Richmond High School - Shield Yearbook (Richmond, CA)

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Lvditurial WAKE UP! SENIORS! Senior School Spirit! Senior Enthusia sm! Where are these in- tangible things? Are they just coyly hiding or are they gone for good? Every Senior on looking back over his Freshman, Sopho- more and Junior years can remember the thrills that came with the mention of a rally, a school play or a school paper. There is never un underclassman minus enthusiasm; this thing is a part of his very existence, but alas and alack, a Senior seems to exist some- way, somehow, without it. Seniors, turn back your thoughts to the time when to mingle in a spirited student meeting, to shout yourself hoarse at a track meet, to boost and back the thousand and one things that our school did and stood for, was your greatest pleasure. Can you tell us where these things have gone? Every Senior can remember when he nearly waved his hand off in recita- tions, in his eagerness to recite, to ask a question, to contradict, anything to show that he was alive, alive, enthusiastically alive. Many things come to mind as the possible reasons for all this lack of interest, but we mention them with fear and trembling, and dread to accept any of them as the real cause. Is it because you are indifferent to the school we all should love so well? Do you ieel too greatly the importance of being Seniors? Are you blase? Surely not the last, for this condition comes only when people are fifty and perhaps gouty. Seniors, surely you are not gouty, at least you hide it well if you are. As for being fifty, why you are mere babes in this world’s great whirlwind. Perhaps you think all this breathless enthusiasm is an absolute waste of energy, time and brain matter. Do you query, is it really worth while, this asking and answering of questions—it’s all such a bore. Why all this needless enthusiasm—enthusiasm is childish. you say. Is repose, calm dignity you ideal? H aving opinions is such a nuisance, you seem to imply. While with the shifting of all responsibility from your shoulders you need not fear receiving the kicks of defeat, on the other hand you cannot rejoice in winning the crowns of glory. Beeause of this general indifference you miss the satisfaction of having given your best. Every Senior’s heart beats loyal and true for our beloved [high ; every victory won, every defeat received. really gives you eithe inward joy or sorrow. But why not show this feeling? The under- classmen are not supposed to guess that leaping joy and pride are hidden deep under your passive faces. The fact that Senior classes before you have settled down into middle-agers is not sufficient reason for your doing the same thing. Other Seniors in the past have realized that something was wrong with the spirit of their class, but like you, the lethargy of indifference was so strong upon them that they either could not or would not arouse themselves to a show of life. They realized, as you do, that the school does no! nee ae ace for guidance in any especial line. The Juniors are the live wires. You were last year, but why did you not brine that ve wire stuff along with you into Senior Row? It would not have 16

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Middle Row Hoffman, Alverdo Rice. Walter Johnston, Smith, | D ad Oo Es fae ° = © =| is - = A =| 3S an) a Claire (Left to Right)—Helen : 1pp, (Left to Right)—Milton L Bottom Row Top Row (Left to Right)—Walte

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S41 th th Song been a hard task to have kept alive the enthusiasm that you surely had at the very beginning of the term. Poor thing, it soon died in the ireezing temperature of Senior serenity . You as Seniors have failed, but you ca. partially redeem yourselves by putting up danger signs for the Seniors-to-be. Beware crt hiding your Senooi Spirit under a mask of apathy. We know that each Senior 13 hoping that the classes of the future will not fall into his pittall. He knows that happiness comes only to those who give as well as receive. Juniors, you Seniors-to-be, bring back the old time school spirit of the Seniors. Bring it back and keep it. Guard it weil. Do not for a moment let that monster, indifference, creep into your school life. The Seniors of to-day expeetantly wait to see you succeed in this duty of active interest in all schoo! afiairs, pa ticipation of leadership. You seem to have failed, but it has becn because of thoughtlessness, not malice. Seniors of to-morrow, you have been warned. Be awake. Change this tendexcy cf the past. Do it. MUSIC. Musie has been one cf the regular subjects in our school for four years and in that time an excellent course has been built up that we are very proud of for we have taken the work seriously and not as a mere amusement. History of Music, Harmony, individual vocal lessons, Glee Club. Orchestra and Chorus work are offered. For three years Dr. Martin kindly gave his services for the organization and training of our orchestra, one of the splendid successes of the school. This year the Junior orchestra has been organized and is under the direction of our music In- structor. Our time has been divided between the light music and the compositions of the master musicians, Wagner, Bach, Men- delssohn, Guonod, Schubert, Strauss and Rubenstein. The wii of this course is to give students the opportunity of hearing, know- ing and studying good musie and the results have fully demon- strated its usefulness as a regular and serious part of the high school curriculum. THANK. YOR, Our work on the RICHMOND RODEO is finished. The pub- lication of this paper would not have been possible without the valuable assistance of the faculty, of contributors, of students ang of advertisers, who so generously gave us of their time, material and mouey. We wish here to make grateful acknowledgement 0: all the support and help that has been given us.