Billings Senior High School - Kyote Yearbook (Billings, MT)

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The Black Hole of Calcutta »» By Betty Hartung £T There is a door, an ordinary door, that few students notice as they walk the halls of BHS. Some look at it, shrug their shoulders, and then walk off. Others who are more curious take a peek inside; then they, too, walk on, laughing to one an- other as though they ' d seen something extremely humorous. Still others just stand there and say, I ' ll go in if you will. But no one will make the first move. This particular door is between the Main Office and the office of the Dean of Girls. Because the door is not very important to students, they have no rea- son for entering it. But if you would like to know what is behind the door, the Kyote will take you on an exclusive tour. The following are directions for the tour. Upon entering, turn to your right (unless you prefer climbing the ladder propped against the wall) and descend a flight of steep, narrow stairs. The room you are now in is full of generators and pipes. Most of the pipes are covered with white insulation which is turning yellow near the edges. The ceiling is a mass of pipes going in all directions. Re- flected on the floor are red lights from a hidden control panel. Flung over the pipes, dust mops hang limp and lifeless as though they will never be used again. Fol lowing the main pipe, pass through a long hall and enter the boiler room. Scattered around the tank are a number of antique chairs. Only one ash- tray can be seen. Notice the sign that reads, Ash trays are for ashes; we walk on our floors! Men teachers are loung- ing, talking with other teachers, or re- laxing and smoking a cigarette. Observe quietly and reverently. This is the men ' s faculty lounge.

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And Consent This is Mr. Nash, friend, critic, and advisor of the boys of BHS. Mr. Nash understands when a fellow ' s car breaks down and makes him late for school, or when it is absolutely necessary for a boy to go hunting. His office is usually decorated with boys lounging in the chairs facing his desk or standing in the doorway. He answers their questions, discusses their problems, gives them advice. That ' s his job. Boys aren ' t the only people who stop in to visit Mr. Nosh. Betsy Brown brings a memo from the office. The expression on Gari Coatsworth ' s face denotes a problem. Mr. Nash will probably help him solve it . Meet Mr. Nash. He ' s the man with the answers. Let ' s see ... Your excuse says you ' ve been sick. Weren ' t you at the game last night?

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mm aSS ' BTiii mm iiuiiiininiimi These six are the upper echelon of BHS. They are the ones who send out the call slips, who decide whether an absence should be excused, who tell a student whether or not he can graduate. Mr. Bills and Mrs. Peters (third from right), guidance counselors, keep records of each student ' s tests, interests, abilities. They can recommend suitable courses of study, give advice for futures. Mrs. Hutton, dean of girls, and Mr. Nash (second from right), dean of boys, watch the performances of all BHS students and try to keep them working up to but not over their capacities. Mr. Borberg, principal, makes the final decision, within the school, on matters of school policy. Mr. Collins, assistant principal, organizes schedule and effects schedule changes. Curriculum Plays Vital Part By Karen Johnson To graduate, every BHS student must meet certain requirements. He must have earned a minimum of seventeen credits in grades nine through twelve — at least thirteen credits in grades nine, ten, and eleven, and four credits in grade twelve. He must have four credits in English, one in American history, one in civics, one in physical education and health, two in math, one in science. Otherwise, his selection of subjects is left primarily to his interests and to his parents ' or counselors ' advice. He may decide to concentrate on math and science; he may take all the history courses available. Perhaps he enjoys bookkeeping or has a natural ability for woodworking or machines, Whatever he decides, he is expected to leave high school prepared for the future, whether that future is in college or in a job, and prepared to accept his responsibilities as a citizen. This could be almost any one of the approximately fifty classes of BHS in any period of the school day. ' Celie Freeman and Georgine Mavrakis check the cards of students absent from school. The school files records of each student ' s schedule, grades, past recrod, character, home, and jobs. Advisors and counselors usually consult these files when asked to recommend a student for col lege or a job.