Austin High School - Comet Yearbook (Austin, TX)

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gg Elizabeth Essary's science class personalizes Waldo when Essary left her class in March. ,r ctss g S A fi VVV., ,Jfgj A V A V,gig.,t my , ' G . 1 , , A 9' ,f s if fkky .Q 4,4 il 4,5 A W' ' ,. of' ' I , o :Q if I ' O - ,.g,,r,:,.1, v'.,.. ff f . ' K 1 if 1 V ' Y'- - I 15 Q - 04. 4 ' -9' .- Vkf. J m en v' S .g o tt., . , . my A WQX, it .. . '1- ' f5'f'4f4'W . if :' I I ,,,,, . at -IAF? A pyr, L V I I Senator SEHATURX' fuk, v - '--f 'fs ua. . 1 , Lfs?rf.1ffigir?.f .F ' 'ff-Pi+z3'W 1 lf- A I 4 , fi A Z .lf voted in Election '84 on May 5. Lorenza Bianchi-Maladrone and Gretchen Myers notice the new plaque of the school seal on the second floor. .. 4 '1 . arding, Donna Bogle, and Bill Glover were chosen as three outstanding teachers by the PTSA on April Humanity which worked for economic and educational justice for all Americans beyond the blacks, Being a Baptist minister, he acquired a forcefully inspiring oratory style which seemed over-zealous to many Americans, and this impression was yet another detriment to Iackson's authority in the White House. He preached a greater willingness to do away with the threat of nuclear war and opposed nuclear energy. He opiposed the MX missile, the B-1 Bomber, the neutron omb an the deployment of Pershing and cruise missiles in Western Europe, He supported a mutually verifiable nuclear freeze, as the other candidates did also, but he was willing to take some extra risks for peace for the world. Walter Mondale was an established Democrat that was supported by labor unions because he was determined to reduce unemployment. He stressed the importance of the cooperation o the government, business, and labor to rebuild America's basic in ustry and be able to compete with other exporting companies. He wanted to support smaller businesses because arger businesses did not need public assistance. Mondale wanted to keep America strong while ensuring that nuclear weapons were never used. He would improve conventional forces to raise nuclear threshold and stren then crisis communications to prevent the risk ot' an accifental nuclear war. Mondale also advocated a mutual and verifiable nuclear freeze and non-proliferation which would prevent other nations to gain nuclear power. While Mondale represented the image of the established Democrat who will do exactly the opposite of President Ronald Reagan, Hart was considered the leader of the youth with new perspectives on older Democratic beliefs, and jackson was considered the strongest, leader of equal rights and justice. President Ronald Reagan as the only Republican nominee, did not have to actually start his campaigning until after the Democratic nomination election was complete. However, rumored by KLBI radio news, Reagan was planning to break the tedium of boring presidential aides by using john Cougar's Pink Houses in one of his advertisements. Gary Turberville appointed new head football coach Crockett HS assistant coach Gary Turberville was appointed head football coach in late April, replacing Bill Harper, Turberville is a 16 year veteran assistant coach with ten years in AISD including six as assistant coach at Austin High until 1980. He inherits a Maroon football squad that has had five straight losing seasonsg bad publicity from last October's disqualification from the District 26AAAAA race, and an historic tradition which spans the school's 103 year history. Because Turberville was at SFA when the Maruoris won the District Championship 119785, he is familiar with the involved community that insisted on a blend of academic excellence and a fine athletic program. He acknowledged that the community was expectin him to turn things around. l did not gel like there was another high school in Austin that I wanted to be at, Turberville told the Maroon. I have taught here before and I know the quality of teachers and stu ents is high. Educationally, we are a step above the others and I wanted to be part of that again. Although other opportunities to apply for head coaching Eositions were open to Turberville, he wanted a chance to come ack to Austin High. When he did receive the head coach position at SFA, he worked the Maroons with morning and afternoon practices and the players were pressed to wear the full pad uniform during the warm month of May, I we work together, we can meet our goals,' Turberville said. Athletics is just an important part of a student's education, I want to return the athletic program to the level of our academic programs. l want a quality program, Turberville said. The layers and the assistant coaches see him as a very demandjing and knowledgeable coach. Athletic coordinator Del Moberg said of Turberville in the Austin American-Statesman that I-le's very demanding and extremely knowledgeable about the defensive aspects of the game - not that he isn't