Griffin High School - Aerie Yearbook (Griffin, GA)

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fg 'tn-i'Si '1, e- -., ,. , 1 --f 'es so Historical .94 The Sam Bailey building, which was erected by the trus- tees of the Griffin Male institute, was used to house the first public high school in Grifnn. At this time there was only one teacher in the high school dpeartment. The class of 1892 was the first to be graduated from the old high school tthe building now occupied by the seventh gradej. From 1895 to 1899 this building was used successively by the Alhambra Normal university and the Charles M. Neel institute. In 1899 the Board of Education assumed control of the high school again. Many important changes took place in our high school during the first fifteen years of the twentieth century, the most important, perhaps, being the change from a three- year school to a standard four-year school. The class that was graduated in 1911 was the first class to spend four years in the school. In 1909-10-11 G. H. S. put on the field athletic teams the equal of any in the state. Another one of the important changes which took place during this period was the increase in the number of boys in the school. The class of 1900 contained only one boy, while the class of the following year had eight girls and no boys. But by 1915 we find the ratio between the number of boys and girls about even. The history of the Griffin High school during the past ten years is one of constant development and improvement. In 1916 the school had four teachers and 175 pupils. This year the enrollment is 380, and there are 16 members of the faculty. The year 1916 was the last spent in the old high school building. In the fall of 1917 the school moved into the handsome building now occupied. The building then seemed too large for Griffin, as there was an enrollment of only 175 pupils with facil- ities for 250. But a.ready the school has proved inadequate for the enrollment, which has averaged 260 for the last five years. The year 1916, too, saw the birth of the Spotlight, the Griffin annual. A group of earnest seniors, assisted by associate editors from the different grades, worked untiringly to make the first issue of the Spotlight a success. The annual has grown until it has become one of the best put out by any high school in the state, and it is a most im- portant part of high school life. By 1916 athletics was slowly coming into prominence at the high school, and Griffin was beginning to put out teams that were known and feared over the state. The girls started a basketball team and the boys took renewed interest in football, bas- ketball, baseball, and track. In 1921 the boys and girls entered the Co-Ed league in Atlanta, the boys winning the basketball pennant that year. A year later the school entered the G. I. A. A. In 1923 the Board of Education erected the Atheltic court, which has been a most important factor in the athletic life of the school. In this P1 P Twel 55 r 'lxfNf :QI V0 ' ' D9ESik ' I if N S L' ra r-f-1 .--Q-T -me-1 .-v-1 g xg V7 il f WM'

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fzl L., W . '2., 1..- -I- A T athletic court in both 1923 1924 Griffin was host to the of the G. I. A. A. for the basketball tournament, thus advertising Griffin over the state. In 1916 J. A. jones was intendent of the Griffin and C. B. Mathews was principal of the high school. Mr. jones was superintendent until 1925, when he was succeeded by L. M. Lester, who continues his efficient work here. Mr. Mathews was succeeded by Theo. Rumble, and since that time the principals have been, in the order named: Forest Cumming, 1920-22, R. Berry, 1922-24, and R. Byrd, 1924-27. In 1917, when the school moved into the new building, the home economics depart- ment was added. In 1921 the Commerce department became a part of the curricu- lum, rounding out the splendid education that is offered to Griffin children of high school age. In 1916 the enrollment of the senior class was 18. This year it is about 70. The largest class of graduates ever turned out by the high school was that of 1926, which numbered 62. In the fall of 1919 the Demosthenian and the Athenian literary societies were first organized. The intense rivalry between these societies has been one of the most inter- esting things in the high school for the past few years. The societies give debates each spring and fall term and programs during the year. A cup is awarded the society making the most points, so the rivalry is unusually intense and has added much color to high school days. In 1924 an R. O. T. C. unit was organized at G. H. S., in charge of Col. F. Ii. Wilson. This organization has grown steadily in its efflciency and popularity. In 1925 the first issue of the High Light, the high school newspaper, made its ap- pearance. This has been a most successful periodical, and the teachers who assist the students in its publication are deserving of great credit. The class of '27 was the first to wear the standardized rings. To the student body of last year is awarded the honor of having selected the school motto, Sound health, broad scholarship, sterling character. Griffin High is a member of the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary schools. Our graduates can enter practically any college in the country without exam- ination. We are proud of the history of G. H. S., and proud of the progress that has been made, for the present and future history depends upon past history. Page Thirteen JL fflf'zsc I S ?-'XII-152:-g 1:-1' . , 'I ' ' '!tA'9XI1