Donald M. Cleland A History of the Santa Monica Schools 1876-1951, Santa Monica Unified School District, February 1952 (Copied for the Santa Monica Library, July 22, 1963). 140 pp., 1919, 1913, 1912, 1910s, 1908
The Washington School that rose out of the ashes of the old one the same year gave the neighborhood its first fine brick building. Cement sidewalks had been laid around the entire block, but weeds and wild flowers still grew unmolested in the streets. The new building contained twelve rooms, was of two-story construction, and commanded a view of the Santa Monica-Ocean Park strand. The slope of the hill permitted the extension of the building downward, creating a sub-story. Before three years were passed, space in the sub-story room had been converted into classroom space. [47. Pearl, op. cit., p. 27.]
Visitors, discovering the beauty of Santa Monica, remained in ever-increasing numbers to become permanent residents. The schools found it difficult to keep pace with this phenomenal growth, and the inadequacy of instructional facilities made it necessary, in 1912, to send the eighth grade to Lincoln School. A year later, the John Adams School took in the seventh and eighth grades making it possible to establish a much needed kindergarten. A Miss Schaffner was selected to direct this early kindergarten program [48. Ibid., p. 28.]
Washington School, still on the march in 1919, added four new primary rooms, the enrollment of the school having again reached the point where a large number of pupils could not be properly accommodated. The board of trustees acquired additional playground space in 1911[1921?],
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" . . . an account of the establishment of the Santa Monica High School in 1911 and 1912. The early course of study that was established and that developed as the school grew is the foundation upon which the present program [1952] is based. The selection of Prospect Hill, midway between Ocean Park and Santa Monica, as the site for the new high school was a large factor in eliminating the cross-town rivalry which had existed between the two communities . . .
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"An agricultural program was introduced into the course of study in 1914 with work in propagation and horticulture for those interested in this field as a career or for home use. The program reached a peak during World War I, when food production became a vital factor in winning the war. [68. Pearl, op. cit., p. 94.]
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"As the school grew, more subjects were added to the course of study. In 1916, a course in dramatics was instituted and later was made part of the regular English program . . .
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"Frank W. Thomas, elected in 1911, was the first principal of the new high school, which opened in its new location with an enrollment of 450 students and a staff of twenty-three teachers.The following spring more than a dozen teachers were added to the staff to meet the requirements of an increased enrollment. [60. Pearl, op. cit., p. 92]
"Thomas resigned in 1913 to become president of Fresno State Teachers College, and the Board of Education accepted his resignation "with deepest regret."
"His successor was J.E. McKown (1913-1914) who was followed two years later by A.F. Wood (1915). The next year, 1916, W.F. Barnum, who had been teaching in the high school since 1914, assumed the principalship. Under his able direction the high school made remarkable progress. He served the school as principal from 1916 until his untimely death on May 13, 1943. The auditorium building, constructed after the earthquake of 1933, was named Barnum Hall in honor of his long and faithful service to the school.
"Ocean Park residents soon discovered that the new high school, lying as it does midway between the two settlements, served their children equally well. As time went on and old antagonisms were replaced with friendly understanding and tolerance, Ocean Park people took as much pride in the hilltop high school as did residents of North Santa Monica.
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" In Chapter IV, analysis will be made of the further refinement and expansion of the organization of the schools, starting with the establishment of two junior high schools in 1912 and 1914, respectively.
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"During the years of World War I, when the impact of the conflict was felt strongly by students and faculty, Santa Monica High School engaged in many patriotic activities. Among other things, they raised money for an ambulance to be sent to the French army. The Red Cross sewing class at the school numbered 216 participants, the largest class in the history of the school. So many young patriots joined the armed forces that there were almost twice as many girls as there were boys in the school. The total enrollment dropped to 455, with chemistry the most popular study of that period, and home gardening also proving to be an important interest." [63. Pearl, op. cit., p. 97]