Benjamin Russell High School - Echo Yearbook (Alexander City, AL)

Page 14 text:

7 The curriculum I he curriculum of BRI IS lends itself well to two patterns of learning—the academic course for those who are planning to attend college and the vocational course for those who plan to enter business upon their graduation. Each student, guided by his parents, should decide what type of training he expects to receive from this school before he enters the ninth grade, and he should select his subjects according to his decision. Basic requirements for graduation include English — four years, social studies — two years with American history being required, mathematics—one year, science—one year, a minor subject—four years. The following selections are available in the various fields of study: social studies—American history, civics, world history, democracy and economics; mathematics—general math, Algebra I and 11, plane geometry, solid geometry, trigonometry; science—general science, biology, chemistry, physics. Latin is taught two years. Vocational subjects include journalism, business law and arithmetic, typing 1 and 11, shorthand 1 and 11, bookkeeping. Each year the commercial department is being enlarged and enriched to provide adequate secretarial courses for those who are interested in preparing for this field. Other vocational subjects are home economics, agriculture and industrial arts, each of which may be taken more than one year. The diversified occupation program, controlled and supervised by the government, offers a wide variety of courses to he taken in conjunction with on-the-job training. The student may enter into any occupational field in town which deals with training in the productive skills, such as banking, nursing, technicians, commercial work, textiles, selling and beauticians. Three minors, each carrying a half unit credit, are offered each year. They include hand, physical education and chorus. Upon the completion of sixteen major units and two minor units of work a student is a candidate for graduation.

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Ou% Zc aat 1 he Benjamin Russell High School is an outgrowth of activity on the part of the citizens of Alexander City in developing adequate educational opportunities for their children. This school, together with the junior high, the elementary and the mill schools, are monuments to a city’s continuous effort over a period of eighty years to provide for the training of its young people. Before 1874 very little attention was paid to the cause of education in the thriving little community called Youngville, later to be named Alexander City. A few private schools existed but no concerted effort had been made to build a school for all the children until Mr. A. G. Holloway gathered a number of young people together to give a concert in order to start the building fund. This first city school building was erected in 1879 on the hill where the junior high building now stands. The building contained two rooms which were neither ceiled nor plastered. It was heated by stoves and open fireplaces. Several teachers taught for short periods of time, but the present sch x)l system really had its birth in the work of two men, J. I). Dickson and J. M. Pearson, who assumed control of Alexander City’s infant educational program in 1887. On the first Monday of September in 1887 when Mr. Dickson and Mr. Pearson opened the school, eighty pupils enrolled. The school was not graded at that tim , and the pupils were taught on the basis of their previous learning and ability. 1 here were no standard tcxtbcxjks, so the students read from whatever books they were able to secure—history books, biographies, the Bible. Spelling, reading, writing, grammar, arithmetic, geography, and history were stressed. Latin, higher Mathematics, music, and advanced science were taught to the more advanced pupils. 7 here was surely a sharp contrast between the facilities of the early school and those of today. Before the turn of the century the sch x l grounds were rough with rocks, gullies and scrubbv trees in evidence everywhere. Drinking water was taken from a spring on what is the present football field. There were no cars, no telephones, no radios, no electric lights, no standard b x ks, no educational movies, no television, but in spite of those handicaps the teachers, the children, and the parents enjoyed life, enjoyed learning, and were proud of their school. As the years passed improvements were made in the schtx l equipment and buildings. The school was graded in 1901 with ten grades. The twelfth grade was added in 1912, and the first class consisting of four girls was graduated in 1918. The mill schrnds, previously operated by Avondale and Russell Mills, became a part of the Alexander City school system in 1989. Every effort that the citizens of this community have made for educa.ion during the last eighty years became foundations upon which the next generation could build. Thus, the Benjamin Russell I ligh School stands as the ultimate in cooperative human endeavor. The community financed every dollar of the money which went into i:s construction. The Benjamin and Roberta Russell Foundation and the Avondale Mills contributed gen erously, with the remainder of the cost being financed by local citizens.

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ft i yduce% Just as every show that is a success must have producers, so a school must have people behind the scenes who arc sincerely interested in its success. These people work long and earnestly with no pay and little thanks. We have five such people working behind the scenes for BRf IS. Mr. I. D. Russell, president of the Russell Manufacturing Company and an active member of many state educational institutions, is chairman of the Alexander City Board of Education. Dr. J. L. Miller, owner of the Alexander City Coca-Cola Bottling Company, and an active supporter of all youth activities, serves the board as vice-chairman. Mrs. Wade C. Lamberth, who has served as president of many civic clubs and educational groups, is an interested and energetic member of the board. Mr. Earmon Jones, office manager of the local Avondale Mills, finds time in his busy schedule to serve effectively as a member. Mr. L. E. Sellers, Jr., owner of Sellers Hardware, has shown keen interest in all the phases of the city schools and serves with interest and enthusiasm. As producers reap the financial rewards of a successful show, the ECHO staff sincerely hopes that these producers for youth will reap the rewards of satisfaction at seeing their proteges make their way successfully into the world. To our hoard members, we say sincerely . . . Thank you!