offensively - but he is a very good technician on defense. Soviets Boycott Olympics The Soviet Union announced May 8 that their team would not participate in the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, scheduled to begin july 28. The USSR accused the United tates of failing to ensure the security of Russian athletes from the possibility of defection. Security at the games had been a major issue, but the U.S. met several Soviet demands, including the right for Soviet athletes and officials to be quartered aboard a Soviet ship in the Los Angeles port and permission for charter flights from Moscow to land in Los Angeles, U.S. Federal Officials also worked closely with local law-enforcement agencies to devise additional arrangements to protect the Russians against harrassment, Even so, the Soviets felt that U.S. authorities took a cavalier attitude toward the Olympic charter and in those conditions their sportsmenlwomen would not attend the 23rd Olympiad. Observers felt the real reasons for the Soviet boycott were retaliation for the US boycott of the 1980 Moscow Olympics and the fear that Soviet athletes would try to defect. The Soviet announcement was made nearly a month in advance of the Iune 2 deadline for resenting formal notification of Olympic participation. This announcement raised concerns that several Eastern European nations allied with the soviet Union would also not take part in the games. 17

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Cheerleaders Elected Students elected cheerleaders for 1984-85 on March 21, choosing Amy Francis, Tami Johnson, Gracy Benavides, Suzanne Sculze, Kelly Weedon, Melanie Milner, Laura Williams, and Leah Martin. Before the day of the elections, all of the prospective candidates prepared an application and practiced jumps, chants, and cheers during a two week clinic. The previous cheerleaders instructed the candidates in the clinic everyday after school. On the day of the try-outs the girls were informed of which cheers and in what order they would perform. During the try-outs, each candidate was presented and then tumbled or cheered in the middle of the crowded gymnasium. The candidates then joined a group of three or four to perform two chants and a cheer. After the 21 candidates cheered with at least two other girls, the entire group of candidates joined for a final cheer. Cheerleader sponsor, Leyla Colhmia, said that being elected cheerleader carries the responsibility of setting a good example as far as leadership, high moral character, sportsmanship, willingness to follow school rules, and keeping good grades with courses. Academic Decathletes Finish Fifth in State Academic Decathlon team members overcame two disadvantages to tie for fifth among 20 schools at the April 7 competition at Highland Park High School in Dallas. Social studies and Debate coach, Dan Arnold said that SFA was given less preparation time before the competition than other opponents. Tom Prentice, journalism advisor, added that every ot er coach was paid for their extra work in directing their teams, but neither Coach Prentice nor Coach Arnold were reimbursed for conducting three months of decathlon direction. Their efforts were completely voluntary. These disadvantages discouraged SFA's expectations, but the initial team surprised the competition with their winning results. Individual winners were Andrew Chin, third overall, first in math, first in speech, second in language and literature, and third in science, Chaim Goodman-Strauss received first in math, first in science: Angie Hurst, second in slpeech, second in interview, Michelle Bourianoff, first in an uage and Iiteratureg Gretchen Myres, third in essay, and Martelle Luedecke-Klier, third in speech. Participating as alternate contestants were Evelyn Lester, Christoper Corsbie and Michael Genet. SFA led all schools through three of the ten events but fell behind on the social science and superquiz contests. Eventual winner Richardson Pearce, as well as the top five teams Houston Memorial, Highland Park, Klein Forest and Permian high schools all outscored SFA by substantial margins on the stggerquiz, an event consisted of trivia questions dating back to l 6, Decathlon coordinators repeatedly referred to their production as a contest that would stimulate academic excellence. The contest's motto upward, outward, and downward, urged contesting schools to spread the decathlon concept to higher and lower grade levels and to other states. Mondale, Hart and Jackson campaign for Demo nomination The race for Democratic presidential nominee between Sen. Gary Hart of Colorado, Rev. jesse Jackson, and former Vice-President Walter Mondale left behind yet another year of political combat throughout the United States. While the candidates strongly opposed each other's political practice and beliefs, the three presidential hopefuls developed separate identities to attract voters in