Woodrow Wilson High School - President Yearbook (Portsmouth, VA)

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Chapter | MOTIVATING FORCES “Four walls and a roof do not a school make.” They do, however, serve as a starting point. These same walls may be divided into rooms, each completely furnished with the most modern equipment and teaching aids, and each filled with eager students, but until the motivating force in the person of the classroom teacher is added, there will still be just four walls and a roof. Woodrow Wilson has been quite fortunate over the years in the high quality of its teaching personnel. This fast is fairly evident in the comparatively small turn over of qualified teachers from year to year on the local scene. Portsmouth must have a certain amount of attraction as is evidenced by the fact that so many former graduates return to make continued contributions at the scene of their undergraduate study. A love of the profession, an interest in the welfare of youth, and a devotion to duty are ranking characteristics that all good teachers possess. One does not have to look too far within the walls of Wilson to find evidences of these in the members of the teaching staff. Making the learning situation a meaningful one has long been a well established standard here, and as long as the Calibre of the individual classroom teacher continues on the high level of the past, that situation should remain unchanged. The person heading up our faculty is principal R. L. Sweeney, who after 40 years of service in the Portsmouth school system has announced his retirement at the end of the present school year. Mr. Sweeney was born September 24, 1888 in Bonham, Texas. After attending ele- mentary and high school there, he attended the University of Texas where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree, with an intense desire to further his education, he registered at Columbia University where he received his Master of Arts degree. During his summer vacations he studied at the University of Virginia and the University of Chicago. Since his college days he has devoted his time to education and youth. He taught in a Norfolk school, and then at Greenville County School in Emporia, Virginia. In 1918 he came to Wilson, and has remained here for forty years, teaching chemistry and physics while assuming the responsibilities of Assistant Principal. Now he is known to all of us as, “our principal.” Mr. Sweeney’s greatest hobby and joy is reading. He also likes golf and traveling. Mr. and Mrs. Sweeney have taken trips to Europe, Cuba, and Texas. He is very active in the Trinity Episcopal Church and has had the honor of being a vestryman and a Junior and Senior Warden. It is with the greatest humility and pride that we dedicate this 1958 President to Principal R. L. Sweeney, who has given so much of himself in the interest of his school, church, and community. wR LNINNUIAOD fae nidemewne Jon yy NYJIGZANY Ee ee Ree ee eee eR RM aes i NF acon i Nit a Tit LEE TRS ESS: