Hancock Central High School - Echoes Yearbook (Hancock, MI)

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ETUETUEILIEKUFIUEIUETLIEILIEILIE' ILIEIUEILIEILIEILIETUEFUEILVLETUETUEHJEILIEMEH ':l'UE'l'UElUEI'LlElUEll.lEFl.IElUEIUElUEg E HAN-CEN-Hl'23 5 E UElUEI'UEll.IElUElUEllJElUEfUE'g llllltlltltlllll THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL. Anna Ojala. ased upon the principles of freedom and democracy, no other American institution conducive to our country's welfare has equaled in ac- complishment thc great American tri- umph-our public school. Fortunate, indeed, is the community which pos- sesses this vital factor of modern civil- ization in its most highly developed form. And thrice fortunate the com- munity which possesses citizens of such calibre that they will have it in spite of obstacles-men and women who have, patiently and persistently, fought against such stupendous opposition as poverty, and indifference, and bitter antagonism. Yet such a community is ours, and such splendid citizens are, praise heaven, in the majority. The growth and development of the Hancock public schools, has been very interesting. From 1869 to 1875 classes were conducted in a building that still stands on the corner of Franklin Street and the driveway to Quincy. In 1875 was erected the building that we lost in the recent fire. The location at that time was at the extreme west of the community. The classes were conduct- ed in eight departments, including the high school, and eight teachers were employed. In 1883 there were 400 pupils. From time to time additions Page Tu'e11ty-eight were made to this building, and three others were constructed, namely, the Central Primary, the Edward Ryan, and the E. L. Wright schools. The en- rollment now is about fifteen hundred and the teaching staff consists of fifty persons. Under crowded conditions Hancock has endeavored to offer as many complete courses in all lines as possible. Since 1910, the need of a new high school building in Hancock has been most urgent. The bond issue for a new school was presented to the voters on four occasions: first in 1914, second in 1916, and twice in 1922. The first issue, coming during a period of depression in the Copper Country, did not meet with the approval of the taxpayers. Again, in 1916, the school board re- ceived sufficient encouragement and support from the citizens to have it voted upon. But as before the voters of Hancock felt that conditions were not favorable for increased taxation. On July 25, 1922, the Hancock Central High School was completely destroyed by fire. Temporary quarters were pro- vided at the Verville factory, but it was understood that they were in no sense permanent. The dream of a new high school building seemed about to be realized at last, for what had long been merely a most desirable possibility be-

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HAN-CEN-HI '23 ElJElLlElLlElLIElLlElLIElLI'El'I.I'ElLIE'EIUEWEIUEWEWENENEJUENEWEWEIUEWEWEIUEWEJUEIUEIUEWQHIEIUEWEIU al mental ability which will be of a great help in carrying you successfully through your Senior Year. To the Sophomores we bequeath the possibility of being the first class to graduate from the New High Shcool. Upon the Freshmen, we bestow the sole right to receive High School diplo- mas in 1926. Unto the Faculty, we bequeath the classes that follow after us. If we were a less illustrious class, we would have more hope of their showing the same wonderful brilliance and exemplary behavior as we have during our High School career, but we hope that they will show at least a slight resemblance to us in these respects. Also whatsoever of our possessions are not here-in, or otherwise, disposed of, we leave to the faculty, knowing they will be of incommensurable lvalue to them. In witness whereof, we have herewith set our hand and seal, this twentieth day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and twenty- three. Members of the Class of 1923. Nina A. Ley. pp spina xv ' ' ff Page Twenty-seven

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E IUEMEILFEIUEMEIUEIUEMEMEMEMEMEMEMETUEMEMEMEIUEMEMEMETLIEMEUEHJERIEHJEIUEFLIEMEIUEIUEIE HAN-CEN-HI'23 5 IlJEFUEIUEIUEIUElUEILIEfUEiLIE MEMEMEREMEIUEMEMEMEMEFLIEMEIUEMEMEMEHJEMEMEMEMEMEMEMEE came now an absolute necessity. Hence the third bond issue was inevitable. But, incredible as it may seem, on October 24, 1922, as twice before, the bond issue for a new high school was rejected, this time however by a very small majority, the vote being three hundred fifteen in favor and three hundred twenty-one opposed. As before, the main argument of the opposition was that the additional tax- ation would prove a burden, and, un- fortunately, there was a considerable number of taxpayers who were wrongly informed as to the actual increase. Others maintained that a building such as proposed was too elaborate for our needs. But, as we all know, we have, in our own state many towns ap- proximately the size of Hancock which have school buildings of the type pro- posed. It was not a fanciful plan of the Hancock school board, rather one that will meet the demands we have so long felt and will bring about results that we have always desired. Objections were made to building on the present site the protest being that there was not enough playground space and that it was on our main and noisi- est street. But high school students have their recreations in the gym- nasium and their outdoor sports re- quire fields such as it would be im- possible to have adjoining the hi h school building. The noise is entirciy eliminated by modern architecture. There is no doubt but that for years to come this site will be the most central for a high school. The board of education, realizing that a delay of even a day was a vital loss, with renewed efforts and with unselfish sacrifice of their time, again had the bond issue before the public on November 9, 1922. A most memorable day for Hancock! For then the tax- payers granted the bond issue of S275,000 and this, together with 883,- 000 insurance, assured Hancock of a new high school building. But we still had unlooked for dif- ficulties to cope with. An injunction was feared, and the matter was taken to the supreme court in Lansing, where the bonds were legally aproved. With the school board in possession of the bonds, and all obstacles seemingly over- come, Hancock experienced another serious fire and the bonds were partially destroyed. There was then further de- lay till a new edition was issued. Now, with the bonds sold and the money on hand, the construction is rapidly pro- gressing, and another year will doubt- less see the long cherished dream a reality. Our new structure will be most modern in every respect, and will be of sufficient size to take care of Hancock's needs for a considerable time. The vocational courses which thus far have been conducted on a very limited scale and which present con- ditions absolutely demand, have been adequately provided for. As an asset to the city of Hancock and to her future students such a high school building will be of inestimable worth. It will meet the demand for a community center. The increased valuation of real estate will show, in actual dollars and cents, what a school building of this type can contribute to a community. With the spread and growth of the ideas of democracy and the resulting awakening to social problems, we have realized that everyone, regardless of the class to which he happens to belong, has a right to demand an education which shall meet his needs, and for its own sake the state or community must supply this demand. The public school aims to give a training that will make successful and valuable citizens, strong physically and morally, possessing the right attitude toward the state and to- ward their fellow-beings, and enabling them to control their material environ- ment enough to be economically in- dependent. As is very evident, students not completing a high school course increase their earning capacity much more slowly, and reach their maximum at a much lower level, then those who graduate. Invariably the loss, both to Page Twenty-m'ne