West High School - Hesperian Yearbook (Minneapolis, MN)

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p tent that national magazines made favorable comment. Students and alumni who enlisted totalled 760, 24 of whom remained '’over there”. This is, as far as can be discovered, a greater percentage than that held by any other high school in the country. Those who remained at home were no less active in behalf of their country. Numerous drives in the school netted large amounts of money. In one campaign, sponsored by the War Chest Committee in 1918, West raised 8,442 and was the only high school to achieve its quota. Again, by means of a carnival where everything was sold at a profit”, 3,000 was procured for a Red Cross rest hospital. In addition to these drives, each student, contributing money earned by himself, made possible the purchase of an ambulance for relief work in France. This was purely a school project, all outside aid being respectfully but firmly refused. A fourth campaign in which West took part was launched by the Y. M. C. A. and was city-wide in its scope. Due to the energy of the boys, the drive, scheduled to last four days, was halted after forty-eight hours, for more than double the quota had already been subscribed. The war also gave rise to the X Club, organized for the purpose of carrying on war work in the school. Under its auspices 11,000 books were collected for American soldiers in training camps and trenches. The X Club also took charge of the distribution of thrift stamps in West. Many other clubs assisted by supporting French or Belgian orphans or maintaining war gardens. Through the efforts of Miss Maud G. Beck, mathematics instructor, copies of the Weekly were sent to each West boy in France and also to many boys from other Minneapolis high schools. According to witnesses, both teachers and pupils, West high as a whole treated the war as a serious and yet romantic adventure. During the war the school had as a principal L. N. McWhorter, who was appointed in 1917 and served five years. At that time he was elevated to the position of Assistant Superintendent. His place was taken by C. W. Boardman in 1922. Mr. Boardman was in charge for two years, then became principal of the University high school and now is a member of the Department of Education at the U. A concrete idea of an athletic field manifested itself as early as 1920. In that year, part of the mud pond” back of the school was purchased. Other plots were added in 1925, 1926, and 1929. The Board of Education gave West permission in 1929 to grade and condition the field for athletics. The entire project cost about 18,000 of which the Board liquidated 13,000. The school had paid for the rest by the end of 1930. During this project, John N. Greer was principal. Appointed in 1922, he is still leader of the school. In 1920 a student office was established as headquarters for such organizations as the Weekly, the Hesperian, the West High Athletic Association, and the Student Council. It co-operated with the main office and controlled student activities. SCHOLARSHIP For the female of the species is more clever than the male” can be applied with all verity to the students of West throughout its twenty-five years of existence. Records show that in only eight of the twenty-five years did the boys triumph over the girls. Boys landed valedictory honors in 1910, 1911, 1915, 1925 and 1931. Other years gave the males salutatory honors or a preponderance in the honor roll. As a reward for outstanding scholastic achievement the P. T. A. sponsored, in 1922, the Key Society, an honorary organization for students attaining high averages. Members received small gold keys. In 1932 West joined

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mg the politician’s trickery and incapable of lying to pupil, parent or teacher. He had been something of an athlete, and during his principal-ship did everything to call proper attention to field and track training. On many an afternoon he could be seen in the street between the school-house and the church watch in hand waiting for the harriers to return from their practice dash around Lake of the Isles. He was greatly respected by the lads who won athletic glory for West High school, but whom he also held up to scholarship standards. He possessed the rare faculty of being able to converse on subjects removed from the mere business of school routine.” More School — More Fun! 'Who killed Cock Robin’? used to be a famous question; but 'who lengthened the school day?’ has challenged it. The one o’clock day with its op- L. N. McWhorter portunities for recreation and income-producing afternoon labor died out in this era. It was attacked by three forces, and could not survive. There were manual training and laboratory in- structors who had to clear away the muddle of the day’s operators after one o’clock and therefore seemed to be working longer than other teachers. Forgetting that English teachers especially had sheaves of papers to examine at night, they pressed their case John N. Greer vigorously. There were mothers whom the lure of the club and ready-to-wear was stronger than that of the delayed luncheon with their children, and who felt safer in the knowledge that these children were at school than they could otherwise feel. Finally there were business men distressed by the sight of pupils—and teachers—blithely leaving the buildings at an hour when they were just returning from their clubs to work an hour or so more before calling it a day. These three forces combined to add first one heur and then another to the school day— and that’s that. OVER THERE Playing its part in the world-wide drama which held the center of every stage during the years of 1917 and ’18, West contributed men, money, time, and boundless energy to such an ex-

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the National Honor Society, which includes schools all over the country, and which, in addition to scholarship, puts stress upon leadership and service. With this change the medal of the national organization was also adopted, although for the first year students were permitted their choice of key or pin. A Juniors who have a 2.8 average are eligible; B Seniors who attain a 2.5 record are accepted, and A Seniors who gain a 2.3 rating conclude their high-school course as Key members. FASHION FANCIES Time marches on” and close at her heels runs fashion. Miss West High, following always close behind, must ever change her stride to keep up with her swift opponent. In this order has the race been run for twenty-five years. In the years of its infancy, West High was graced by demure damsels discreetly and completely clothed. Lace collars, held rigid by strips of metal or bone, protected delicate throats from the unfriendly gaze of the world. Sleeves, likewise, were prudently lengthened to cover the entire arm, exposing only the hands which, even in school, are indispensable. Correspond-ingly, skirts swept the floor. In accord with this voluminous appearance, girls encouraged the natural growth of their hair by adding rats and puffs. To complete the top-heavy appearance were Merry Widow sailors with a circumference of approximately three feet. In 1914 comfort triumphed over modesty and necklines dropped. Head-gear added birds of paradise and graceful ostrich plumes, contributing immeasurably to the festive appearance. During the next four or five years the blouse and skirt (still all-concealing) came into its own as the sensible garment for the high-school miss. The crowning glory, although close to the head on top, seems unable to surmount the obstacle of ears and protrudes as great earmuffs. Along about 1922, the prominence of Peter Thompson dresses would lead one to suspect that the fleet must be in. By this time woman had invaded man’s sanctum sanctorum, the barber shop, and emerged with the first bob. The marcel was also much in evidence. The following four or five years see a great change in the high-school lassie. Hair grows shorter and shorter, the boldest girls copying their brothers’ cuts exactly, while the more retiring content themselves with a shingle and a ragged windblown. Waistlines have now reached the lowest limit and skirts have come to the knee. Judging from appearances, prices have gone up, for skirts appear to be made from one yard of material with enough left over for a handkerchief. Whether influenced by the crash or not, no one knows, but at any rate, in 1929, Miss West High again inclined toward long tresses, curling delicately upward in the back. At this same time those creations of beauty and practicability (for Spanish dancers) known as butterfly skirts were in evidence. Two years later waistlines climbed; at the same times heads were decked with silly little pieces of felt and feathers named after the French arbiter of fashion, Empress Eugenie. Last year, in a flurry of patriotism occasioned by the Washington Bicentennial, female America sported the colors of the Grand Old Flag. With the beginning of school, Miss West High appeared resplendent in wide collars, the huge sleeves of her grandmother, and innumerable blouses. And this brought with it huge bows tacked here and there on practically any type of dress or hat. Speaking of hats, designers forsook their usual fields and sought the culinary art for inspiration. Would some power the giftie give us, to sec ourselves as others will see us” in 1958!