Lancaster High School - Mirage Yearbook (Lancaster, OH)

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THE ADMINISTRATION SETS THE BOARD MEETS Mr. T. L. Hewetson, Mr. Clarence Ochs, Mr. Har- old Brandon, Mr. Arthur Vlerebome, Mr. Edgar L. Campbell, and Supt. Paul Wenger. Dr. Thom- as Ashton is not in the picture. Superintendent Wenger reports graph- ically how the Board of Education has met the war emergency: “On December 7, 1941, our nation passed from a period of peace and apparent security into a period of war. Our people were not prepared spiritual- ly. physically, or materially to compete with nations that had followed a mili- taristic philosophy of national life. Our leaders had to urge greater produc- tivity, had to limit us in our wants, and had to assess taxes unheard of before in our nation’s history, before we fully realized the immensity and the import- ance of the conflict. The school pro- gram had to be adjusted to meet the new and greater demands incurred by the war. At the outset of the war there were many unemployed individuals, but they had to be trained in special skills before they could become valuable to industry. The school was one of the first agen- cies to provide facilities and leadership for training such individuals. School machine shops were used to train adults, both men and women. Where facilities were limited, the federal government furnished machines and training equip- ment for carrying on this program. The Lancaster Public Schools received equipment valued at §20,000. For sev- eral months this adult training program was in operation 24 hours per day. However, as industry was supplied with skilled machine operators, the number of trainees decreased, and the need for this program was diminished. The fully-equipped machine shop was also available for the training of high school boys. The Smith-Hughes Trades and Industries Program is now making full use of the machine shop. In a short time the boys in this department receive fundamental training which en- ables them to become valuable machine operators in industries. Many of the boys do such work after school hours and during vacation periods. The war period has also increased the need for skilled workers in other areas. There is a great demand for young peo- ple trained in commercial work. Ac- cordingly. the commercial work in our high school was emphasized and ex- panded. There is an unusual demand for young men in aviation. Therefore, Lancaster High School offers a pre-flight course and places much greater em- phasis on mathematics and the physical sciences. All the work of the schools in the war effort was not limited to the teach- ing of subjects. One of the largest tasks ever attempted by the federal govern- ment was the registration of every man. woman, and child, and the issuance of ration books to each individual. This work was assigned to the schools. The schools do their full share in car- rying on salvage drives for metal, pa- per, fats, and other items. House to house canvasses have been conducted by school children. Both employees and pupils of the Lancaster Puplic Schools have purchas- ed stamps and bonds regularly to assist the government. In addition to their own purchases pupils have carried on a systematic campaign to sell stamps and bonds to the general public. The board of education has contribut- ed to the total war effort by making school facilities and personnel available to the federal government, and by alter- ing curricular to meet the present de- mands.”

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Pvt. Ana C. Miesse, stationed at Washington, D. C., with the Second Signal Service Battalion of the W. A. C., was supervisor of art instruction in the Lancaster schools when she enlisted in 1943. Cpl. Newton C. Beal of the Army Air Corps is now with a Bomber Unit at Hamilton Field, California. He was the director of our choir and or- chestra, as well as supervisor of mus- ic the Lancaster schools. TEACHERS IN THE SERVICE

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THE PACE FOR OUR WAR EFFORT PRINCIPAL SCHAAF SAYS “HELLO” In one short year, Mr. Schaaf’s sin- cere interest in us and in our school activities has won the loyalty and friendship of Lancaster High School students and teachers. Despite the difficulty of beginning work in a new school without much time to get acquainted, he has met all situations with quiet efficiency and un- derstanding. Mr. Schaaf is kept busy sending rec- ords of students and alumni to colleges, industries, and Uncle Sam. Eight or ten inquiries are answered every week. And how these inquirers” stress high school preparation! Numerous boys in camp write to the office and to teachers who enjoy relay- ing the advice of these young soldiers and sailors to the students. Let us lis- ten in. From Fort Myers, Florida Strange as it may seem, a fellow must be fairly good in math to Are a machine gun. My advice to the student is study. I guess we can never learn too much.” From Fleet Service School, San Diego, California I’m going to gasoline and Diesel en- gine school. What you taught us about airplane motors really helps in this course about engines. How are your new classes coming in school? I was glad to hear that you have that motor for instruction.” that it was once a town where people lived, played, went to church, made their living, and where all that they ever had was invested. There is still lots of suffering for these people in the path of war; there is no food, no shel- ter, and no clothing for them. When you see it with your own eyes, your mind just stops. How can it ever be worked out and solved? I hope that you are all doing fine and things are going as well as they can under conditions as they are and must be at present. We are still a very very, lucky people.” Kj E ’ It From Selman Field, Louisiana This is really tough on the boys who didn’t learn much about physics or math in high school or college. They have to do so much studying and the day’s schedule is so full they just don't have time.” Fronkltaly By th time we get into a town there isn’t much left of it, and it doesn’t help one’syfeeling to look at it and realize From Seymour Johnson Field, North Carolina “I am surely glad I took the trades and industries course because it has surely helped me out in my airplane mechanics school, especially a good deal of algebra The phases of the work that I have finished are aircraft tools, aircraft construction, hydraulics, pro- pellors, engines, instruments, and igni- tion six more to go before I finish.” SECRETARY JEAN RADER OFFICIAL DETAIL ON FURLOUGH AT THE FAIR