their favor. Senator Gary Hart established himself as a younger American, using campaigning techniques, similar to those of Kennedy, that appealed to the youth. He created a new vision for this country's uture and Hart's new ideas that offered his policy in military spending. He felt the stress should be on how government money is spent rather than simply how much. He advocated shifting spending from complex and delicate weapons to systems that are simple and rugged. He would have taken steps to prevent the use of nuclear weapons by freezing plutonium production worldwide and negotiating a mutually verifiable freeze with the Russians. His policies on foreign affairs were cautious because he supported less interventionalism from the U.S. He opposed aid to countries which violated human ri hts such as South Africa, He did not believe the president giould cgive more aid to central America without a resolution from ongress. He also opposed the sale of AWACS to Saudi Arabia. At 47, Hart felt he had a new approach to political solutions to offer Americans, while his o ponents accused his new ideas as a program lacking sugstance. Nevertheless, Hart stood by his policies. Reverand jesse Iackson, 43, was assumed to represent certain stereotypes because he was black, a Baptist minister and a former aide to Martin Luther King, Ir. Because of his color, some people supported him, some people opposed him and some people felt wrong for opposing him simply because he was black. Since he was known for his participation in the civil rights movement, jackson was set in a position posing as a hypocrite. However, he organized People United to Save clerk, Bertielb ens erates a machine automatically dials absent students' home and unopposed forlthe 1984 elections. delivers a message informing the absence. Democratic presidential nominees, Sen. Gary Hart, Rev. Jesse Jackson and former Vice-President Walte Mondale converse after a televised debate. ,:, VV M John Donovan, junior, drives his Blazer into Lake Austir in February. During cheerleader elections on March 21, sophomore Kelli Weedon presents a cheer. 16-Nwufm

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Florence Thompson retires Homemaking instructor, Florence Thompson retired from her career of teaching in the Texas public school system after 42 years of service. Thompson first taught in Charlotte, Texas. From there, she moved to Galena Park and taught for 5 years, and then to Austin in 1959 to teach at Lamar Junior High. In 1966, Thompson began instructing at Austin High where she became Homemaking department chairman in 1969. In 1980, she was voted Texas Vocational Homemaking Association Teacher of the year. Thompson not only was an active member of home economics organizations, but she sponsored many groups at Austin High and developed the home economics curriculum for the AISD. lt was a ve rewarding experience, Thompson explained about her teadhling career. l certainly enjoyed it! Thompson was honored with a retirement dinner in early May. Faculty members contributed to a fund which resulted in a gift to Thompson of an expense-paid trip for her and her husband to Mexico City. Courses fare cuts in district budget squeeze As a result of educational reform and district budget cuts, high school elective programs and course offerings were threatened with being dropped in fall, 1984. Austin district high schools will be required to enforce a previous rule which required classes to have an enrollment of 20 students or receive district approval for classes with fewer than 20. Assistant superintendent for secondary education, Dr. Freda Holley, announced that the administrators wanted principals to observe the rule, although the district had not targeted specific classes for cancellation. Low current and projected class sizes were in danger of cancellation. Courses which would probably not be offered as a result of the enforcement of the class-size rule included many business and vocational office education courses, industrial arts and crafts courses, English, science and social studies electives and physical education course. Currently, SFA class sizes average 20 to 23, with 145 of 335 classes instructing 19 or fewer students. Many teachers and administrators had commented that the quality of education would be a stake with such a rule. Some predicted that the proposal would result in an increase of the drop-out level, an overloading of existing equipment and supplies, the loss of federal funding and the elimination of numerous educational opportunities for students. Teacher Competency exams loom The Select Committee on Public Education recommended that all public school teachers in Texas be tested for competency, With the quality of Texas education being questioned, some thought that testing teacher proficiency and knowledge of their fields could assist in improving the state's education, The chairman of the