THE CRUCIFIX

There is an unusual looking crucifix located on the stairwell between 217 and 317. Most crucifixes give the feeling of serenity, but this life sized figure in bronze is thin, elongated, and twisted with pain. It used to be located in the front hallway, opposite the main entrance. It was moved when the school was painted many years ago.

It caused quite a stir when Mr. Holmes purchased the art work. One of our teachers knew a young artist graduating from the Dayton Art Institute who was selling his art work in order to raise money to attend graduate school. The teacher brought the artist in to meet Mr. Holmes who bad already purchased the thousands of dollars worth of paintings displayed in our halls. The only thing that interested the principal in the artist's portfolio was the crucifix. The principal guaranteed that the faculty advisory committee would agree with his decision to purchase the art object. They always agreed with him.

When the fundamentalist ministers in East Dayton heard that a crucifix was hanging in the main hallway of Wilbur Wright, they became quite upset. They sent committees to Mr. Holmes and to the superintendent demanding that the crucifix be removed. Letters were written to the editorial pages of the newspapers. Some claimed that Catholic students were crossing themselves as they passed the statue. Some students said that the thin, Christ-like figure would be placed in the cafeteria to help convince students to eat more. Mr. Holmes held firm against tremendous pressure to remove the crucifix. "I purchased it as an investment in our school's art collection and not as a religious symbol," he asserted.

The crucifix remained. No one 'was going to tell- Jay William Holmes how to run his school.

THE OVERWORKED TEACHER

The favorite story of Jay Holmes was of the teacher who took a large pile of papers home each night, presumably to grade. After observing this for months, he placed a 'X' on the papers when the teacher wasn't looking. Sure enough, the "X" continued to appear on the pile of papers for the next several weeks.
 

JEKYLL AND HYDE

Mr. D was a meek and gentle man who seldom raised his voice. The faculty considered him unassuming, the students thought of him as easy-going, while the principal tagged him as wishy-washy. Then for some reason, he started visiting two different doctors who each prescribed a stimulant drug for a mild ailment.

And was he ever stimulated! It was as if Dr. Jekyll had turned into Mr. Hyde He ranted and raved at his classes and pounded on the principal's desk, swearing at him like a longshoreman. Three teachers twice his size were challenged to fights. Finally, in desperation, Mr. Holmes called Mr. D's wife to find out what had caused his personality to change so suddenly. Soon, he was off the drugs, and Hyde turned back into Dr. Jekyll.