Westwood High School - Chipmunk Yearbook (Westwood, CA)

Page 25 text:

EDITORIAL, LITERARY PAGE ELEVEN Student Body Self-Government Government i the instrument by which society j impose rules upon the conduct of man, punishes those who disobey and steers society through the sou of man's selfishness, cruelty and passions. Student hotly self-government, of course involves only certain phases of this definition; it imposes j laws upon the conduct of students, it punishes the! disobedience, it controls the social life of the school, I and above all when properly maintained, it helps the students to realise the requirements for good i citizenship. Student laxly self-government, in form, is a re- presentative democracy, the elected student repre- sentative!. being the adminstrutora of government under faculty guidance. The students who take an active part in the management of school affairs •veeive valuable knowledge and experience in dis- tinguishing between right and wrong. They are constantly brought in contact with matters which require careful consideration, and above all. tact. But no matter how capable and tactful the offi- cers may lie, without support from the student body, they are helpless. Success of student self- government requires every student's support of all laws, b terest in all activities, and school pat- riotism. The first fact of citizenship in any democracy is the civic responsibilities of the individuals. One’s own conduct affects a school for good or for evil.) A demagogue in a student body is to be ns much i shunned as a political demagague, for his influence is deadly, and soon becomes a destructive element j in government. If a sense of responsibility is inculcated, each in- dividual i made safe for democracy. On the other hand democracy can only be made safe for the world by relieving it of demagogues, tyrants and those indifferent to duty. —Ruth Jensen, Student Body President, ’24. Practical Education In addition to the regular academic work our school carries on three practical branches of edu- cation : Domestic Science. Commercial courses, and Manual Training and Mechanical Drawing. These activities prepare the girls and boys, giving them a practical knowledge of things important in their life work, whether in industry, business or the home. Our girls are given a thorough training in the principles of housekeeping and dressmaking through a two-year course in Domestic Science. Our boys are given a practical course in shop work which covers the understanding and working of plans and drawings using both mechanical and hand tools. Both boys and girls enjoy the business training so vital to everyone in his everyday transactions. Wo have every reason to be proud of our students who are all interested in the various courses of our school. We appreciate, also, the generous equipment made possible by our School Board, who has spared neither time nor money to make our school one of the best High Schools of the State. In all activities our students have power, ability and service second to none. G. L. 26 t Government is reorganized and re-established in Westwood High School most satisfactory resulta will be obtained. Next year we hope to make up our complete schedule of student body activities curly in the year. The best plan would be to make it out at the end of the spring semester and this can be done in a general way. At any rate we should have a fairly complete program made out by the end of the first week of the fall semester. In this way» we will have no conflicts und each activity will have it’s share of time and attention. Our spring sports seem to be the most unstable of our activities. Whether or not we have any seems to be pretty much a matter of chance. Why not plan for them at the biginning of the year and having set our goal, set the pace necessary to at- tain that goal? We do not lack competition nor teams to represent us and wc can surely find some- way of financing our baseball ,and track teams. At the close of our basketball season we begin almost immediately to make plans for our Hi Skule Sirkus. This is one of the biggest events of the year and wc believe one of the most worth while, for the proceeds go to maintain a scholar- ship fund. Each year we try to make it a little- bigger and better than the previous year. The generous patronage of our many friends has made this undertaking most successful and we are already planning a bigger, better show for them next year. One division of our school activities which wc would like to see enlarged and given a more promi- nent place is music. We already have an orchestra which has earned its right to recognition and a place in the sun, by a long hard struggle over a period of three years. In spite of everything and everybody “it has arrived” and we feel sure, has come to stay. They furnish us with music on vari- ous occasions and not the least of their services to the student body has been the entertainment they have provided for visiting athletics teams. Why not have a High School Glee Club too?. We've talked a lot, started one once, but so far have made very little progress in this direction. It's a good idea. Let's not let it get away. Perhaps we can find time and place for it in our program for next year. Shortly after the Sirkus has become ancient history notices concerning tryouts begin to appear. It lias been our custom to put on at least one play during the school year. This year we have selected “Come Out of the Kitchen.” The cast is rehears- ing daily and all indications point to a successful production. We are very