Alexander Hamilton Middle School - Warrior Yearbook (Long Beach, CA)

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ONIAN A Trip Tlwouglt I'lu.irrtlton. IT WAS a rare spring day when my chum and I first visited Hamilton Junior High School. We agreed that it was a beautiful modern school. It is surrounded by tropical trees, plants, shrubs and flowers which add to its beauty. The green lawn, which is carefully kept, gives one the thought of freshness. The buildings are built around a large beautiful patio which has a lawn with tropical trees and bushes planted in the corners. As we went up the walk which leads to the office door spring flowers senta faint perfume to us. We first visited the auditorium. We en- tered a small foyer with entrances leading to the main auditorium which seats approx- imately nine hundred people. It is simple in its beauty and yet of wonderful architecture. Above and tothe rear of us was the balcony with the projection room in the center. It has two modern moving picture machines which the loyal Hamiltonians helped buy. The main offices are on the first floor of the building. The first thing Inoticed as I entered the main office door was a large framed picture of Alexander Hamilton, after whom this school is named. I also visited the attendance clerk's office and the offices of the Vice Principal and the Dean of Girls. Mrs. Kast is the attendance clerk and when anyone is absent or tardy he must go to her office. Mr. Wickham is the Vice-Principal and Miss Healy is Dean of Girls. The Principal of Hamilton is Mr. Hicks. His office had a comfortable yet business-like appearance. There was a neatly arranged desk and a book case. In one corner was a table and on it was a picture of his two little girls. The American flag hung in another corner, near the door. We left the offices through a small anti- room where notices and mail for the teach- ers are placed. We walked down the halls which are about twelve feet wide with shining lock- ers on the sides. Student Patrols are sta- tioned at various places in the halls to keep order and direct traffic between periods. The Study Halls we found are much larg- er than the ordinary class room and in them we saw the students poring over their books preparing their lessons. We next went through the art rooms which are beautifully arranged. The walls of the room were covered with drawings which are well worth studying. The one I liked best was a water color, done in color shades, of a peaceful country scene with mountains in the back-ground. We visted an English class and found it a typical classroom. The students were giv- ing speeches. The next class we visited was a 9A social studies class where the students were studying United States gov- ernment. We also visited a beginners typ- ing class, a mathematics and a music class, The gym which is for both boys and girls is very large. The modern apparatus such as the buck, side-horse, travelling rings, climbing ropes, parallel bars and tumbling mats gives every student a good chance to develop physically. The boys' locker room isa combined shower and dressing room. The orthopedic gym is for boys with physical de- fects that require special attention. This gym has much apparatus upon which the boys may work. These various things consist of chest weights, stall bars, travelling ladder and mats. We glanced at the playground with basket ball courts, jumping pits, track, and baseball diamond and then we passed on to the shops. The machine shop has modern machinery that would make a mechanic green with envy. The boys were making plumbs, ham- mers, screw drivers and were working on automobile motors. The electric shopis well supplied with ma- chinery. This shop is conducted for the boys who are interested in that subject. A series of experiments covering the hookup of bells, annunciators. telegraph and telephones are carried on duringthe semester. We found . l'nge- Fri rly-1 mi

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I Ti-it i-IAMILTONIAN X the boys constructing motors, radios and transformers. The boys in sheet metal shop are taught how to make useful household articles such as dust pans, trays, match boxes and pans. They also construct tin boats, autos and other articles. The wood shop has a very fine equipment which consists of two lathes, an electric sander, band saw, drills, aplaner and grind stone. The beginning classes had built boats, surfboards and table lamps while the older boys made funiture that is able to complete with market furniture, We next visited the print shop. Here we found both boys and girls, printing cards, setting type and cleaning rollers. The print shop not only gives one ideas and instructions of the printing trade but also teaches better grammar, capitalization, paragraphing and punctuation. On entering the sewing rooms we were surprised at the number of sewing ma.- chines. The girls were working on dresses, aprons and costumes. There are two cook- ing rooms but we visited the one that was occupied. Much to our delight we were given tastes of the girls' wares which on this particular day happened to be cake and candy and we found them excellent. These girls are taught how to get the best results in cooking food stuffs and the most sanitary way to cook them. The cafeteria was our next stop. Here we found the cooks prepa.ring the food. The lunch hour we found is divided into two periods and at lunch time the students line up into three lines, each line leading to a horseshoe serving table. The students take trays, are served food, given a check and they pay the cashier. They then seat them- selves in the dining hall which is a very busy place during lunch hour. There is also a serving table for the teachers and a pri- vate dining room for them. Our last stop was the library. There the students were enjoying a good reading per- iod or looking up information for class work. This library is of considerable size and we did not expect to find as many books as we did. As we started to leave the library our guide asked us if we wished to stay a few minutes and see the flag ceremony. We consented for we had heard about this ceremony at Alexander Hamilton which is known over the state of California. We went to the window that looks over the patio. An orchestra was assembled in the middle and the musicans wore trim orange and black sweaters. A trumpeter sounded the march and the orchestra played while the students, some fourteen hundred, marched to their places. The ceremony was begun by the singing of America, I Love You California. and Hamilton Junior. As the last note died away the call to the colors was blown and each student placed his right hand over his breast. A swell of patriotism surged in my veins as Old Glory cameinto view. After the salute the ceremony was ended by the singing of the Star Spangled Banner. It was a perfect tribute to Old Glory. We attended a meeting of the Cabinet which is part of the plan of the student goverment at Hamilton. The Cabinet room is very attractive. On the floor is beautiful inlaid linoleum donated by the Parent- Teachers Association. The members sat on benches around a beautiful walnut table made by the wood shop boys. These six are also of walnut and were made in the wood shop. In the corner of the room was a walnut console with a vase of spring flowers on it. This cabinet room was de- signed by the art teachers. We went home feeling that our. time at Hamilton had been well spent. Alfred Milton. Fug: Furry-:bra