDING jk little more than a decade ago a meeting was held by several citizens of the boroughs of Glcnoldcn and Norwood to discuss the idea of building X JL a school house on the vacant lot up on the hill. I he outcome was an agreement between the Glcnoldcn and Norwood School Districts, to erect a new high school that should carry on under the name “Glen-Nor. I hose who signed the document were; Glcnoldcn Board—! rank II. Roberts, Ilarold E. Allmang, Edna May Child. Lawrence Coxe. and J. Lamont Stewart; Norwood Board— Robert Lewis, S. C. Wright, Clarence Duke. Daniel Englchart, and J. Oscar Howarth. Plans and work on the new school soon got under way. and on May 20. 1922, the corner-stone was laid. From that time on, the day of completion loomed steadily nearer, and on April 3, 1923, the first sessions of school were held in the new building. The devotional exercises were led by Mr. Lewis, Vice-President of the new school board. Glen-Nor had weighed anchor. GROWTH Soon after Glen-Nor was founded, the Board of Education turned in search of various means by which the high school and its surroundings could be improved and beautified. In 1925 a fence was built around the athletic field, and in the early spring of the next year a driveway was laid in front of the building. Due to the rapid increase in the enrollment, from 302 at the end of the first year to 484 in 1926, the construction of a new wing was seriously considered. During the summer of 1927, this new section was added, and none too soon, for the enrollment soared to 555 during the ensuing term. Now, this building, with its new addition, has proved to be too small, as the present enrollment has reached the height of 612. Up till 1930. the pupils had either to go home for their dinner, or to eat a home-made lunch on the seats of the gymnasium. With the continual increase in the number of students, it became necessary to install a cafeteria. This was built on the site of the old gymnasium in June, 1930. A new gymnasium was then erected, a separate building, with all the latest equipment and a standard basket-ball court. Not only was growth realized in the building itself, but also in the departments of the school. A striking change can be seen in the Commercial Department. 'I cn years ago the meager courses in bookkeeping and typing were taught in one room with very little equipment. Today, each subject is taught in a separate room, under the instruction of three teachers. The old tables have been replaced by -«II »-

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thirty drop typewriting desks, and rhythm is taught by the Victrola. Instead of the I itman method of teaching shorthand, the Gregg method is now being used. In bookkeeping the equation method has supplanted the old account system. For the last two years, this department has taken charge of the Activities Bank and in this way a more practical education is provided. From a course restricted to cooking and sewing, the Practical Arts Depart- ment has grown to cover a vast field. Everything is taught pertaining to home life. Clothing, food study, child care, house planning and furnishing, home management and family relationship arc now part of the curriculum. A private first aid room has been installed and will be also utilized for practical demon- strations of home planning. Much progress has been made in Health Education in the last few years. A new gymnasium with bars, mats, horses, and all the latest apparatus has taken the place of the little old box with its scanty equipment. Two full-time directors manage the work formerly handled by part-time instructors. A great future can be seen in athletics. Plans have been drawn up for a permanent gridiron, girls’ hockey field, tennis courts, cinder paths, and concrete bleachers. Both the boys’ and the girls’ athletic teams are now members of the Philadelphia Suburban League. One of the most complete changes has been wrought in the library. In 1930 and 1931 the library of Glen-Nor was reorganized and a full-time librarian was employed. The books, 2274 volumes, were classified and catalogued under the Dewey Decimal System. A card catalogue, which is a title, subject, author, and analytic index to all the books, is in the progress of completion. This will thoroughly index and serve as a key to the resources of the library. An alphabetic subject file, containing pamphlets, clippings, and pictures most valuable as reference material, has also been compiled. One of the latest features is library instruction, given to the seventh, eighth, and ninth grades twice a month, to cultivate resourcefulness, an intelligent use of books, and to make school work easier and more interesting. Thus, this adds a fitting climax to a decade of growth and development. ACHIEVEMENT Glen-Nor now offers four courses which lead to graduation and aid in preparation for the future. I wo courses are given to those who anticipate entering college; the College Preparatory, and the College Technical Course. The former offers the required subjects and the necessary units for college entrance. The technical course prepares for entrance to engineering and technical schools, and offers a maximum number of units in mathematics, language, and science. The commercial course supplies training in related subjects—stenography, typewriting, business law, but it will not admit students to college. For those who may be uncertain of their future intentions and wish only a high school education, the General Course allows a broad selection of subjects, and does not require language study for graduation. 12 )►-