Richard Montgomery High School - Rocket Yearbook (Rockville, MD)

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THE ROCKET Sincf. Coi.onial Days Schools Have Steadily Progressed Montgomery County High School ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND 1875 - 1935 Sixty Years of Public Service N 1875 the first public school of Montgomery County was built. A bill had to be passed in the Maryland legislature before it could be built because there was no school system at that date. The school was constructed on what is now Welsh Field and had three rooms downstairs and one upstairs. There was no water or sanitation system, an outside pump supplying water. For a time this upstairs room was used for the Masonic Lodge room. Mr. S. R. White was the first teacher and had Miss Lucy Garrett and Miss Agnes Matlock as his assistants. Then came Prof. Newman, Mr. Baggley, Mr. Avis, and Mr. Frank Andrews as teachers. Miss Ida Dove of Rockville was one of the first pupils to attend this early school. tl k There were four academies in the county but no free public schools until this one. Until then, high school education was stressed very little. At that time only academic subjects were taught. There were no Gym, Physical Education, Shop, Music, Home Economics, Art, or any other subjects except those prescribed for the academic course. The teachers had to build the fires, sweep, and do everything now done by the janitor. Local trustees were appointed and these appointed the teachers. They were expected to keep very strict discipline in school and on the playground. Teams, parties and social functions were looked down upon. The only social functions allowed were the P. T. A. Meetings, recitations attended by the parents, and commencements. In 1897, M. C. H. S. was made an accredited high school for the first time. The first class to graduate after the school became accredited was made up of the following people: Francis Amiss, Reeves Brad- dock, Charlotte Davis, Laura Edmonston, Annie England, Montgomery Harris, Frances Horner, Pearl Holland, William Robertson, Elizabeth Sage, Mabel Shaw, and Beulah White, daughter of S. R. White, former teacher. In 1904-05 the school was built at the present site. George R. White, Crittendon King, and Roger B. Farquhar were appointed school commissioners. S. R. White, former teacher, was appointed secretary. When the school was first organized bonds were issued to cover the cost of the building. Thereafter a tax was levied to pay teachers and to meet other expenses. The school was controlled by the County School Commissioners.” In 1916 the name was changed to Board of Education.” Even at that date the subjects were chiefly academic and such special courses as Physical Education, Art, Music, and Shop were not included. New subjects were added chiefly because of changing social conditions. Twenty-five

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1. The President of the Citizenship Council relaxes. 2. Governor Cleveland of Howard. 3. Watch the birdie, Boys! 4. Old Home Week. 5. Spring fever. 6. Call of the Wild. 7. The Wheel of Life. 8. Our unsuspecting Senior Adviser. 9. Stern living a dog’s life. 10. ’Ictle Boy Scouts. 11. Venus de Milo—with arms. 12. The Clarksburg bus breaks down again! 13. Declare your love or else— 14. About to read Dorothy Dix’s column. 15. The Senior’s favorite spring pastime.

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THE ROCKET The Lirhaky A Cozy and Attractive Corner of M. C. H. S. OUR SCHOOL TODAY The general conditions and atmosphere of Montgomery County High School have greatly changed since the first Rockville High School was built sixty years ago. The alumni are proud to have witnessed the changes that have made this school outstanding and both they and the present students revel in the belief that their spirit has been a mighty factor in the amazing growth. Perhaps the most outstanding feature of the school today is the student-controlled government, known as the Junior Republic, which is patterned closely upon that of our United States Government. This form of government enables the students to more freely express their ideals and beliefs. It familiarizes them with our national government, and gives them valuable training in the actual making of laws, in executive affairs and in judicial work. Interest is added to student life by the awarding of honor letters obtained by participating in the activities of the school. These activities arc ranked by points that are given as they are earned. The minimum number of points required for a letter is one thousand. These points must be realized from a variety of activities—in government, in scholarship, and in athletics. Therefore only a well-rounded individual may receive this honor. The faculty consists of fourteen women teachers, and eight men teachers including the principal, Mr. Schott. Each teacher is a specialist in his own field —a great contrast to the old system under which one teacher might teach from one to a dozen different subjects. These teachers now teach in well ventilated and bright rooms that are kept clean by janitor service. These conditions are a great im Our Sunny Cafeteria Twenty-six