The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-10-13
CROCKETT SCHOOL
IS DOING GREAT
WORK FOR GOOD
Prot. HighSaW Teaches Pupils
Many Lines in Practical
Way-HiS System Attracts
National Attention.
BY G. P. NEwsERN.

b1 q. r. NEWBEHN.
With the announcement that the
Crockett Vocational high school would
issue q daily newspaper, being the Sec
9nd high school in the United States to
Issue a daily, the fact was developed
fnA the Memphis school is perhaps the
country.
whsther or not this claim is capable
~ standardization is not Of great i'm
portanes when consideration Is given to
ne extremely vide scope of the work
oeing done at that institution under the
able direction OF Prof. j. L. Highsaw.
rractically three schools are in opera
uon IN the one luilding and all classes
ere 11led Q capacity, and in many in
turned away,
comprehensive description Of all OF
the work teing done at the Crockett
vocational high school would require
mucn time md SPACE and also the SER
vices Of ore well versed in school ac-
t~lvlties, Bs it said, however, that in
2 humbleopinion of a newspaper re-
porter, 1t IS an institution of which
memphis my well, be proud.
Classes fF the first tschool hold forth
throughout the morning and early aft
ernoon hops. During the late after
noon anotfr school is in session in
what Is known as the part-time or con-
tinuation work, while in the evening
the night slhool and additional classes
IN Vocauona work are given instruction.
Inspection of Lumber.
One Of TIL newest classes in the voca-
tional work is that where the inspection
and grading Of lumber is taught. This
CLASS IS unaer the direction of expert
enced lumtermen and men engaged in
me lumber business in Memphis have
ihhoGrsed the movement and are lending
/ tneir cooperation to the school authori-
Ties IN making this class a success.
ms class Is already filled and the
pupils are wall on their way toward
mastering thu intricacies Of lumber
grading. At ! later date, when the
proper stage u reached, Memphis lum-
lumber to be used by the students in
practical inspection and grading.
another class hat is one of impor-
lance and intensely interesting is one
where designing of machinery is taught,
= art Of making and reading blues
lures OF the work. 1t is said to be par
ticularly true OF artisans in this line
pr work that but few of them are capa-
pie OF reading blue prints, and for this
reason pupils in this class are given
thorough and complete instruction in
this work.
Tipping and Printing.
With the installation of a cylinder
press at an early date the equipment of
the printing plant at the Crockett Vo-
cational high school will inventory about
slo,O0O, n will be complete in every
detail. The pupils in this class. which
mas peen filled to capacity, are given
PRACTICAL instruction IN the printing
trade. A standard linotype is included
in the equipment, and this method of
typesetting, as well as the hand method,
rs taught by a man of many years prac-
tical experience. All of the printing for
the city schools Is done in this plant,
and this work not only affords the pu-
pills practical training. but effects an
appreciate saving in the pringting bill
of the board Of education.
Another interesting department is
that where automobile repairing is
taught. The textbook used in this de-
partment is the same as that adopted by
the government for training men for the
army, only a later revised edition Is
used. Real work on automobile engines
Is given the students under the direction
Of a practical automobile expert. Every
phase of automobile work is taught, the
men being given instruction and expert
cnce on motors OF various makes,
The woodworking department is an
other that has proven very attractive
to pupiS. A number have been turned
away as the facilities will permit only
q limited number in this department.
Suffice 1t to say, however, that these
pupils are receiving expert instruction
along practical lines and evidences of
their work may be seen in various parts
Of the school in the form of filing cabi-
netss desks, tables, chairs and other
equipment used by the faculty.
Would-b electricians who are now
pupils at the Vocational school have not
yet received all of their equipment, but
in \ very short while this department
will be complete. Meanwhile much pre-
liminary work has been done and the
class has made considerable progress.
Minimum of Hooky.
There are other departments that are
equally as interesting as those mem
toned, but space forbids a more detailed
account of their work and equipment.
ANON the things taught at this highly
interesting institution will be found
classes In stenography, typewritins,
English, languages. domestic science,
journalism, mechanical drawing and nu-
merous other subjects.
A reserve officers training corps at
this school is under the direction of a
regular army officer, and the pupils are
given daily drills and exercises and
perform other duties hat come within
scope of this department. :.
The pupils of the school are very
proud that they won Is ribbons at the
Tri- State fair, and the exhibits as we'll
as the ribbons are carefully preserved.
OuILlHb CldSS6S anu bDS6nCt lTOlll
school has been reduced to a minimum
by the installation of an attendance rec
ord perfected by Prof. Highsaw. This
system has been found to be so eff
Gent that a representative of the fed
eral bureau of education was sent to
Memphis for the specific purpose Of
studying the system in order that its
adoption might be recompended to 9th
er cities. Prof. Highsaw declares that
It is almost impossible for a pupil to
cut a class or play hooky under the
present check system without being
detected.
Adoption of this check system
throughout the entire city school system
and particularly in Central high school
is being contemplated by the board of
education.
All in all a visit to Crockett Vocational
high school is extremely interesting and
any Memphian who makes such a visit
will be astounded when he is shown
the great variety Of things taught and
u A. affiniant W manner in which thn stu