1922-1923

=1922-1923=

=Overview=

1922-1923 brought great changes to BTHS. The Home Economics department offered more advanced classes in the Domestic Science field. The Library gave access to historical volumes to the Social Sciences classes. A soccer team was also formed between gym classes, and it became quite a popular sport at BTHS. = = =**Faculty and Staff **=

Administration

 * Principal**- Henry Galen Schmidt
 * Assistant Principal**- J.H. Yarbrough (also English and Teacher Training)
 * Athletic Director**- F.J. Friedli (also Biology)

Faculty Statistics
Chemistry Teachers: 1 Home Economics Teachers: 2 Physics Teachers: 1 Art Teachers: 1 Mathematics Teachers: 2 Commercial Teachers: 5 Social Science Teachers: 2 Vocational Teachers: 4 Agriculture Teachers: 1 Physical Education Teachers: 1 Music Teachers: 2 Biology Teachers: 1

=Campus=

The BTHS campus consisted of three buildings in 1922:
 * **The School**- Later known as the Main Building (or M-Building), this was the three story structure where most academic classes were held.
 * **The Cafeteria**- Located behind the main school building (where the N-Building was eventually added), the Cafeteria was known for it's distinctive smokestack. This building also appears to house the shops classes.
 * **The Gymnasium**- Located to the right of the school building from West Main Street, the Gymnasium (later called the Girl's Gymnasium or G-Building) was the most recent addition to the campus. The two story gymnasium was designed to allow for free flow of light and air into the physical education classes. In 1920-1921, the tennis courts and athletic fields were completed.

=Departments =

The following are the academic departments listed in the 1922-1923 //Bellevinois//:

English Department
According to //Bellevinois//, the English department strived to cultivate a love of literature in their students, as well as teaching their students how to express themselves in writing. Every student was required to take English for four years. Teacher: J. H. Yarbrough

Chemistry Department
The Chemistry department based their curriculum on the study of theories and practicalities.Early in the course, students learned to create oxygen and towards the end of the year, students created volcanoes. The chemistry department's goal was to prepare students for their life works. papers. Teacher: William H. Campbell

Department of Home Economics
__Domestic Science__ Domestic Science was one area of study for Home Ec. The class was taken by girls, and the Home Ec. department had a model four room apartment, fully furnished, for their use. Four courses were offered to the domestic-science student: Cooking, Serving Meals, Dietetics, and Household Management. Teacher: Vera O. Gosset

__Domestic Art__ The Domestic Art department was another well-equipped area of study. The department had a pressing room, a sewing labratory, and a fitting room. A complete two year course is offered in Domestic Art. The first year course is all about the basics of sewing, while the advanced course focused on the creation of textiles. Teacher: Dorothy Dell

Physics Department
The Physics department was equipped better than any other high school in the area. Every station had water, gas, and electric access. Physics was a two-semester course, open to Seniors only. The course included a study of Physics and its applications. Teacher: John A. Karch

**Department of Arts and Crafts**
The art department department consisted of one large studio, very modernly equipped and well lighted by two skylights and numerous windows. The craft room was connected to the Art room and was filled with tables and cabinets. Students in Craft class studied enamel work, pottery, book-binding, copper cleaning, painting, and basketry. Along wtih craft classes, a four-year art class is offered.The advanced course work includes advertising, history of art, and illustrations. Teacher: Eleanor Snyder

Mathematics Department
Considered to be the most rigorous and thought-provoking courses at BTHS, mathematics was seen as essential to creating well-rounded students. The mathematics course was divided into subjects that spanned four years. These included Algebra I* and II*, Geometry III* and IV*, Algebra V, Geometry VI, Trigonometry VII, and College Algebra VIII. College Algebra was only offered if there was a demand for it. Those courses marked with an asterisk (*) were required of all students and the rest of the electives were designed for students planning to attend a university (presumably the University of Illinois) to study engineering. Teachers: William H. Campbell (Algebra), E.G. Hexter

Commercial Department
The Commercial department prepares its students for their buisness careers. Bookeeping was a main course in this department, and it helped prepare students for the commerical world's responsibility. Stenography was also a vital course in this department, as it taught students ways to deal with customers and consumers. Teachers: Grace Bertram, Theodosia Meng, Alfred C. Lippold, Dorothy Murray, Hortense Emunds

Department of Social Sciences
Social Sciences includes European and American History, Civics, Economics, and Sociology. No history class was offered for freshman, but all students had to take American History and Civics in order to graduate.Sociology and Economics are two electives offered to Seniors, each one running a half- semester. Teachers: Clara Stiegmeyer, Jessie McElwain (History and Civics)

