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., 1950s
(Garfield) school was honored by the late President's family when James R. Garfield, then Secretary of the Interior, personally presented it with a picture of his father. [26. Josephine O'Leary, Garfield School Annual Report, Unpublished written report to the Superintendent, June, 1929; in files of Santa Monica Board of Education, p. 4.] The picture remains as a valued possession of the school today.
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"Real guidance activities were a part of the (Garfield) program associated with the work and included medical and dental assistance and attention to adequate provisions for food and clothing for many underprivileged children. Such efforts, of necessity, remain a part of the work of the school today [at Sixteenth St.]."
Currently, Washington School has an average enrollment of nearly 420 children from kindergarten to grade six. There is a faculty of fifteen including a full-time principal and remedial teacher. The school is to have a new cafeteria-auditorium building from the bond funds voted in 1950. This addition should complete the facilities of the school, and as there is limited space available, the growth of the school is restricted to its present site. [51. From Personal Interview with Sadie Jenkens (secretary to the Superintendent of Schools since 1921), May 2, 1951; Santa Monica.] pp. 48-52,
Summary
Thus by the beginning of the twentieth century, the scope of the Santa Monica schools had encompassed the full twelve grades. The board of trustees and the patrons of the district had been able to provide adequately for all the children who desired to attend the schools. The original Santa Monica School had had so many changes due to the early growth of the community, that the original section was hardly recognizable to the very early pioneers. From a humble beginning in two rooms, it had virtually burst at the seams on subsequent occasions so that at one time four rooms were added in one wing and later another wing, containing two rooms, was built.
As the town continued to grow and little children, especially, were required to walk long distances to school, the parents petitioned the board for the establishment of small schools in outlying area. In turn, the board had established the South Side School in Ocean Park, the Canyon School in Santa Monica Canyon, the Calabasas School and the Garripatas Canyon School. As new schools were added, they were established first in rented buildings and, as the need became apparent, the board purchased property and erected permanent buildings thereon. Almost identical one-room schoolhouses were built in the South Side and Canyon areas. The original Canyon schoolhouse is still in use as part of the present school, now associated with the Los Angeles City Schools.
The South Side School is the only one remaining of these early schools operating as an elementary school in Santa Monica. In 1904, the name of the school was changed to the Washington School. The school still serves the Ocean Park area and provides for kindergarten and grades one to six. The building, then an eight-room structure, was destroyed by fire in 1908, but was rebuilt as a twelve-room school. This, in turn, was seriously damaged during the earthquake of 1933, so that again, in 1934, it was rebuilt with a new four-room primary unit and modern upper grade rooms. It continues as a fourteen-room unit today. p. 55
The present enrollment at John Adams, like that at Lincoln Junior High School, is slightly less than 1000 students, and it is expected that within a period of five or six years the pupil population will have increased to over 1300. As John Adams is located in the faster growing section of Santa Monica, it is anticipated that additional classrooms, a new cafeteria, and library will be needed to accommodate the added student enrollment. With these additions, the campus will have a thoroughly complete instructional unit. [26. Financial Plan for the Operation, Maintenance, Expansion, and Modernization of the Santa Monica City Schools, 1949-56, unpublished report in the files of Santa Monica Board of Education, p. 42.]
At the present time, most of the maintenance departments of the Santa Monica City Schools are located on the former campus of John Adams Junior High School [Sixth and Ocean Park Blvd.] Some of the newer structures were rebuilt after the earthquake and these, together with the basement of the main building, provide quite adequate facilities for the maintenance shops.
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" . . . an account of the establishment of the Santa Monica High School in 1911 and 1912. The early course of study . . . was . . . the foundation upon which the present program 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. Today, with community interest vested in one high school, the educational program at the secondary level is more nearly meeting the needs of all students. Not only does it prepare them for work in colleges and universities, but it provides also terminal courses in business, homemaking, and mechanical arts, as well as scholastic and cultural experiences that better equip the high school graduate for his role as an adult member of the community
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Santa Monica High School, 1950-51, p. 30] today is considered to have one of the best high school auditoriums in the state. Among the outstanding features of the interior are its 1500 comfortable opera chairs, the rich carpeting, the concealed lighting, and the very adequate stage equipment. The size of the stage and the extensive equipment permit the production of almost all types of dramatic or musical performance. In addition to the plays and musicals presented by the high school, the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra each year presents a series of concerts, two opera companies stage productions there regularly, and other theatrical and musical organizations make use of the auditorium for civic events.
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The Curriculum
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The general courses of the curriculum in Santa Monica High School have always been maintained at a high standard. The subjects first taught on the new campus were: modern and classic languages, history, English, science, commercial subjects, manual training, domestic science, and physical education. The library of the high school has an exceptionally large number of titles and provides the students with reference material, fiction, and nonfiction books to supplement the textbooks used in their regular studies
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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. During the years debating and forensics have in part been replaced by classes in public speaking. The greatest changes, however, have taken place in the business department where course in shorthand, salesmanship, business law, business practice, office practice, and secretarial training have been added to the program of bookkeeping, accounting, and typing that traditionally had been offered.
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[At the new Santa Monica City College site] Plans for the science buildings have been approved and when bids are received, it is anticipated that construction will begin before the end of 1951. Plans are under way on the other buildings, and as the Board of Education approves them and conditions seem favorable, construction will proceed. When completed, the total City College plant will represent an estimated investment of $4,000,000 in site, buildings, and improvements. [86. Personal interview with Elmer C. Sandmeyer, May 22, 1951; Santa Monica, California.]
The students, faculty, and administration are eagerly awaiting the time when they can make the move to the new campus. Construction is progressing ahead of schedule on the first group of buildings, and they are expected to be ready for occupancy early in 1952.