Alameda High School - Acorn Yearbook (Alameda, CA)

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topic of good conduct, it might not be out of place to speak of the sensational manner in which some newspapers take up such affairs. If it is discovered that the offending person is a member of the High School, the name of the School is at once connected with that student,—consequently bringing upon the whole school unjust censure. For, while our school endeavors to hold up the highest standard of conduct, nevertheless, you are only in school from nine o'clock till three for five days out of the week. The home life of the student is undoubt- edly responsible in many cases, and schools are often unjustly condemned for such misdemeanors. Now it is for you to see that the name of the High School is not connected with such unpleasant articles. The Committee of Senior Girls, which assumes the responsibility of wel- coming the Freshman Girls into our school and acting as their guardians, cer- tainly does its part in this big movement. The girls not only set good examples in conduct, but also in scholarship. The Student Advisory Council, composed of High Senior boys, corresponds to the Senior Girls’ Committee; so, where it is possible, this council is given the settlement of matters which touch the general life of the Student Body. This council, together with the Senior Girls’ Committee, is entrusted with the responsibility of developing a high standard of conduct and self-government among the students. Now make yourself a committee of one to uphold good conduct, good scholarship, and good citizen- ship. THE OAK LEAF The Journalism Class under the able guidance of Arthur F. Agard, has very successfully edited the Oak Leaf this semester. The system of managing and editing has been completely changed, and the enthusiastic class has run the paper independent of financial aid from the Administrative Board. The class obtained enough subscribers to pay for the printing of the Oak Leaf. Instead of electing a new managing editor and literary editor for each issue it was decided to have officers without change for the whole term. Tom Ryan, Manager; Philip Holden, Managing-Editor; and Ruth Eubanks, Literary-Editor, were elected by the class to take charge of the six issues of the Oak Leaf. Throughout the term Dr. Thompson and Mr. Agard have encouraged the mem- bers of the class to obtain subscriptions from people outside of the school in order to spread the paper through the community and to show the citizens what practical work the class is doing and how well it can do it. Many copies of the Oak Leaf have been mailed to outside subscribers, and the editors hope

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NT? APPRECIATION We, the Editors of the Acorn, take this opportunity to extend our thanks . i, y Polar J Bs to all those who have shown an interest in the editing of this book. We wish to thank the Faculty for encouragement and advice; the students who have contributed material for the pages of this issue; The Evening Times-Star; the Phoenix Photo Engraving Company for professional advice; the Star and Key for stimulating interest; and the High Senior Class for financing and managing its own department. To all these we wish now to express our deepest appre- ciation of their assistance in making this issue a success. STUDENT CONTROL Did you know that student control is gradually gaining a foothold in our school? A new policy is developing among us:—the unobtrusive practice of self-government, making you feel as citizens of the High School Community under obligation to see that school life is carried on as life in a community should be. It has been the constant aim of Dr. Thompson to place a definite responsibility on you and make each one of you realize that you are an im- portant part of the school and necessary for its welfare. In order to succeed in this plan Dr. Thompson has appointed student and faculty committees in which students are on an e qual basis with the faculty, so that together they may do their best to establish a standard of good conduct and good citizen- ship. Now students, it is time that you were learning that upon you rests the necessity of establishing good behavior in school and out of school, in the theater, on the car,—everywhere. For, whether we like it or whether we don’t, if a student is found guilty of an offense, no matter how small, his actions reflect on the High School. We all get criticized for it,—the principal, the faculty, and the students as a body. From the fact that our school is a community, w e are blamed for the misconduct of the citizens who belong to that community. “‘Now that,” as the Stanford ‘Chaparral’ says, “we are speaking” of this

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that there will be many more next term. The Oak Leaf prints news of all that is happening around the school at the time the paper comes out, and many articles are in anticipation of events instead of summing them up as the Acorn does. In this way the Oak Leaf serves as a supplement to the Acorn and is well worth all the time and money which the students spend on it. An official seal designed by Wayman Watts, June '18, has been adopted by the High School. It appeared first on the Low Senior Play programs, then on the last two issues of the Oak Leaf, and is now embossed on the cover of this Acorn. A seal is something that the School has lacked for a long time; and now that one has been adopted, why not use it and become familiar with it? This seal made into a school pin would be much more effective and appropriate for our High School than the banner pins that have been adopted by all the Grammar Schools of Alameda. Why not make the adoption of the design for an A. H. S. pin official ? A REPUTATION TO LIVE UP TO We quote the following article from the “New England and National Jour- nal of Education”’ published in Boston, Mass. : “The Alameda High School is a revelation of the progress of public edu- cation in California. Prominent among its achievements is the fact that the general conduct and courtesy of the student body is almost above reproach in any particular. “A complete newspaper of considerable size, entitled the Oak Leaf, is issued six times during the term, and is the work of these pupils. The “Acorn,” an ambitious and high class book containing stories, essays, humor and class data, and filled with beautiful original drawings and photos, is pro- duced by the seniors about the time of graduation.” Think of it! We are famous in Boston!