Berkeley High School - Olla Podrida Yearbook (Berkeley, CA)

Page 8 text:

Be On Your Guard ur school is an illustration of a civilized community. You may think that this statement is a joke, but it is not. Our school represents a very high stage of civilization. The great majority of our students are law-abiding and, by their example, play a part in helping others to be good citizens. Some of us have attended schools where this is not the case and know the differ- ence. In such schools there is continual friction between students and teachers and among the students themselves. As a result while there may be a lot of noise, no real work is accomplished. The students lose because they do not learn their regular school lessons and most of all because they fail to learn self-control. You notice that in such schools there are teachers and student moni- tors on guard everywhere trying to maintain order. Their efforts usually fail to get results. Our students seem to be able to get along comfortably and to do their work successfully without this intensive supervision. Of course, there are some rules and regulations which we must obey but our general good behavior comes from the desire of each one to do the right thing without being continually reminded by some person appointed to compel obedience. We are proud of our well-regulated and orderly community and agree that this is an ideal condition for the pursuit of studies. Therefore, we must beware lest we take a backward step. We must not tolerate or- ganized disorders in connection with our student activities nor any violation of State laws or City ordinances. We are apt to make light of these things thinking them of minor importance. Perhaps they would be under different circumstances but when they occur in school they become serious because of their effect upon other students and the im- pression which they make upon the public. They are especially harmful when committed by students of prominence. Such transgressions are a violation of trust and mean more to the life of the school than ordinary misconduct. As members of the school community we cannot afford to be easy with ourselves or with one another. There is too much at stake. Our school civilization will endure only so long as the students want it to. Be on your guard. C. L. BlEDENBACH.