Washington Park High School - Kipikawi Yearbook (Racine, WI)

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Ralph Peterson. lfdgar VVishau. CLASS OF 1920. Harold Kopplin. Klarvin Lassen. Alohn Ulle. Norman Porter. Burton lValker. The boys will never regret the summer of hard work, for they received their school credit, and, at the same time, helped their country to win the war. XV.-lit NVoiu4 or lJOMl5S'I'IC SCIENCE lJlil'AR'l'lN1IiN'l'. 1917-18-19. The lloinestic Science classes devoted most of their time to war work under the direc- tion of the teachers. lCvery week, three periods of forty minutes each were spent upon this outside sewing. lt is the custom of the girls of these classes to make clothing for themselves, and one period of the week is given to lecture work, hut when the urgent call came for supplies to help support our fighting boys and Allies in France, the girls willingly sacrificed their regular dressmaking for that which was more necessary. Over four thousand refugee garments were made from the material furnished by the Red Cross Society. lfach outfit consisted of one gingham apron, one pair gingham or Hee nel hloomers, one flannel petticoat. one mus- lin underwaist, one flannel nightgown, and one pair of flannel bootees. Bed socks and nightingales were also made. XVith the small pieces of flannel left from the garments. twenty-five patched quilts were made. Then came the urgent need for workers for surgical dressings. The girls responded im- ll1t'tll2lI't'lf to this call. by giving thirty hours of strenuous labor, Pompoms. drains, and bandages were turned out in large numbers each dai. Knit, knit. for the hors 'Over Therelfl echoed throughout the l nited States. llid the girls shirk this call? No, they went forward wth eager hearts. The Red Cross furnished the yarn for seventy-five knitted garments, including sweaters, helmets, wristlets, and socks. The large American flag which hangs in bliss Porter's room was made by the Junior girls of the 1919 class. This year the work has not been so exten- sive, although something was in progress all the time. Heavy woolen material was donat- ed by lvlr. E. B. Adams, from which eleven blankets were made for the Soldiers and Sail- ors' Club. The County Council of Defense has furnish- ed material for boys' blouses and hloomers, girls, dresses and aprons, women's dresses and aprons, and any other clothing needed by the suffering people of the city or county. ln cooking, the girls made no food for them- selves, but learned to use the war ingredients and substitutes in the economical war ways. These products were sold to outsiders or used in the school cafeteria. SELF-IJIENIAI. VVIZEK. 1917. The Self-Denial Week which was originat- ed in Miss DuFour's lvlodern and lvledieval History Class, was another bit of war work successfully carried on by the High School students. The campaign which involved every class in the school was set forth to the stu- dents at one of the biggest and most enthusi- astic mass meetings held in the year 1917. Systematic plans were made and the contest be- tween the boys and girls started on lvlonday, llay 14, and continued until Friday, lVIay 18. Nl want to do my bit for my countryfl was the slogan that rang throughout the school. The majority of students had denied them- selves some pleasure or luxury and agreed to give the money thus saved to the Red Cross. Klovies were shunned by some, while can- dy. gum, and pop-corn were given up bv oth- ers. ln many cases the entire weekly allow- ance was pledged. rlhe street car company

