Ashland High School - Echoes Yearbook (Ashland, ME)

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WHAT ABOUT FUTURE TEACHERS? Unfortunately, comparatively few people have any real conviction that teachers and scholars are important. It is true that everyone says they are important but very little effort has been made to give them the place in society that we say they deserve. It is high time for the public to give ser- ious consideration to the work of the scholar and make haste to grant him recognition for it. All scientific advancement of which we are so proud was made in the laboratory of some scholar. lt is the scholar too, who must train future scholars not merely those who are anxious seekers of knowledge but he must help raise the level of education for all citizens. Since these things are so, the necessity of using every effort to attract the best minds to research and teaching is apparent. Everyone knows that there is a great need to attract more promising students to the field of teaching. The members of our local teacher's club realizing this need have voted to establish a scholarship for future teachers. They are being aided by other organizations in the town and it is hoped that a substantial sum will soon be available. Any student who plans to attend a teacher's college or to follow teaching as a career may apply. In order to arouse and maintain interest we believe a Future Teacher's of America Club should be organized at A.C.H.S. -M rs. Rose Tilley A.C.H.S. HAND BOOK For some time, the faculty of our school has been aware that some medium to inform freshmen, eighth graders and new students about the activi- ties and regulations of our school would be helpful. Late last year a prospective plan for a handbook was formed. Decision as to content and size was made during faculty meetings. The material was completed by Mr. DeFrees during the summer and early in the fall, we were each presented with a very attractive handbook. This contains a list of school organizations and activities, explanations of the courses of study, the school song, rules and regulations, a page entitled Wish We Had Known Then and one containing advice on choice of courses and careers, in short, a comprehensive pic- ture of our school in compact form. We consider the handbook a great help to in- coming classes as well as a morale booster and aid in securing greater prestige for our school. -lean Sutherland '54 OUR NEW STAGE We are very fortunate this year to have a new stage in Ashland Community High School. Ever since our new high school has been built, we have felt the need of a stage. A special town meeting was held and the appropriate amount of money was raised. And so on August 28, 1953, the stage was completed, except for the curtains which were installed later. The stage is 22 feet wide and 40 feet long. The draperies for the sides and back are grayish tan, made of rep. The front drapes are made of maroon velour. They hang in heavy folds and are weighted at the bottom. The stage is a great improvement to the appear- ance of the gymnasium. It also has helped to pro- duce plays more easily and more realistically. Before the stage was built, all plays had to be pro- duced in the middle of our gymnasium floor. Senior Plays were produced in the Ashland Grange Hall which was a great bother to both teachers and students. The Senior Play of the class of '54 was the first play to be produced on the new stage. The stage is also used for a music room. Therefore, we stu- dents of A.C.H.S. are very fortunate, indeed, to have such a wonderful addition to our school. -Theresa Chasse, Barbara Weaver '54

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PARENT-TEACHER PANELS ln observance of National Education Week in November, Ashland Community High School held a parent-teacher panel discussion. The purpose of this discussion was to talk about problems which affect your boy or girl at school and also to give the teachers a chance to become better acquainted with the parents. The program consisted of a short musical pro- gram presented by members of the A.C.H.S. Band, and also a movie on the role of parents in improv- ing school systems. The program was followed by panel discussions on, Ill Practicality of High School Courses Q21 Do we have too many extra- curricular activities, and Q31 Should my child go to college? Following the discussions, refresh- ments were served. Parents had a choice of the panel which they wished to attend. Members of the faculty conducted the discussions. A second panel of the same nature was held January 18. There was a short musical program. The subject under discussion was What changes should be made in the assignments of homework at Ashland Community High School? The panel was made up of two parents, two students, and two teachers. About sixty-five people were present, many of whom participated in the discussion. A vote was taken to make the panels a regular event and a steering committee was chosen with Mr. Fish as permanent chairman. We believe these discussions will result in better understanding be- tween parents and teachers and that they definitely improve public relations. -lane Brewer '54 SPEECH AND DEBATE This year, for the first time in the history of our school, a course in Speech and Debate has been introduced with Mr. Fish as instructor. The purpose of this course is to develop the ability to analyze problems, make informed judgments, and express them skillfully. The speech and debate club attended a Debate Clinic at Bangor, sponsored by the University of Maine on December 14. We also debated with Steams High School on January 14 at Millinocket. The Proposition debated was Resolved: The President of the United States should be elected by the direct vote of the People. Ashland debated the affirmative but were defeated. We have a very full schedule for the remainder of the year. There will be the American Legion Oratorical Contest in which the local event occurs the last of February. The local winner will go to the District contest. March 5, 6, plan to attend the Montgomery ln- terscholastic Speaking Contest held at Colby Col- lege, Waterville, Maine. April 9, 10, there will be a Model Youth Congress in Springfield, Massachusetts to which we hope to send representatives. This course is offered only the first semester. However, after that, it will continue as a club with meetings during Activity periods. We welcome anyone who is interested in Debating. --loan Brewer '54 IMPROVING PUBLIC RELATIONS Some one has said that the best public relations are developed by those teachers who send each child home happy every day. It may not be possible to accomplish this in actual practice but certainly the happier the parent, so this could be an aim toward which to strive. Through parent-teacher panels, teachers interpret to parents the methods by which subjects are being taught. The panels also help to eliminate unfavor- able reports about the school. Generally, parents want to understand what teachers are trying to do, so they can be helpful also. Another good way to bring schools to the atten- tion of the public is through spot radio announce- ments featuring some special phase or adaptation of a subject. Students in English classes may write the spots and speech students may be assigned to broadcast them. The public learns about the schools and the students learn in the process. In Winona, Minnesota, last year a plan enabling work- ing parents to visit the schools known as The Open Door was tried, which proved very success- ful. Arrangements were made with employers and visits were scheduled for convenient times when their employees could visit their childrens' schools without loss of pay. A good public relations program should be friendly and understanding because these are the qualities which will appeal to all parents and will inspire a similar attitude on their part. -Phyllis Tilley

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SENIOR CLASS OFFICERS President ,....... . SSSSSS, BARBARA WEAVER Vice President ..,.... ,7A................. T ED RAND Secretary ........ .,... C ONNIE ANDERSON Treasurer ,,,, ,...,,., A LTHEA HEWS Y N ..,-IT Z X X THEME: The Road Ahead MOTTO: One Step At A Time . . . Always Forward CLASS COLORS. Maroon and White CLASS FLOWER: Red Rose FOREWORD Look not into the Past . . . It comes not back again . . . Wisely improve this Present . . . It is thine . . . Go forth to meet the shadowy future without fear, and a manly heart.