Sandy Township High School - Flambeau Yearbook (Du Bois, PA)

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7L FLAMBEAU K! Published by THE SENIOR CLASS OF SANDY HIGH SCHOOL DUBOIS, PENNSYLVANIA

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T)e velopment of Schools i Sandy Sandy Township was originally a part of Brady Township and was formed into a separate district when DuBois or Rumbarger, as it was called, began to draw residents to that section. In 1884 the boundaries of Sandy Township were practically the same as they are today. At that time schools were located at Wilson, Cross Roads, Liberty, Falls Creek, Brooks, Hetrick, Sabula, and Shantytown. The buildings, consisting only of one room, were made from wood. The school term was four months, beginning late in October, and ending early in March, with some of the most favored schools having a summer term of two months. Later, a law was passed increasing the term to seven months. There was no set course of study, and the only compulsory branch was Physiology and Hygiene, which was taught to show the effects of tobacco and alcohol on the body. The pupils had to buy their own text books, and as their parents bought whatever the general stores had to offer, there was no adopted form of textbooks. When parents could not or would not provide books, the scholars were compelled to go through with out the benefit of books, unless they could borrow from other pupils. These unfortunates were helped when the State Legislature passed a law providing textbooks. Several years later schools were placed at Shaffer, Oklahoma, and Edgemont. The Wilson Building was built early in the present century, and was regarded as one of the most modern in this part of the state. The early teachers were very poorly qualified, sometimes only being one grade ahead of the children they were teaching. They received the enormous salary of $35 a month. Later a minimum salary was set at $45 a month. Today the teachers are college graduates, being well qualified for their work. There are 29 elementary teachers, ten of whom are in the Wilson building, and the others are teaching in the rural schools. The school term is now eight months—beginning in September and ending in April. The textbooks are uniform, and other supplies are provided by the school. The next step was to plan for a high school. Soon afterwards, a two year high school course was offered in one room of the Wilson building. The equipment was very meagre, and at the end of ten years, the only laboratory equipment was a cube of wood four inches square and a meter stick. Another year was later added to the course. The people began talking about a high school building. It was designed to accomodate 150 pupils, and after it was completed another year was added to the course, making four years in all. At the present time there are about 350 pupils in the school. This last year, four new subjects were added to the course. Besides class room work, pupils may participate in worthwhile curricular activities such as glee club, athletics and dramatics. Not forgetting the trials of those who pioneered the district, those who follow us fifty years in the future will say that we did a good work in our time. i

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Foreword Perhaps the day may come, 0 Flaming Torch, When we, with gallant hope, will win life's fame, Till then, we'll tread the straight and narrow path, Guided by your bright and burning flame. Sara Anderson, '36