High School of Commerce - Caravel Yearbook (New York, NY)

Page 22 text:

c0MMERcE YEAR B0014, 1912 When the school year began in Sepfembelk 1904, COYTIITICYCC Was a fully developed school, in June it sent out its first graduating class, and the class immediately formed an Alumni ASSOCi2l'fi0U, which WHS en- larged by the February class, and has been well supported ever since. Inside the school two new societies were formed, the Chess Club and the Dramatic Society, both of which made very promising beginnings. In athletics the school was also prosperous, especially in the case of the rifle team, which became the proud possessor of a sub-target gun presented by General Wingate. It was in 1906, however, that athletics were especially successful. The football team of that year won undisputed claim to the high school football championship of the East. The basketball team defeated all its opponents in the league, and was tied with Boys' High for the championship. This year also marked the formation of the Camera Club, the Tennis Club, and the German singing societity, Fidelitas. The Dramatic Society produced a play in Berkeley Lyceum Theatre, which was so successful that, although entitled For One Night Qnly, it ran for two nights, the proceeds of the second presentation being donated to the fund for the survivors of the San Francisco Fire. 1907 marked not only the fifth year of the school's existence, but also the beginning of the Commerce Cara1JeZ,'which was the result of a desire felt by many of the students of the school for a publication that would keep a permanent record of the minor events in the school's activities that could not be treated in the YEAR BOOK., This book, on its part, had developed in five yearsinto a handsome cloth-bound volume , and in 1907 the graduating class published the largest edition up to the present: a book of about 168 pages. The year 1908 started a new era for the High School of Commerce. It marked the organization of the Commercial Club, the Strollers, and the Chem- istry Club. The school was especially pleased li not from any selfish motivesj by the appointment of Dr. James Sullivan as Principal' of the Brooklyn. Boys' High School. In 1910 the faculty suffered the loss of another of their number by the same route, the appointmentof Dr. John' L. Tildsley as Principal of De Witt Clinton High School. g Within the last few years Commerce has broadened out in all spheres of work. The organizations have multiplied and increased in size, the Athletic Association has never been so successful as in the last two or three years, the Commerce Carafvel has been named the best high school monthly in the United States, the faculty has increased to a present total of about 90, while the student body now numbers nearly 2500. This large increase in the register has resulted in the formation, in February, 1912, under the supervision of Dr. Alfred C. Bryan, of an Annex in the same building in which Commerce started its career ten years ago. D Let us hope Commerce will continue its efforts, and that the history of its second decade may be even more illustrious than its first. 18

Page 21 text:

QUMlXfl.liRClQ YEAR BO0K,1912 TEN YEARS CF CQMMERCE HISTQRY T is now ten years since the High School ofCommerce started on its eventful career, and there is no doubt that these ten years have justified the Board of Education in forming it. Beginning in 1902 with a total register of 650 students, the school has grown so rapidly that the building which in 1903 was considered far too large for such a small register is now too small to hold the register of 2500. In 1902 the idea was conceived of forming a high school that should prepare young men not only to become efficient stenographers and book- keepers, but also to assume the responsibilities attendant upon the management of big business concerns. With this end in view the Board of Education established, in September, 1902, the New York High School of Commerce-the Hrst high school of its kind in the country. Dr. James Sheppard, head of the History department of De Witt Clinton High School, was placed in charge of the 650 students and 28 teachers that claimed the top floor of PI S. 67, at 46th St. and Broadway, for their home. . The majority of the students, as well as of the faculty, had come from De VVitt Clinton, yet, -as soon as the school had settled down to work, an antagonism toward Clinton was developed which still exists. Commerce Spirit sprang up like mushrooms in the night. Two literary societies were immediately' formed: the Carnegie and the Webster. When the school as a result of its rapid growth, sent a portion of its students to a building in 52nd Street, near 2nd Avenue, the Webster immediately established an annex in that building. ' In athletics, too, the students were all enthusiasm. The school had no sooner begun work than a football team was formed, then a basketball team, a track and a baseball team, all under the guidance of the Athletic Asso- ciation. 1 , 5 When the school year was nearly over the upper termers established the precedent which is responsible for this volume: the publication of a year book. It was a modest little volume, that first year book, about the size of the present-day Caravel, but it served its purpose well. 1 In September, 1903, the High School of Commerce began the second year of its existence in the present building in 65th Street. The students were for a long time severely handicapped by a lack of proper .working facilities, but they were nevertheless proud of their new home. The activity in the school continued, two language clubs were formed: the Cercle Francais and the Deutscher Verein, and as the membership of the literary societies was increasing too rapidly, the Junior and the Senior Literary Societies were organized. ln this year, too, a Glee Club was formed, which won much praise throughout the school. A 1 7

Page 23 text:

' .4 in W! A, P 5 ,..f 1 a 4 ? 1 'vi .324 4 for 'N ,U V.,-B., 1 gy 5 nw V1 .Af M ' .,,r, 2,1 .L 'Elf fid 91 .M iv? 'ami -lr mxdll 1 Ari-5 pig!! aw .J za '11 M75 :ht 'fxfff , 2 K., rgffii' y ill- , frat 4,111 wilt! Ju! COMMERCE YEAR 120014, 1912 TI-IE STCDRY QF TI-IE YEAR FTER a long, lazy summer vacation, about 2-IOO students entered Commerce feeling Ht for work, and the majority happy that school ' P had commenced. Among the number came a small army of freshmen, somewhat awed by the stories of initiation told them by the upper-termers. Work was started with a vim, and it was not long before the regular routine was in operation. In February our school proved to be so popular among the elementary school graduates that it was impossible for the main building to handle the deluge of new pupils, and an Annex under the direction of Dr. Bryan took care of the overflow. The total enrollment was 2500, an in- crease of 600 over that of the preceding February. During the school year athletics were generously supported by the student body and the teams representing the differentsports were especially successful. Organizations were well sustained and a number of old ones brought to life. A new publication, The Hand Book, edited by Dr. Walker, made its appearance during the year 5 the edition sold so well that it promises to. become a permanent feature. j T As usual, ,Friday assemblies were made interesting by the visits of notable men who spoke to the school on various subjects. Among the speakers may be mentioned Dr. John L. Elliot of the Ethical Culture School, Mr. Dwight W. Edwards, who is well acquainted with conditions in China, Dr. John P. Peters of St. Michael's Church, Zaung Teh Ing of Peking, China, and John N. Greer of the Central High School, Minnesota.. A one-act play, lVIiss Civilization, given by the Dramatic Society, and the monthly con- certs rendered by the orchestra, were additional attractions which made Friday afternoon something to look forward to. U I ,The increase in the size of the school warranted a like increase in the faculty, and about twenty new instructors were added to the teaching force, the majority of them going to the Annex. The 'plan of having an assembly for the upper-termers on Monday morning was abolished and instead they are allowed a study period. This year the system of coaching classes came into general use, and everything possible is done to make the backward boy improve in his lessons. I ' The year 1911-1912 hasproved to be a banner one in the history of Commerce, and if future years witness as great an improvement in the activity and life of the school, we may feel sure that the good 'ship Commerce will continue to sail bravely on. . 19