If I were a Park High Ranger in 1926, I would be a part of the Pa-Co-Hi club. The Pa-Co-Hi was a club at Park High in 1926 that supported the girls and women's movement and was a part of the Girl Reserve Triangle of the Y.W.C.A. This club focused on helping girls grow to be her ideal self through games, recreation, and outdoor activities.
As you can imagine, Park High was a very different place in the “roaring twenties.” Our football and boys basketball teams had winning records, with both teams winning every game except those against Billings. According to students I interviewed, this winning reputation is one of the biggest differences between Park High in 1926 and 2026. Samantha Stanbary, a junior, said she would rather attend school in 1926 just because “we were a winning school.” Emma Malloy also stated this, saying that the team spirit of winning so many games would make school more fun. While sports are still important in 2026, Park High is not necessarily known as an unbeatable school.
Although athletics were stronger in 1926, opportunities for girls were much more limited. Stanbary pointed out that women had fewer rights and that there were “barely any girls’ clubs,” while this is true in the sense that there were no girls sports, but girls were allowed to join most clubs, there were even multiple girls-only clubs. Yet the overall experience for girls would still not compare to 2026. Today, girls can participate in many sports and can even have leadership roles.
Technology is another huge difference. A few students said they would struggle without modern conveniences. Samantha and Coen Braham, a senior, both said they would miss their phones the most. Ayden mentioned modern cars and travel, and Emma even joked about missing McDonald’s. In 1926, students could not quickly look up information, text teachers, or communicate easily. Coen suggested that communication with teachers would be a lot more challenging. In 2026, technology is a huge part of school life, from research to turning things in.
Despite all these differences, there are still some similarities. School spirit still exists, even if our sports records change. Students in 1926 and 2026 both care about friendships, clubs, and the overall experience. The yearbooks from 1926 even have a “class prophecy,” predicting students’ futures at their ten-year reunion. While that tradition isn’t around anymore, the idea of imagining the future connects both.
Overall, Park High in 1926 and 2026 are different in sports records, technological advances, and opportunities for girls, but both share a strong sense of school spirit.
