LHS a century ago – (PIP #55)

By Louise Peloquin

To echo Richard Howe’s January 12, 2025 substack (1), here is a throwback into Lowell High School.

L’Etoile – September 17, 1924

THE HIGH SCHOOL BARELY SUFFICES FOR ALL OF THE STUDENTS

There are 2510 students this year. – That is 300 more than last year.

               Although the new High School has been in use for only two years, it is already too crowded and presently more than 50 students have not been able to find room. Registration so far has reached 2,510 students, an increase of 300 in comparison with last year. On Monday morning, at the beginning of the second week of school, there were 92 students who had not been able to find a class. From this number, 40 were placed and 52 are yet to be accommodated. It is probable that certain classrooms, previously only used for conferences, will need to be accessible to students.

                Of the 2,510 students, 248 come from the suburbs and each pay $100 in annual tuition fees. The following villages send a number of students: Dracut, 25; Dunstable, 8; Chelmsford, 2; Billerica, 4; Wilmington, 1; Tewksbury, 74; Pelham, 2; Tyngsboro, 29.

               The registration total indicates that there are close to 14,000 students in public schools

               and 8,500 in parochial and private schools in the city.

               The public school students are distributed as follows: High School, 2,510; Junior high schools, 2,426; “grammar” schools, 4,059; primary schools, 4,516; and kindergartens, 533.

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L’Etoile – October 5, 1924

EVENING CLASSES REOPEN

AT THE HIGH SCHOOL

               The High School will begin its 1924-1925 evening classes on Thursday October 6th. Last night, more than 150 students registered for a course. The enrolment will discontinue in order to allow for class opening preparations but will resume next Wednesday. A great many of this year’s new students asked to take the business course but it was found that they did not have the required level so Mr. Harris advised them to complete the preparatory course for a year or two before embarking on a special course.

                Many are taking industrial classes at this evening school. All of these courses will be offered provided that a sufficient number registers in each course: car repair, theory and practice; carpentry; woodworking; electrical wiring; mechanics and steam boiler heating; architectural design; reading technical drawings for machinists; mathematics for machinists and plumbers.

                Anyone interested need only come to the school and ask the instructors themselves for information on the various courses. Candidates must be 16 years old and must be working in the trade in which they want training.

               Here is the list of courses with the professors’ names:

                Basics of mechanics and operating automobiles: Mr. Derbyshire and Mr. Dozois, Monday and Thursday.

               Advanced course on the same subject: Mr. Glidee, Tuesday and Friday.

               Cabinet building: Mr. J.-F. Moran, Tuesday and Friday.

               Basics of house construction: Mr. John Briscoe, Tuesday and Friday.

               Advanced course on the same subject: Mr. Fred F. Wiggin, Monday and Thursday.

               Basics of house electrical wiring: Mr. E.A. Shafter, Monday and Thursday.

               Advanced course on the same subject: Mr. C. W. MacDonald, Monday and Thursday.

                Courses on mechanics and steam boiler heating: Mr. Daniel Callahan and Mr. Daniel Duffy, Tuesday and Friday.

                Mr, John McGuinness will teach plumbing; Mr. Thomas O’Brien will teach technical drawing for blueprints and estimates; Mr. Andrew J. Moynihan will teach blueprint reading.

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L’Etoile – November 1, 1924

THE “JUNIOR COLLEGE” COURSE

AT LOWELL HIGH SCHOOL

The different subjects with the class time schedule and the nominal fee for each course.

     The Junior College Course, begun last week under the auspices of University Education Diffusion at Lowell High School, includes the following subjects:

MONDAY EVENING –

Political economics, college course – At the High School. Cost $3.

Accounting – At Lowell Textile School. Cost $2.

Parliamentary law – At the High School. Cost $2.

To obtain credits, an additional $1.

Notice: In the future, all of these classes will take place on Thursday evening.

TUESDAY EVENING –

English composition – At the High School. Cost $3.

