The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1940-02-29
BtuftOn Schools
Modern In Setup


With the construction of the addi-
ton to the high school building, COM
pleted in 1893, the school has become
community center of many activi-
ties.
Enrolment at the present consists
of 625 students, 290 at the grade
building and 335 at the high school,
with nine teachers in the first SIX
grades and 10 at the high school,
not including Religious Education in
structor, Librarian, and kindergarten
instructor. A. ]. B. Longsdorf is
superintendent of school and Ger
hard Buhler high school principal.
The school has a varied program
of instruction giving the students a
large choice in subject matter in pre-
paration for life's work. The new
building has made it possible to Of
fer complete industrial arts pro-
gram, physical education, commercial
work and all three divisions of vo-
cational training under the Smith
Hughes Act. The latter includes
three-year training in home econ
omics, four years of vocational agri-
culture and two years in electrical
trades and industry.
Bluffton is unique in making
greater use of vocational training
under the Smith-Hughes Act than
any other school in this vicinity.
The gymnasium has been used not
only for athletic contests but for the
training of health and physical edu-
cation, banquets, as an auditorium
for large gatherings, exhibit hall,
class plays, and many indoor sports
of this community.
The school has an extensive extra
curricular program. In music it
has ranked high, in glee club,
a capella, band, orchestra, solo and
ensemble groups and operettas. In
forensics, students have ranked high
in debates, speaking contests, and
plays. 1t has many clubs where stu
dents are permitted to develop their
abilities in leadership and add to
their knowledge obtained in class
work. In addition there is instruc-
ton in fine art drawing, painting
and clay modelling. The Girl Reserve
and Hi-Y organizations add greatly
to the religious influence and char
acter development of the students.
Among the many clubs we find the
Science club, Blue Triangle, Future
Farmers of America, Future Home
makers of America, Camera club,
National Honor society, Junior Ma
tional Honor society, Athletic club.
The publications include the school
paper and the annual. These in
| terpret the work of the school to the
community.
Six buses bring to the school each
day students from the rural areas.
These buses are all new with the
most modern equipment in bus trans
portation.
In the industrial arts program
boys are trained in printing, wood
work, metal work, photography and
electrical fields as well as the use of
many tools. The school has also
been fortunate in having had a re-
ligious education program since
about 1920 in grades one to eight
Children below school age have
found it possible in recent years to
attend kindergarten which for two
years was WPA project and this
last year under private direction of
Miss Lucille Lamson.
A large number of high school
students have received valuable train
ing in typing, shorthand and other
commercial subjects, valuable in OBJ
tanning positions after graduation.
Another project of the school has
been its adult education program in
the vocational courses conducted in
the evening. In cooperation with
local industries special trade school
is conducted each Tuesday and
Thursday with an enrolment of
about 5. The adult education pro-
grams in home economics and voca-
tional agriculture are conducted on