Salina High School - Trail Yearbook (Salina, KS)

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ECOGNIZING the outstanding contribution that Superintendent W. S. Heusner has made to public education in Salina during his 25 years of service, the Trail Staff dedicates the 1938 Trail to him, trusting that the achievements and activities recorded in these pages may bring him pleasure and satisfaction. Probably no individual citizen of Salina occupies a position of greater influence and responsibility than WS. Heusner. It is recognized over Kansas that in 25 years Mr. Heusner has built in this city a school system that is a momument, not only to the edu- caticnal good sense and foresight of the citizens of Salina, but also to Mr. Heusner, himself. As F. L. Pinet, Secretary of the Kansas State Teachers' Association has said, The whole system has been built with infinite care and patience by a leader who knew how to organize and how to develop leadership in his associates. In 1913, upon Superintendent Heusner's arrival from Junction City, there were 2,074 pupils enrolled in the public schools, with 647 in the high school and 43 graduating seniors. Today the total enr ollment is 4,591 with 1970 in the high schools and 285 graduates. At the time of the superintendenfs coming 25 high school faculty members handled the work, where today 68 teach the high school students. During the 25 years, eight new grade schools, an opportunity room, ten kindergartens, W. S. Heusner

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South Park, and Logan were added. Oakdale was torn down in 1930 and replaced by the the lovely new building which is Salina's most recently constructed school. The orig- inal South Park was destroyed by fire many years ago and the present South Park built on the same site. Logan school, which was situated in the Southeast corner of the city, never had enough pupils to require the use of more than two rooms, and it was abandoned to be later sold to a contractor for the mater- ials. Before long the high school had far outgrown its quarters in the third floor of Old Central, and so until the new high school building could be completed, the third floor of the building on the southeast corner of Walnut and Santa Fe-afterwards occupied by the Business College-was used. The first high school building was on the Central grounds, in the middle of what is now the playground for Lincoln and Roosevelt. This first high school building soon proved too small for the growing number of students and and in 1909 Washigton High was completed. The first class to graduate from Washington had 36 members. Several more grade schools were added in the next few years. When Lincoln building was erected in 1917, nothing could have better expressed the progress made in educational facilities in Salina than the two buildings Old Central and Lincoln, facing each other across the Central grounds. Roosevelt was completed in 1926 and now rules the spot where Old Central stood for so long. The three high school buildings are supplemented by the three cottages near Washington building. The Through The Years S.H.S. faculty numbers 69, and the student body, increasing every year, has reached 2.086 for 1937-38. In m tking plans for Salina public schools, Salinais Board of Education in add- ing to building and department equipment, expanding the program of activities, increas- ing the opportunities for all types of students, and in employing teachers to carry on the class-room and extra-curricular activities has had constantly in mind the following ideal for public school education: No other nation has ever cherished so unwavering a faith in education as we Americans. No other nation has ever shown itself so willing to pour its money and its energy into all sorts of educa- tional experiments. We believe profoundly that the strength of the nation is measured not by armies and navies and fortification. but by schools-schools for all the children of all the people, adapted not to one type of mentality, but various enough to meet the needs of all without detriment to any, yet constituting one single system, open to all worthy aspirants from top to bottom, giving each an opportun- ity to prove by actual trial whether he is able to do the work of the next step ahead. Prob- ably the next addition to the Salina School System will be a new Senior High building. But whether it is a new or old, whether now or 25 years hence, may we remember the inscription on the tablet fixed in the cor- ner of Lincoln: The school should teach every child by precept, by example, and by every illustration it's reading can supply, that the supreme attainment in any life is vigor and loveliness of character?

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i E Q Dedication and two high schools, Lincoln and Roosevelt, have been added to the school system. The high school has been reorganized into a six year course, directed by a principal with an assistant at each of the three buildings. The Parent Teachers Association has been organized in every school in the city. Night classes in vocational training have been established. Enlarged facilities for education in music, art, physical training, and commercial work are but a few achivements. Extra-curricular expansion has attempted to make every student a member of some club to afford an opportunity for creative ex- pression and a development of leadership. ln addition to his school act- ivities, Mr. Heusner has made many contributions to the community. In the Chamber of Commerce and civic clubs he is recognized as a business man, and is respected for his ability. President of the State Board of Education un- til 1937, he contributed much to the up-building of education of the State. In his religious life Mr. Heusner has been a constructive spiritual force in Salina. Those who have had the priviledge of working under his leadership have found Superintendent Heusner fulfills Van Dyck's beautiful verse: Four things a man must learn to do If he would make his record true: To think without confusion clearlyg To love his fellowmen sincerelyg To act from honest motives purely To trust in God and Heaven securely.