By KAREN MADORIN
Primary source research adds dimension to history. Hard copy sources limit researchers’ hypotheses and speculations. Sometimes, however, sources create more questions than they answer.
While working on this project in 1992, time restraints (I had approximately seven weeks to complete the project, including research, writing, and editing). Access to documents limited what I could include in my paper.
Among favorite finds was Ellis Public Schools Second Annual Catalogue for 1913 – 1914. It offers insights into the community’s expectations for graduates and a couple of photos. Frankly, Ellis students who completed the work required for graduation left school prepared to enter the workforce. I’ve copied passages from the document to share with readers.
Calendar, 1913 – 1914
September 1-Enrollment and Classification
September 2-Entrance Examination
September 3-Regular Coursework Begins
October 23 and 24-Half term Examination
November 27 and 28-Thanksgiving Vacation
December 18 and 19-First Term Examination
December 19 to January 25-Christmas Vacation
January 5-Second Term begins
March 12 and 13-Half term examinations
May 11-Baccalaureate Sermon
May 18, 19, and 20-Final Examinations
May 20-Commencement
May 21-Alumni Day
May 22-Last Day Programs
Quote in program:
“The essential business of the school is not so much to teach and communicate a variety and multiplicity of things as it is to give prominence to the ever-living unity that is in all things.” Froebel
Fifteen Units are Required for Graduation (shared as written in the manual):
• Students who are preparing for admission to college should choose their elective studies so as to include at least two units in some foreign language and three units in one subject besides English to be taken from the following: Foreign language, mathematics, history, natural science.
• In branches which do not require preparation by the student outside of the recitation a unit of credit is given for a course of daily exercises extending through the year with double, or eighty-minute periods, and a half unit of credit is given for a course extending through the year with forty-minute periods.
• The Normal Training Course meets the requirements of the State Board of Education.
• If agriculture and domestic science are taken in the third year, this course will also satisfy the requirements of the State Board with reference to appropriations for these subjects.
• If two units in a foreign language are included in the electives, the course will be satisfactory for admission to most colleges.”
• Satisfactory rhetoricals are required of all students.” (Students were required to demonstrate mastery over a variety of writing skills and styles.)
Mahree Hamilton, Marie Chamberlain, Grace Houston, and Anna Shields fulfilled graduation goals as the senior class of 1913.
Later, in part 10 of this history, I’ll share high school course work schedules for college bound and non-college bound seniors. Students who satisfactorily completed that course work had skills to achieve any number of goals.
Combining the district’s expected rigor with family expectations that sub-adult children contribute to family economies helps present day readers understand why graduating classes were small. Not every young person could devote the necessary time to meeting course requirements.
Karen Madorin is a retired teacher, writer, photographer, outdoors lover, and sixth-generation Kansan.