1923-1924

=1923-1924=

=Overview= The ground for the new auditorium at BTHS was broken shortly before Christmas. When the auditorium was completed, it marked the final building of the original plans that was completed.

= = =**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 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 1924:
 * **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.
 * **The Auditorium-** The Auditorium was the last building to be completed and the final building on the original plans of BTHS. Inclement Weather slowed down the process, but it eventually was completed.

=Departments =

The following are the academic departments listed in the 1923-1924 //Bellevinois//:

Chemistry Department
The Chemistry Department had one of the Best Equipped labs in Southern Illinois. Chemistry was opened to Juniors and Seniors who were interested in taking the course. Teacher: W.H. Campbell

Physics Department
Physics was a one year course that was open to seniors only. It was designed to focus on the, "practical side of life." Each Lab station was equipped with water, gas, and electricity. Teacher: J. C. Karch Teacher: John A. Karch

**Art Department**
A four year course is offered by the Art Department. Along with creating art, students also studied Art History and Appreciation. The Art Department consisted of one well-lit room and two small workshops. One of the workshops contained a pottery kiln. Teacher: Frances Renchler

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. 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 was designed to prepare students for immediate employment in Belleville, which was described as an, "industrial center", as well as for competition on the world stage where the war helped secure the United States a leading position. There were two courses of study in the Commercial Department- Bookkeeping and Stenography. Bookkeeping courses included Penmanship, Commercial Arithmetic, Accounting, Salesmanship, Commercial Law, and Advertising. The Stenography courses included Typing, Transcription, and Office Training (which taught filing, billing, and shipping). The focus of the Commercial Department was to prepare students to enter the business world where they were to, "wage the future commercial battles of the world for American manufacturers wtih training as good as, if not superior to, that of our foriegn competitors." Teachers: Grace Bertram, Theodosia Meng, Alfred C. Lippold, Dorothy Murray, Hortense Emunds

Department of Social and Political Sciences
The Social Sciences courses were originally designed to be taken as individual units in any combination. However, the //Bellevinois// notes that, "the general recognition for the great movement for Americanization had led our Board of Education to fix the year given to study the History of the United States and Civics as a minimum required for graduation." The Social Science curriculum included Ancient and Medieval History (freshman year), Modern History (sophomore year), History of the United States and Civics (junior year), and Economics and Sociology (senior year). Teachers: Florence Miller, Jennie McElwain

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: A. A. Bohannon

Agricultural Department
The Agricultural Department was divided into two 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. Students in this class were required to keep livestock at their homes as part of the coursework. Teacher: L. F. Lenz

Physical Training Department
The curriculum for physical education at BTHS had moved away from traditional drills and embraced the new research that showed that game play (with essential exercises included) would produce similar results in a shorter amount of time. Boys were required to take physical education for three days a week and girls were required to take two, "unless excused for definite reasons." The new gymnasium was the pride of the physical education department because is, "permits lights and air to enter from all sides. Here the students can play thier games and give vent to their enthusiasms without disturbing the rest of the student body." The gymnasim included dressing rooms and showers for boys and girls as well as the new athletic fields. Teacher: E. G. Gunderson

Modern Language Department
The Department of Modern Language included Spanish and French. Freshman and Sophomores were allowed to take French and Juniors and Seniors were allowed to take Spanish. The Department increased in 1924 as more students were interested in Foreign languages. Teachers: Marguerite Skaar and L.L. Carl

Department of Music
The Music Department was one of the most popular departments at BTHS. There were many different class choices: Chorus, Piano, Orchestra, and Band. Theory and Harmony was required of all piano students. Teacher: L.L. Carl and R. Rapp

**Biology Department**
The Biology Department offered three courses as students progressed through the coursework. Freshmen took Biology where they studied the science of living things and elementary biological systems. Botany, taken at the sophomore year, allowed students to study the different aspects of the plant world. Finally, upperclassmen took Zoology in order to understand the roots of human nature. According to the //Bellevinois//, "The great problems of human society, racial, sexual, industrial, and commercial, have thier basic foundations in the conditions that are fundamentally zoological, that is, dependent on the animal nature of man and having thier roots as far back in the soil of animal life which man is a part, even if he is the most recent and dominant of the process of evolution." The biology lab included a glass conservatory which housed an aquarium and germinating bins as well as stuffed birds and animals donated to the school. Teachers: F.J. Friedli and Christine Fisher

Football
The eightteen member football team outscored their opponents 238 to 98. The BTHS team lost to their biggest rival, East Saint Louis, 0-7. The game was hard fought between both teams.

Basketball
The Basketball team was lead by star foward Norman Gundlach. He lead the team in his dribbling and shooting. The BTHS Belleville High School Basketball Team won the Southwestern Conference.

Baseball
The Baseball Team was coached by Coach Friedli. The turnout was increased in 1924 because of teh BTHS baseball team's past success.

Track
Track was coached by Coach Gunderson. Track was still new to BTHS, so the Turnout has always been low. The schedule in 1924 was larger than previous years.

Tennis
The Intrest in Tennis grew because of the completion of the courts. In 1924, there was enough interest to have a team. = = =**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. in 1924, the club had its first annual Poultry Show. Sponsor: Mr. Homer Harper

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. The Commercial Club included all members of the Commercial Department. 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 play performed this year was "My Lady-lace". 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 Maroon and White staff tried in 1924 to mirror school life. The 1924 paper expanded and produced more copies than ever before.

Tumbling Club
The Tumbling club was a group of well-built manly boys. All of the boys showed their athleticism. Sponsor: Mr. Gunderson

Bellevinois
The Yearbook staff was lead by Editor Homer Brethauer. The book was planned with Conservatism in mind.