Westbrook High School - Blue and White Yearbook (Westbrook, ME)

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Westbrook High School -b', Q' 9 so long as social change continues, as it has done and always will do, public education in turn must change. Since the educational re- quirements of our country are so rapidly changing, the Government is faced with the problem of reconstructing at east 90 per cent of our schools which are inadequate for the present, much less the future. Entering the Age of Power we are faced with the need of providing a much more complicated and in- volved education for the student so that he may be fit for the scientific and complicated world of the future. Since the 25-hour week has become more than just a fantastic idea, our active adults, between 20 and 25 years old, will be wondering what to do with their leisure time. Therefore a change will be necessary in the curriculum, in methodology, and in administration in order to make provisions for the advancement of recreational and vocational knowledge of these adults. The school mustalso provide means whereby the local neighborhood groups can meet to study local and governmental problems and to enjoy themselves. The high schools of the future will have much larger sites than those of today, the aver- age being about 40 acres. One of the most essential parts of this model school will be the campus which should be taken care of by the pupils. A student will be able to point with pride at a beautiful Hower garden and boast that he and his classmates, under the super- vision of a master gardener or botanist, de- signed, planted, and took care of it. Amongst a group of stately pines there will be an out- door theatre for the neighborhood theatricals and musical concerts. In the near future at the advanced school the minute divisions of subject matter will dis- appear, to be replaced by six major divisions: health, languages, social studies, exact science, line arts, exploratory and directly vocational activity. For health education there will be gym- nasium, swimming pools, sun rooms, rest rooms, cafeterias, dental and medical clinics. For the unfortunates, crippled by disease-or accident, there will be apparatus to assist them. Every means for developing a healthy body will become a part of the school plant. Instead of sending the partially blind and hard-of-hearing to institutions, there will be specialized physical facilities for them in the community school, because as youngsters they must live with those who are free from physical defects so that in later life they will be more lit, even with their handicap, to com- pete with those with sound bodies and minds. Each pupil will be thoroughly examined by specialists for his rating physically and men- tally so that he may be placed in a classroom according to his ability, thereby setting him on the road to an occupation for which he will be most suitable. i H For social, natural, and exact sciences, there must be small but effective museums, zoos, and laboratories for studying the fundamentals of these important subjects. Fine arts will be taken up much more ex- tensively than today to promote an apprecia- tion and an ability for self-expression in mod- eling. metal Work, drawing, and painting. The auditorium will be used by adults, as well as the pupils, for social and political forums and community meetings. Political education will be studied thoroughly by all high school students. The mechanical laboratories will be fur- nished with modern equipment so that the pupils and adults will learn how to express themselves in wood and metal and will develop a hobby for their leisure time. One of the most important needs of the future high school will be the library, not just a-place to go for references, but one that a student may go to, find a book by one of the old masters, and read it in a comfortable chair before a large open fireplace for sheer enjoy- ment. VVith the thought of this wonderful high school comes the question of finances, but I believe that Mr. Mochlman solves this Prob- lem: The best solution for financing build- ings is a pay-as-you-go program. Here is an excellent point to start with Federal aid. T. l-T., '36,