fortunate in having se- cured the services of Mrs. Jayne, and shall do our best to cooperate with her in every way. Last, but not least we have our school publica- tions or, more correctly speaking, publication. This year wc are trying something new and are publish- ing a school paper instead of the usual school annual. If it is successful we may look forward to a semi-annual publication. Such an arrangement would divide the responsibility, cut down expenses and give our literary department the necessary medium of expression. This may seem a large program for a school of nur size to fulfill, but if we each make ourselves responsible for some smnll part of it, when another year rolls around we wijl find our schedule com- pleted without excessive demands having been made on any one person or group of persons in the school. P. S. '25 Looking Forward Someone has sail!, “He who makes no mistakes, does nothing.” This thought is most consoling when one thinks of the year of 1923-1924. But what about 1924-1925? Wc are looking forward to bigger mid belter programs than ever before. We are going to do more and make fewer mistake;. We arc going to profit hy our experience of the past year. For the past two years Strident Government has been maintained in Westwood High School. This year, because of failure to inderstand and assume the responsibilities of Student Government, tin faculty found it necessary to suspend this privi- The year of 1923-’24 has on the whole been n successful one. but as our athletics relations have been furthered and we have had numerous other expenses it has been a hard pul! to make our funds cover the many things we would like to do. But Westwood High School never gives up and so in spite of many obstacles the Chipmunk is going to press. This paper contains a record of our classes and school actvities although somewhat condensed to suit our new form of publication. We have given all departments space for their usual writeups and pictures, and in addition to this material, views and sketches of our “One Man Town” have been included for wc feel that people outside of our community will be interested. This issue is an experiment. It it goes over well our Chipmunk muy be encouraged to ventured forth of tener than once a year. If he finds hi way to other schools we ask that you be kind to him. The staff takes this opportunity to express their appreciation to those members of the student body, alumni and faculty who have aided in the prepara- tion o» the material for this publication. M. M.'25 A P. '25 A Dog’s Life 1 woke up this morning and found my mistress gazing down ul me with a very horrible, screwed- up look on her face, anyway, that's what it seemed like to me. but I believe she used the term sweet smile” to describe It. Well, if that's u suille I never hope to see one again, especially i. sweet one. I closed my eyes In order to shut off the view, hut that only mude It worse for she hegau to Jabber at me In Chinese, Russian, or some other foreign language, anyway. It sounded something like this: Isootill tide n’seepy muvverslttypetlamb. He-s- soritty heart—slush, gurleg. slush—etc.” I opened my eyes and tried to give her a dis- gusted look but my long boolful locks.” as she called them, must have hidden my face, for the look didn't produce the desired effect on her. In- stead of leaving she only started again In another outburst introduced by a shrill laugh, and as she picked me up in her arms, temptation was so great that I could not refrain from kicking her in the face. This also had no effect for she prob- ably thought It was a little love tap a::d cooed over me some more. Then she took me ...... t little white room und placed me In charge of a young girl dressed in white who was supposed to be my nut id. I wus then placed in a little tub of warm water and scrubbed and dried; then, after tying a dealeatable lavendur ribbon around my neck. I was ready for my morning walk. How 1 wish it was a walk! But, ulus, it was any- thing but that for me. I was placed in a llniou- sin- beside my mistress and wc rode to the park where we got out. A chain was fastened around my neck and I was led around the park. How I longed to be free like the other dogs. They prob- ably didn’t realize what lucky dogs they were. I looked ut the others with envy as they scampered here and there free to go where they pleased. Then suddenly a bright idea canto to me and as u large collie passed me I gave a little yelp and he turned around to see what I wanted. 1 told him of my scheme and ho was more than willing to help me. I started in to yelp and whine some- thing fierce and limped along on three feet until my mistress picked me up. She started examin- ing m.v foot when suddenly there was a rustle and swish of skirts and then a heavy thud and my mistress was sprawled out on the cement walk and I was on my way to—any place but homo, followed by tho colllo. Ho soon caught up with me and directed me to an old back yard of some body's. On second thought It was probably just an old dumpyard for no one could have quite such a filthy yard as this was. Well,” he said, after he had gotten his breath, ”1 had a pretty tough time getting through all those skirts, but I finally succeeded.” Yos,” I answered, with a sigh of relief, You certainly did, and I am grateful to you.” Don't mention It. he said. 1 was also once a 'hot house pet,’ hut them days are gone for- ever.” Then we both laughed. Well, 1 am still free and hope to be the rest or my life, and If you saw me now you would think that I never in my life had taken a bath. —R. P. '26.