Lansing Central High School - Oracle Yearbook (Lansing, MI)

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' 'll'Ji5t0YQ Of7Gl855 of '94 'f1,N.,.g.5i. ' NCE upon a time a child was born of poor but respectable parentage. The A I first twelve years of its life were fated to be one long, severe struggle. Its Q 1 i gray matter rapidly increased. Pieing endowed with robust lungs it was soon to be heard shouting, and givinggutterance to other strange sounds it ' fff' fx- which startled and astonished its parents. It was certainly Mmm Q90-buick a most remarkable child. V This child occasionally played but was always reproved for such conduct when seen. lt had a table of sand in which it might construct rivers, mountains and valleys, but there must be no mistake in the nomenclature. Great apprehension was excited by the probability of its becoming a confirmed dyspeptic because of its inability to thoroughly digest and properly assimilate the bountiful supply of multiplication and long division with which it was served. Thus this child was spurred and pushed on from one trial and tribulation to another, until by constant conflict she had attained such physical and mental development as to be thought worthy of christening. I I ln the year 1890, with due ceremonies, she was christened Ninta Foura. She then became a very conceited maiden and her self-importancevvas colossal. A description of the personal appearance of this newly christened maid might somewhat astonish one not accustomed to the sight. T A V .Her age-like that of many another maiden-was uncertain: it might be twelve and it might be seventeen. E A Her face, though not beautiful, was remarkable for its beaming intelligence.

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ID1l.8'ffOI'111 - HE ORACLE Board in convention assembled aliirms its belief in the following principles, ' and advocates the following policy in their application to our school: 1. The High School should be a public school, in that it should meet the needs of all the public so far as possible. ' A 1 ' To serve the needs of the various classes which compose this public it must offer several distinct lines of work, to students aspiring to a college education it should give-a preparatory course. This we do. To those who would supplement the High School course with music or travel, it should offer modern languages, especially French and German, literature, and possibly some theory and practice in music. These demands we supply in part. We Zfztk French and should have it. To the large class who golfrom the public schools to active life, most of them to some kind of manual labor, the schoolsowe a duty as yet unheeded. Manual training should be found in our High School for two reasons. It is a preparation that would be of .great service to all boys who become artisans. It is also a good educational agent. Many minds are most receptive to truth coming to them by way of the fingers 2 The High School work should be thorough and inspiring Truths learned should be correctly mastered, so that no zmlemfnmg will afterwards be needed Great principles of science and society should be presented so that the young mind, eager for a field of effort, may be captix ated by them and inspired to do some great work or be some great worker 'lo effect this requires teachers of broad culture and enthusiastic, earnest, truth loving minds Such men and women need the best educations available Our High School faculty should be recruited from the best colleges of the land 3 Our High School work should be wo: 12 No business demands more careful attention or more diligent and active work The teacher who does not make his subject laborious 1S a misnt The student who shirks his work should lose his right to a place in the school fhe vast majority are there for business, and it is unjust that their interests should be prejudiced by the interfering presence of an unappreciative minority

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, Her figure was erect and the poise of her head was queenly, and yet on the day that she first entered the assembly room of the Temple of Learning, vulgarly termed the Lansing High School, with all the higher class men sitting or standing back so as to make room for her, she knew many of the eyes following he-r were unappreciative, and not all of the smiles were complimentary, and in fact she heard some remarks about HFreshmen not conducive to self- esteem. But she consoled herself with the reflection that her true worth was as yet unknown and the day would soon come when her brilliantattainments would command respect. T Here Ninta Foura first tasted the bitter cup of human selfishness. She discovered that the higher class men had neither time nor inclination to recognize' or appreciate merit not their own. Ninta Foura was thoroughly American. Her admiration Xfor her' country was even greater than her .esteem for herself. 'In order that this sentiment might be kept con- stantly before those to succeed her, she erected monuments to perpetuate the memory of her country's martyred presidents, Lincoln and Garfield. , A At last the time came for her to show the higher class men what she could do. On March 27th, 1893, a great' multitude filled the assembly room. A platform had been erected, which with its surroundings was draped with her favorite color, cardinal. There was a pause, and then a hush in the undertone which had filled the room, as she stepped forth and astonished them with her learning in Greek, Latin and German. Some, it is true, did not enjoy this display of learning, but that was not the fault of Ninta Foura. i D Previous to this, scholars had assembled from neighboring lands to display their accumu- lation of knowledge. Among other things they held a debate with Ninta Foura. They did very well, but they first made an error in assuming such a tremendous undertaking. The victory of N inta Foura was overwhelming, and the multitude cheered l Then came the invi- tation to contest with them on their -own ground, which was accepted. Ninta Foura, and the other class men, were beautifully received. She returned from this contest with colors flying and head held high. Then there were the orations and declamations of Ninta F oura for the edification of the other class men. They certainly -had never been equalled before, and it is doubtful if those