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A IAEI The Blue Ev- VVhite 8 tion advised a new type of school to remedy the situation. The school, established in 1821, was called the English Classical School, but three years later the name was changed to English High School, as it is today. They offered a three- year course not quite as broad as that of the academy, with more emphasis placed on Eng- lish and no classics. As today, the high school studies were closely connected with grammar school studies. The building of the first high school was shared with a fire company and the town watch. In 1844 it moved to another building which it shared with Boston Latin School. Boys were admitted at the age of twelve, but no girls were allowed. Two years later a school for girls opened, but because of a lack of funds, it soon closed. The first coeduca- tional high school of America was established in 1856. The early educators believed that high school students should be taught with seven definite objectives in mind. They were health, command of fundamental processes, worthy home membership, vocation, civic education, worthy use of leisure, and ethical character. They are just as appropriate now as they were one hundred years ago. ' L. E., '35, WESTBROOK-1873-1935 The history of Westbrook High School begins in 1873. In that year two high schools were established, one located on Main Street, and the other, a branch, at Pride's Corner. The latter school, which held classes for only ten weeks during the winter months, was dis- continued during the latter part of the nine- teenth century. Classes were held from K September until January in the Main Street Building. As reg- ular attendance was not compulsory, students chose sessions most agreeable to them. The number of years to complete one's course de- pended solely on the individual. This explains why the high school produced its first grad- uating class ten years after its establishment with the presentation of three diplomas. The courses offered included the College course, the English-Latin course, and the Latin course. In 1883 the one-session plan was adopted and has continued until the present time. With this change periods were changed from five periods, forty minutes long, to four periods, one hour long. In 1886 the original four-room yellow build- ing was moved to Valentine Street,,where classes were held until the new brick building now in use was erected and dedicated in 1887. Since the advent of the new schoolhouse, the old school has been used as a grade school. The new building had the facilities to accom- modate not only the high school pupils, but also many of the students of the grades, thus relieving the congestion there. From this time on the interest increased at such a rate that to accommodate this increase of students it was necessary to build an annex, which was dedicated in 1914. A greater variety of subjects now appeared necessary. A commercial department was established, shopwork introduced, modern languages were more in evidence, and college- trained instructors were employed. VVith this upward trend in education in Westbrook, citi- zens saw fit to provide a domestic science de- partment for both grammar and high school girls. The student body has steadily increased until the building, built with a maximum ca- pacity of 250 students, now groans under the burden of providing space enough for twice that number. A faculty of two has given place to one of nineteen, and the first building of four rooms is now shadowed with a brilliant prospect, a new ?'p250,000 school. SCHOOLS OF TOMORROW SUGGESTED BY AN ARTICLE BY ARTHUR B. MOCHLLIAN IN HSCHOLASTICH Education is the means by which each gen- eration is adjusted to the environmental condi- tions under which we must live. Therefore,

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fj2'ff,.f ff if ii ff ' id G , if 1 CI rl T Q1 ' f' ,,,, N 'S Af N1f:x!gL?:z 'I ' F1 RX f' .' '-V IE Qigqgizeulxggg s' - 1 0 FT .....T...,Mg-gio 4. '. MISS FIVE AND TEN Miss Five and Teni' is found in every school-especially in high school. Her toi- letry consists, more or less, of articles that can be and are purchased at one of Wfoolworthls renowned Five and Ten chain stores. Her make-up is, of course, of the best known brand, even though it does come from the Five and Ten, because the leading manu- facturers. in search of more business, produce the ten-cent size box or bottle of their product. Therefore, our fair Miss does not necessarily spoil her schoolgirl complexion by using an inferior quality when she can get the high quality at the same price. Lady Esther, Ponds, and XVoodbury guarantee that her skin will always look young and healthy, while Edna XVallace Hopper will make her look ten years younger! The latter is of no interest, however, to the Miss of twenty who has a boy friend, because she doesn't want to look ten years old, even though she may act it sometimes. The old saying beauty is only skin deepi' is true in a lot of cases in high school, for were it not for the good old powder and rouge many of our young ladies would be as pale as ghosts and not at all attractive. This does not mean that if a girl is not pretty nobody will notice or like her. No, this means that the right make-up will add charm and poise and make her more attractive to other people. XVith new shades of face powder for every colored complexion, Miss Five and Ten can be assured of her mask. If she wants a sun-tan in the summer, there is the brunette face pow- der. W'hen winter comes her tastes differ and she selects either natural, flesh or rachelle to take the shine off her nose. These shades are in all the popular brands. Miss Five and Ten's hardest selection is the rouge. It is as hard to Find the right color as it is to End the good quality. That might account for the fact that some girls' faces are always red! However, if she tries all the shades and brands she may find one suitable for her particular peaches and cream com- plexion. Another item, linked with rouge and like- wise necessary to the popular Miss is the lip- stick. The ten-cent size of Kiss proof is the most popular. The more pronounced Miss Five and Ten will have her finger nails colored a bright shade of red, another product found at VVool- worth'sg but the demure Miss Five and Ten will have her finger nails polished either nat- ural or light rose, which are preferable. Another important item in her collection of dime articles is her jewelry. Of course, she never admits it's from the Five and Ten but we have eyes and we see the very thing for one tenth of a dollar at XVOOlWO1'tl'l,S. All in all, this young Miss of ours considers her face her fortune- if most of it does come from the iive and ten. H. P., '35,