The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1941-02-27

With the construction of the addi-
tion to the high school building, COM
pleted in 1888, the Bluffton school
has become a community center of
many activities.
Enrolment at the present consists
of 622 students, 285 at the grade
building and 337 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 su-
perintendent of schools and Gerhard
Buhler high school principal.
The school has varied program of
instruction giving the students large
choice in subject matter in prepara-
ton for life's work. The new build
ing has made it possible to offer a
complete industrial arts program,
physical education, commercial work
and all three divisions of vocational
training under the Smith, Hughes Act.
The latter includes three-year train
ing in home economics, four years of
vocational agriculture and two years
in electrical trades and industry.
Bluffton is unique in making great
er 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, 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 students are per-
mitted to develop their abilities in
leadership and add to their knowledge
obtained in class work. In addition
there is instruction in fine art draw
ing, painting and clay modelling. The
Girl Reserve and Hi-Y organizations
add greatly to the religious influence
and character 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 inter-
pref 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, woodwork,
metal work, photography and electric
al fields as well as the use of many
tools. The school has also been for
tunate in having had a religious edu-
cation 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 a WPA project and these
last years under private direction.
A large number of high school stu
dents have received valuable train
ing in tipping, shorthand and other
commercial subjects, valuable in OBJ
tanning positions after graduation.
There are six teachers on the high
school faculty with masters degrees
and a number of others who expect
to obtain their masters degree in the
near future. Nearly all have advanc-
ed training above their college de-
gree.
Another project of the school has
been the course in vocational agri
culture and classes in national de-
fense sponsored by the Ohio State
Board of Vocational Education under
the supervision of the United State.
Offices of Education. This latter pro
gram is for out-of-school and rura
youths from 17-25 years. There arr
approximately Is enrolled in the vo
cational agriculture course and 45 il
the national defense classes. The ma
tional defense classes consist of ele
mentary electricity and general meta
working. The agriculture meets ev
cry Monday evening and the defens
classes meet every evening from
Mondov RI Thursday inclusive