Alameda High School - Acorn Yearbook (Alameda, CA)

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Fashion in Education 6: har world is celebrating, this year, the two thousandth anniversary of the birth of the great Roman poet, Virgil. There will be many gatherings, many ora- tions, many essays in honor of the dead poet whose work in the golden age of Rome marked the high standard of literary endeavor of that age and whose splen- did genius has reached into our own times. From the Renaissance to the last few years the educated man, in a broad sense, was the man who knew Latin, Greek, and mathematics. These were the fashion in education. These symbolized the highest achievement in poetry, drama, and science. Upon this sacred food fed the mighty scholars for almost a thousand years. It was a firm belief that neither art, nor literature, nor medicine, nor law, nor science could thrive lustily without the foundation of these great branches of learning. Now they have become, at least Greek and Latin, obsolete, and the places that knew them “know them no more, forever.” Hardly a university in the land demands either of these for entrance, and the doctrine of formal discipline, of which these were the founda- tion, has vanished from the credo of education. Homer and Virgil, Pindar and Horace, Plautus and Aeschylus, have alike vanished from the required educa- tional makeup of these modern times. Science, invention, the death of the old gods, and the materialistic ideal in general have relegated these great masters to what seems a permanent place of useless dignity in the halls of the vanished great. And yet, if we examine the literature and the art of the past five hundred years, we will find the spirit of these great ones pervading them in a very real and vital way. As in other things, fz ishions change in education. They are here today and forgotten tomorrow, but the master chords which have been struck by Homer or Virgil vibrate through the centuries and reach to our own time. May I express the hope that in this twentieth century after Virgil there may be a hearty and general revival of interest in the great masters of literature and art, and that we of the Alameda High School may help to keep alive the priceless torch lighted upon the Roman altar these many centuries ago, and that we will pass it on undimmed to our successors. GeorcE C. THOMPSON, Principal. { Page 8 } The ACORN

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High Seniors OUR years ago next August, the new Alameda High School building was and another Freshman class entered its portals. This was the present graduating class. Unlike many other Freshman classes which were bewildered their first week of school and for this reason were very noticeable, our class was entering a new school with all of the other students. Consequently we had the same advantages that our higher schoolmates had. This gave us a very good start, and since then we have taken advantage of the mistakes of the classes preceding us, with the result that we actually believe we have been a great help to the school. At a meeting in Room 227, which was conducted by Student Body President Norman Cords, we elected Sivert Haavik class president, and Beryl Hollingberry vice-president. By these competent officers we were well guided through our first year. Roy Hurley led the class through the Sophomore year, with Dorothy Rem- ick as vice-president in the Fall term and Edythe Barton in the Spring. During our Low Junior term, Walker Shephard and Edythe Barton served as head administrators. This term our Junior pins were purchased under the capable management of Harry Minton. The traditional Junior Prom was given during our High Junior term. The Prom was considered a great ‘‘social success” by all of those present. It was managed by Ned Allen, with Mr. Coughlan aiding as ad- viser. Francis Topham served as president through most of the term, but when he left school he was succeeded by Vice-President Alice Mills. Entering our Low Senior year with Ned Allen and Alice Mills as the class leaders, we put over a Senior play that was the greatest financial success in the history of the school. This gala affair was managed by Walker Shephard, to whom the class is greatly indebted because of his successful efforts. We are now in our last term at the Alameda High School. We have two excel- lent leaders at the head of the class in the persons of Harold Zanzot and Edythe Barton. At the time of going to print our main activity is the planning of the semi- annual Seniorpheum, under the management of Walter Tischer. Aside from this activity, Elmore Gerlach has been busy making plans for the Senior Ball, which we hope to make a colorful event. Throughout our four years in high school, members of our class have branched out into every activity, especially athletics. Now, as graduation draws near, we feel that a great part of our success is due to the opportunities that the new school has given to us; and that, in turn, we have done our bit to contribute to the prog- ress and welfare of the Alameda High School. Neb ALLEN, Editor. { Page 10 ] The ACORN