Article About Wacona School
Written by Robert L. Hurst in 1987.
Mr. Hurst
was Director of Public Relations for Ware County Schools at that time.
Though Wacona Elementary School gained the official title "School of Excellence" in 1987, unofficially this phrase has been used by many through the years when speaking of the institution. Since its beginning in the early 1920s, community and school pride have carried Wacona forward.
And perhaps some critics, studying that era, might say the school flaunted its successes, but, then, it had successes to flaunt: "the best rural school building in Georgia, with a cost of ten cents per cubit foot," "the best indoor basketball court in Ware County," "the only public school in Georgia publishing a series of supplementary readers."
Built in 1922, Wacona literally arose from the ashes of the Pine View-Jamestown Consolidated School. The earlier institution had begun a tradition by securing dedicated teachers who gave dedicated services for very little reward. An excellent example was W.L. Sprouse, who was its principal and a pioneer Boy Scout leader during the days of the four-room wooden structure that preceded Wacona. Principal Sprouse, who is remembered very dearly by some older Ware Countians, would become one of the gassed victims in World War I. Another instructor to come from this early facility was Miss Bessie Maynard, long associated with the Waycross City School System.
So, when on September 18, 1922, Wacona High School opened its doors for registration, "It was a beautiful new building, equipped with every modern improvement, that met the bright eyes of each pupil. There were more than enough pupils here on opening day to stand side by side and go entirely around the building," wrote one observer, indicating the first pride that would never die.
During this time, the school officials, including teachers and students, set standards that are still being followed today. Many educators will recognize the current Quality Basic Education (QBE) Act in the following 1923-24 graduation requirements: "In order to graduate, a student must present majors in English, foreign language and mathematics and minors in science and history, for the Classical (Academic) Course; and majors in English, mathematics, history or science and minors in vocational work and some other subject for the Vocational Course."
With no Compulsory Education Act at this time, school attendance, much less strenuous course offerings, was on trembling ground; however, Wacona High School, as did its elementary school, required a high standard of deportment and class work. Special stress was placed on the literary society and extra curriculum activities. "Sixteen units are required for graduation, at least fifteen of which must be academic units, as per the requirements for an Accredited High School. No student is credited for more than four and one-half academics units per year (four preferred), except a senior may do special work to complete a course."
Shunning the idea of lower standards, Wacona issued a statement recognizing the number of consolidated schools in the county "doing junior high school work. These schools have a special invitation to send their students to Wacona to do their advanced work. We have one of the best rural school plants of the single story type in Georgia."
Even in those early decades, the Wacona student took at least four years of English, three of mathematics and two of science. Eight credits constituted a unit, with credit courses pursued for two years and extra curriculum activities taken for credit when approved. Because of this high school's course of study, a philosophy developed that centered on meeting the demands of the local community life and the entrance requirements of higher institutions.
When the Class of 1922-1923 began the first yearbook, the idea of titling it "Pine View - Jamestown Consolidated" just didn't click. Miss Eddie Mae Barrett (now Mrs. Cecil Spear), one of the advisors, suggested "Ware County, North America." That did click when the acronym WACONA was suggested. Principal J.L. Stanford, capitalizing on the name, further promoted the still new school: "We wish to urge upon the junior high school students of Ware County the importance of continuing your studies....Wacona offers you courses that will train you for your life work...."
A strong asset for this institution was its vocational education classes. An early release points out the push vocation education was receiving: "How to make better homes, how to live more happily and better, and how to make a worthy use of our leisure time so as to provide a better and richer life for our people is the chief problem to be solved by the youth of our country today. The school moulds the community ideals today in no uncertain way. Education should equip the individual to secure from his leisure the re-creation of body, mind and spirit, and the enrichment and enlargement of his personality. One of the surest ways to accomplish this is to provide courses in vocational and avocational activities...."
At the same time, a noted shortage of teachers encouraged the State Department of Education to institute a plan for teacher-training classes in high schools, beginning with the 1920-21 school year. In order to qualify for this course, a high school must be accredited; it must have a library including at least thirty reference books on teaching; a laboratory; courses in home economics and physical training must be given. Students completing the course would be issued a license to teach in the public schools of Georgia. Wacona, shortly after it opened, became a qualified teacher-training center.