Industrial Department
The Industrial Department is divided into three different courses of study: Wood Shops, Iron Shops, and Drafting. The Wood Shops were a four year course of study that included Woodwork I-IV which focused on both bench work and machine work. Products made in the Wooed Shops such as ironing boards, library tables, music cabinets, desks, etc. were sold to help fund the expenses of the department. The Iron Shops focus on metallurgy such as the tempering of steel, forging, and welding. The Drafting courses include Mechanical Drawing I and II, Engine Drawing, Machine Drawing, and Architectural Drawing. The department is making plans to add an Auto Shop for the next school year. Teachers: Russell M. Denney (Mechanical Drawing), Otto C. Druge (Wood Shops), Erwin L. Legried (Iron Shops), Ed S. Wright (Mining)

Agricultural Department
The Agricultural Department was divided into threee main lines of coursework. General Agriculture was offered to give students a basic foundation to the principles of agriculture. The Animal Husbandry course was an elective that could be taken after the General Agriculture class and gave the students a more hands-on approach to learning. Animal Husbandry started out in a textbook, and eventually brought students to the animals. The third choice for students was the Vocational Agriculture class. This class was for farm boys who wanted a more in-depth education. Teacher: Homer M. Harper

Physical Education Department
According to //Bellevinois//, Physical Training is the supervised practice of muscular exercises under conditions that tend to promote the health of pupils, and that develop and discipline motor control. Team work was also stressed during class, because PE was believed to make you well-tounded and happy individuals. Teacher: Edgar Gunderson

Department of Languages
The Department of Languages consisted of Latin and Modern Languages. Latin was offered as a four year course of study with the intention of improving the English skills of students. It was strongly believed that, "A knowledge of Latin is indispensable to those desiring to take up a profession or to go to college." Students in first year Latin learned grammar and vocabulary. After the first year students read literature in Latin including "Caesar's Commentaries" (second year), "Cicero's Oration" (third year), and "Virgil's Aeneid" (fourth year). Card games and Latin songs help students with the development of vocabulary.TheUniversity of Illinois kindly donated slides so students could get a visual of roman life. Latin also was believed to be neccessary when reading the works of Poe and Milton. Teacher: Jessie F. Miller

There were two offerings in Modern Language: French and Spanish. Both programs consist of a first (rhetoric and grammar) and second year (classic literature) of study. Teachers believed that learning a world language makes a student more valuable as a person and increases their intelligence. Teacher: Margaret Skaer

Department of Music
The Music Department included two different classes, one practical class and one scientific class. Practical music is taught in classes for the piano, orchestra and chorus. The Scientific music class focused more on the history and theory of music. This department gave a recital at the end of the year to show off all of their hard works. Teacher: Raymond Rapp (Piano and Chorus), Ludwig Carl (Music and Chorus)

**Biology Department**
The Biology Department offered instruction in Botany, Zoology, and elementary Biology. Each course had 3-4 labs a week. Elementary biology studied the development of man and the study of heredity. Botanty discussed the general laws of plant physiology, while Zoology was devoted to the stude of the comparative morphology and physiology of vertebrates and invertebrates. Teachers: F.J. Friedli

=Extension Work= Extension work were programs and opportunities that brought the high school and the community together. Three extension work programs were mentioned in the //Bellevinois//.

Mining Institute
The Mining Institute was to held prepare young men to take the exam to be mine managers or examiners. The class met on Tuesday and Fridays with an enrollment of 94 students. Courses included mining laws, mine management, mine gasses and explosive, ventilation, hoisting, first aid, methods of mining and mine mathematics. After the class meets from October to April, the advanced students sat for the exam. Instructor: Mr. Edward Wright- a local mine manager.

Community Service Institute
On the second Tuesday of the month, representatives from local churches, societies, and lodges met in the high school gymnasium to learn how to develop social leadership. Participants were taught how to organize games and social events for their members. An average meeting had about 150 participants.

Physical Institute
For teachers only, the Physical Institute was created by County Superintendent of Schools Mr. W.A.Hough to instruct teachers about gymnastics and how to teach gymnastics to pupils. The Institute met for two Saturdays a month with around one hundred teachers attending. Instructor: Miss Selma Heinemann

Citizenship Class
The citizenship class was a night school for foreigners to help prepare them for naturalization. Much intrest was shown in this class as more and more foreigners recieved their papers. =Curriculum =

