South High School - Oriole Yearbook (Pittsburgh, PA)

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Men Behind the Scenes You have heard it said, Tell me who your friends are and I'll tell you what kind of a person you are. So I say now, Note the leaders South High has had in its fifty years of existence and you will understand why it has become a corner- stone in this community. In its infancy it was nurtured by the late Dr. R. H. Hol- brookg in its youth, fathered by Mr. I. M. McLaughlin and the late Mr. H. H. Johnson, in its prime, it is being fostered by Mr. Chester L. Sterling and Mr. George Burns. To become the third oldest school in Pittsburgh and to develop from a part time community convenience to a cosmopolitan high school offering many and varied courses, mental and physical labors have been expended by these five men behind the scenes. Guiding youth is primarily a labor of loveg hence, these educators must have had as their motto: Consider that I labored not for myself only, But for all them that seek learning? These five peers who did and do their daily tasks with no other motive than to prepare youth in the art of living deserve commendations! Few realize the patience, understanding, psychological knowledge, and love of humanity neces- sary to steer an institution of learning. These educational leaders set the tempo for the teachers as Well as the student bodyg an inspired faculty and an efficient office force, react upon each and every student. Our leaders have felt that to im- prove their understanding they must increase their own knowledge and be able to deliver that knowledge to others. South High School has been fortunate in having leaders who derive keen satisfaction from seeing awkward, hesitating youth develop into outstanding American citizens. These men can be justly proud of the sons and daughters of South High, and the sons and daughters of this school owe much to the men behind the scenesf, 13

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MH. C. L. STERLING MH. bl. M. ML-LAUCHLIN DR. R. H. HOLBHOOK MR. H. H. JOHNSON MR. E. G. BURNS 12

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Then It was a quiet little community, that South Side of 1898. There were no radios-movies were jerky and indistinct. Children scamper- ed to stare at the rare automobile that jolted down the street on its solid rubber tires. The thought of traveling in the air like a bird was snickered at as a fantasy. Blacksmiths flour- ished in corners. Diabetics prepared to meet their Maker, for insulin was unknown. Wom- en doctors were ridiculed. The population was under 76,000,000, the national income was SS15,000,000i, the national debt was only S1,200,000,000. We had no Parcel Post, no Pr. F. D. to delight the farmer, no electric refrig- erators or irons-no tractors-no oil burners. In New York chorines shocked America by shortening the hems of their skirts to a scant thirteen inches above the ground. In 1898 ap- proximately 700,000 students of the United States attended high schools. The student Now 1948 and television is a reality. Technicolor talking movies are in vogue. A form of recre- ation is a trip to the Airport to see heavier- than-air crafts glide in and out. Youngsters seriously contemplate traffic policemen in the air. Corners in 1948 are occupied by gas- oline stations. The value of vitamins is no longer debated. Women vote, get a perma- nent wave, and eat ice cream sundaes. The population is 145,000,000, the national income is S192,000,000g the national debt is S250,000,- 000,000. Two World Wars are over. The in- come tax is an accepted burden, we suffered through rationing with sugar coupons, shoe coupons, and red and blue tokens. 15,000,000 Americans served in the Armed Forces of World War II. Veterans are clamoring for education and homes. On the lighter side, fashion decreed the new look bringing debate as to the hemlines of dresses,-13 inches in conservative,-9 inches is ultra-fashion. In 1948 approximately 6,500,000 students attend high schools in the United States. The student body of 1948 consists of: body of South High School at that time con- sisted of: Bw Class-Juniors ....,.. ,..... 1 5 CD Class-Middle ..,. . . . 41 D Class-Beginners . . . . . .194 Grand Total .... ..... 2 50 Junior High Pupils ..,....,,... 493 Senior High Pupils .....,. ..,. 4 28 Vocational High Pupils , . . . . , .203 Veterans ...,......,... .... 9 7 Parochial Pupils ,............ 366 QF or Home Economicsj Qand Industrial Artsj Grand Total ...........,...., 1587 5,247 pupils have graduated from South and South Vocational since 1913. Fifty years of change,-fifty years of growth and progress. 14