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

Page 15 text:

OLLA PODRIDA In the last regular issue of the Olla Podrida an editorial was published in which the need of student control of school affairs was sadh ' deplored. Since that time a system of stu- dent control has been inaugurated which corresponds to a great extent in form and execution to the Federal Government of the United States. The crying need of Berkeley High School we believe has been supplied. In his remarks to the graduating class of December, 1910, the Hon. Beverly Hodghead made the statement that the only leason that the democratic spirit of our Union would never develop oligarchical tendencies, and finally end in a monarchy, was because we had founded our doctrine on the correct basis, h.nd this basis was the education of the masses. Berkeley High School is one of the institutions in which the masses are being educated, in which the genius of the .American government is supposedly being inculcated into the ' ery hearts and lives of the growing young men and women, the future citizens of the United tSates. AVithin the walls of rhe educational institutions of our land are supposed to dwell miniature democracies. The government pa3 ' s millions annu- ' lly to support institutions in which to educate its young to Lecome democratic citizens later in life. And yet too often it is the case that these institutions become the most monarchical establishments of our country. Often this condition is due to a despotic supervision of the school ' s affairs by the facult} ' . lore often it is due to the con- trol of affairs by a few students who by their popularity have placed themselves at the head of their fellows. Both of these cases have existed at times in Berkeley High, and too often has a deplorable condition of aft ' airs been reached, due to the limited voice of the students in the government of the school. A e believe now that a solution to the problem of student control in Berkeley High has been found. AA ' e believe that the system which the students have decided to put into eft ' ecr this term is the right one, as far as the working and the vdti- 13

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PERCY J. NEAL, Editor Telephone Piedmont 3121 EARL PARRISH, Business Manager Telephone Berkeley 15 4 EDITORIAL STAFF Gordon Luke Assistant Editor Marguerite Boone Literary Editor Elizabeth Glenn Organizations Fred Ostrander Athletics Ed Valentine Joshes Stanley Arendt Exchanges Harry Harvey Art Richard Stephens Art Frank Darrow Art Joseph Jacobson Art BUSINESS STAFF Robert Stevenson Herbert Mich els Steven Corgiat Carrol Kaufman Gibbert Foote Kursey Griffiths Circulation Manager The 011a Podrida is published at Berkeley, Califor- nia, by the students of the Berkeley High School. Sub- scription rates, twenty-five cents per term ; single cop ies, ten cents. Address all communications to Editor or Manager, Berkeley High School. Entered at the postofifice at Berkeley, Cal., as sec- ond class matter, January 29, 1909. Advertising rates: Page, $10.00; half page, $5.00; quarter page. S3.00 ; one inch, SI. 00. 12

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OLLA PODRIDA mate result is concerned. The only question in our minds is, will the students give their undivided support to the plan? The success of the plan depends entirely upon the support given to it. Not only is this true, but the nature of the system is such that it requires every student ' s support. Just as surely as a man becomes a supporter of the institutions and laws of the United States when he becomes of age, just so surely must every student in Berkeley High School become a supporter of the new system of student control when he enters school this spring. It has been said by some that the new system is a very cumbersome affair, and that in operation it will prove too intri- cate and complex. To many it would doubtless appear so, on only hearing the reading given at one of the student assem- blies of the latter part of last term, but upon closer study the adequacy and simplicity of the plan are its striking features. Finall} ' , let every student make the new plan of student control a success from every standpoint. Tho Olla Podrida joins with the entire school in welcoming the class of December, 1914. A full year has passed since a freshman class has entered school, and because of this fact you are all the more Avelcome. AVe have missed you, with your boyish pranks, your awk- ward ways, your green and innocent appearance, and at the same time we have missed your clean-spirited actions, your refreshing looks and your loyal support. In fact, it is a notice- able truth that since the inauguration of the new system of grading in the public schools the activities of the High School have gone steadily downward. This, to a large extent than most might believe, has been due to the absence of a freshman class. We have had less material on which to draw for the teams, we have lacked the necessary financial support, and above all, we have missed the moral support which comes from a freshman class. Fellow students of December. 1914, set a standard right 14