Oil City High School - Oil Can Yearbook (Oil City, PA)

Page 18 text:

Principals Inspire Constantly Changing Curriculum Those who searched historical records for this yearbook considered the fact noteworthy that in seventy-one years there have been only four principals of OCHS, indicating that each had a long term. School Principals: 1. Frederick Turnbull. 2. R.C. Thompson. 3. Carl H. Townsend. 4. John O. Kaufman. 5. Cafeteria Workers: Francis Urey. Mrs. Annabellc Perry. Mrs. Lucy Shaner. Mrs. Elizabeth Franklin. Mrs. Mary Mackenzie. 6. School Vurse: Mrs. Laura Schubert. 7. Music Director: Harlon C. Mitchell. 8. Attendance Officer B I. Myers. 9. Guid ance Director: Dana M. Pringle. 14

Page 17 text:

Since Professor C.A. Babcock who served the Oil City School District as both teacher and superintendent, many colorful men have occupied that and related positions. Professor Babcock was succeeded as superintendent by Mr. LeRoy Weller and Mr. R.A. Baum who, like Dr. Babcock, had long tenures. Mr. Baum's successor, Mr. Vaughn DeLong was called into military service during World War II and was replaced by acting superintendent Mr. J.A. DeFrance. Mr. DeLong began the reorganization of the elementary schools, recounted on previous pages. The process continued under Dr. H. Virgil Grumbling who superintended the school district for twenty-four years until 1970 when Mr. Layton Matchulet accepted the position. The Oil City School District has the distinction of having had Mr. John Dewey, the educational philosopher and pioneer of progressive education, as its assistant principal in 1880-81. He began his educational career at the Central Avenue building, leaving Oil City after one year. n

Page 19 text:

As one thinks of such subjects as the cafeteria, the attendance officer, the guidance counselor and the school nurse, he is considering services of things which were originally very different. The cafeteria, for instance, was first operated in a medical room from which students received their food and then ate it in their home rooms. Next, the conception of the attendance or truant officer has changed from the activities of Mr. B.I. Myers, the first such officers, who arrested illegally absent students to those of Mrs. Lorraine Amsdell, the Home and School Visitor, who investigated the social and family problems which became scholastic ones. Mr. Dana Pringle and Miss Mary Ada Smith became the first guidance counselors and school nurse in the Oil City School District. Mr. Pringle’s counselling was limited to the senior high school, while Miss Smith’s nursing activities included visiting homes and schools throughout the district and assisting a doctor. Mrs. Laura Schubert became school nurse from 1923 until 1956. At that time, physical examinations were made each year in each grade, and she was expected to make many home visits as well.