WEDNESDAY EVENING – Advanced psychology for teachers – At the High School, at 4:15 P.M. Cost $3.

THURSDAY EVENING –

Opera appreciation – At the High School. Cost $3.

Spanish – At the High School. Cost $3.

Radio – At the High School. Cost $3.

Advanced mathematics – Trigonometry – At the High School. Cost $3.

               In general, classes are held at 7:15 P.M. Now is the time to enrol. You can apply at the office of Mr. Hugh J. Molloy, superintendent of schools of this city. These courses are a bit expensive as you can see and this is because of the budget awarded by the State.

                English course A includes instruction on the theory of English Composition practice. The theory is taught by means of written conferences, with text books, and by analyzing masterpieces of English style. Writing compositions provides the opportunity to put theory into practice. The course has ten lessons. Text book paid separately.

               The advanced psychology course for teachers was prepared especially for teachers who have completed the course offered last winter by the Lowell Division. Nevertheless, it is not necessary to have followed the first course to be admitted to this one. This course aims at presenting the philosophy and the principles at the foundation of modern progressive education. This course has eight lessons.

               The business psychology course aims at helping businessmen and women understand human nature more precisely and more completely. The basic facts, laws and principles of psychology are considered in their application to specific industrial and business problems as a vocational guide to efficiency. In addition, the course offers a foundation in psychology for advertising and sales. The course has eight lessons. Extra fee for the textbook.

                The“Opera Appreciation” course aims at pointing out the object and ideals of opera and its relation with drama. The developments of the Italian, French and German Opera Schools will be studied. We will insist on Wagner’s and his students’ musical dramas. It is necessary to know music technique. The conferences will be illustrated with transpositions of opera to piano and by phonograph selections. The course has 10 lessons.

                The radio course includes discussion about constructing, installing and operating the essential components of radio devices for both transmission and reception. The course has 10 lessons.

               The parliamentary law course is for all men and women who have the opportunity to introduce themselves and to speak in front of any social or political organization. This course teaches the student to properly preside an assembly and the important principles governing parliamentary procedures. The course has 8 lessons.

               The accounting course will only be offered if enough students enrol. It will be divided into two parts, each with 8 lessons. Accounting principles will be taught.

               The motoring course will teach car repair. The course has 8 lessons.

               Certificates will be awarded to students.

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L’Etoile – December 8. 1924

Easy Contest for High School Students

               To the young men and women of the High School who participate in this Christmas event, we will award three prizes for the best compositions on the following topic:

                “Why is gas considered a great comfort for the household.”

The first prize is $5.00; the second is $3.00 and the third is $2.00.

Those who wish to participate in the contest must fulfil the following conditions:

• The composition must not exceed 500 words.
• 8 & 1/2 by 11 paper must be used and written only on one side.
• Name and address must be written on the back of the first page.

All compositions must be sent no later than December 15th to Mr. H.H. Harris, High School principal.

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L’Etoile – January 17, 1925

NEW CREDITS FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL

It is necessary to correct the acoustics of the Cyrus W. Irish hall and complete certain requisite modifications.

               Before beginning the necessary work to correct the acoustics of the Cyrus W. Irish hall edifice of the High School, the Commission of this jurisdiction will need to obtain new credits from the City Council.

               The credit balance for constructing the High School annexe is only $3,258.63 while the                 lowest tenderer requests $7000 for this work.

               It is probable that a $20,000 loan request will be submitted to the City Council at its next session with the goal of allowing to undertake the necessary improvements to the building.

                The Commission decided to grant the contract to the Johns-Manville Company of Boston but the Mayor will not approve this before the required credits are voted upon. In addition to correcting the acoustics, there are other repairs to complete and the Commission will request a sufficient sum to cover everything. (2)

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1) Article available at https://richardhowe.com/2025/01/12/lowell-politics-january-12-2025/

2) Translations by Louise Peloquin.