Baldwin High School - Piper Yearbook (Birmingham, MI)

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cc 'LL see you at the game! With this challenge still ringing in all ears, the students slowly filed from the auditorium. They had met Mr. Bechtold for only the second time, but already he had inspired them to a new school spirit which they had seldom seen in Baldwin. When Mr. Bechtold assumed his duties in September, he based his whole program of school activities on awakening a dormant spirit in the students as a whole. The immediate results were surprising. Today, as we prepare for our summer vacation, we can not help looking back over the past school year and seeing the new day that has dawned in student enthusiasm at Baldwin. Mr. Bechtold was born in Girard, Illinois, where he attended public school. He graduated from Illinois State Normal University and received his M. A. degree at Columbia with special recommendations. His first job was teaching science in a rural school in Illinois. After eight years as a teacher and a principal, he went to Flint where several positions led up to the principal- ship of the Longfellow School when it was built in 1929. After a successful term he came here. As an educator, Mr. Bechtold has long since made a name for himself, both in state and national organi- zations. He is a past president of the Department of fn... ff., High School Principals of the Michigan Education Association and now is very active in that same organi- zation as a committee chairman in charge of Profes- sional Problems and as the Michigan Co-ordinator of Discussion Groups. It was in this capacity that he spoke before the National Convention in Atlantic City , this spring. Of course, Mr. Bechtold is not without his human side. His charming wife finds him a perfect husband to cook for because he eats anything and everything and enjoys it. After a hard day's work, he finds great relaxation in reading, preferably a good detective storyg and he can easily provide himself with a quiet evening's entertainment by reading a good book or a magazine. However, we should not surmise from this that he does not indulge in any other amusements. He loves to dance, and he attends the movies as often as his work permits. He likes to play bridge only as a relaxation and not as a competitive game. He has always been very interested in sports, both as a spectator and as a participant, but in recent years he has been unable to find sufficient time to devote to any sport. While we are talking about his interests, it is fitting to mention his fondness for young people, particularly boys. He has been active in several boys' organiza- tions such as Boy Scouts, YMCA, and Hi-Y and has always shown a ready desire to,co-operate in any fine youthful activity. During the summer, Mr. Bechtold finds' his interests turned to far away places. He loves to travel and espe- cially to drive a car. He is constantly intrigued by the desire to visit new places, see new things, and explore interesting roads. As we close this glimpse into the life of Mr. Bech- told, we hope that we have made you know him better, not as our principal, but as a man and friend. -G. De Graff

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WHEN vivid summer days were lengthening into the golden autumn, my year of life began. Then it was that every heart was vibrant with anticipation of what might lie ahead. I remembered. I waited, too, with cheering, throbbing crowds when hopes were high as the clouds which raced above us and when defeat brought silence and despair. Each morning when Grst the dawn light silhouetted desks which had rested all night in darkness, silently, as has ever been my wont, I glided through empty, echoing halls and vacant class- rooms. I watched as first the sun's rays sent their warming light ' tdpjtf' g we Stretching From Their Sleepy Hollows into the school. Throughout each day I lived within the very soul of every student, hearing not only the outward noise and turbulence, but capturing each thought of the humble and proud alike. And now the glistening, frosty winter has passed, and spring has come. My work is finished. My theme is that of joy and hope, of sorrow and disappoint- ment, of eager, milling classes and of quiet nights of communion with these walls of which I arn a part. I sing of all the beauty and the spirit which is the very memory of youth. l am The Piper. -12- Rushing Madly From Their Dwellings