Belleville Township High School East - Yearbook (Belleville, IL)

Page 13 text:

pro Am com good one. The people mess it up. They complain about too little freedom, or too much, but when the time comes to stand up and be heard, they can ' t be found. They ' re too busy littering the snack bar or burning trees by the creek. The other demanders are also too busy—making posters for the big game or deciding what dress to wear to what dance. For example, the issue of open campus was brought up and students and faculty members were asked to come and express their views at an open meeting. There wasn ' t a hand-full of students or treachers present. Similar committees have been formed to present the demands of the students, but, without support, these selected few haven ' t any power or strength to influence the administration. If students really want regulations changed and to gain more control it is necessary to get sufficient evidence proving that a change would be beneficial to the entire school. Present the evidence to the administration after preparing a plan of action. Find students and teachers who agree with the issue and are willing to back it up. Most of all, make sure the reasons are substantial, because if you really have a case and can prove it with sound reasoning, you ' ll hit a sore spot. Students who come up with better ideas than those already-thought-out by the administration are usual¬ ly turned down by the big A . Don ' t be discouraged, however. Let them know you ' re not puppets! Even if your demands aren ' t met right away, they may be realized in the future and benefit other students. Finally, let ' s look at school spirit . There is too much emph¬ asis placed on sports and the value of pep assemblies. Many students are forced into attending assemblies. Why should such individuals be forced to sit for thirty minutes against their will, listening to screaming and yelling concerning something they don ' t care about? Last year I asked this question and was an¬ swered, Because it is an educational-learning experience; it teaches you to react in a crowded situation. Ah, yes it does do that: it teaches you how to dodge jabbing elbows, ignore knees gouging your back, and to place hands over splitting ear¬ drums-not to mention accustoming your posterior to hard bleacher seats. It would seem sensible, yes, logical, to allow students who don ' t want to yell to be excused from these assem¬ blies. At least they wouldn ' t dampen everyone else ' s school spirit . I ' m not criticizing those who enjoy pep assemblies and profit from them, even learning how to react to crowded situ¬ ations. However, no one forces an athlete, pep club member or a cheerleader to attend a play, an art show or concert. School spirit should not be offered at the feet of the idol athle¬ tics. People are most spirited about the activities to which they best relate. The concept of school spirit should be ex¬ tended to all activities, clubs, and even classes. After all, it isn ' t sportsmanlike to confine spirit to sports, is it. 7