THE HISTORY OF KNIGHTSTOWN HIGH SCHOOL FROM THE 1920 YEARBOOK – Section 3. (If you havent read sections 1 and 2, scroll down and read them first....) It is rather amusing, in looking through the old catalogues, to find many of our well-known citizens informally listed; as, Willie Watts, Eddie Culbertson, Lizzie Bell, Gracie Watts, Tillie Welborn, Robbie Heaton, Charlie Williams, Bertie Dovey, Georgie Watts, Nelly Reid, Maggie Cameron, Mattie Hall, and Josie Smith. It has been stated in the old history that the first graduating class completed their work in the old academy building, the new building being in the process of erection. The picture of this class will be found in the Annual; it is quite remarkable that all the members are still living. The large boulder which lies in the school yard on the east side of the west walk was placed there by the class of 1878, having been brought down to the campus from the country to serve as a memorial for that class. Their names in full were carved upon it but have long since been effaced by time and rough usage. It was originally twice the size it now appears, since it has become so deeply embedded in the ground as to be hardly noticeable. The names carved upon it were: Ella Fithian, Maude Furgason, Lucy Hill, Fannie Morgan, Florence Deathe, Louis Bell and Foye Crouse. Following is another extract from Miss Hills historical poem concerning this ineimorial, two preceding verses having eulogized the class with delicate sarcasm: For near a tree, upon a stone, Each did engrave his name, One just beneath the other there In regular order came. But as the constant dripping, friends, Wears the hardest stone away, So will the children, cracking nuts, Wear your stone smooth one day. This is undeniably a prophecy fulfilled, and more than that, the names are replaced by many initials of the succeeding generations, carved promiscuously upon the stone. This class is also noted for the great dispute which took place concerning the charging of admission to the commencement exercises. The school board wished to institute this custom, but were violently opposed by the members of the class, who unanimously refused to graduate rather than be made a show of. Consequently, since neither of the opposing parties would give in, no graduation exercises were held that year, though diplomas were issued later and a ruling made by the board that hereafter, diplomas would be given only upon the completion of the course and graduation. In the year 1888, the present high school building was erected because of the need of more ample school accommodations, the high school, up to that time having been conducted on the third floor. The old assembly room was divided north and south by a row of pillars, the north section seated the first and second year students and the south section those of the third and fourth year. The seats and desks, then comparatively new, were removed to the new building, many of them being in use today. In this same year of 1888, the high school course, which had previously consisted of three years was changed to four years, consequently, there was no graduating class that year. Some of the class refused to continue in school because the former students had always been allowed to graduate in three years, so why shouldnt they? They evidently considered only the fact that they were obliged to work longer for their diplomas rather than the additional amount of benefit which might be received by this new arrangement. But there were those who valued a diploma even at the high price of another year of study, and so K. H. S. did not lack a graduating class in 1889. Among the photographs in this book may be found the class picture and the names of those valiant students who were determined to graduate in spite of the caprices of unfeeling school authorities who wished to prolong the sufferings of school days. No further particular leading events are known until a period quite recent, except in regard to changes of superintendents and courses of study, which will be given farther on, and the changes in the length of school terms which are somewhat uncertain. At first, the school calendar consisted of three terms, the first of sixteen weeks and the other two of ten weeks each, making thirty-six in all, the same number as at present. From 1881-82 for a few years, there were two terms of sixteen weeks, which were supplanted in turn in 1885-86 by two terms of seventeen weeks. Again a change was made in 1891-92, providing three terms, the first of sixteen weeks and the other two of nine weeks each. From this time until the year 1908-9 no account is available, of any changes in this respect. In the catalogue of 1908-09, the terms were given as two of seventeen weeks. It is probable that this was the number used until the present arrangement of two terms of eighteen weeks was settled upon, sometime between 1909 and 1914. A more notable amount of progress along every line of school activity has been made during past few years, than we have any intimation of for twice the length of time formerly. The first important event was the introduction in 1913-14, of the manual training and domestic science courses and the acquisition of a complete equipment for carrying on the work in both courses. The next year, 1914- 15, came the addition of more vocational work, the commercial course, including typewriting, for the practice of which several excellent typewriters of standard makes were added to the schools equipment. The same year, by the help of the Parent-Teachers Association and by general contribution, the playground apparatus was purchased. That year also there were organized in the school, several clubs; the Classical Club, whose purpose was to study the customs and manners of the Roman people; the Debating Club, which gave frequent public debates on present day problems in government; the Music and Art Club, whose purpose was the study of the lives of the composers and artists of the different countries and their works; and a Press Club, which published a very worthy little paper called The Telescope. In the first column of the first number, November, 1914, it is described as a four-page monthly devoted to the happenings of K. H. S. It contained announcements of the meetings of the various clubs, athletic events, accounts of the work done in the different departments, stories, personal items, pictures, and several columns of highly appreciated jokes. The staff consisted of five members : three editors, a business manager, and an assistant. They were respectively, Donald Morgan, 17, Susie Earnest, 15, Marion Anderson, 16, Alton Reeves, 14, and Harold Watts, 16. The paper was a highly commendable publication, and was much enjoyed by all the students. The closing number of the year was printed in magazine form, and was the nearest approach to an annual that the school has ever put out until this year. It was hoped that the paper might be continued the next year, but the lack of financial support brought about its downfall. Little attention had been paid to the organization of athletics in the high school, up to a recent period. In 1908-09, an Athletic Association was organized and became a member of the State High School Athletic Association. Regulations were introduced which prevented any student taking part whose class work or conduct was unsatisfactory. In 1914-15, the athletics of the high school was represented by the baseball and basketball teams, the basketball team being a member of the State Association. Since then the physical development of the institution has been chiefly in basketball, which has been accompanied by increasing enthusiasm on the part of the whole school, terminating this year in a remarkable advancement over any previous year. Though Knightstown has never been a town of rapid growth, still there has been a gradual increase in the attendance of the high school from the beginning, which may be outlined by the few scattered statistics at hand. The enrollment for the year 1880-1 was 38; for 1882-3, 42 ; for 1885-6, 77; for 1891-2, 60; for 1907-8, 102;and for 1919-20, 134. (note; The High School building addition mentioned as built in 1888 is not the HS bldg. we are familiar with, which was built in the 1930s. Rather, it was an addition to the original building which sat in back of the original. It was modified extensively when the 30s addition was built. See picture..
Posted on: Mon, 31 Mar 2014 15:44:58 +0000
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