Union High School - Gleam Yearbook (Union, SC)

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F Class Groups Grow Larger With Each Succeedin Year From C. 1861To 1961 In the 1860,s, pupils not tutored at home, walked to the nearest schoolhouse, often as far as five miles. During winter months, they had to rise long before dawn, do chores, eat breakfast, and pack lunch pails. Schoolhouses were, for the most part, one-room frame buildings with a large stove up front for heat. Desks were made for two pupils and placed in rows facing the desk of the teacher. In one corner stood a stool and a dunce cap for those who misbehaved. All grades were taught in the same classroom by the same teacher. Since there were no public schools at that time, teachers were hired by families with children old enough to attend school. The families took turns boarding the teacher. Anyone with the equivalent of today's high school education could qualify as a teacher, provided he could maintain discipline in the classroom. Subjects taught were elementary reading, writing, and ciphering, with history thrown in for good measure. Sciences, like physics and chemistry, were relatively unheard of then. Today's students, if they live far from the school, walk only as far as the nearest school bus stop. From there, they are whisked to school aboard modern buses. School buildings are large, modern, multi-storied structures, containing many class- rooms. Individual movable desks are found in each classroom. Mixing of grades is very rare, but classes are usually large, with as many as 40 pupils in a class. Teachers are better educated and more highly specialized, and a greater variety of subject matter is offered. A student at Union High can choose an indus- trial, business, or college preparatory course. , - VL 5 fu! 1:85 4 nk ,k Q M if if u, K vb . 'zfiwr 1 Z ' if it ly . A 2' ia 3- Q .ff On the school parking lot, be- V' tween the Jeter building an - ? I the Administration building, stu- - dents eager to be on their way home at the end of the day hurry toward the school buses. 'F N 5' x A f H Q f I ' N x gf. 1 X 4' E x A , Q., E- 529' sth 'TA 5 ,ty X 'lf - H 1' .4 ,Nl of .,:ff if at -Q L ,ex 3 .:, y .-, .1 523 ,-Z. va 1 at Z ? 'ff,.1 I A 'Ei -.2 4x ,s 11'-I 25 2 12' 'X fr, S' -SQ,-L 1 i I ' ':r 1 1 V 'I d X 11' 5 1' fl, I d' i 5 ll

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7 Seniors Sport ith Pleasure Their New Cold December 15 was probably. the happiest day of the first semester for seniors, on that cloudy, overcast Thurs- day the long-awaited senior rings arrived. From the very first rumor that the rings had come, the Ieter Building fairly jumped with excitement. First period Will long be associated with the arrival, for that was when the an- nouncement from the office was made over the public address system, Will the seniors please report to the library? In 45 minutes all rings had been distributed, but the seniors, some teary-eyed, lingered to sing spon- taneously the Alma Mater, Boys ordered heavy or extra-heavy rings, While the girls had chosen the medium or princess, style. The uprincessi' was the smallest ring of all and its stone appeared big in comparison with the slender band of gold. The average cost of the rings was about 319' to 822. No matter what the size or cost of the ring, everybody was happy. The whole school rejoiced at their arrival. Proud exclamations of delight, friendly comparison, and even the exchanging of rings took place. For well over a Week this Went on. It continued to be an often-expressed Wish to start a ring ceremony. Circumstances prevented it this year, but perhaps in the future many said it will become a regular part of Ring Day at Union High. The fact that permis- sion Was granted for such an assembly was a compen- sating thought of many. Excitement reigns as Mr. Reid, company representative, measures seniors for their class rings. Being measured and waiting in line are Cseatedl Mary Alice, Donna, Angela, Onetta, Frances, Cstand- ingl Eugene, Gene, Chris, Brenda, Elaine, Robert, and Dale.