On December 5, 1926, Wacona mysteriously burned. Some report that only the brick shell remained, but that community support saved the day. Area churches became schools until, on January 29, 1927, when the building, adorned in stucco, appeared as the landmark it is today.
With a philosophy and future goals formed, the school continued to grow. During the 1930s, when Robert Nabers was principal, former Instructor Roger Enloe, now an official with the Business Council for the United Nations in New York, reflects that a time did come when the Ware County Board of Education announced that the high school teachers would have to choose between accepting half salary or closing the elementary school. "We all chose the cut in salary, which was not large to begin with." Mr. Enloe also noted a new experience at that time: "Children were riding school buses, some even traveling 80 miles a day!"
Basketball and Wacona became synonymous in the 1930s. Edmund Rusk coached the boys; Enloe, the girls. And "Much of the time our work engaged us six days a week," remembers Enloe.
The 1940s found Wacona students and faculty involved with the Red Cross, bond, newspaper and metal drives and war stamp savings. It was a time when the PTA, even though practically everything was rationed, became most active, building the first lunchroom on the school campus. Another first, somewhat ahead of its time, was the introduction of teaching aids. Games became very popular in the classroom to insure interest and to promote free enterprise competitiveness instruction. Audio-visuals would come later.
When the 1950s dawned, Wacona, like all her neighbor schools, rocked and rolled. The school, under Principal S.E. Goss, did not relax those standards. If anything, the faculty, with that strong community support, became stronger. Teachers and administrators were advancing their degrees, strengthening professionalism and finding even more creative teaching methods. Then, in the summer of 1958, the rumor that had been spreading became truth. A new high school had been built near the old World War II air base. Wacona and Waresboro high schools would consolidate to become Ware County High School; Wacona would now become an elementary-junior high complex, housing grades one-eight. As time passed, grades six, seven and eight would be transferred to the present Ware County Junior High School, leaving Wacona s it is now with grades kindergarten-five.
In 1962, the first full-time elementary counselor in Georgia was contracted and assigned to Wacona. Mrs. Elizabeth B. Osburn, a veteran instructor at the school prior to going into counseling, was soon recognized over the state as a pioneer educator. She was awarded the first Merritt Oelke Memoriam Award in 1969, naming her Counselor of the Year for the state. Principal T.L. Everett, Jr., realizing the program's value, promoted the effort, and Wacona continues this program today.
With the 1970s, individualized instruction was stressed by Principal Everett, and the physical education aide program began to draw attention as high school youngsters were assigned coaching duties at Wacona. Their involvement, under an assigned professional coach, not only helped the elementary youngster, but also gave them insight into a profession which they might enter.
The 1980s, with its electronic pioneering, entered Wacona with a bang. Principal Richard Brantley reports that, in 1985, the use of computers in the classroom statewide was an average one for every 125 children; Wacona's average at that time was one for every 20 students. One was placed in every classroom.
Principal Brantley, aware of the need for continued community support, created the VISE Squad. Volunteers in Service to Education called for community citizens to help the classroom teachers. Planned and organized with great care, it allowed parents to see their children in an actual classroom setting. He also increased the individualized instruction program by organizing GRIN, Growth in Reading Individually Now. Suggested by Instructor Becky Haynes, GRIN promoted the reading of 12 or more books each six-week grading period.
Now, in 1987, as if given for the work it has accomplished, Wacona Elementary School is moving away from its landmark building. These students, faculty, administrators and other personnel will soon be enclosed in a new $1,174,143.00 building. And Principal Brantley sums up this advancement: "No one thing or one person makes a school program effective. The honor belongs to the entire Wacona family--staff, students, parents and community. Excellence has come because the Wacona Staff has worked harder; adjusted to change; dared to trust a new principal; and dared to offer fresh, new ideas. Truly, the honor belongs to all...." Brantley adds that the award is not the culmination of the goal but the beginning of a new and greater challenge, as it was in the beginning.
This page created April 2007 by Lori Miller, Technology Instructor at Wacona Elementary School.
