Washburn High School - Wahian Yearbook (Minneapolis, MN)

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The 1976 WAHIAN Slaff has unanimously voted to dedicate this yearbook to you, Mr. Clifford Johnson. This year celebrates Washburn’s Fiftieth Anniversary. Since this is a special year for Washburn, we would like to dedicate the WAHIAN to a special person. You have served Washburn and its students since 1956. Since then you have been the advisor for the cheer- leaders. In other years, you have managed the equipment room, advised the Senior Board, the Senior Class, and the WAHIAN Staff. Washburn appreciates your assistance in all the things you have done. The 1976 WAHIAN Staff wishes you the best of luck in the future. The 1976 WAHIAN Staff

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The enrollment this year was approximately 1,500 students. Alexander Ramsey Junior High School was built in 1929 because Washburn had too many students in a wide range of grades. There was much desire in the community to make Ramsey the senior high school and leave Washburn as a junior high school, but fortunately, this also fell through. In the first few years of Washburn, everything was strictly either boys or girls. There were boys’ homerooms and girls’ homerooms, and in the auditorium the girls sat on one side, the boys on the other. But this has changed considerably. Everything is co-ed now, even the gym classes. There have also been other changes in Washburn that have occurred throughout the years: from hand programming, to machine programming, to student programming; from intramural athletics, to competitive boy athletics, to competitive girl athletics; and from one course offerings to multi-course offerings, to name a few. One of the major problems Washburn has had to face is that of being overcrowded. In 1966 Washburn’s enrollment was up to 2,000, about 500 more than it should be. for the school’s capacity was only rated at 1,500. In order to alleviate the school’s 50 per cent overcrowding, a seven-period day in three shifts was required. Washburn had more teachers than classrooms. But to solve the problem of overcrowding, it would be necessary to do one of two things: build more classrooms; or, change boundaries so the overflow of students can be sent to other schools. In 1967, the School Board decided to allocate money for the building of new classrooms and the rennovation of rooms in the old building. As a result new music, business, and shop classrooms were added plus a new gym. Home economics and electronic rooms were changed for the better, and the library was enlarged. It is 1976 and Washburn is still standing after 50 long years. But it stands with it head up high and still is considered a top-notch school. It is noted for its fine academic, athletic, and extra-curricular fields. Washburn is definitely a high school in which everyone of its students should take pride.

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