Abington High School - Oracle Yearbook (Abington, PA)

Page 30 text:

TIIE ORACLE (Enmpptttimt An Address Delivered by William Sandel Louchheim at Commencement Exercises S perhaps you know, Abington is a comparatively small high school. There are approximately three hundred students enrolled and this is asfiflgl such a small number that the principal knows practically all of them. The number of students has increased rapidly in the past few years and has necessitated the building of the new addition which is on your right. But there has not been a corresponding increase in the number available for school activities, excepting possibly athletics. What has been the cause of this comparative standstill? The cause lies in the lack of regulated competition. School activities, such as the high school paper, teams, and organizations are the backbone of a good school. Without them we could not have school spirit; the cooperation between the faculty and students would be reduced to a minimum and the lack of something to do after school hours is likely to lead to destructiveness. Let us take one school activity, “The Oracle,” our high school paper, and show how competition would help to improve it. During the past few ears it has been the custom to promote the various assistant editors to editors of the different departments. New assistants are then selected from the junior class by the faculty, their selections being based primarily on records made in the English Department. Some of the weaknesses of this system are— First; the person selected may not be over anxious to serve and will accept the position for the honor but will not attempt to be progressive while other students can not signify their desire to become members of the staff. Second; Because he has had no previous experience, the Junior acting as assistant spends about three months as an apprentice, and so is practically valueless to his chief during that period. Third; No work is required during the first two years to become a member of the staff and consequently very few sophomores or freshmen ever manifest any interest in the paper. Fourth; The assistants at present are on trial for about the first month and if one proves exceptionally unsatisfactory he is removed. Valuable time may be lost in this manner. The objections enumerated are enough to advocate a change, but destructive criticism will seldom help the world. Michael Angelo has said: “Let us criticize by creation, not by finding fault.” My constructive plan is— First; Let all the freshmen and sophomores who desire to help the school by helping the school paper, be invited to give their names to the editor of the department in which they would like to serve; such as editorial, business, literary, athletic, and so forth. Second; The editors could then instruct the candidates about different Page Twenty-six

Page 29 text:

 JUNE ISSUE 30 Editor of The Ledger Job printer He adorned whatever subject he learned. 31 Football Coach To live in Glenside, or any place she says. Silence is the virtue of the wise. 32 Matrimony Financier Sermons and soda water the day after. 33 To rival Paderewski. A jitney driver She is swift and flies with swallows wings. 34 Chemistry Prof. Bachelor Frank by name, Frank by nature. 35 To join the Navy Houseboat Besides tis known, she can speak Greek, as naturally as pigs do speak. 36 Speech making Washington Bring me pen and paper, mother. I have no time to sup. 37 Elkton Art-hur At least a wit. 38 Marry a ball player Social worker Had thou any philosophy? 39 To raise cain A doctor Hound and merry. 1-----------9----------2----------1 (Blaaa mtg Words by Eleanor M. Biecker Music by Anna E. Sjostrom I. The time has come to say good-bye, Oh, dear old Twenty-one, We’ve climbed the ladder up so high. The tricks and pranks we used to play, Oh, dear old Twenty-one, Will be remembered ever and aye. (Chorus) III. Of fame our colors have foretold, Oh, dear old Twenty-one, The royal purple and the purest gold. We’ve won and lost with thee as guide, Oh, dear old Twenty-one, May they be always at our side. (Chorus). II. The cherished flower that we chose, Oh, dear old Twenty-one, The dear old fashioned sweetheart rose. Now may it lead us thru all toil Oh, dear old Twenty-one, And make us ever true and loyal. (Chorus). IV. will,” the motto of our class, Oh, dear old Twenty-one, Will help us all our troubles pass. Alma Mater, farewell to you Ob, dear old Twenty-one, Now we must say adieu, adieu. (Chorus). Chorus : Hail, Twenty-one; dear Twenty-one, To faculty good-bye. Hail, Twenty-one; dear Twenty-one, Farewell, Abington High. Page Twenty-live

Page 31 text:

JUNE ISSUE methods and requirements connected with their departments and then tell them to get to work. Thus the literary candidates write stories, the athletic write sporting news, the advertising obtain advertisements, and in general do some of the work that the present staff does. The candidates would always be under the control of the chief and would be assigned duties by him. Third; At the end of the year new assistants could be appointed by the faculty, the selections being based on the work done and the spirit in which it was done. Fourth; Pins, keys, or rings might be awarded to members of the staff as a token of appreciation for the work done. The principle of competition should be carried into the dramatic clubs. Athletics are already run on a competitive basis. However, student managers should obtain their positions through competition. There should be a senior manager and a junior assistant manager and then some sophomores trying for the positions. At the end of the season the Athletic Association could then elect the new managers intelligently. I do not advocate the sudden adoption of these plans but rather their gradual adoption, taking one department at a time and insuring the success of the system in that place. Competition in these various organizations and activities should be encouraged by hearty, wholesome enthusiasm on the part of faculty and board of education for the further introduction of competition in Abington High School will be a big step forward in the improvement of the school and in the creation of a stronger school spirit. 1-------—9----------2--------1 Alma ittatrr Rise up one and stand ye all, For our dear old Abington, Fail not ye, but heed the call To the White and Crimson. We will ever cherish thee, Victory or defeat it be, Staunch and true our schoolmates all, To our dear old Abington. Many days may come and go, To thee, dear old Abington, Storms may rise, and winds may blow, Firm and true our Crimson. Let not memories faded be, As we go o’er land and sea, Alma Mater, hail to thee, To our dear old Abington. Page Twenty-seven