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High School Most people outside the Eugene-Springfield area who hear the words "Thurston High School" think immediately of Kip Kinkel. They usually know nothing about the school itself and do not think of Thurston as a culturally rich learning environment that has changed immensely over the years, even though this is exactly what the school is. This website is dedicated to the history, both past and present, of Thurston High School. 
CLUBS
When Thurston originally opened in 1961, it was very different in more ways than one. Today the school is larger, with more facilities and classrooms than it had thirty-nine years ago. Thurston Senior High School was built in response to the growing population of Springfield on a cornfield far out of the city limits. The earliest Springfield claim records show that an Irish immigrant named John McNutt claimed all of the land between 58th and 66th streets and Main Street and Thurston Road. The Thurston area was originally named for George H. Thurston, whose father, Samuel R. Thurston, was Oregon's first territorial representative in Congress. THS was so far out of city limits that it had a turkey farm on one side and a filbert orchard on the other. There were only three grades, 10th, 11th, and 12th when Thurston first opened, as opposed to the four grades, 9th through 12th it currently has. The building didn't have an auditorium. Instead, a stage was placed in a classroom near the gym, and dramatic productions were performed there. There was only one gym, as opposed to the two we now have. When the student body grew too large, the Girl's Gym, later renamed the Auxiliary Gym to be politically correct, was built. The school had three indoor heated locker bays for each of the three grades. The 40s wing, the 50s wing, and the classrooms attached to the back of the library now stand where the locker bays were originally. Each bay had bathrooms and a trophy case, as well as benches. There were also many classrooms not included in the original building. The original classrooms are marked on the school map.
*1963
^2000 The sports and clubs
have changed drastically. When the school first
opened, there were nine sports. Although in the 60s
at Thurston women could not compete in very many
sports, the school was still considered extremely
progressive. In one of the other schools in the
Eugene-Springfield area, the only competition girls
were allowed to compete in was cheerleading. Now,
in the year 2000, Thurston competes in many
more sports shown on the left. It now has an
equestrian team, also.
Many clubs and activities in operation in the 1960s either have become obsolete or against Federal laws, or have been eliminated due to lack of interest. Such clubs would include the Girls' League, the Boys' Alliance, Future Teachers of America, Youth For Christ, Future Homemakers of America, Future Farmers of America, Letterman's Club, Usherettes, Chess Club, and Teen-age Care Corps. The Girls' League and the Boys' Alliance, clubs that worked together to plan certain dances, were replaced by Leadership. Most of the ASB offices have stayed the same, such as the president, vice-president, and treasurer, but one office has been eliminated due to politics. The job of the student body chaplain was to lead prayer at pep rallies, something that is now politically incorrect. Many clubs have endured, and others have changed or branched out, such as the National Honor Society, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), Thespians, Cheerleading, Future Medical Careers Club, now known as HOSA, the Journalism Club, which is now Quill and Scroll, and the "Ponie Tails" Dance and Drill Team, now Cabaret.
Thurston's rules have also changed, and the most drastic change is that of the dress code. When the school originally opened, it was extremely strict. Girls were required to wear dresses or skirts and blouses, and the skirt had to touch the floor when kneeling. Today, the school dress code is nearly non-existent. The code states: "Colors - Bandannas - Sagging - Sexually Offensive not acceptable here." Because sexually offensive is left up to the interpretation of school officials, students are pretty much allowed to wear whatever they want, and tube tops and sports bras are not a seldom occurrence. Other rules have also relaxed as time progressed, such as "Open Public Displays of Affection" that were nearly unheard of in the 60s. What might have been considered a public display then, however, would not be classified as one now. There were also stronger consequences then than now. At dances, chaperones would have flashlights and would shine them on the couples dancing. The rule was that light had to be showing. Now the school rules are different than before. Breaking these rules can result in detention, Saturday School, suspension, or expulsion, but some may only warrant a verbal warning or a phone call to the student's parents.
 Some students returned to Thurston High School to become teachers and administrators. A current health teacher and Cabaret dance team coach was originally on the "Ponie Tails" Dance and Drill Team when she went to Thurston. Many other current faculty members are also alumni of the school. Aside from those faculty members who originally went to Thurston, there are teachers at the school who have taught in different parts of the world. For example, our Drama teacher taught in Nepal and one of our Special Education teachers taught in the Peace Corps in India. Another teacher originally taught in India and later came to teach at THS. She then left to teach in Ethiopia and is currently teaching in Jordan. Throughout all of the changes
to its structure, sports, activities, and educational
curriculum, one major aspect of Thurston High School has
remained the same. The school is still, and will continue to
be, a culturally rich learning environment for students of
all races and religions.  BIBLIOGRAPHY WEB MASTER THS HOMEPAGE |
Many
educational courses have also been changed or been
eliminated, and others have been added. There are no longer
Russian or Latin classes taught at THS, but there are still
Spanish, French, and German courses offered. As the economy
has changed over time, Agriculture has been eliminated and
CISCO has replaced it, as computers have become the "wave of
the future." Other classes, such as Bookkeeping and
Shorthand, have been eliminated as the occupations for those
with these skills have been reduced. Other classes, such as
Home Economics, American Problems, and Driver Training, have
been eliminated for other reasons.