Salem High School - Quaker Yearbook (Salem, OH)

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difficulties, the football and basketball schedules were carried out. The stenography classes here at Sa- lem High have been doing their part in the war effort too, in supplying sec- retaries to the rationing board and to industries which need them. As there is such a great demand for well-train- ed stenographers in war work, the commercial course has been revised to meet these needs. The two deans' offices have been busy places this year since they serve as a medium between the students and the employment agency. With the present-day labor situation and the in- creasing demand for workers of all kinds, girls and boys willing to work are always able to find positions through these offices. Hundreds of student recommendations from vari- ous employers have been made out which contain information concerning scholastic achievements, character and loyalty to the United States govern- ment. The problems of finding farm hands was also put to these offices. With War-time buying becoming one of the tricks of modern housekeep- ing and living, the home economics de- partment has trained all students in the value of buying wisely, and the ra- tioning program has been studied care- fully. One thing which set apart this year more than any other, was the large number of boys leaving school at the beginning of the second semester to enter colleges. By special permit of the Board of Education, these students will receive their diplomas in June if their work has been up to standard. This same system of distributing dip- lomas has been worked out for boys leaving school before June for the army, whether through the draft or enlistment. Through Mechanical Drawing boys and girls gained valuable experience for vital trades. Parties this year at Salem High were few and far between. Dance, for- mal in other years, became informal, and local bands were engaged for mu- sic instead of out of town talent. Sev- eral penny dances, the band dance, the Varsity S dance and the traditional senior prom were held, but even so the shadow of war hovered over. Nowhere during this last semester of school could the 'tbusiness as usual sign be found. Everything was touch- ed or entirely overshadowed by the lingering and enveloping war clouds. We still sing the latest tunes and rave over the most recent movie, but some- how it isn't the same. Salem High school changed this year. It went to war.

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The first bit of victory work fell to the boys of the high school when district apple growers appealed to the school authorities for aid in harvesting their fruit. Dismissed from school for the day, high school volunteers were loaded into trucks and went off to the orchards. Then the girls took a turn, and the Hi Tri club built stands in the school halls and sold war stamps and bonds to the high school students. Coopera- tion in this project was so gratifying that after passing the 31,200 mark, the girls took it upon themselves to sell enough bonds and stamps to buy a jeep for the army. Contests among homerooms helped to boost the total sales. After Christmas vacation students returned to find that the Victory corps program had materialized, and courses in home nursing, nutrition, first aid, surgical dressings, mathematics re- freshers, sewing, and consumer educa- tion fwar-time buying? were being of- fered to all students. Overnight the school fitted in its activities with this victory project, which was handled by high school club presidents. Down on the first floor where the industrial courses are taught, activity boomed. Classes overflowing with stu- dents, were continued after school hours and extra courses in the evening Trades Classes were encouraged. Also a new program was introduced, de- signed to correlate the high school in- dustrial classes with local industries. Speakers representing Salem's factor- ies lectured and gave demonstrations on various phases of shop work and in- spection trips were arranged for mem- bers of the classes to visit local shops. Particular stress was laid on physi- cal fitness during the last semester. Girls' gym classes were stepped up and in the boys' classes calisthenics and drilling were added to the program. One of the newest features, though, was that of compulsory gym for all jun- ior and senior boys who in former years had ended gym with the end of the sophomore year. Every effort was made to prepare these upperclass boys for the rigid military training which they must expect upon induction into the armed forces. To encourage participation in out- door sports, the interscholastic sports underwent a few changes this year. In spite of increasing transportation Left, calisthenics in the boys' gym classes are part of the new physical fitness pro- gram. Right, the home economics department teaches girls to prepare both thrifty and nutritious meals.

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