Sharon High School - Mirror Yearbook (Sharon, PA)

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■ ADMINISTRATION

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Administration The high school, as we know it, is a distinctly American institution. No other government has accepted the responsibility of supplying higher education to the masses. Such training has been left to the church or other public or private institution. The first high school in the United States was founded in Boston in 1821. In slightly more than a century this type of school has grown until now every boy and girl in our country has the privilege of a free high school education. This means that one does not have to be rich to secure this opportunity; the child from a family in humble circumstances may develop talent which other wise might remain latent. This is the fullest realization of the watch word of our democracy, “Equal opportunity for all.” As this great system of high schools has grown, necessarily there has been considerable change in the interpretation of its purpose. It was a direct descendant of the academy so, at first, preparation for entrance to college was its main goal. Later it was observed that comparatively few of the graduates went to college. This raised the question as to whether the limited number of courses gave the best training for participation in adult activities. Now college preparatory work is only one of many fields offered in an up-to-date high school. In larger cities whole high schools are concerned with vocational work. Everything possible, within the limits of available financial resources, is being done to see that each l oy or girl has a chance for his full development. This growth of high schools has made necessary the training of large numbers of teachers and administrators. Every large university lias added a School of Education. Teaching has become a highly specialized profession. It is no longer possible for every college graduate to teach. Teachers must have special training. Along with the variety of courses, methods have been developed to scientifically direct each pupil into the work for which he is best fitted. The time is not far distant when a pupil’s mental capacity and abilities will be measured by the school as accurately as a doctor can diagnose his physical condition. These great opportunities have not been offered without serious objection on the part of some of our citizens. There have been several notable cases where the courts have been called upon to establish the right of a lioard of education to assess taxes to support high schools. Fortunately for our youth this right was established. The question arises, “Will we continue this development, that is will we spend the necessary money?” A study of school expenses and national wealth shows a direct relationship between the two. As we have increased our educational facilities our national wealth has grown in proportion. An observation of other nations shows the same trend. The nations with poor school systems are poverty stricken. Examples are China and India. This makes it appear that money spent on our schools pays a large dividend. Many persons do not realize this fact. As citizens of the United States it will be our duty to determine whether we shall carry on this greatest of all educational programs or drop back to the ranks ot those who are the privileged few. W. BAY IRVINE.

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MR. STOVER MISS KERNIS MISS HAYES MISS FILER MR CURRIER MISS HANRAHAN MRS. STOVER Commercial Department The purpose of the Commercial Department is two-fold. First, to train pupils in business skills, methods and procedures, for occupational life. Second, it is becoming apparent that success in the complex activities of modern business requires not merely automatic skills but also understanding acquaintance with the processes of business. Schools cannot turn out full-fledged business workers. No matter how well equipped a school may be, it cannot hope to give a pupil all the skills or all the facts he will need. Graduates are accepted by business, but they are frankly classed as apprentices. It is believed, however, that the Commercial Department does graduate “Good Apprentices for Business.” The subjects offered in this department are: Typewriting I and II, Shorthand I and II, Bookkeeping 1 and II, Business Arithmetic, Commercial Law, Salesmanship, and Economics. GEORGE C. STOVER B.S.. State Teachers College, Indiana, Pa. Typing I. FREDA KERNIS 11. S., State Teachers College, Indiana, Pa. Typewriting I and II; Shorthand 11. FRANCES HAYES ITS. Grove City College, Grove City, Pa. Business Arithmetic; Bookeeping. RUTH FILER Grove City College. Grove City, Pa. Book keeping I. STANLEY CURRIER B.S., L.L B., Grove City College, Youngstown School of Law. Ancient and Medieval History; Voc. Civics; Com. Law. Salesmanship. MARGARET A. HANRAHAN B.S., Indiana State Teachers College, University of Pittsburgh. Shorthand I; Bookkeeping II. MRS. GEORGE STOVER State Teachers College, Indiana, Pa. Business Arithmetic; Typewriting I. Twelve