Kensington High School - Compass Yearbook (Buffalo, NY)

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Our victorious debaters-they won the championship. Despite the fact that this is but the third year of Kensington's particif pation in interscholastic debate, our teams have certainly proved equal to the competition. When the call for debaters was made in the fall, only two or three candidates were holdovers from last year. Thus, two comparatively inexperienced squads represented Kensington in the fall debates. On the affirmative team, which lost to South Park by a score of 8 to 7, were Miriam Sess, Virginia Eckel, alternate Arthur Baumeister, and Robert Morgan, the latter alone with any previous experience. The negative team, which won 8 to 7, included Jean Staub, alternate Herman Pease, Tom Decker, with some experience, and John Brigante, a veteran with four debates to his credit. Under the guidance of our hardworking coaches, Miss Lee and Mr. Nugent, these teams distinguished themselves as Kensington's representatives. In the spring debates both teams showed the value of experience, a fact which contributed to their success in winning the picture awarded annually to the school victorious in the greatest number of interscholastic debates. A more confident affirmative team, the same as in the fall, triumphed over Technical High School, 9 to 6, while the negative team with Jean Staub, Herman Pease, Tom Decker, and alternate james Harmon, defeated East by an 8 to 7 count. These victories gave us a record of three debates won and one lost, thus making us champions. The debaters attribute their success to the coaches who unstintingly sacrificed their time for the glory of the school. With this splendid spirit we cannot help but look forward to another successful year. 7mm

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oemig' .YB It is the task of the Social Science Department to instruct the students in the allfimportant subjects of history, economics, economic citizenship and civics. One cannot appreciate contemporary problems without having a knowledge of the social studies. The youth of the nation must understand the past to visualize how they wish to build the future. The students of today will recreate the world and inaugurate a new or improved system. Not every student will gain all possible benefits from his history courses but this training will enable those who have vision and leadership to - accomplish great things. To have a workable Democracy, the youth of the country must be prepared to detect faults and correct them. Intelligent and active particif pation in government is possible only through a trained citizenry. To better conditions of municipal and national governments, it is necessary that the people be interested and wellfinformed as to the workings of these bodies. Students well acquainted with economic problems are capable of formuf lating a sensible public opinion and of voting intelligently. Thus, the study of Civics, Economics, and Economic Citizenship prepares the student for the problems he will face in later life. That history repeats itself has been proven, and we of today can look to the past in our studies of Ancient, Modern and American history as a reference for the thorough comprehension of present conditions in the universe. By providing accurate information concerning both sides of important questions confronting the world of yesterday, history encourages the people never to despair nor to abandon Democracy. Thus the country's youth, well versed in the social subjects and cog' nizant of the responsibility which rests upon them, will advance more conf iidently and intelligently toward a better Democracy and a less belligerent world. Irma M. Dickman, B.A. Lenore Dunlavey, B.A. Helen K. Goossen, M.S. john I. Haggerty, B.S. Moira M. Haley, B.A. William D. Joyce, B.S. Theresa E. McCarthy, M.A Norman K. Millard, B.A. Paul M. Nugent, B.A. Verna G. Walker, M. A. ' Mary Alice Wolf, B.A. 24

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in ' ' Glad Last fall, when Miss Goossen expressed her desire to continue the International Relations Club founded a year previously, a group of enthusiastic American History students answered her call. This club met every other Friday in Room 163. The thirtyfone boys and girls who comprised the organization chose Herman Pease as chairman and Betty Roehner as secretary. The turmoil in Europe, aid to Britain, and our relations with South America and japan provided a number of interesting topics for discussion by the club. Some of those chosen for detailed analysis were: The Downfall of France , Entangling Alliances with South America , and The Lend' Lease Bill . Since a thorough knowledge of the subject is essential to carry on an intelligent discussion, june Whitehead, Ruth Donohue, June Arnold, Mildred Reis, Dorothy McKenica, Thomas Decker and john Brigante were among those who served on committees for gathering material on the topic to be considered. At each meeting an open discussion of the subject followed the committee's disclosure of the facts they had obtained. A great many of the members assisted both in writing and producing Let Freedom Ring , the final assembly program in our celebration of Bill of Rights Weelc. Through its many activities, the club has ably achieved its purpose by helping members to understand the significance of current events. R. Kauzicxx, J. PAGE, R. BLADIENSPIEL in Colonial America