West Plains High School - Zizzer Yearbook (West Plains, MO)

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III. ATHLETICS

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The Teacher Training Department On March 14, 1913, there was approved by the Governor of Missouri a law of great importance to the rural schools of the state. This law provides that all first class high schools which shall comply with the rules of the state superintendent in regard to the courses and maintain a class of at least ten students to receive instruction will be author- ized to maintain a teacher-training high school and be allowed state aid to the amount of seven hundred fifty dollars each year. An inspector of the teacher-training schools has been appointed. Certificates of graduat- ion from the teacher-training department will be licenses to teach in any elementary school in any county of the state of Mis souri. 1 This law providing for the systiematic training of those intending to teach in the rural and elementary schools is a decided ad- vance upon the old method by which certifi- cates were granted to pupils just out of the eighth grade who had no special training for the profession and no more education than they were supposed to give their more advanced pupils. The need for better teach- ers has lang been felt. The law requiring h.gh school training for them was a step in the right direction, but this new law is better since it allows professional training also. Our superintendent, Professor Melcher, realizing the great need of trained teachers for the rural schools Of Howell county with his usual energy and persistence in obtaining for our schools those things which will en- hance their value gained the necessary ten signers of the entrance declaration. Thus was the already wide reputation of the West Plains High School for being in the lead in all educa- tional matters extended by this valuable ad- dition to the courses offered The course in teacher-training requires three units of education, method, pedagogy, and method and observation. The other sub- jects necessary are, three units of Englishg one of algebra: one of geometryg two of science, one 'of which is agriculture: two of historyg one of which ls American history and govern- ment: and one of some special or vocational subject. Of thc education units method is a Junior subject and the other two are for the Seniors. Examinations are given on these three courses, the questions coming from the state superintendent The class this year is small, only twelve being enrolled. Of this number six are Jun- iors and do only the work in method. The other six, two of whom are Seniors and four Post-Graduates, do the work in all three courses. Although a small class is desirable in recitation it is rather a deplorable fact that the class of the West Plains High School is one of the smallest in the state. The work done by the class has been very interesting and helpful. The Board of Edu- cation provided all the necessary books in- dicated in the course together with some of reference which though not essential were yet of great assistance in preparing the daily lessons. These books form a valuable addit- ion to the school library. The school was fortunate in its teacher, Miss'Lawing feeling that the work was of prime importance and 'throwing herself whole-heartedly into it. Es- pecially have the reviews of common school subjects in method been made vital through her efficient teaching. The work in elemen- tary psychology, as she has a natural aptitude for teaching, has also been very valuable. One of the most pleasurable features ol' the work for the Seniors and Post-G1'arl.ua.tes is the observation lessons required. A num- ber of these obesrvations have been made, some in the rural schools. The only one which was not thoroughly enjoyable was that made at Renfrew School on which cc- casion the class recelvel a thorough duck- ing from a sudden rainstorm. Directly connected with the worn though nct required by the star- was the Story 'Fellers' Club organized by Miss oawing. Conscious of the increasing part the story is taking in the education -.ml primary children :md desirous that her 1-lass should lack noth- ing which would make them more eflicient teachers she formed the society from the method class. A number or verv interes:-ng: meetings were held av d the Club furnished 9, program for the regular Wednesday As- sembly. During the year Mr. Davis, the state inspector, visited the school. He seemed pleased with the work which was being done in the teacher-training department, and the w'rk was approved by the state. This re- tains for the West Plains High School her place in the front rank of approved high schools. It is to be hoped that in succeeding years the classes which receive this excellent in- struction will be greatly augmented in size. Then will the conditions of rural life be bet- tered and the continued greatness and integ- rity of our country assured. HARRIET J. LETSON '13.

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Foot Ball. During the last few years football has at- tracted more attention in the West Plains High S,choo1 than any other sport although last year was the flrst time that a regular football team was organized and then only two games were played. At the opening of the 1913-1914 season the boys began an early fall practice for their chosen sport. Suits were purchased for the team, a new ball was supplied and the boys' interest in the game caused them to go so far as to rent the old ball park, at their own A HOTLY CONTESTED GAME. expense, for grounds. Every afternoon all through late Sepetmber and early October one could see the grounds lined with boys in red and white engaged in scrimmage or tack- ling practice. An early game was matched with the Town Bucks, or the old Come Backs who had spent years with the pigskin, The big boys from the town were husky and well trained, some having played on the large college teams of the state but the school boys took the first game with a 12-0 score. The people of the town and the students turned out well and the game was properly suppor- ted. The boys received much encouragement from this game and longed for more. John- son was elected manager and Cordell, the most efficient man on the team was unani- mously given the ofllce of Captain. Johnson began an early correspondence with schools all over the state for a game. Every school of any importance from Spring- field to Memphis was challenged but without results. The boys soon grew tired of constant practice without the hopes of a game and their enthusiasm began to wear away. The fleld was left unkept, the goal posts were 'r-roken down and the suits and ball were stored away in the basement. A long inter- val elapsed and football was never talked of. The signals were forgotten and the boys grew stiff and lazy. One Thursday afternoon when least ex- pected a telegram was received from Spring- field desiring a game for the next Saturday. Although in no condition to play, the boys accepted the challenge and with one afternoon of constant signal practice under the eth- cirnt coarh Dave Hogan, the boys left for the bloody encounter. After a nights' ride on the train and a day of dissipation in the city the boys were in no condition to meet the fresh and mighty Springfield lads. On a muddy field in a cold drizzly rain the game was called at four o'clock. The game opened for the visiting team and we made four or five successive gains around Springtleld's ends, but the tide soon turned and after the loss of Allen, one of our best men, we steadily lost ground. Springfield captured the ball and all during the first quarter they broke through our lines and around our ends. The opponents much out weighed our comparatively small players and as we had depended largely on speed and skill, we were com pletelr routed by their constant line drives on the slick and muddy field. At the end of the first half the score stood 48-0 in favor of the home team. On re- tirement between halves the boys received some valuable pointers and renewed vigor from the worthy advice of Coach Hogan. When the bell rang for the second half every boy went into the game with a fresh supply of energy and although somewhat disheartened at the already high score, they