Plainfield High School - Plainsman Yearbook (Plainfield, IL)

Page 20 text:

ANY PERSON CAUGHT US STORl »S PROUCTIO BY THI mopumno iaw of the Stoto of iMinoi»

Page 19 text:

Involvement causes spirit Does involvement in school activities improve the learning experience of a high school student? Are many students really involved? There is a definite differ- ence of opinion in the answers to these questions. The students who are involved feel that clubs, music, sports, and commu- nity service groups are bene- ficial to their total education. Those who aren’t involved think that these activities add nothing. On the other hand, many feel they only take time away from work- ing or other activities. Faculty members felt that in order for school spirit to increase, it was necessary for school to become more than seven hours of classes to be walked through each day. They perceive that participa- tion in extracurricular activi- ties brings enjoyment for stu- dents which in turn causes an increase in school spirit. At first glance there appears to be a lot of student involvement in after school activities. However, after a second look it is found that there is less participation than it originally appeared. Many groups are active at P.H.S., but many of the same people are involved in multi- ple organizations. A small percentage of the student body is involved in a large percentage of the activities offered. In other words, the old axiom, If you want some- thing done ask a busy per- son holds true at P.H.S. There is strong disagreement on whether involvement in school activities improves the high school learning experience. However, it does broaden the experience, as well as forming a well rounded individual. 15

Page 21 text:

 Student attitudes change, improve Attitude seems to change in a gradual cycle, never seeming to change drastically from one year to the next as do many aspects of student life. Students are beginning to protect their property from vandals and thieves, just as stores are beginning to increase their secu- rity against shoplifters. The fear of being ripped off is much more prevalent, even though students felt that it is a minority of people who take their things. A large number of students said they would rip something off, but reasons var- ied from taking something simply for the heck of it to taking it just because they wanted it” and lacked the money at the time. Those who had been caught felt that it was not worth the chances they had taken. Experimentation with drugs appears to be increasing, but actual use of drugs seems to be decreasing. The number of students that drink alcoholic beverages is also increasing. Many felt drugs are the worse of the two evils. Most students were appalled at the existence of the Ku Klux Klan in the area, yet as one pointed out, Plainfield is a small white community, ‘‘What would you expect?” A majority of students were against busing students outside of the present busing limits, again upholding the small town image. Most students felt a school would lose its identity with the community if it had a large number of stu- dents bused from great distances. Attitudes and opinions seem to be formed while a student is in school. These attitudes can carry on and have an affect on his later life. upper left Entering one of his classes is Calvin Burkett. upper center Deb Pomeroy poses for this picture exemplifying teen-age shoplifting. upper right Seniors Les Gerhke and Laura Pruss intentively watch Wildcat football action. lower left In health class. Sam Adams. Ron Smith, and Dennis McNamara examine beer cans and nar- cotics kits. lower center Economy wise Steve Duchene, enters his gas thrifty Volkswagen. lower right Students do many things for money; Mark Casper portrays Santa Claus in Wiebodts. 17