Tuesday night marked the close of the most successful year in the history of Oak Hill high school. The school goes on the accredited list this year and present graduates are the first to graduate under the new status of the school. These pupils will receive elementary certificates issued on their high school diplomas. Sunday afternoon Dr. W.C. Tyree of Lenoir preached a powerful and inspiring sermon on ambition. He very forcibly showed that success was due to ambition and desire to go ahead and do something. Even in the Bible times men were ambitious, and so it must be now.
A quartet, consisting of Misses Kittie and Emma Flowers and Messrs. D.C. Flowers and Jones McCloud, rendered a very beautiful selection.
Monday afternoon the recitation and declamation contest took place. Those reciting were Misses Katherine Hester, Faye Ashley, Verna McRary, Edna Austin, Elvey Haas, Pearl Harte and Maude McRary. For declamations, Messrs. Thomas Cobb, Joseph Ashley, Johnnie Roberts, Glenn Barlow, George Carlton. These were all delivered in an exceptional manner. The winners were Pearl Harte and George Carlton.
Little Mary Ellen Hester and Grace Cobb played a duet, “Grandfather’s Song”; and Katherine Hester Played “Farewell to the Piano.” The music was very good.
The class rooms were then thrown open for inspection. The home economics room was full of dresses, fancy work and other sewing. The tables were set for balanced meals. On the walls were food charts of various kinds. Miss Speas, the head of the department, has had a very successful year and her exhibit is a credit to her and the girls. It ranked with those put on by our larger schools.
The physics room, newly fitted up this year, was of great interest. The equipment was spread out on the table and experiments were performed. Messrs. Guy Barlow, Hampton Price and Walter Harte of the physics class demonstrated the equipment.
The sixth and seventh grade room was very attractive. Maps of various kinds, drawings and woodwork by the boys covered the walls. Miss Flowers has certainly worked hard, as her exhibit showed.
The fourth and fifth grade rooms were attractively decorated with flowers and maps of interest. The room was a credit to Miss Watson.
The third grade room had many drawings and flowers and figures drawn by the children and then cut out. Pottery was on exhibit. Miss Evans’ room was very attractive and showed fine training for small children.
The sand table in the first and second grade room was a wonder. The small table and chairs made by the little folks were much better than us grown folks could have done. The exhibit showed the high grade of work Miss Williams does.
The new library, consisting of over 600 volumes, including an encyclopedia of 24 volumes, was opened. The library is very good for its size. Dr. Tyree very generously gave the library the collection Sunday. We are very grateful to him for this and wish to thank him.
Monday night a large crowd gathered at the school to see “The Princess of Poppyland,” an operetta given by the grammar grades. The children did well and the large crowd that more than filled the auditorium were interested from start to finish. The little folks were trained well and performed beautifully.
Tuesday morning the senior class had full sway. The stage was artistically decorated with snowballs and the class colors, gold and black. A large bowl of sweet peas, the class flower, was in the center of the table. Each senior did his or her part well. This is the largest class to graduate at Oak Hill, and the largest class of boys. The class also has the honor of being the first to graduate since Oak Hill has been placed on the accredited list. Walter Harte is the youngest graduate of Oak Hill, aged 15 years and 15 days. Fred Stamey and Ozroe Roberts are the first to graduate having started school and finished at Oak Hill.
Those receiving diplomas, 12 in number, were Misses Dewey Teague, Stella McRary, Pearl Harte, Emma Flowers, Ruth Flowers, Messrs. Lee Parlier, class president; Albert Miller, Roy Steele, Red Stamey, Walter Harte, Guy Barlow and Ozroe Roberts.
Dinner was served in the auditorium, and such a dinner it was. Each family tried to outdo the other in good things to eat. To say that it was enjoyed and that there was an abundance would be putting it mild.
That afternoon we assembled in the high school auditorium. The high school sand “Where, Oh Where” very beautifully. Then Prof. B.B. Doughterty, president of the Appalachian Training School, delivered the annual address. In an emphatic way Prof. Doughterty emphasized the importance of training. It takes a trained person to succeed. Train for some particular thing and then do it. One must hold his nerve, and play the game in an honest manner. The world has no use for a dishonest person. Prof. Doughterty’s address was very good.
Diplomas were presented to the 11th grade graduates by Prof. Y.D. Moore.
The medal for the best recitation was won by Pearl Harte and that for the best declamation by George Carlton, and were presented by Mr. Roberts. Miss Katherine Hester and Faye Ashley won thimbles for work in the home economics department.
Mr. S.F. Horton, the principal, read a letter from Mr. J. Henry Highsmith, State supervisor of high schools, which stated that Oak Hill was on the accredited list. This is the first rural school in the county to be placed on the list.
Mr. E.P. McRary made an interesting talk, thanking the patrons for their co-operation and stating that the teachers had all been re-elected. Mr. D.C. Flowers made a short talk and emphasized the importance of home economics.
Tuesday night the high school gave a play, “Esmeralda.” Despite the fact that it rained there was a very large crowd present. The house was full. The play was a success in every way. The characters did well and the acting was very good. Every one was pleased and departed with the determination to attend commencement at Oak Hill next year. The small admittance fee was charged and the proceeds netted $77.70. This will be used by the school.
Despite the fact that it rained all through the commencement a large number of people came out. The order was exceptionally good.
Mr. S.F. Horton deserves a lot of credit for the efficient way in which he has run the school.
The building has been completed and painted inside and out. The library brought up to the standard and steam heat and a physics and general science laboratory put in the school. Chairs, tables, shades, etc. have been added, and last, but not least, the school has been placed on the accredited list. It has just closed a very successful year. There it stands, a living monument to the men that built it. One that will grow and increase. With a glorious record behind it and a brilliant future before it, the pride of the community and a credit to the county, its usefulness will increase with the coming years.
From the front page of the Lenoir News-Topic, May 19, 1923
No comments:
Post a Comment