West Salem High School - Neshonoc Yearbook (West Salem, WI)

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THE UJEST SALEM SCHOOLS The West Salem Schools began as a one room institution about in 1853. Fourteen years later, in 1867, a three room building was constructed which after a period of three years was sold and became a Grange hall. The school district then purchased the property of a private school which was a cream brick building erected in 1866. This bui'ding was destroyed by fire in 1875, but a new red brick building was promptly constructed on an enlarged foundation. On the morning of May 17, 1917, this second brick building was burned. After considerable discussion it was voted to purchase a new site further away from the danger of the railroads. In 1918 our new modern building was constructed which is ideally situated on the highest ground in the village. Our present building is a substantial brick building, beautiful in appearance and convenient in arrangement. In the basement or ground floor, are the farm mechanics and manual training shops, gymnasium, shower and locker rooms. The locker rooms for the gir's and boys are furnished with modern sanitary steel lockers. The second floor contains rooms for the lower grade department, domestic science rooms and a large new loom for the agriculture department. The high school assembly room, library, science laboratory, high school class rooms, clinic and rest rooms occupy the second floor. The northwest wing according to the original building plans, consisting of class looms, clinic, rooms for the agriculture department and shops, is under construction at the present time and will be ready for use at the opening of school in the fall. The heating and ventilating is done in one operation by the furnace fan system. The air is completely changed in all the rooms every ten minutes, while school is in session. The temperature and humidity of each room in the building is controlled by automatic dampers. Our school is conducted on the six-six plan. The first six years consists of the primary and intermediate grades and the second six years, the junior and senior high school. The purpose of this plan is to bridge the gap which usually exists between the high school and the grades. Oui high school is on the university accredited list, which means that our graduates will be admitted to the university or any state college without examination on the presentation of a certificate showing the satisfactory completion of fifteen acceptable units and containing the recommendation of the principal. No school will be placed upon the list whose course of study is not fully equal to the four year course of high schools recommended by the State Department of Public Instruction. The high school shou'd be in reality as well as in name, the school of all the people. It must therefore serve all, taking into consideration the occupations and vocations followed by the boys and girls who do not go to college. Our aim has been to enable the student to select a course that will be of special value to him with respect to the line of work he intends to follow and at the same time give him a sound educational and cultural back ground. Our high school of today, therefore, while it is still preparing students to enter college, is also giving heed to the students who are not going to college, but who plan to go out into the world upon their graduation from high school. Consequently the present day school is carrying a tremendously heavier educational burden than was borne by the high school of fifty years ago—but very effectively is it accomplishing its increased tasks. 6

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i OUR SCHOOL

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Mr. Q. A. THOMPSON, Principal 7