Central High School

Knoxville,  Tennessee

Sequoyah

1919

Faculty

The New Broom

The teaching force at Central saw many changes during the past year.  While a fair number of the old teachers are still with us the faculty as a whole may be considered a new broom and as such is living up to the declaration of the honored proverb.

The changes began with the fatal illness of our former principal, J. Frank Davidson, under whose able and conscientious leadership the school prospered and reached the height of its popularity.  Because of his declining health it became evident, in the summer of 1918, that he could no longer carry on the work, so Prof. E. E. Patton was elected to succeed him. In the late fall Mr. Davidson passed away.

The loss of their leader was a signal for a number of resignations among the teachers.  Then the "revised" faculty came into being.  Though we were sorry that some of the teacher that we had known were gone we received the new teachers with open arms (of welcome).  We were soon launched on a very successful year under the enthusiastic leadership of our new principal.  He proved to have the ability of transmitting his enthusiasm to others. Affairs were so systematized that when Miss Gresham took the helm during Mr. Patton's dip into legislative waters the ship glided smoothly forward.

Even though there were many new teachers at the first of the year we got a good start and  soon had our "rep" up to par and were able to enjoy a little rest and yet "get by". But things began to go ag'in us.  In October Mr. Andes heroically filled the vacancy left in the physics work by the departure of Mr. Miller. At the beginning of the second term Mr. Wickham, the pedagogical theologian, turned aside to the common marts of trade.  Then Mr. Acuff became the head of the "math" department and was ably assisted by a new teacher, Mr. Justus, who also "Englished it" considerably.  In January Miss Gresham became principal and very ably carried on the work where Mr. Patton left off.

Toward the last of the month the open season for comedies was ushered in noisily. Special mention is due Miss Sensabaugh,  Miss Gresham, Miss Hicks,  Miss Anderson and Miss Nuchols for the help rendered in the staging of various plays, and because of the inconveniences and suffering caused them by the youthful actors.  And lastly but not leastly Mr. Bell was busy with those who were mechanically inclined whom he gently but nevertheless firmly guided aright.  Every teacher here has been loaded to the guards with work and we have ever been mindful of this condition in all that we have done at school this year.

Although our numbers have decreased, owing largely to the extensions of the city limits, we feel that we have benefited by the change.  Having fewer numbers has served to bring teachers and pupils into greater harmony and better understanding of each other.  The newly adopted group system has aided wonderfully in this direction.

Our school has ever maintained its high standard of scholarship and has remained on the accredited list of leading colleges.  So, all in all, we feel that we come to the close of the year with colors flying and extend our hearty thanks to the new faculty who made the year a success.

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Faculty

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