Parkersburg High School - Parhischan Yearbook (Parkersburg, WV)

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' X N X x if 1-Z Z!! N BOARD OF EDUCATION xx, SUPT. H. E. ODGERS 14 WX,

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fi? M, It Happened in June, have discovered talent which will again be heard of in various colleges. Last but not least is debating. This ac- tivity which has brought P.H.S. great honors is still in its infancy, but is now walking and talking, to the satisfaction of all has made a credible showing in all her interscholastic debates. Harvard, Columbia, Ann Arbor, and Cornell may yet boast of their proteges from P.H.S. I could go on and on speaking of the different phases, but I shall leave to the Parhiscan, whose christening has been one of the most recent events of the school, the task of exonerating each duty and achievement. Our school boasts one of the finest mediums of enlightenment in iVest Vir- ginia, and it has assembled the best talent available in our school in order that it may chronicle the events of each year in a most interesting and pleasing manner for the readers. True it has been very charitable, and in years to come we shall read where our acts of indiscretion were not recorded, but we masqueraded under the caption of the beautifully sublime, thanks to the Parhiscan staff, whose thoughtfulness shall ever remain a blessed memory. Comparison of the past and present will convince the taxpayer that he is receiving a real intellectual compensation for the maintenance of our high school. A survey will show that P.H.S. of yesterday taught such subjects as Latin, Literature, German, Algebra, and English Com- position. Students were not given the privilege of choosing electives, in fact there were so few subjects taught that there was no field of choice. But diversification is the slogan of our high school today, the curriculums are made up of a wide field of subjects, and it is not only the college bound student who finds his desired courses here, but the commercial student, the normal student, and the boy and girl who likes to do things with their hands. So today the student of the high school enjoys the splendid social and cultural side of life whi.ch gives him a prestige in his community, yet at the same time developing his intellectual life. Clubs of every description have a place, and these rob the daily routine of its monotony, stimulate interest, and awaken undiscovered tendencies. Parkersburg High School is symbolic of true greatness, creating idealists out of each student who believes in hitching ,his wagon to a star, and that the accomplishment of the altogether great is not beyond him, and to encourage him in his pursuits, our predecessors established a wonderful institution, standing aloof in its dignified beauty, surround- ed by a wonderful campus. There is about it a certain atmosphere, a majestic grace, which calls forth the best in each student. When he enters her portals he is no longer an individual, but a part of that in- stitution itself. It is in this school that genuine democracy is fostered within each boy and girl, and each meet on a common level for one common good. . VIRGINIA SHEPHARD jg' if 1 7 xg! ,' -1- 4-v-H , l 1 3 xl, , g

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Aly , ,, 27, 1 A Message From M r. Odgers To the members of the .Tune Class of 1926: - During the years of my early manhood, I chanced upon three quotations which have influenced my life very greatly. I realized that I have fallen short in living up to the ideals therein emphasized, but there is some satisfaction in the thought that no mortal ever overcomes his ideals. The quotations are as follows: Where there is no vision the people nerishf, Be strong! We are not here to plav. to dream, to drift. We have hard work to do and loads to lift, Shun not the struggle, face it, 'tis God's gift, Be strong! Scatter your flowers as you go, you will never travel this road again. Never has there been any accomplishment that did not Hnd its creation first in a highly imaginative mind. To you, therefore, as you face life's realities I commend these words of great truth. Be not blind to the fact that the world needs at this time, men and women of abundant vision. To me the world is just entering upon an era of profound changes in its economic and social make-up. Upon the visions, there- fore, of the young men and young women of your generation will depend in a large degree the civilization of the future. You are fortunate in being born at a time when you can participate in these momentous changes. Above all things, therefore, I crave that you will be abundant in vision when meeting the problems that necessarily will confront you in the part you will play in the life about you. You are to be cautioned, however, as to the possibility of permitting your visions to degenerate into mere visionary dreams. To protect you from this great danger, I commend to you the thought of the second quotation. May you enter upon your activities with a willingness to do hard work, devoting the energy of your entire life to the service of humankind. Avoid idle dreaming and mere drifting by dedicating your life to sacrificial work. Life is full of joy to the one who learns the secret of scatering sunshine along the way of life. Greet your fellowmen at all times, everywhere, with cheering words, beaconing smiles, and scatter deeds of kindness as you go. May you have abundant health at all times to pursue successfully the highest ideals of right living. ji gi 2