Article is titled for the Arkansas Jr. High, but there is some on the High School also.
HISTORY OF THE TEXARKANA ARKANSAS JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Photo's that go with this article:
First Arkansas High 1911: This is a picture of the First Texarkana Arkansas High School, located at the corner of 5th and Beech Streets. After the new Arkansas High School was built at 932 Pecan, it was used as a Manual Training building until 1914 when the first Junior High School was established in the State of Arkansas and one of the few in the United States.
Fairview
School: This is a picture of the four year elementary Fairview School
located at 801-15 East 10th St. Between Locust and Garland Streets. Later
it became the second building used as the Arkansas Junior High School when it
was moved from 5th and Beech Street.
In 1935, the Journalism Class of Texarkana, Arkansas
Junior High School, gathered the following information about the beginning of
its history. The following persons were interviewed, Mr. Otto Forehand, Mrs. L.
A. Tanlunson, Miss Lula Stegall, Mrs. Talbert Field, and Mrs. Fleet Cook.
Many did not realize that this was a comparatively new
concept at this time. The School Board of Texarkana, Arkansas was a pioneer in
adapting education for the adolescent. In fact, the first Junior High School
established in Texarkana, Arkansas in 1914, was the first in the state of
Arkansas and among the first in the United States.
The first High School built in Texarkana, Arkansas was a
small brick building at the corner of 5th and Beech Street. After the new High
School was built, between Short 10th and 10th Streets and
Hickory and Pecan Streets, the old High School building became the new Junior
High School. The superintendent of schools at this time was Mr. Ury McKenzie.
His Junior High faculty consisted of C. G. Truitt as principal and teacher of
mathematics; Miss Iola Edwards (now Mrs. Talbot Field), geography and
physiology; Miss Annie Whitney, Latin; and Miss Stella Thomas, English. Before
the seventh, eight, and ninth grades were moved into this building in 1914, they
were a part of the Central School, a larger building situated on the same block
between 5th and 6th Streets facing Ash Street.
In 1916 Mr. Truitt resigned as principal of junior high,
and Mr. Otto Forehand, who was the principal of the College Hill School, was
elected to take his place. In 1917, an addition was made to the faculty in the
person of Miss Camille Lucas who taught English until she married Mr. Fleet
Cook. His father, Attorney W. G. Cook, had been an important influence on the
educational life of this city.
In the spring of 1917, the junior high school was moved
from 5th and Beech Streets to 11th Street between Garland and Locust Streets.
This Eight Room building was originally built as a Four Year elementary school
known as Fairview. It was converted into a junior high because of its nearness
to the senior high school and could have access to the Gymnasium and Manuel
Training Shop of senior high.
After moving into the larger building, new courses were
added to the curriculum and new teachers were added to the faculty. Miss Ruth
Hamilton taught Latin and girls basketball, which was the only physical
education offered girls. Home Economics and Manuel Training were added and
students reported to senior high for these courses. Mrs. Sudin Delemar Nix had
charge of the Home Economics classes and R. B. Lawson had charge of the Manual
Training department for both senior and junior high students. Later, this
situation was abandoned and laboratories and shops were installed in junior
high.
Starting with very few books in the library, it now at
this date, 1935, contains 2300 volumes of the best books for adolescent
students. This collection includes reference material, biography, travel,
discovery, invention and carefully selected fiction. The general library is in
connection with the study hall where students can prepare for reference work and
read for recreation and required reading for English. An honors library has also
been opened for students who can work without teacher supervision.
The work continued this way, and faculty continued with
few changes until December 1920, when Mr. Forehand resigned as principal to
accept the office of County Superintendent. Mr. R. L. Clements was elected as
principal of the Junior High School after Mr. Forehand’s resignation.
Superintendent, Mr. Ury McKenzie, resigned his position in 1920 to accept the
position of Superintendent of Hot Springs Schools and Mrs. S. E. Green was
elected to succeed Mr. McKenzie. Mrs. Y. E. Montgomery, formally head of the
mathematics department in junior high, became principal during Mrs. Green’s
administration. Mr. P. N. Bragg succeeded Mrs. Green as Superintendent and
became head of the Texarkana Arkansas School system.
Submitted by Betty Meador Sharp
Sources:
Manual of the Texarkana, Arkansas Public Schools, 1911.
Texarkana Gazette, dated 12 May 1935.
Photos from Collection of Bill Sharp
08/29/04
