By KAYLEE BECKER-GEORGE – September of 1943 saw IHS’s students returning for another year of school overshadowed by World War II. This period was interestingly documented in several editions of the High Arrow from that time period.
Articles about WWII preoccupy the front page of almost every edition from that time; and that’s saying something, considering that the paper was being published weekly. The publications tell a story of a school trying hard to retain its normalcy while going through a hard time.
Senior Adriana Guth-Borowski, Editor of the High Arrow says, “The articles show what students were dealing with at the time. I definitely can draw parallels with them dealing with an intense war and us going through a pandemic. I think that they were deeply affected by it just as we are deeply affected by the pandemic.”
There is much talk of war, and of the boys in the school who had gone to serve. Some articles included details that the men in service had sent home to their teachers. Some talk about the home efforts to raise money and support their friends overseas. Others pay tribute to fallen IHS alumni overseas.
There were seven IHS casualties in WWII that were written about in the September 1943 – May 1944 issues. Technical Sgt. Harold S. McFarland (MIA), Sgt. Robert P. Kaufman (MIA), Sgt., Lewis M. Getty (KIA), Sgt. Arthur V. Houck (KIA), First Lieutenant Stephen Barto Jr. (KIA), Private Kenneth Delos Jamison (KIA), Private Robert Nicols (KIA), and Private Paul Donald Buterbaugh (MIA).
It’s hard to imagine how students were able to find a sense of normalcy in all of this. “I don’t think I would be able to handle a full on war,” senior Debra Flint stated. “My personal plans for after school would be halted because I wouldn’t feel safe out of my home, let alone in a new city away from all my loved ones.”
Despite this, they did manage to continue on in a fashion as close to normal as they could get. On the same page, talking about classmates entering the service as soon as the first semester ends, there could be talk of the play going on, or the student with the best attendance records.
The yearbook was cancelled for the year, so the High Arrow featured the seniors in the paper.
Senior Caleigh Cessna also drew the connection between going to school during a war and going during a pandemic. “I think in the future,” she says, “the High Arrow and other school newspapers will be important in looking at the opinions of teenagers during the Coronavirus pandemic.”
One day the articles written during COVID will be read by students in the future and they’ll wonder how this generation managed it.
[Photos courtesy of Ralph Wilson Rowland and Sue Ellen Deitrich]
Kaylee is a senior and a second-year reporter for the High Arrow. She enjoys playing video games and plays in the school marching band. She is excited to get back into writing articles for the school.
By Emma Buterbaugh IHS students are giving a warm welcome to Mrs. Brittany Anderson, the newest attendance officer. She comes to IHS from Eisenhower and Horace Mann Elementary. She worked there until this year and moved to the senior high when this job opened. The IHS community is very excited
By Gabi Isenberg IHS Leadership is back this year, planning influential events for the community and IHS students alike. MiniTHON, a teacher luncheon, and fun tenth period activities are just a sample of the efforts Leadership has made to bring a variety of opportunities to the IHS community. Leadership Seminar
By Hayden Yankuskie Deanne Magolis, more formally known as Mrs. Magolis, taught at Brookville Area School District for 3 years, then Homer Center School District for 17 years, before joining the IHS community at the beginning of the 24-25 school year. She is an English 10 teacher. Mrs. Magolis taught
By Samantha Aljoe Miss Amy Kukula is a new addition at Indiana Senior High School. She is the new 9th grade English teacher. Miss Kukula went to the Cook Honor College at IUP, where she majored in English education and dance. Miss Kukula brings many new perspectives to IHS. In
By Ella Mosco The Fulbright program is a prestigious international exchange project that allows teachers from other countries to visit the United States schools. Fulbright scholars began in IHS on September 11 and were in classrooms every Wednesday for six weeks. This program encourages foreign teachers to immerse themselves into
By Gabi Isenberg When the air gets crisp and the leaves turn orange, it can only mean one thing – IHS Homecoming is right around the corner. 2024’s Homecoming festivities will be disco-themed and held on October 4 and 5 at IHS. Student Government Association is hard at work to
