Paris High School - Arena Yearbook (Paris, IL)

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History of the Arena A few years ago several people connected with Paris High School decided to establish something in which to keep a complete record of the happenings during the school year. Several of the most capable students, co-operating with the faculty, published a book in 1910 called the Arena.” This name seemed suitable; as the arenas of the Middle Ages displayed the glories and pageants of ancient Rome, so this book recorded and revealed the events of the school year. Due to some objections to the title, the next year it was called the Pee Aitch Ess,” but since 1912, with the exception of 1915-1916 when a quarterly magazine, The Clarion,” replaced it, the Arena” has been edited yearly. Every year one teacher has sponsored the Arena.” Miss Zulu Wright has been in charge for the past few years, but Miss Slemmons, Mrs. Dodds, Miss Pansier, and Miss Tate have each shared a great amount of the responsibility in the past. The following is a complete roll of the students who have served as Editors and Business Managers during the lifetime of the Arena.” Editor-in-Chief Business Manager 1910 Ira Allen Walter Bond 1911 Elmore Allen Sylvian Sholem 1912 Richard Leitch Don Hamilton 1913 Jerome Sholem Asa Myers 1914 Eugene Allen Paxson Link 1915 Kenneth Shumaker Walter Davis 1915 Margaret Laughlin Eloyd F. Taflijigcr 1916 Orval J. Bandy Floyd F. Taflingcr 1916 Margaret Laughlin James Propst 1917 William Henderson Helen Propst 1918 Emily Beth Doak Richard Brewis 1919 Jane Hunter Colwell Sam Doak 1920 Marcella Beebe 1921 Martha Logan Whitney Corwin 1922 Alan Shoaff Charles Jenks 1923 Everett Rinesmith Charles Whalen 1924 William Colwell Calvin Stuart 1925 Leo Wade William Link 1926 Harlan English Harlan Watson 1927 Betty Lou Hunter 1928 Carl McGowan Robert Sanders 1929 Lucille Snedcker Henry S. Tanner 1930 Virginia Andrews . Dean Watson 1931 Maude Elizabeth Dorsctt Charles H. Green —Charles H. Green, ’31.

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Pioneer Faculty The life of the pioneer school teacher was a hard one. His duties and responsibilities were many; his salary, small. Not only was he the instructor, but he was also janitor, fireman, and general utility man. The hours during which he worked were accordingly long, and were little appreciated by his associates. The pupils themselves often contributed to the discomfort of the teacher. iVlischievousness, common at all times, flourished. The sport of tormenting the teacher became to the pioneer youth what bull-baiting is to the Spaniard. The boy who achieved a particularly daring or ingenious exploit was regarded with esteem by his fellows. Sometimes a mischievous boy would scale the roof of the school building, and place a board over the chimney. The building was accordingly filled with smoke, and school would be adjourned to allow the air to clear. The older boys were usually hostile to the teacher, and if he were not properly impressed with their importance and their preferences might proceed to enforce their demands. But sometimes the pupils alone were not in the wrong. Many of the teachers were far from ideal, and some were actually abusive. But they had to endure much, and frequently met with opposition. They were pioneers among pioneers; they were the pioneers of civilization and education. They were at first repelled by a certain type of individual, as the pioneers themselves were at first repelled by the wilderness, by wild beasts, and by Indians. But they realized the importance and necessity of their task, and, unflinching, bore ever forward the work of their chosen calling. And in the end they triumphed, as right will always triumph. And today there stand, as a memorial to them, the great modern school systems, which were made possible by the heroic efforts of the pioneer teachers, by their unfailing courage, by their unselfish devotion to the advancement of education and knowledge throughout the world. —Murphy Dorris, ’31.