James Monroe High School - Echo Yearbook (Fredericksburg, VA)

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-patsi Tt class £ §r 48

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Seated, left to right: Mrs. Mildred Chick, Dramatics; Mrs. Beth Brent, English; Miss Grace Larkin, Commerce; Mrs. Wilma Hester, Commerce; Mrs. Lorena Neill, Visiting Teacher; Mrs. Fleda Beable, English; Mrs. Emma Euliss, Science. Standing : Mr. Bruce Neill, Diversified Occupations; Mr. J. F. Dahlgren, French; Miss Mildred Lapsley, Sci¬ ence; Mr. C. W. Miller, Supervisor; Mr. Gilbert Latham, Band. HIGH SCHOOL FACULTY Seated, left to right Mrs. Josephine Mills, Physical Education; Mrs. Kate Keckler, Mathematics; Misc Erne- line Stearns, History; Mrs. Elsie Allison, English; Mrs. Lucibel Shull, Mathematics; Mrs. Audrey Godfrey, Home Economics. Standing: Mr. William Talbott, Assistant Principal; Mr. John Fenlon, Physical Education; Mrs. Jane Travis, Distributive Educatio n; Mrs. Elizabeth Broughton, History; Miss Margaret Rowell, Music; Mr. Walter Wholey, Physical Education; Mr. Arthur Schwartz, Industrial Arts.

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CLASS HISTORY Bi Betty Jean Jefferson Have you ever turned your thoughts to memories of the past? If so, perhaps you can visualize the happenings of the Class of 1948, which I am going to relate to you. The history of this class is so dramatic and unusual that it resembles a play—not the regular plays which are given, but a very special play which could have happened only once. This play, which is entitled “The Class of 1948,” is in four acts and includes three brief intermissions. It is written by the actors as they play their parts under the direction of Mr. Guy H. Brown, the principal, and a very com¬ petent faculty. It is produced by the Board of Education, with the cooperation of the taxpayers of Virginia. All the scenes take place in the high school building in classrooms, the gymnasium, the auditorium and storied halls. The curtain rises on a September morning four years ago. A number of dark forms are observed sneaking toward the direction of the high school build¬ ing. They are the students who constitute the Freshman Class. Their first action is the election of class officers. After much thought, Bobby Thurston is elected President, and John Shaner, Vice-President. Ward Jones is elected Secretary- Treasurer. Finally, the Freshmen overcome their timidness and begin concentrating on their work. At this point, the villain Study enters the scene and interferes with the happiness and freedom of the students. They in turn encounter Study’s brother Examinations, who discourages them to no end at the close of the semester. It seems that during this period there is another villain who is threatening the world. His name is War, and in order to defeat him the Freshmen dive wholeheartedly into the sale of war bonds. In connection with this sale, a Victory Queen and a Victory King contest is held with Freshmen participating. The coronation ball, after the contest, brings forth many Freshmen in their formal attire. For most of them, it is their first dance; so the aiir is full of excitemen t. Still another event takes place. This time it is a mock election. Most of the school participates, with the exception of a few who cannot afford the high poll tax—a penny. The curtain falls on the first act, and an intermission of three months follows. The actors rest for the second act, which, they are told, is even harder than the first. Act II begins with the same actors in the same place, but with a little more knowledge and a higher rank, for they are now known as Sophomores. A few of the actors are not present, as they were unable to conquer the villain Examina¬ tions. The Sophomores seem to possess poise and a feeling of security, which is noticeably lacking in Act I. Many clubs are formed with Sophomores, and everyone receives a chance to talk over the radio on the program, “Your Schools on the Air. ” The Sophomores become acquainted with three “joys” which, as we observe in the last act of the play, take up a great deal of their leisure time. These “joys” are better known as football, basketball, and baseball. The actors overexert themselves at “pep rallies.” Following these events most of them are unable to talk, and they utter peculiar sounds. Not all these sounds can be blamed on the “pep rallies,” for it seems that the actors have discovered French and I 8 h