| Kent State High School - Class of 1965 (Click on 1989 reunion picture below for larger view) |
| Kent State University, in Kent, Ohio, was founded as "Kent Normal School" in 1910 for the purpose of trainng elementary and high school teachers. After 1914 an important component was an on-campus laboratory or teacher training school (grades K - 12) which required a special facility, Franklin Hall, completed in 1926. In the 1930s tree company heir Martin Davey became Ohio governor and helped Kent Normal become Kent State University with the incorporation of a graduate school. The institution grew steadily following World War II. In 1957 a new building for the training school was built, containing grades K - 12 as before. The Vietnam War came and went and so did our school, officially named "Kent State University School." It was also known as "Kent State High" by others, such as our formidable cross-town rival: Kent Roosevelt High School. Our teams were originally called the "Blue Devils," a name shared by nearby Tallmadge High, so by 1960 we became the "Statesmen." The name was apt. For example, in the early 1960s our band cheer at football games went like this: "Repel them! Repel them! Make them surrender the ball!" The last high school class graduated in 1972; the elementary grades persisted until 1982 when budgetary constraints and declining teacher enrollments closed the doors forever. Another factor was the disastrous May 4, 1970 incident which resulted in community malaise and a loss of influence for the university with the Board of Regents in Columbus. |
| City of Kent, Ohio Kent Historical Society KSUHS Reunion Page Kent State University Kent/Akron Weather Kent Ohio Photos Portage County Historical |
| Always small, high school classes enrolled about one hundred. Suburbanization brought students from distant communities such as Twin Lakes, Silver Lake, Congress Lake and Fairlawn. Often the parents were connected with the university or the student had a special need. The admission policy during the last dozen years assembled a diverse and talented student body. In retrospect, the creation of Field High School to the south took away enough Brimfield students that a wider net was cast to maintain adequate enrollment for a high school environment. It was an excellent school. The entire faculty had at least a master's degreee and were full members of Kent State's influential School of Education. Student teachers and observers came and went, although not as frequently as might have been expected for a "lab" school. Students from tiny Kent State University High School vied with Shaker Heights High for the highest ratings, test scores and National Merit scholarships. Many graduated with extensive university course work completed in math, science and languge arts. The KSUS 1965 page on Yahoogroups is private but welcomes our friends and schoolmates from other years. (Email me directly if there are problems joining the group.) Click on the link below, get a Yahoo ID, subscribe to our email listserv (complete identity needed for approval) and gain acces to a message archive, photo album, database, chat and other features. These services are free but for the inevitable advertising. It's a small price to pay for keeping in touch! |
| Email: Roger Thurman |
|
 |
