Spencer High School - Spencerian Yearbook (Spencer, IN)

Page 12 text:

The Old School Bell. ARTHUR XVELLS, 'l5. Just north of the city of Spencer Is the haunt of our knowledge dispenser, Though of brick and as old as the hills, It is still the seat of a great many thrills. Each morning the bell rings out clearly, And, indeed, it's a sound I love dearly, For so long have I heeded each morning The old bell's regular warning, That it surely would cause me great sorrow If the bell should not ring on the morrow. 10

Page 11 text:

THE SPENCER HIGH SCHOOL--Continued. elapsed before the attendance had outgrown the accommodations, and, in 1908 under the superintendency of Mr. C. T. Gray, half-day sessions became necessary. This plan was followed for four years, the third floor being divided into four recitation rooms, and the students studying at home. As this was not acceptable to the State Board of Education, toward the close of 1912 Spencer lost its commission until some arrangement should be made for a common study-room. So again the old assembly room was called into existence. The requirements having been met, the commission was renewed in the fall of 1912. In the hands of Superintendent S. F. Stewart and his assistants, this bids fair to be one of the most successful terms in the history of the school. While there have been larger enrollments, we are safe in saying that a larger per cent have continued throughoutthe year than at any previous time. With the assembly room the interest in the school has increased greatly. The students have worked for its upbuilding, and have especially enjoyed the opening exercises and organizations. Spencer High School can now boast of an orchestra and a chorus which have regular meetings for practice once a week. Aside from the musical talent, the High School has developed interest in debating. Surely Spencer, with the co-operation of all, can reach the standard of the best schools of the state. At present the High School is handicapped to a great extent by its inconvenient location on the third floor, its lack of room, and its imperfect heating and lighting. The present assembly room, large enough to seat about ninety, is forced to accommodate one hundred and twenty. The reci- tation rooms, also, are inadequate in size, light and ventilation. The physical laboratory is too small for its equipment, and could be greatly improved by being moved nearer the remainder of the High School. In fact, we are in sore need of a new building which may have an up-to-date library, and a gymnasium for physical exercise and social gatherings. We fancy today that we can look into the future and see a splendid structure, with a spacious study hall, adequate recitation rooms, large, airy laboratories and an up-to-date library. No other town of the same size in the state has as large a high school attendance as Spencer. But we are still in the garret, seeking a way of escape. True, Spencer has in the past sent out from this garret her attic philosophers, but in this age of progress genius demands better housing. U

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