Cloverdale Union High School - Spectator Yearbook (Cloverdale, CA)

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(Ihtr Nnu rltool iimtae The members of the staff, wishing to present to you a matter in which they knew you were very much interested, voted to offer a prize for the best essay on this subject, submitted by a pupil of the high school. The judges voted a tie for the prize between the two essays that immediately follow, but found also some other articles so unique that they advised printing them in the Spectator. We, accordingly, submit them to you. aty? (ganfo lExamplr Ig (§ur pnnmfi The little redwood school house served its purpose in the early days. But the village of Cloverdale was growing and the hopeful citizens thought that they could support a more pretentious structure. They were ready to do their utmost. The new school house was built and dedicated with joyful ceremonies. We of the later generation can imagine those sturdy, progressive pioneers, for they were pioneers, rejoicing in their hearts over the growth of their town. They foresaw a great future for the prosperous little city. The building of a new school house always awakens these forward looking thoughts. Little did those men think that as the town grew the most influential and important institution of the community would receive less and less attention until it came to be noticeable only for its neglect. It is not our wish to disparage the work of the faculty or the teachers; that is above reproach. The soul of the institution is struggling valiantly. This struggle is for the betterment of the community, for it is training in ways of righteousness and truth the guardians of future civilization. Everywhere, in every community, the people are beginning to awaken to the fact that this is a work of the utmost importance and, what is more, they realize that without their co-operation the institution to which is intrusted the molding of these pillars of future society can accomplish comparatively little. The spirit may be there, the indomitable courage may not be lacking, ability in plenty is to be had, but without tools the sculptors are quite helpless. Everywhere we see the schools prospering because they are running in co¬ operation with the community which supports them. Each school is a wheel in the great mechanism of national education which is turning out the real members of society, the members that will rule the future because of their fitness. Now, if one knife in a factory is dull, if one gear lacks a sufficient num¬ ber of teeth, if one belt slips, when the finished product emerges from the mass of machinery it is going to be deficient. This deficiency may not be discovered until a large number of articles have been ruined. These, not being a hundred per cent value, are thrown aside or sold for a pittance. The fault in the machinery can be traced to one man whose duty it was to keep his particular part of the whole in first class order. That man is going to receive the con¬ demnation of those to whom he is responsible. Now, each community is a 27

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Nancy went upstairs and lay down on her little white cot and sobbed herself to sleep. She so longed for a friend like this beautiful lady. All the way home Mrs. McBride thought of Nancy. At the dinner table that night Mr. McBride made much over little Mabel, but Mrs. McBride seemed almost to forget the child’s presence. She lay awake for a long time that mgnt. Nancy’s sad, beautiful brown eyes were ever before her, and when at last she went to sleep she dreamed of Nancy. The next morning at the breakfast table she told her husband about it. They were to start for their beautiful summer home the following day and she told him that she could not leave the city without seeing again this little girl who had taken such a hold upon her. Mr. McBride laughingly told his wife to go ahead and adopt the whole orphanage if she wished to do so. In less than an hour they were once more on their way to the stern looking brick house that still sheltered Nancy. When she again saw the child she knew that she could never be happy unless she took this little girl as her own. She thought of the home and of the ad¬ vantages she could give her. As she was thinking she remembered her hus¬ band’s words that morning and knew how he would enjoy hearing the sound of the two children’s voices at their play. In less than five minutes she told Miss Arlington that she wished to take Nancy as her own little dau ghter. Nancy was too happy for words. Miss Arlington brought Nancy’s baby clothes and a little dress fell upon the floor. Mrs. McBride picked it up, and as she glanced at it the color left her face. She knew she had seen that dress before. She looked on the inside and there, as she had expected, were the initials N. McB. in fine embroidery. She knew the little skirts in an instant. She caught Nancy in her arms. “Oh, my baby,” she cried, “My own baby, Nelda. Thank God I have found my baby!!” She held her close while she told the matron her story. A little while before the San Francisco earthquake she had been called to Seattle by the death of her father. Her husband accompanied her, but, as their baby girl was not well, they thought it best to leave her at home in the care of her nurse. When they heard of the earthquake they hurried back only to find their beautiful home in ruins and no trace of their baby girl. Every effort was made to find her, but at last they gave up the search, thinking that the baby must have perished in the fire. Zelma. 26

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man, it is responsible to society for the condition of its wheel in the great mill of education. Supposing you neglect your part of the machinery, the article may leave it only half as good as it should be and will finally emerge ruined. Are you ready to assume this responsibility? Are you eager for condemnation? You cannot expect the machinery always to run without attention. This is the position you are assuming; this the responsibility which you cannot evade and maintain your place in the respect of the world. The little redwood school house met the needs of its time. But the leaders of that day could realize the importance of the part that instrument of education was to play in the advance of the town and they were quick to recognize the importance of a change and, what is more, the time when such a change was necessary. For a long time the present school house has been falling into a condition which, as well as being detrimental to the appearances of the com¬ munity, is a menace to the health of the pupils. A great deal is judged by ap¬ pearances and we wish to rank high in the opinion of those who pass judgment on us. We wish to attract people to our town. The present school house is not a comfortable place to study in. There is no systemized order of ventilation; the heating system is not efficient and, furthermore, it is in such a condition that when working it is a constant annoy¬ ance , by the noises it makes, to anyone attempting to study. It may seem that at present it would be impossible to erect a building which would be within the means of the community and yet would meet all of these requirements. But with a little planning I think that this could be accomplished to the satisfaction of everyone. We cannot hope in our present state of finances to segregate the grammar school from the high. By certain arrangements of the building it would be possible to eliminate many of the disadvantages arising from this connection. We must have an auditorium in which the school enter¬ tainments can be given, singing classes conducted and in which both schools can assemble. This large room could be the upper story of the middle section of the structure. The lower rooms of this section could be used by the high school for drawing classes, typing and other studies not so easily disturbed. On either side, respectively, could be conducted the high and grammar schools effectively divided by this middle section. The first thing about which a possible resident inquires when he is con¬ sidering settling in a town, is the school and the environment in which his chil¬ dren would be reared. A good school is one of the greatest assets that a town can possess. It will attract desirable families where the absence of it keeps them away. A better school would have a great influence on the social life of the town. If we were better equipped for such purposes, the dramatic talent of the school could be trained and utilized in the production of many entertainments. Even with its great lack of advantages the high school has been remarkably successful in this line. Dramatics is a part of high school education as well as the other subjects taken. At the present time neither the school nor the town offers any place in which entertainments of this sort can be given. So let us provide a well warmed and ventilated building for our school and let us have it arranged to the best advantage. In doing this we shall be pro¬ viding an institution to which we can point with pride and to which strangers will be desirous of sending their children. E. Melvin Hall.