Smyrna times., 1924-06-25
COMMERCIAL DEPARTMENT TO
Be ADDED TO SMYRNA SCHOOL
MISS EDNA PRATT, THIS TOWN
WILL BE THE FIRST TEACHER
High School Faculty Re- Elected With
Shift in POsitiOns-Miss Start
Comes Back-New Teachers


At meeting of the Smyrna School
Board it was decided to introduce a
Commercial Department in the High
School where pupils may be taught
typewriting, stenOgraphy, bookkeep-
ing, banking, &c, courses that are
taught in business colleges. This de-
partment will be in charge of Miss
Edna Pratt, daughter of Mr.. and Mrs.
Frank Pratt, of this town, who not
only is a graduate of WOman's Col
lege, University of Delaware, but is
a graduate of GOldey Business Col
lege, Wilmington. The new depart
ment will be added to the course of
study the coming school year. 1t is
felt that a business course, which will
be elective to the High School grades,
will take well in Smyrna and will
keep many pupils at home instead of
going to the large cities for their
business education. As was announc-
ed last week, the School Board decid-
ed to abandon the department of ag-
mculture, conducted here by Prof. j.
H. Mendenhall, because said depart
ment was not sufficiently patronized.
Strange to note, is the fact that few
farmers had their sons take advant-
age of the course. This was one of
the vocational courses offered by the
Federal Government and the only ex-
pense to which the local Board was
put, was to pay half of the salary of
Prof. Mendenhall. The latter was
well fitted for his duties and made an
earnest effort among farmers to en-
courage the course of study, but it
was to no avail. There were town
boys who mostly composed the class
of six, who patronized the agricul-
tural department the last school year
and for lack of interest, the School
Board felt impelled to forgO continu-
ing the course longer. The money
saved will be directed to other chan
nels where it is more urgently need
ed. Superintendent c. w. w. Schantz
has secured the contracts for next
years teaching staff. There are four
changes in the Faculty. d. Irwin
Herr, in charge of Mathematics and
Science in the High School, leaves to
continue his studies in college and is
succeeded by Miss Lillian Thornley,,
of the Seventh Grade; Miss Helen p.
Start, who has been persuing a course
of study at Woman's College, Univer-
sity of Delaware, will succeed Miss
Thornley, in charge of the Seventh
Grade. Mrs. w. Z. Dewitt, in charge
of the Fifth Grade, leaves for New
York, and will be succeeded next Sep
tember by Miss May Thompson, of
this town, a recent graduate in the
teachers special course of WOman's
College, University of Delaware. Prof.
Mendenhall, as above mentioned,
leaves the Faculty. The full and COM
plete staff of teachers for the coming
year is as follows:
Prof. C. w. W. Schantz.
Superintendent of Schools
Miss Anna G. Denney.
Secretary and Visiting Teacher
Mathematics and Science
Miss Elizabeth d. Croft English and History
Mr.. Henry c. Webb, .... Latin and French
Miss A. Margaret Mofett.
Mathematics and English. J. H.
Miss Lillian L. Thornley,
Mathematics and Science, J. H.
Mr.. Frank Fl. Hynson, ..... Industrial Arts
Miss Edna M. Garrett, ..... Household Arts
Miss Edna r. Pratt, ............ Commercial
Miss Anna b. Beckett, ......... Eighth Grade
Miss Helen p Start ......... Seventh Grade
Miss Bessie 9. Matthews, ....... Sixth Grade
Miss May Thompson, .......... Fifth Grade