Shields High School - Patriot Yearbook (Seymour, IN)

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CLASSES HIELDS Junior and Senior High School is organized on the Jy2-4 plan. Any student who has completed eight grades of school may enter senior high as a freshman. If he earns eight credits in the freshman year, he becomes a sophomore. To become a junior he must have earned a total of sixteen or more credits during the preceding two years, and to become a senior, he must have earned at least twenty-four credits in his first three years in high school. The 1939 Freshman Class was the largest in the history of the school. Two hundred and one students enrolled at the beginning of the first semester and one hundred and eighty-six completed the school year. The sophomore class numbered one hundred ninety-eight at the close of its freshman year, but had only one hundred and seventy-one at the close of this year. As freshmen, the present junior class was larger than any other freshman class in Shields’ history. It had an enrollment of one hun- dred and ninety-nine students. The class now numbers one hundred and forty-eight. During the four years in high school the Class of 1940 lost sixty- one of its members, thus having an enrollment of one hundred and seventeen completing the four year course. When students become juniors, they organize as a class to carry on various activities: choose class rings, present a class play, and sponsor the junior-senior reception. This year the class elected the following officers: president, Dan Guinnup; vice-president, Toms Graessle; secretary, Martha Eggers; treasurer, Ingleby Rapp. The seniors choose the following officers: president, Tom Tracy; vice-president, Robert Henderson; secretary, Leroy Hodapp; treasurer, Albert Steinwedcl.

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J. R. Mitchell, then Principal, originated the idea eight years ago of establishing in the spring a day on which prospective students visit our school, enroll for the coming term, and in general, become acquainted with the various phases of high school life. This day was designated as “Freshman Introductory Day.’ Since its establishment, more than seventeen hundred prospective students have responded to the ins'itation. This year two hundred and nineteen visited our school on the afternoon of April the twenty-fifth. Transportation was, as usual, furnished by the school. After the registration, which was conducted by members of the typing class, the guests were conducted through the building by student sponsors, visiting classrooms and observing especially the exhibitions in the Home Fconomics and the Agriculture Depart- ments. The eighth grade from Shields Junior High School then joined the group at the convocation program where speeches of welcome, music, reading, and talks from representative students were given. We do feel that this day moans much to the incoming freshman, since it helps to bridge the gap between the small rural school and the school of larger dimensions. ROTARY DISCUSSION CONTEST Each year Rotary International sponsors a discussion contest based upon some topic of general interest. This year the subject was “Rotary Serves in the Realm of Youth.” The contest is for boys only and the following boys participated in the local contest: Waldron Berry, Ed Eisner, James Laupus, and James Yockcy. Each of these boys made an excellent presentation before the club on February 2. They were judged on content, organization, and delivery. Waldron Berry was declared by a vote of the club to be the winner and represented the local club and our school acceptably at the District Contest at French Lick on February 22. We are glad that local clubs are taking an interest in promoting discussion and speech contests. Part of the equipment of youth in modern times is the ability to speak acceptably before public audiences. We thank the Rotary Club for promoting this discussion contest. PSI IOTA XI SHORT STORY CONTEST In 19)2 the Southern Province, of which the local Psi Iota Xi Sorority is one of the seventeen chap- ters, began sponsoring the Short Story Contest. In 19)4 the sorority conducted the first state contest. In the local contest all girls of the senior class arc invited to submit original stories, not exceeding 5,000 words nor less than 2,500. The manuscripts must be typewritten, and not bear the writer’s name, or any distinguishing marks. The title of the story and writer’s name arc sealed in an envelope and accompany the story. In the local contest, the first prize is five dollars; second, three dollars; and third, two dollars. The winner of the province contest receives twenty-five dollars and the state winner gets fifty dollars. This year EJoise Kasting won first in the local and province and second in the state. Erna Pollert won second in the local, and Elizabeth Schmitt won third. Each year the winners are announced and prizes awarded on Honor Day. INDIANA STUDY CLUB The Indiana Study Club has sponsored a local short story contest since 19)0. This contest is open to all juniors and -seniors. The stories must be original, not to exceed 5,000 words, nor less than 2,500. The manuscripts must be typewritten and not bear the writer’s name, or any distinguishing marks. The title of the story and writer’s name arc sealed in an envelope and accompany the story. The first local prize is five dollars, second, three dollars, and third, two dollars. The winners arc announced and prizes arc awarded on Honor Day. This year Barbara Ann Sargeant won first; Thomas Conner, second; Alvin Terkhorn, third. AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY Shields High School cooperated with the American Legion Auxiliary who sponsored the National Defense Essay Contest. The subject for the senior civics and junior American History classes was “Why Increased National Defense Is the Best Insurance Against War.” Winners in this division were Elvira Preuss, first, and Eloisc Kasting, second. Freshman and sophomore English classes wrote on “Why I Value American Citizenship.” The winners here were Ed Eisner, first, and Elizabeth Hitch, second. The subject chosen for junior high school was Our Present National Defense.” Polly Montgomery was first in the junior division, and Inez Richardson of St. Ambrose School was second. GREATER INDIANA CONTEST Shields High School participated in the Greater Indiana Contest” sponsored by the State of Indiana, through the Division of Publicity. The purpose of the contest was to arouse interest in and promote greater knowledge of the outstanding features of the counties that make up the State of Indiana. This is a part of the program to promote the agricultural, recreational, industrial, residential, and educational advantages of Indiana. The subject for this contest was selected from the following list: 1. The advantages of my county which should attract industry. 2. The agricultural advantages of my county. ). Points of Historical interest in my county which should attract visitors. 4. Recreational points in my county which should attract tourists. The winner in each county received an all-expense tour of the state from Indianapolis in company with winners from all other counties. The bus trip lasted six days and covered more than 1,000 miles. In scoring the papers the judges gave 40% for accuracy, 40% for completeness, and 20% for effectiveness of style. YOUTH FORUM Each year the American magazine conducts a Youth Forum’’ for high school students throughout the nation. Prizes for winning essays or drawings arc awarded in the fall after the manuscripts have been judged. Last year’s winner of the first prize of $1,000 was a Louisville boy. Thirty manuscripts were submitted for the contest this year by freshmen English students and mem- bers of the Journalism class. The topic for the Forum this year was “Today’s Challenge to America’s Youth.” Essays submitted contained 1,000 to 1,500 words. The essays were typed by members of the typing class.

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“Lives of great men all remind us We can make our lives sublime, And, departing, leave behind us Footprints on the sands of time.” —Longfellow