Ottumwa High School - Argus Yearbook (Ottumwa, IA)

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Board Approves New Construction In December 1976, the Ottumwa Community School district received a $2,394,998 grant from the federal government for the construction of a new vocational- technical high school building. The building will be a two-story, 50,000 square foot design to be erected just west of the high school. The new building will serve approximately 500 students each day. This close location will eliminate the costly waste of time for students traveling by bus to the Benton Street structure. The new vocational-technical building will also be used for various adult education classes and federally sponsored retraining programs. The new school will offer students courses in the fields of auto mechanics, auto body work, building, drafting, electronics, metal work, plastics, welding, and woodwork- ing. Plans are also being made to relocate the music department and Driver’s Education. Dr. William Dabb, Superintendent of the Ottumwa Community Schools, said, “This culminates a great deal of hard work, by everyone on the board and in my opinion, it’s the greatest thing that could happen to our school district. In fact, it’s the greatest thing that could happen to the city of Ottumwa.’’ The building is expected to be open to students in the fall of 1978. Superintendent of Schools-Dr. William Dabb. Diroctor of Secondary Education- Administrative Assistant - Porson- Mr. Dick Geith. nel - Mr. Orville Amosson. Board of Education: Mr. George Simpson. Mr. Jock Staebler. Mrs. David Markham. Mr. Joe Griffin. Dr. William Dabb. Dr. Michael Kotcham. Mr. Glen James, and Mr. John Paxton. 12 Administration

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“From A Student’s Point Of View...” Long hours, lots of pressure, and all too often, low pay. These are three things you may as well expect if you consider the fields of teaching or school administration, not to mention difficult, unconcerned or hard to reach students and parents. Sound attractive? After taking all this into consideration, you may well wonder why anyone would think of entering such a field. So what is it that impels people to teach? A love of learning, the excitement of'new discoveries, and the desire to expose this to others are primary motivations to teaching. Great patience, hard work, and the ability to communicate also play vital parts in the role of the teacher. Perhaps the ability to communicate is the most important of all, for without it, all the knowledge and desire would be trapped without an outlet. Once a teacher is able to communicate he must also be able to understand and deal with human nature. Every teacher encounters the problems involved with difficult students; students that don’t have the necessary basics, have personal troubles, are apathetic, or else think they know too much to be taught. There are pupils that think they need no extra help. For these people, teachers donate the extra attention and aid needed by those individuals. Teachers also encounter difficulties from the administra- tion and parents. Often teachers are expected to carry out rules and regulations too often set down by those who do not have to enforce them. Many times parents have no real conception of the school situation or their child's situation and may make unreasonable demands or accusations. Obviously, this doesn't make their job any easier. While teachers are educating, they are also being educated. As the times change and as literature, science, current events, mathematics, etc. advance, teachers must be prepared to present the new ideas. And, of course, as said many times in the past,”...my students are my teachers. The truly wise teacher will be open to what the students have to offer, just as the wise pupil will remain open to wise teachers. This may sound like all teachers are demigods and the preservers of society. We know that this is not true. Just as with any institution, there are those in positions they are not capable of filling. Perhaps they lack the ability or desire to communicate with their students. Some may have little motivations and some may just not like young people or do not understand or approve of their changing ways. Many are well set in their ways and do not update curriculum or methods of teaching, which simplifies their situation but may cut back their students opportunities. Too often, cases such as these do not change and are improved only when that individual leaves or retires. This does nothing for the school, the students, or other teachers prone to that situation. It is duty of the administrators, the school board and particularly the parents to see that teachers maintain an acceptable level of teaching. Perhaps teachers, just as students, need a little motivation too. After all, we must realize (as was the intent of this copy) that just as we are individuals (and human ones at that), teachers are also individuals and human, working hard at a very difficult task. ■The opinions expressed on this page do not necessarily refer to Ottumwa High School or its faculty. This is a student's viewpoint on the teaching profession as a whole. 11

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Of Vo-Tech Building Vice-Principal - Mr. Edward Kuntz. Vico-Principal Activities Dlroctor-Mr. Ray Hammeraley. Administration 13