Wicomico High School - Tom Tom Yearbook (Salisbury, MD)

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School Commissioners for Wicomico Counlv LEVIN T COOPER

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Public School History of Salisbury A CCORDING to the best accounts we have been able to receive, the first public or fully free school (in the sense of no payment of tuition) in Salisbury wa the high school, into which the Academy merged in 1872. This Academy did good service for years and years to Salisbury and vicinity, and while its tuition was not gratis yet scholarships were obtainable, and many worthy youths were helped thereby. From this old institution graduated many of Salisbury s honored sons, who went forth to add stars to the cluster of their native town, as well as to increase the brilliancy of the galaxy of those in other sections. The first principal of the high school was Prof. Thos. H.Williams who served from its inception until 1880; he was successively followed by Rev. I)r. Heaton, Joseph Gra¬ ham, I) C. Ingle and Samuel E. Forman, the last named resigning in 1886. Upon Mr. Forman’s resignation, Mr. Williams was urged to assume the duties of principalship again, which he did and taught until the end of the winter term of 1896. He was followed by Henry B. Freeny, Esq., Chas. II. LeFevre, Wm. J. Holloway and the present incumbent J. Walter Huffington. During all these years the school has steadily grown in numbers and usefulness to Wicomico county, and indeed to surrounding counties. Beginning with a mere handful of pupils and with a very small body of instructors, the schools now enroll eight hundred and have eighteen teachers. They are now ' divided into primary,intermediate, and high school departments, the last being the largest in the state exclusive of Baltimore City. The principals of each department are strong teachers, as are all the assistants in each. In 1898-9 the departmental system of instruction w r as introduced into the high school and has been continued with marked success ever since. We have a specialist for mathematics, science, history, languages. English, music and manual training. In 1902 there w r as no graduating class owing to the fact that the State Board of Education added another year to the course of study for high schools; but since that time classes that have completed the full ten-years’course as prescribed by this board have graduated each year. Not one subject is omitted that the law r calls for. The name of the high school has been changed from Salisbury to AN icomico High School, and very properly was this done since it serves as a school o this character for the W ' hole county. County pupils need have no hesitancy in coming to this institution, for they will find all the sympathy, help and encouragement that they receive in the district school, in fact, it is the legitimate outlet for the county school

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