Posted October 28, 2024
Just about 100 years ago, Plymouth High School debuted its first student newspaper, The Mullet Ripple.
It was produced twice a month by 15 members of the senior class and cost 50 cents for an annual subscription.
The only surviving issue in the school archive, No. 10 from March 17, 1925, is four pages long and features articles on a musical presented by the High School Chorus at Turner Hall, the State-bound Stock Judging Team, preliminary Declaration Contest results, and an editorial about academic integrity. (See sidebar for more details about the issue.)
The Mullet Ripple also had a two-page spread in the 1925 Quit Qui Oc yearbook (which itself dates to 1916). In addition to photos of staff members and a staff list, the yearbook noted, “The paper was very interesting and highly appreciated by the Students, Alumni and many others. We hope that the underclassmen will continue the good work.”
As it turns out, the underclassmen dropped the journalistic ball. There was no student newspaper for the next six years.
However, in the fall of 1931, a new student newspaper called Plymouth Hi-Lights appeared. It was produced twice a month during the during the 1931-32 school year; subscriptions cost 50 cents a semester. There were at least 18 issues (seven of which remain), generally four pages in length.
The 1932 yearbook indicates that Hi-Lights proved to be “a source of knowledge and humor to students.” PHS also organized a Press Club that year, which included the members of the Hi-Lights staff. “Several phases of newspaper work were studied at each meeting before the social hour,” according to the yearbook.
This second newspaper has stood the test of time, as it still is published today. Over the years, the size and number of pages has varied. During the 1980s and 1990s, Hi-Lights used a magazine format. The price gradually increased over the years, up to 75 cents per issue, but since 1990 Hi-Lights has been free to those at PHS.
The current staff of Hi-Lights plans to recognize the milestone throughout the coming school year. “For a century, this publication has been a vital platform for student voices, creativity, and community engagement,” editors noted in the most recent issue.
“Over the years, our paper has not only documented the achievements and milestones of our student and school but has also served as a mirror reflecting the changing dynamics of our community. From its humble beginnings as The Mullet Ripple to its current role as a staple in our local culture, our school paper has fostered generations of writers, editors, and thinkers who have gone on to make a lasting impact in various field.
“We honor the dedication of all those who have contributed their time and talent to this legacy and we look forward to continuing this tradition of excellence in storytelling for many more years to come!”
The oldest surviving Plymouth High School newspaper is Vol. 1 No. 10 of The Mullet Ripple, dated March 17, 1925.
In addition to a half of page of jokes, that four-page issue contained information on:
There also were ads for:
