Berkeley High School - Olla Podrida Yearbook (Berkeley, CA)

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BERKELEY HIGH which is interested in other activities than football. Should this element be neglected because we are adopting a new game? Our swimming team, without financial or moral sup- port of the student body, managed to tie for the second place in the B. C. L. swimming meet a few weeks ago. If they have accomplished so much without even an encouraging word from the students, what could they have done with the active backing of the student body? Tennis and girls ' basketball seem to have decayed, for no other apparent reason than lack of backing. Can we not do better than this? Can we not carry on the activities of the school and yet not have the student body incur debts to accomplish it? From the facts of history, it seems possible, and the editors think it is. They believe that the school can be kept out of debt and all the activities of the school carried on at the same time. Let us hope that the present administration will accomplish this, especially as the student body is supporting only one activity. This is not written in any spirit of antagonism or malevo- lence, but is the honest belief of one who has studied deeply conditions in the school and has carefully watched the govern- ment of the school since the adoption of the new constitution. The committee appointed to investigate the subject of student control has a serious problem to deal with. The ques- tion of student control is one which requires deep thought and careful consideration, and any hastily formed conclusions might be disastrous. After careful consideration and quite an investigation of conditions prevailing in other High Schools throughout the state and nation, the editors of the Olla Podrida have come to the conclusion that student body control is desirable and prac- ticable. Space will not permit citing all the schools looked into, but we will state the results in general and then cite one instance of a school which has almost entire self-government. YVe found : 1st, that the treasuries of the schools having student control to a large degree always seem to have a sur- plus fund : 2nd. that any attempts at roughhouse or other disorderly conduct on the part of the students was promptly 14

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OLLA PODRIDA :: :: :: BERKELEY HIGH In pursuance of the policy adopted by the Olla Podrida, another educational article is published in this issue. The article appearing consists of a few words of advice, and per- haps disillusionment to some, to those who are planning ' to make law their life work. The lawyer who ..so, generously sac- rificed his time for our instruction is a practicing lawyer of many years ' experience, and one of the most prominent prac- tising attorneys in Portland, Oregon. The Olla Podrida is deeply grateful to Mr. Piatt for his kindly assistance. Al- though written primarily for the benefit of prospective law- yers, we hope that all the students will read it, because its high ideals and pointed generalities cannot help but benefit those who peruse it. The Olla Podrida desires to make a protest. From the Treasurer ' s report, which appears in this issue, it will be seen that the school treasury shows a deficit of $107.84 for the term ending June 3 of this year. This seems like an enormous debt, especially for the spring semester. It is much to be lamented that the school activities can not be carried on without having the student bodv incur lar°e debts. The executive board doubtless exercised its best judgment and thought it expedient to spend the money, but to the outsider who is not thoroughly acquainted with all the conditions which necessitated the ex- penditures, it seems like extravagance, especially in view of past administrations. One year and a half ago the activities of the school were carried on without having the student body incur large debts, and indeed, if the Olla Podrida mistakes not, had a surplus of some sixty-five dollars ($65.00) at the end of the semester, besides ridding the school of a debt of almost $100.00. The Olla Podrida believes, in the light of such facts, that the school can be governed without going into debt in so doing. Again : The Olla Podrida believes that the atcivities of the school should be supported. We recognize the fact that the school is adopting an entirely new game this fall, and that a large sum of money is required to start the game properly, but we do not believe that all other activities should be neg- lected on that account. There is a large element in the school 3

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OLLA PODRIDA :: :: :: BERKELEY HIGH put down and the culprits punished ; and 3rd, that the schools have a name for cleanness, honesty and high scholarship stan- dards of which we only wish Berkeley High could boast. The specific instance we cite is the Fremont High School, which is situated in Fruitvale. We acknowledge that the con- ditions in Fruitvale and the conditions in Berkeley are far dif- ferent ; that Fremont High School is, because of her isolated position, favorably situated for the success of such an experi- ment ; but nevertheless there are some provisions in the Fre- mont High School government which it would benefit Berke- ley High to adopt. Certainly everyone remembers the time the entire faculty of Fremont left the building for the entire clay, and that every- thing went on just as usual. This superb order was a result of their student government. Their constitution is modeled after that of the United States, including the three departments — executive, legislative, and judicial. Any disorder or con- duct unbefitting a high school student is promptly punished by the student courts. The students have almost absolute control. The only functions of the faculty are: (1) the Treas- urer is a member of the faculty, appointed by the principal, and (2) the Principal is Chief Justice. Compare this with B. H. S., where the Faculty has almost absolute power. Fre- mont has not gone into debt since this system has been in operation, perfect order is always maintained, and the school is reputed highly around the bay. YVe need not search far to find the reason for such a vivid contrast between the conditions existing in the two schools. It is because every B. H. S. student is not taking an active interest. The careful observer will perceive that the entire government of this school is left in the hands of a very few. The students do not seem to realize that they are interested citizens in a miniature community. If every student believed that it was his duty to keep up the good name and good gov- ernment of the school, Berkeley High would be ready for stu- dent government such as it exists at Fremont. Berkeley is not ready for it now ; we must gradually educate the students to take an active part in the government ; we must make them see that every student must do his part, and then we can have complete self-government. 15