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

Page 52 text:

Forum Membership in Berkeley High School ' s only debating society, the Forum, was in such demand this year that in addition to the usual scholarship requirements tryouts were necessary to keep the membership within bounds. The Forum meets during the fifteen-minute advisory period on Wednesdays and Thursdays. The members give short debates on live questions of current interest. The plan adopted by the Interscholastic Public Speaking League of California of each debater preparing both sides of the question and being assigned the affirmative or negative at the time of the debate was successfully followed this term. In the early part of the term faculty and Forum members gave interesting talks on parliamentar} law and the purpose and the methods of debating. That the Forum has ably succeeded in its task of developing good debaters is shown by the fact that in the tryouts for the interclass and school debating teams Forum members captured all the places. The officers are: President, James Sewell; Vice-President, William Biddle; Secretary, Ida Ellen Spitler. DEBATING The Berkeley High Debating Team came out on top in the big debating event of the term, the first intra-district debate of the California League of Public Speaking, by defeating Alameda and Napa. Hall Griffiths and Wheeler Jensen, the Berkeley negative, won from Alameda two to one, while James Sewell and Kenneth Williams of the affirmative won from Napa, twice winner of the state championship in the last three years. Six teams entered the interclass debates, the seniors, Hall Griffiths, Harold Crockett, Kenneth Williams, and Wheeler Jensen, winning unani mously. Debating isn ' t occupying that old back-seat position of the days of yore. It is coming to the front and if the increasing interest of the students is any indication, it will soon be one of Berkeley High ' s most popular activities.

Page 51 text:

SHORTHAND CLUB To save time for war work done after school hours the Shorthand Club held its meetings this term during the noon hour on alternate Mon- days. Each class in shorthand has furnished at least one program during the term. Among the topics discussed were the history of shorthand, terms used in market reports, Charles Dickens as an expert shorthand reporter, and his humorous descriptions of his own shorthand studies as found in David Copperfield. Talks have been given by men and women experienced in various lines of business. These helped to acquaint the students with the modern methods they will meet in the business world. The officers are: President, Christina Samuels; Vice-President, Alice Benning; Secretary, Mary Clark; Treasurer, Isabella Mcintosh. THE COMMERCIAL ENGLISH CLUB The Commercial English Club made its initial appearance this term. The Club was organized to satisfy the demand for such an organization and, judging from the enthusiasm shown by its members, it is here to stay. Meetings are held once in two weeks. The work consists of oral and written work of various kinds and the study of standard works by standard authors. Set talks, informal discussions, lively debates, the presentation of small plays, the study of famous essays and novels, and reports on books fill the Club ' s programs. Many good times were enjoyed by the Club members on trips, picnics, evening parties, and luncheons. The officers are: President, Alexis Post; Vice-President, Isabella Mcintosh; Secretary-Treasurer, Arthur Roberts. PIANO CLUB Violinists and flutists in large numbers are welcomed into the B. H. S. orchestra, but even the magnanimity of that organization and the mag- nitude of our auditorium would not admit of twenty-five pianists on the platform. The result has been the formation of a Piano Club which meets once every two weeks and which studies the works of the best composers. Constant playing before the Club has given an added poise and polish to the playing of the students. This work of the members has resulted in much improvement in the technique and expression of their playing. The officers for the term are: President, Clare Lenfesty; Secretary, Louise Runckel.

Page 53 text:

The Big B Society President Vice-President Secretary Robert McHenry Louis LeHane ... .Harry Jackson The Big B Society has taken an active part in the school activities during this past term as was called for by the new constitution. Although there will be no new members added to its present membership on account of the losing of the A. C. A. L. in football, there will be a number of the present members back next spring. The great success of the boys ' Scrub reception is due to the Society, for the affair was supervised and run off entirely by those who have won their B ' s. The Society is also credited with the good order and smoothness with which the football games were carried on. The officials of all of these interscholastic games were members of the Big B Society. To win honors in athletics as well as in other school activities ought to be the ambition of every boy in the school, for when he graduates he would be proud to be able to say When I was in Berkeley High School I was a member of the Big B Athletic Honor Society. We sincerely hope that next spring will see the membership of the Society greatly enlarged.