Grimsley High School - Whirligig Yearbook (Greensboro, NC)

Page 33 text:

Class History N 1915 there goes forth from the Greensboro High School a class which is unusual in many respects. First, this is the first das.-; which has attended the four years of High School life in the pres¬ ent building on Spring Street, it was the first Eighth grade to be in that building. Second: This class has always been noted for its originality and class spirit, which it has manifested on many occasions. Therefore, is it not well that they should leave behind them a history of their achievements, in order that the coming generations mav read therein, and “copy their virtues bold?” In September, 1911, the High School building on Spring Street was opened for the first time to students. Of the many girls and boys that thronged the yard, waiting for the doors to be opened, the majority seemed to he Eighth Graders. When the bell finally rang, the students poured into the various rooms. A good many of the Eighth Grade pupils crowded into the first room they came to and found themselves in Miss Howard’s room, others were attracted by Miss Sum- merell ' s smiling face, while still others went into Mr. Flick’s room. How new and strange eyerything seemed! To learn Latin and Algebra seemed almost impossible, and it was most confusing to change teachers every period. Most of the pupils felt too “new” to be very bad. Nevertheless, several bright days a crowd of Eighth Grade girls slipped through a hole in the fence and ran down into College Branch Meadow where they spent the recess hour peacefully in some mossy dell, feeling that they were “most blood-thirsty law breakers.” After tin first “Bi-monthlies,” several boys from the Ninth Grade joined the Eighth Grade. After that there was something continually “doing.” The bri ' liant remarks and daring insolence of these new members delighted the hearts of the more timid, in whose eyes the new comers were real heroes. In the spring of that year, the Eighth Grade History teacher was unfortunately taken ill and had to leave, and during the few weeks that followed her departure the class had six History teachers. When school opened the following year the Ninth Grade was much .smaller than the Eighth Grade had been. Several had failed on their Final Examinations, and many had not returned, so there were only two Ninth Grade rooms Mis-, Sutton’s and Miss Jordan ' s. It was a most delightful sensation to feel that there was somebody at the High School in a lower class, and when the Ninth Grade pupils actually joined tin Literary Societies several heads expanded wonderfully. This Ninth Grade, strange to say. had the reputation of being a class of hard rases: so about Christmas time when several fire crackers, in some mysterious wav. went oft on the play ground the Ninth Grade boys were suspected. Sad to say thc were found guilty and the school was entertained several mornings by hearing the apologies of the culprits for their outrageous behaviour. 20

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Class Day Program 1. MUSIC—Instrumental Trio— May Day Dance” Rathbun Misses Van oppen, Shelton, and Mr. West 2. ADDRESS OF WELCOME John McAlister 3. HISTORY Adelaide Van Xoppen 4. ORATION—“Choosing a Profession” Gordon Hunter 5. MUSIC—Double Trio—“Merrily Over the Ocean Wave” Misses Van Xoppen, Foust, Rees, Shelton, Stout, and Callum 6. POEM Kirk Cai.lum 7. PROPHECY Elleijre Broadnax 8. LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT Mary Rees 9. CLASS SONG Kirk Callum 28

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Much interest was aroused over a Daily Paper — “The Star,” which gave in detail all the probable and improbable actions of the Ninth Graders. In spite of deeds before and after, the climax in the career of the class of 1915 was reached in the Tenth Grade. There the free spirit of the two Ninth Grade rooms was combined to make the independent spirit of the Tenth Grade with Mr. A. R. Williams teacher. One morning the fair members of the Tenth Grade attracted a great deal of attention by appearing at school with beauty spots decidedly in evidence. The boys, envying the success of the girls, put court plaster over their teeth and for a while the Tenth Grade looked like a Vaudeville Show. When feeling ran high over the Mexican situation, the brave boys of the Tenth Grade banded themselves into an army of volunteers known as the Tenth Legion. Led by Commander Bush and armed with ancient knives, swords and relics of muskets, this noble hand was seen every day drilling in the road in front of the school. As Spring came, for various reasons the talking in the Tenth Grade increased until Mr. Williams made a law that there should be no speaking from 8:55 to 9:15 a. m. Now many of the Tenth Graders only reached school about 8:54, and their only time to he sociable was the next twenty minutes. Therefore a great protest was raised. The pupils argued and argued, but of no avail, for Mr. Williams was unchanging. One bright morning the hands of the clock slowly approached nine, but there was not a pupil in the Tenth Grade room. At last, about two minutes of nine the tramp, tramp of many feet echoed down the High. School halls and the Tenth Grade, having talked until the last minute, took their seats as the last bell rang. “ Caesar,” who had long been the companion of the I atin students, was now abandoned in favor of Cicero. Before giving up their old “stand bv” the boys had an elaborate funeral over the remains. Several eloquent eulogies were made, flowers were placed on the grave and amid wheeping the members of the Tenth Legion marched away. Thus the spring wore on. The Tenth grade was formally organized, selected its colors, flower and everything except the motto. After much planning and work the class then entertained the Seniors in a reception which passed off ad¬ mirably. Final examinations came and went and the last day of school arrived. That bright morning about six of the Tenth Legion soldiers marched into the room most wonderfully attired in overalls, bandanna handkerchiefs and large straw hats. It happened that Principal Williams did not fully appreciate the glory of their cos¬ tumes, so they were sent home, while feeling ran high in grade ten. September 14, 1914, was an eventful day in the history of the class of 1915. for on that day this class formally became Seniors, with the honor of occupying the Senior room. How pitiful the Senior class looked in comparison with the Tenth Grade of the year before! Of all that noble class only sixteen passed the 10th grade work and became Seniors. Nevertheless the same liberty loving spirit