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we make the goal? VVe could and would. Late Saturday night, Sunday even, and early lllonday found us still busy. Shortly before twelve o'clock, we gathered to turn in our final reports. The total was announced as 5E10,406.82. VVhat a satisHed, happy feeling we had! VVe had done our part, at the sad- dest Christmas-tide the world had ever known, to help keep the emblem of Christ-the Red Cross of the World-at the Front. THRIFT STAMP CAMPAIGN. 1918. VVe had completed the Red Cross Drive. To him that hath shall be givenf, Our suc- cess brought us new duties, a more stupendous task to carry through. Racine's quota in War Saving Stamps was placed at S900,000, of which only one-sixth had been subscribed. The local committee did not know exactly how to deal with this seri- ous problem until we had shown the city our mettle. Then lylr. Gillen, who had helped with the Red Cross work, suggested that the work be undertaken by the Racine High School. The drive was not started without some doubts as to whether it could be put across or not. Nine hundred thousand dollars seemed a large amount of money. lyloreover, we had our regular school duties to perform. The first mass meeting to consider the XVar Savings Stamp drive was held on January 15, 1918, at the Rex Theatre. The work was outlined by lXfIr. Gillen, lXfIr. Norton, and lNIr. Brooks. The work was again to be un- dertaken by wards, the canvassing of each ward to be carried on by the students who lived in that ward. Captains were elected, and, with the aid of the different teachers, the campaign was planned. VVard meetings were held every morning with a mass meeting now and then to keep up spirit. These, however, were entire- ly unnecessary because the greatest enthusiasm possible was aroused by the keen competition between the wards. At the end of the week we were a little tired but we were also very proud, for 885,050.80 worth of Stamps had been sold. The Second Ward was in the lead, with the Third VVard as a close second. Following this period of intensive work, came the regular weekly collection and reports of Stamps sold. This necessitated short ward meetings at the eighth hour each Friday. Gradually the amount grew. About the middle of lVIay, the wards were again pitted against each other to see which one would make the greatest collections dur- ing the last four weeks of school, and thus win the privilege of presenting to the school a beautiful silk Hag, which was the gift of NIL H. F. Johnson. The Third Warcl team came out ,in the lead, and accordingly had the honor. BoY's VVoRK1NG RESERVE Fon 1918. During October in the year 1917, an ur- gent appeal came from the Government for more help on the farms. The boys of the High School were addressed by TC. A. Polley, Racine County Farm Agent, on behalf of the Boys, Working Reserve. The conditions were explained to them, namely, that owing to the reduction in man power, farmers would not be able to till their land without the help of the boys. The boys of the Racine High School were very enthusiastic over this, and a large number waited with anxiety the coming of spring. Following is a list of the different classmeti who enlisted for farm service: CLASS or 1918. Harold V. Jensen. George C. Peterson. Joseph Williams. -c1,Ass or 1919. Ralph Bull. Clinton Fink. George Kimpel. Glenn lXIcCaughey. Lawrence Sogard.

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failed to receive the nickels of the students and faculty, as the Red Cross Banks, which were distributed in the halls, caught all the small change during the week. The contest between the boys and girls aroused intense enthusiasm and keen competi- tion. Up to Friday noon the girls were far in the lead, as they had the advantage in num- bers, but they were very willing to call the race a tie and have everyone make a special effort to cram the banks. The sum raised was contributed by individ- uals, but some few groups wished to give as organizations: llliss VValker's Senior and Junior English classes gave the amount of 54.50. The Junior Dramatic Club gave 35.00. The lfnicar Staff gave up the banquet that had been planned and contributed fI5.00 to the fund. The entire amount raised was 3160. Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors all worked diligently to make the campaign a success. There were many individuals who worked untiringly. lXfIiss DuFour, of the his- tory department, deserved a great deal of credit for the success of HSelf-Denial VVeekf' SENIOR AND JUNIOR GIRLS, CLUBS. Among the patriotic clubs of Racine High School, both the Senior and Junior Girls' Clubs deserve special recognition. The Senior Girls of the Class of '18, with their class ad- viser, met every Friday noon in room nine. The girls enjoyed the social hour together-and how well acquainted they became, for while their nimble fingers worked at knitting and sewing, they chattered as only High School girls can. During their existence as a club they made the following articles: 49 sweaters SI pairs of socks II helmets I4 pairs of wristlets 4 trench caps IQ bath Initts 9 scarfs Nearly every girl in the club became a mem- ber of the Girls, Patriotic League. The various exemption boards also received the assistance of these girls. The Junior Girls ,IQ, made a large number of bed stocks and three beautiful colored afghans. 'THE FRENCH CLASSES AND CLUB. The French classes are safe in saying that they struck a blow at the Kaiser. The girls used every spare moment for knitting, and, as a result, made a large number of scarfs, wrist- lets, and helmets. The French classes of IQIQ are IOO per cent as to membership in the Red Cross. ln 1917 scrap books were started by the pupils. An exhibition was held in the French room in February, 1919. The display, con- sisting of the scrap books, a German helmet, a cap Worn by a German private, and several vases made by French soldiers, proved very interesting. A French soldier was adopted by the club in the fall of 1917, and every month a dol- lar has been sent to him. A Christmas pack- age, accompanied by many cheery French let- ters greeted the soldier at Christmas time. R. H. S. IN LOYALTY PARAIJES. The spirit of R. H. S. was shown not alone in the parade on hlemorial Day, 1917, but also last April in the Third Liberty Loan par- ade. Gn lllemorial Day about five hundred students, besides a majority of the Faculty IHC1'1lbCI'S, were in line. The captains and lieu- tenants were students from the upper classes. These boys took entire charge of the High School line of march. Qur honored Batteries C and F, and the Ambulance Corps were with us in the first par- ade. lNIany R. H. S. students and alumni were in these units and left Racine in July of that year. No wonder then that when we were given a chance to show our loyalty by march- ing in the Third Liberty Loan parade, we turned out in larger HLIITITJETS than ever, over