Capitol Page School - Congressional Yearbook (Washington, DC)

Page 71 text:

FRESHMAN E E. Cummings G. Kersten T. Jones C. Chovarrio SOPHOMORE J' T aCeY M' Hess M- Hobbs R. Curtis K' A JUNIOR R. Dunn D. Cheville C. Morton R, Hg,-,gel SENIOR W. Miller J. Sumo R. Olsen R. Hughes SECOND SEMESTER First Semester Second Semester T. Swafford J. Trask Student Council-at-Large .. 67 -

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The Student Council -By Tommy V. Swafford The Capitol Page School Student Council was established in 1944, and until this year has been composed of seven members, three elected at large,'and the remaining four be- ing the presidents of the four classes. However, the school year 1947-48 saw a change, the Council being composed of only five members, one elected from each class and one elected at large. For the first term the Councilmen were as follows! Tommy V. Swafford-Councilman-at-Large Royal T. Squires-Senior Class Paul Traver-Junior Class Dan J. Skubitz-Sophomore ,Class B. Mac Hess-Freshman Class The elections for this term of office were, to say the least, quite stormy. Campaigning was conducted on a fast and furious basis, and it was necessary to hold run-offs in sev- eral cases. Everybody in the School practically was either a candidate or some type of cam- paign manager, an independent being someone virtually unknown. However, the re- sults came through as listed above, and in spite of a grumbling minority, the Councilmen took office, and the Council proceeded with its functions. The two purposes of the Student Council are to provide social entertainment for the student body and to develop a sense of self- responsibility among the individual students. The Council acts as a five-man liason between the Clubs and the classes, and, while without specifically designated legislative power, man- ages School activities in general. The first event planned by the Council was a hayride, but due to the lack of funds these plans were cancelled. A Council constitution was written and pre- sented to the members by the Councilman-at- Large, but after a brief discussion, it was de- cided that such a constiution was unnecessary. Since then the Council has functioned without any definite governing law. As a means of establishing a Council fund, school supplies were purchased and resold through the office to the students at a profit. Thus the groundwork was laid for a treasury. Robert Curtis offered the Council the use of the recreation room in his home for a party, which offer the Council gratefully accepted. A gala party was planned, with refreshments, dancing, and so forth. Seventy-five cents ad- mission had to be charged to maintain costs. The Council during the first semester laid the foundation for future councils, since it was the first council in Capitol Page School to operate under the new school supervision of the District of Columbia Public Schools with a completely new membership arrangement. The elections for the second term were pre- ceded by the same hotly contested political activities which preceded that of the earlier elections. After an unusually prolonged and rather bitter campaign on the part of almost all the candidates, the elections resulted in the following persons being elected: John C. Trask-Councilman-at-Large Robert J. Hughes-Senior Class Robert Hansel--Junior Class Robert Curtis-Sophomore Class Charles N. Chavarria-Freshman Class Councilman Swafford did not seek re-elec- tion, and Councilman Squires was graduated in February, eliminating his candidacy also. So, with an entirely new Council, new plans and new ideas were brought forth. A point system was established whereby persons with one hundred or more points became eligible to receive a School letter. Points could be achieved by activity in sports, Council, class, or club office, The Congressional staff, or for outstanding scholastic achievement. The exact table of points is, at the time The Congressional goes to press, under con- sideration for a few slight revisions, so it shall not be listed here. The Council also met with the pages who were on the Vox Pop program to decide the future of the one hundred dollars which the School received from that program since it was found that sum was not sufficient for a banquet as originally contemplated. The -dis- posal of the money has not yet been decided upon. The Student Council has provided an in- teresting and necessary self-governing activity in Capitol Page School. The many tense politi- cal campaigns which have focused on it and the Debate Club have been a source of much practical experience for the pages, many of whom have political ambitions themselves. The Council, in its small way, exemplifies the American spirit of representative government.