By Paul Burkhard, copyright 2017.
In 1935, the first Freshman Technology class was held at Ault High School in Ault, Colorado. Notice the emphasis on typewriters. The class was actually held part-time in a spare English classroom for the first 3 years of its existence. Students were required to keep their typewriters in their lockers and bring them to class each day.
Then Technology instructor Mr. Yuengling amazes everyone by wearing a realistic robot costume for Halloween. Although he had trouble lecturing that day, everyone was entertained by his antics.
In a fit of mild rage at the lackluster performance of her students, then Freshman Technology teacher Mrs. Frobusham took all 26 Freshman Technology typewriters and threw them out the window of the Tech Lab. They landed, destroyed, in a large pile that sat for almost 4 months until Mrs. Frobusham was forced to replace all of the typewriters out of her own pocket.
The Technology Lab received a major new piece of equipment this year, as the first printer was installed. This combination typewriter, LCD readout cartridge printer was a marvel and heavily used by students and teachers alike.
In 1972, Mr. Otek, then Freshman Technology instructor, purchased the first computer for use at the Highland School District. The machine was very complicated and was never actually used in Freshman Technology class, even though it sat in the Tech Lab for almost 13 years.
Sophomore Ed Saleigh is amazed by the new computer in the Tech Lab. This machine has a 512K memory and accepts 8.5 inch floppy diskettes.
In what is likely the first computer controversy on the Highland campus, Tech Teacher Ms. Redwing demonstrates the CompuChess program, which was illegally used to win a Chess Club championship by Junior Bill Blackenship, who was actually suspended for this incident.
The first actual computer class at Highland High School was offered in the fall semester of the 1984 school year. Students learned how to call up directories and program a crude version of Pong.
In a school first, the Highland "Compulypics Team" attended the "First Annual National Compulympics Competition", held in Bowerville, Idaho. The Husky team finished in second place out of 74 competing teams. Teams programmed games based on suggested themes in the competition. Shown working late nights on their program, Senior Mike Malloy was captain of the team. "I really think that our improvised Onion Chopping Game was amazing!" said Junior team member Brad Dagstrup.
With the arrival of new Lotus 123 software, Freshmen Technology students are now learning how to use spreadsheets. Freshman Louise Campbell completes her "Teacher's Lunch Problem" on the computer.
Freshman Doogie Schneed checks out the new Epson 1005 Color Computer in the Tech Lab. Seen as a major advance in the Graphic Design class, this computer saw extensive use in the creation of published school materials, such as the Yearbook and school newspaper.
The Highlander Yearbook pages discuss the loss of the computer lab when the new gym was constructed this fall. Students had to go back to hand writing papers. Everyone was distraught.
Mr. Blutarsky was the first teacher to require the completion of the "Favorite Thing" Paper in Freshman Technology class, being completed here by Freshman Tom Wang. Originally, students only wrote the Favorite Thing Paper. Additions to this quarter-long project such as the Favorite Thing Survey, the Favorite Thing Timeline and the Favorite Thing Presentation came later.
In one of the most glorious events in all of the history of Freshman Technology, Mr. Burkhard began to teach the class to a group of super-excited Freshmen. This really seemed to take the course to the next level, with "Freshman Technology" being given the highest possible points in student satisfaction on the end-of-the-year students academic surveys.
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