Literature (3/5 credit) Rhetoric (2/5 credit) Algebra General History Biology/Community Science Latin French Arts and Crafts Mechanical Drawing Shop Practice Home Economics Domestic Art Design (1/2 credit) Agriculture Bookkeeping Elementary Wholesale Business Penmanship (1/2 credit) Business Arithmetic (1/2 credit) Stenography Typing Piano (1/5 credit) Chorus (1/5 credit) Orchestra (1/5 credit) Gym (1/5 - 3/10 credit) || English Geometry Ancient History Physiography Home Nursing (1/2 credit) Latin French Arts and Crafts Mechanical Drawing Shop Practice Home Economics Textiles and Millinery (1/2 credit) Agriculture Bookkeeping Banking Corporate Accounting Stenography Transcription Business Practices Typing Commercial Geography (1/2 credit) Commercial Law (1/2 credit) Commercial Arithmetic (1/2 credit) Business Spelling (1/2 credit) Piano (1/5 credit) Chorus (1/5 credit) Orchestra (1/5 credit) Gym (1/5 - 3/10 credit) || English Algebra (Advanced) (1/2 credit) Geometry (Solid) (1/2 credit) Zoology Chemistry Latin Spanish Modern History Industrial History Arts and Crafts Mechanical Drawing Shop Practice Home Economics Agriculture Accountancy Salesmanship (1/2credit) Advertising (1/2 credit) Stenography Typing Auto Mechanics History of Music Piano (1/5 credit) Chorus (1/5 credit) Orchestra (1/5 credit) Gym (1/5 - 3/10 credit) || English American History Latin Spanish Trigonometry (1/2 credit) Physics Civics (1/2 credit) Mechanical Drawing Economics (1/2 credit) Sociology (1/2 credit) Theory & Harmony Astronomy (1/2 credit) Geology (1/2credit) State Course (1/2 credit) Psychology (1/2 credit) Shop Practice Stenography Typing Commercial Law (1/2 credit) Agriculture Arts and Crafts Piano (1/5 credit) Chorus (1/5 credit) Orchestra (1/5 credit) Gym (1/5 - 3/10 credit) ||
 * ===Freshman Courses=== || ===Sophomore Courses=== || ===Junior Courses=== || ===Senior Courses=== ||
 * English

=**Athletics **=

Football
The Football team had a tough year and went 1-1-6. The team was plagued with injuries and lack of talent, but were optimistic for the years to come. Coached by Mr.Beck

Basketball
The Basketball team of 1922-23 started off slow, but they eventually worked their way up to success. Coach Friedli was very optimistic for the season and was pleased with the team's overall recored. Although the team lost in the District Championship and the Mississippi Valley Tournament, the boys were optimistic about the next season. Coached by Mr. Friedli

Baseball
The BTHS baseball team had a splendid season in 1922-1923. They won the Madison and St. Clair Country Championship. The team owes all of its winnings to Coach Friedli, according to //Bellevinois//. Coached by Mr. F.J. Friedli.

Track
The track team in '23 had a surprising 50 students report for practice.The team was not overly successful, but had high hopes for the coming years. Coached by Mr. Walter Lorenzen.

Tennis
The first tennis courts were opened in the 1920-1921 school year. They caused a craze among Belleville Students. According to //Bellevinois//,"No real championship players have been developed...yet". While no formal tennis team was created, students enjoyed playing a new sport. = = =**Activities **=

Township High School Literary Society
A combination of the Irving and Philomathian Societies, the Literary society met every Wednesday to perform recitations, plays, and musical numbers. All students who did not join other societies at BTHS were required to join the Literary Society which made it the largest society at the school. Sponsors: Mr. Yarburough, Miss Pessel

Ag Club
The Ag Club consisted of 26 members and was listed as the wealthiest club on campus. Their money was raised by holding a box social early in the year. The Ag Club used it's funds to purchase three Poland China pigs which were raised into hogs on campus. Sponsor: Mr. Homer Harper

Tumbling Club
The tumbling club's purpose was to develop the muscles of the body. Only boys were allowed to participate in this club. Sponsor: Mr. Gunderson

Girls' Glee Club
The Girls' Glee Club was a new organization to BTHS. It was composed of thirty members and participated in various fairs.

Commercial Club
The Commercial Club was designed to address the problems of the business world. Members invited local businessmen to come and speak each month at club meetings. Sponsors: Mr. Lippold, Misses Murry, Bertram, Emunds, and Meng.

Home Economics Club
The purpose of the club was to stimulate an interest in homemaking. Members discussed topics in home economics and held a varity of social functions in order to study such meetings through experience. Sponsors: Misses Dell and Gossett

The Thalian Dramatic Club
The dramatic club is one of the more popular clubs around school despite the fact that it does not solicit members and is not advertised Members meet on the fourth Wednesday each month to discuss and perfrom plays. The two plays performed this year were "Omlet" a parody of Hamlet and "Somebody's Stenographer" which was written by club members. Sponsor: Misses Twitchell and Newlon

Craftsmen's Club
Created for members of the shops classes, the club was designed to promote an interest in handiwork. Around 30 members belong. Sponsor: Professors Druge, Legried, and Denney

The Maroon and White
The very first edition of the student newspaper, //The Maroon and White//, was distributed on December 23, 1920 to subscribers in the student body. The Junior Class was responsible for the financing and running of the paper. It was noted that every Junior Class from 1921 on would assume responsibility for publication. The paper covered school news as well as athletics. Columns such as "Aunt Cynthia's Columns"- an advice column that answered, "questions of love, finance, health, beauty, family affairs, and social difficulties. Questions pertaining to studies - EXCLUDED." The paper also included serial stories such as "The Fateful Finger" that would be continued in future issues. The "censor and sponsor" was Principal Henry Galen Schmidt- listed by his official title of "Professor Schmidt".

Bellevinois
No information was provided about the school yearbook staff.