Jefferson High School - Alexian Yearbook (Alexandria, MN)

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STUDENT LIFE 4

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The classes were conducted in recitation rooms or in the assembly. At the end of each school day the students marched out row by row accompanied by piano music. School salaries were very low. The superintendent received a salary of $1500 a year. A budget wasn’t even in existence; $1100 had to be borrowed from the Treasurer and the Clerk of the school board to pay for teacher wages. The first commencement exercises were held in 1887 in the Brown Opera House. There were seven members in the graduating class. Each graduate had to write an essay and deliver it at the exercises. The Baccelaureate service was conducted in the original Congregational church. The Jefferson building where approximately 975 stu- dents attend high school. Inside the main entrance are the ad- ministrative offices. Every school day Jefferson students fill the modern hallways. Superintendent A.D. Gaines coached the first football team. Practice was held on the west lawn of the school, and the games were played at the fair grounds. There were no interscholastic games, only intermural games. Neither basketball nor baseball were played. The orchestra consisted of five or six members. It played for school entertainments and ocmmen- cement exercises. Declam and debate were all-school contests, not inter-class. The class plays were not a part of the extra-curricular activities, but various en- tertainments were given to raise funds. Most of the entertainments were either dramatic skits or farces. All the students belonged to the Philomathean Society, a literary club. It's easy to forget our heritage, yet valu- able to reflect on the changes that have taken place in our school since its crude beginning. Perhaps looking back gives us a sense of perspective. Hopefully this per- spective helps each of us to face and shape the future. 3

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STUDENT LIFE 1 1