Scarborough High School - Four Corners Yearbook (Scarborough, ME)

Page 12 text:

2 FOUR CORNERS The winter term opened with Miss Leighton, U. of M., T8, and Miss Bryant, Bates, T5, as assistants, and Mr. Bessey, Bates, T3, as principal. New features have been add to the curriculum which we feel are upward steps in our develop¬ ment as a standard high school. Agricultural club work will be allowed credits toward graduation; a new library has been established, and public speaking has been started, which we hope will be a permanent feature. A new high school is now our objective; we are trying to merit a new building by increased interest in our work and we trust that the combined efforts of students and townspeople will result soon in a build¬ ing which shall in every respect be worthy of our splendid town. A NEW HIGH SCHOOL. It is needless to say that all students attending the high school agree that a new building is very badly needed ior efficient work in the future. The most noticeable feature at present is the need of more room to accommodate the increasing number of students. There are now sixty-seven pupils enrolled with only sixty-two desks provided. Some students have seats but no desks for their books. In recitation rooms additional chairs have been placed. During the morning exercises, or when a lecture is given in the main room, the pupils must sit together in one seat in a cramped and uncomfortable position. It is under¬ stood that a large class is expected to enter this coming fall, making a total enrollment of at least seventy-five. Where will room be found to place them? Under these conditions the students are not given a fair chance to do their best work. The present building is also occupied by the primary and grammar schools. The noise made by these pupils during their recess and noon hour is very disturbing, as the high school is in session. The high school students are unable to study or keep their minds on their lessons, as one would naturally expect. Another disturbing feature is the fact that the two class rooms are separated only by a thin partition.

Page 11 text:

FOUR CORNERS. VOL. VIII JUNE, 1919 No. 1 Editor-in-Chief fhitotialn. 191S-1919 Charles Seavey 1919-1920 Philip Bowley Business Manager Philip Bowlky Fred Richardson Assistant Manager Harriet Knight Helen Baker Artistic Editor Robert Libby Ruth Sherwood Athletic Editor Leon Lary Leon Lary Exchange Editor Velma Leonard Elizabeth Newcomb Alumni Editor Doris Fogg Charles Seavey Agnes Skavey, ’21 Class Editors (1918 1919) Helen Baker ' 20 Alma Seavey ’19 Catherine Newcomb Lama Johnson ' ll Class Editors (1919-1920) ’22 Harriet Knigiit ' 21 Velma Leonard ’20 Because of the high cost of materials, we decided to publish only one issue of the Four Corners. Owing to the fact that there have been many unusual interruptions of the school year, it has been somewhat harder for the editorial board to measure up to the usual standard of excellence, but we hope that these pages will not fail to interest our readers. Thanks are due all who in any way contributed to the production of this number of the Four Corners , especially to the advertisers whose generous assistance so largely financed this issue. The school year began with Miss Annie Clark of Portland, as principal, and Misses Leighton and Cooley as assistants. Due to the influenza epidemic, school was suspended for five weeks which interfered seriously with the year’s work, but the fine attitude and diligent work of the student body has helped to partly remedy a deficiency which has been common in schools this year.

Page 13 text:

FOUR CORNERS 3 When two classes are occupying the rooms, the noise from one room disturbs those reciting or studying in the other. This diverts not only the mind of the students but that of the teacher. The dressing rooms and halls are also crowded. Some of the girls are obliged to keep their wraps downstairs in the cloak rooms of the primary department. There is also no provision made cither in the way of room or equipment for the domestic science work or manual arts of any kind, not even a chance for a library, which all class A high schools require. Not only is this true of the high school but also of the lower grades in the same building. It s?cm to us that no m: re fitting memorial can be given our Scarboro boys, who fought in this great war, than a new high school building in honor and appreciation of their brave deeds and sacrifices. THE SCHOOL LIBRARY One of the most successful activities of the school year was the beginning of what we hope will be a permanent high school library. Through the combined efforts of the students and faculty, we have now a fine collection of about two hun¬ dred volumes covering a variety of topics. Nearly all of the books are new; many are the gift of local firms and school- text publishers, but a large percentage are personal contribu¬ tions from the students themselves, the alumni and friends interested in the school. All the fiction works have been cataloged according to the Cutler system, and are used by the students under the same regulations as any other library books. A book-case has been secured which, at present, is adequate, but it is hoped that this will soon be filled. Our library serves a double purpose: first, by having an accessible collection of books, the English department is enabled to meet all State requirements for outside reading; second, the students are given a chance to increase and better their knowledge of literature that is really worth while and