Watkins Glen High School - Senecan Oracle Yearbook (Watkins Glen, NY)

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THE ORACLE. 8 fine clock with illuminated dials which can be seen from almost all quarters of the town. The interior is finished in Georgia pine and the floors are of beautifully polished hard wood, yet it is as near fire proof as a building of its kind can be. On the first and second floors are wide corridors. The first floor hall is used as a place of exercise for the grade pupils. The most improved system of heating and ventilation is used. In the grades the dry system of closets is used. The light is as near perfect as can be, coming from the left side. In fact the High School building is a model structure in every particular and one of which the people of Watkins may justly feel proud. The Faculty.—The High School Faculty numbers five teachers and seven grade teachers. Two are college, two Normal School, one Training Class, and two High School graduates, while two hold State certificates. All have taken special training in their departments of work, which together w’ith years of successful experience have made them specialists in their departments. Every effort is made to bring the instruction and management of the school to the highest degree of excellence. The teachers are ever ready to aid their pupils in anyway and endeavor by every possible means to promote such thoughts and actions on the part of their pupils as will be of assistance in their securing honorable manhood and womanhood. The Library —Watkins has an excellent free library which is open on every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, from one until five o’clock. It contains about 3,000 volumes of well selected books and the best school reference works. The books are free to all residents of the Watkins School district, and to all non-residents attending the school. New books are added every year and the library contains all the latest books by the best and popular authors. The trustees of the library are L. M. Gano, M. M. Cass, Jr., F. Davis, Henry Shulman. Mr. Davis is librarian and Mr. Shulman, treasurer. Societies.—Besides the Alpha Debating Society, the High School has an Orchestra and Glee Club which assist in the High School entertainments, society meetings and at commencement. Expenses—The tuition of non-residents attending the High School and taking a course without languages is

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THE ORACLE. 7 ANNOUNCEMENT. X ATKINS.—This thriving village is situated at the VV head of Seneca lake and at the foot of the renowned Watkins Glen. Here also are large Salt Works. For healthful location and beautiful scenery it is not to be surpassed. People who have traveled far and wide and gazed on nature’s magnificent works of art, declare that in no place has nature been more lavish with its gifts than in Watkins and its vicinity. Watkins may be reached by the Northern Central, Lehigh and New York Central Railways and between May ist and November ist by the Seneca Lake Steamers. The Elmira and Seneca Lake Electric Railroad will be in operation by May ist and will afford a swift and easy manner of traversing the distance between Elmira and Watkins. The village is provided with an excellent system of waterworks which conducts water of great purity and coolness, from Seneca lake, to the villagers. It also has a perfect sewer system, gas and electric light plants, electric street railway, three weekly papers, five churches. Watkins High School.—It is the purpose of every High School to offer the best educational advantages to the rising generation, that its young men and women may be induced to enter upon a career which will qualify them to fill capably and well the position destined them in life as United States citizens. The public school of Watkins became a Regents’ school in 1863, under the name of Watkins Academic and Union School. The first principal was J. L. Mack, succeeded by A. C. Pike, Edward Abbey and lastly by S. S. Johnson, who has ably filled the position for the last twenty-five years. Under his direction the first graduating class was organized in 1883. This consisted of only one member, Miss Mary M. Freer In 1897 the name of the school was changed to that of Watkins High School. Both as an Academy and as a High School the Watkins High School has stood and does now stand among the foremost of the State of New York. In 1898 the High School building burned, but the students are occupying for the second year a beautiful new building. (See ist p.) It is built of pressed buff brick and is two stories and a half high. In the tower is located a

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THE ORACLE. 9 five dollars per quarter, for those who take languages, tuition six dollars. For the first six grades the tuition is three dollars, for the seventh grade four dollars per quarter. Board can be obtained in the village anywhere from two to four dollars per week. Students wishing to board themselves can rent rooms at reasonable rates. By application to the Principal a list of reliable boarding places with prices may be had. EXTRACT FROM SCHOOL REGULATIONS. Sessions.—The morning session of the High School commences at nine o’clock and ends at twelve. The afternoon session commences at 1:15 o’clock and ends at four. Each session is divided into recitation periods of forty minutes. Three studies, three recitations and five periods of study are considered as regular work in the High School. To take more or less than three studies special permission must be obtained from the Principal. The granting of the request to take more than three subjects will depend on the previous good record of the student in question. Home Study.—In order to do well it is necessary for students to spend at least two hours in study at home. A parent may take it as an indication that his child is not doing well in his work at school when this time is not spent in study at home. The assistance of parents is asked in securing the amount of attention this work requires, thus saving the students from the disappointment in the examination, which is sure to follow lack of application. Examinations.—Three Regents’ examinations are held in the High School during the school year as follows : January 22-26; March 28-30; June 11-15. The semiannual promotions tor the grades are held January 22-26 and June 18-22. The standing of the students will be the average of the daily class work. Written examinations will be held by the teachers at their option. Students are not permitted to enter the Regents' examination except by permission of the Principal, which will be granted only in exceptional cases, unless the average of the written examinations and the class work average seventy-five per cent. The object of study is to understand the subject, not to pass an examination. Standings.—Seventy-five per cent is regarded as the standard for passing studies ; seventy-five per cent entitles the student to continue a study ; but a lower standard may