committee, H. Ross Perot, claimed that 90 percent of the teachers are producing more than adequate work, but the remaining 10 percent could be a threat to education. However, testing is already required for those who enter universities to become teachers. A ter a teacher has completed his education and is ready to find a job in his field, yet another competency test is administered. The main issue that kept teachers underfire was whether teachers alread existing in the field should be tested. In order to single out the small percent of incompetent teachers, the committee recommended all teachers take the test. The Houston Indefpendent School District has already implemented testing or teachers in the field. Consequently, most teachers and administrators felt that evaluation and observation of a teacher's work happens everyday in the classroom and throughout the school by fellow teachers and administrators, teachers can be examined without a competency test. 1 I Board grapples with proposed school boundaries change Considerable controversy raged across Austin during the spring as the AISD school board tried to find a way to add students to LBJ High School and subtract students from Crockett Hi h School. Several pTans were proposed to change the high school attendance zones. Two of the plans involved Austin High. One of the plans was nicknamed the Student Body-Right' which would have involved the transfer ofa substantial portion of the current attendance boundaries meaning the transfer of more than 10,000 students. First of all, Austin school administrators recommended 13 .. e. Htl! li? 52 cr 52 V. gf V in i S Q X I N ,. W uw? I T ,I 4 'f ll .se 'AE On Dedication Day on May 4, Cyndy Goodrich honored Charles Moody, Michelle Bourianoff, and Jody Hart into the Maroon Society. f f. or A ustln s special downtown loop bus, Armadill Egpress, begins Catcha DiIIo services on Mal I f Kami? A jg ,, ..- , , if i rr Q, , fi is t M - f rx f' 'T' A John Nance, a junior in George Avery's third period architecturefdrafting class, processes a design on an Appl Ile microcomputer. i 3 l boundary changes that would have affected 1,100 high school students of six senior high schools on April 24. Most of the changes were aimed at increasing the enrollment at LBJ High in Northeast Austin. A companion plan was presented to change the busing procedures of eight elementary schools in effort to keep busingxa minimum. LBJ Hi h School ad 1,172 students, of whom 59 percent were blaci and 8 percent were Hispanic. The school was built for 2,400 students. Under the plan, LBJ would gain 248 students from Reagan, 228 from McCallum, and 225 from Travis, LBJ would send 311 students to McCallum. The ethnic composition at LBJ would shift to 38 percent black, 12 percent Hispanic, and 50 percent Anglo. The enrollment would grow to 1,562. To provide relief for the overcrowding of Crockett High School, administrators recommended the transfer of 196 Crockett students to Austin High School. Crockett High had 2,796 students enrolled. An additional 116 Lanier students would also be bused to Reagan High. In exchange for the busing to new high schools, the district offered to keep students at their neighborhood elementary schools to relieve the overcrowding problems in northeast Austin. A week following the school district's first boundary changingxproposal, the administrators presented the student body-rig t or bump around busing plan that called for the redrawing of all junior and senior attendance boundary lines, which would have caused 10,000 students to change schools. This plan would have affected all senior and junior highs and included the closing of two junior highs. The plan would have shifted the current student bodies right - for instance, Austin High would have attended MacCallum5 MacCallum would Eve attended Anderson, Anderson would have attended nier, etc, Under the plan, LBJ enrollment would increase to 1,562, but would bring Anglo enrollment up to 50 percent. About one-quarter of the LBJ student body would be sent to McCallum High. In return, 228 McCallum students would be swappedhto LEJ. This was designed to provide ethnic balance among t e sc oo s, These proposed boundary chan es in Austin received hostile receptions from crowds numbering from 700 to 1,000 people in McCallum Hi h and LBJ High the nights following the annnouncement of Sie proposal. During the meetings, the board members explained that the plan was only one of the many proposed to secure district busing plans, but the opposed crowd continued to argue against the proposal. The bump around' plan died on May 14 when school tnistees voted unanimously against changing high school attendance boundaries in any way. In hopes of increasing LBJ attendance, the administration agreed to convert LBJ High School into a ma net school for science and high-tech courses. This plan would iecome effective with the 1985-86 school year is-new any