Central High School - Prospectus Yearbook (Flint, MI)

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31 n tent i cm s («LKW .MAY EH, Athletic Director—Even the wisest of our intellectual a mo- tors have always felt that athletics is a part of education. Moreover, the wisdom of the past seems to be supported by the experience of the present generation, for if there is any truth in statistics the world’s work and greatest achievements are to be attained by men who have the best brains in the best bodies. In other words statis- tics tell us that the brightest children in our schools are the strongest physically. However, we find in every school of today two distinct types of boys; those who are scholars and those we usually term athletes. At each of these extremes we find men that are greatly handicapped when they finish their school work and take up the work of life. A large part of the athletes will fail in the race of life for want of better trained minds, while an equally large class of scholarship men will be elimin- ated from the struggle for want of more efficient bodies. The diminutive weight upon the part of all scholarship men may be accounted for in several ways. In order to meet the standards, it is necessary to hold oneself down to many hours of highly concentrated and long-sustained mental efforts. The body for the time being is literally starved in order that the brain may be surfeited. If this intense mental activity is followed by a moderate amount of exercise no harm follows from hard study. If to intense mental application be added, worry, fear of failure, or loss of sleep, then mental work becomes exhausting. On the other hand the athlete spending too much time on the play grounds sac- rifices his school work for play. He has such a desire for hero worship and physical skill, so characteristic of the period, that his school work becomes a secondary matter and it is only by severe drudgery that he manages to pull thru with passing grades, or perhaps it may terminate in his dropping out of school before completion. Herein lies a problem of our schools today. Something must be done to even up the breach between the two extremes. That is, some way of equalizing work and play. On the part of the school one plan suggests itself. Just as most schools re- quire athletic students to attain certain grades in mental pursuits before they can contend tor athletic honors, why would it not be desirable for schools to require all scholarship men to attain a certain standard in their physical work before allowing them to compete for honors in scholarships? On the whole it is largely up to the boy or girl to choose their time for work and play as best they may. In working toward this end let each student start next fall with fixed hours for work and play. Let us have out on the gridiron five teams in- stead of one. Let us organize tennis teams for the girls or any healthful exercise that may suit conditions. Let each student keep the work and play element well in mind throughout their high school life so that upon graduation they may go into the world’s work equally balanced with good brains in good bodies. THTRTY-TWO

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EDITORIAL The Prospectus board wishes to embrace this opportunity to express appreci- ation of the thoughtful assistance received from the three faculty members of this year’s annual, the Misses Gold, Seymour and Baker. The editor is deeply indebted to these for their indispensable advice and willingness throughout the year to assist in making this book what we honestly believe to be the best ever. We wish to thank Mr. Wellwood, also, for his inimitable contributions in the shape of verses concerning the seniors, and Miss Mary Gold for innumerable suggestions. Fully and even painfully cognizant through four years of close personal con- tact and observation of the utterly inadequate facilities which the present Central High School building offers in the shape of modern improvements, as well as to the lamentably deplorable conditions of the ramshackle structure itself, the class of 13 wishes to enter one last plea for a new building. The present four-story structure necessitates a laborious amount of clambering up and down creaking stairs upon which well defined trails have been distinctly out- lined by the preceding generations. In Ann Arbor, Saginaw, Grand Rapids, I ontiac and other Michigan towns, modernly equipped structures have recently been provided for the pupils; while in this prosperous city, which has enjoyed an unprecedented growth, far in excess proportionally to that of any in America, (excepting four), the same loose jointed contraption greets the teachers and pupils year after year with no apparent effort towards providing a new one. Are the teachers and students less de- serving here than elsewhere? This inference might justifiably be drawn, judging from the dilatory and tardy actions of the school board and tax payers who seem strangely and inexplicably remiss about preparing for a new one. Lengthy and minute dissertations concerning the total inefficacy of the present building are utterly useless, TWKNTY-NINE

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Unteriuetos Mr. Alfred Galbraith, secretary of the Flint Board of Commerce.—In an inter- view Mr. Galbraith said that he was very much in favor of play grounds. He stated the necessity for some change of scenery or for some recreation, not only for the young people of the community but also for the older members. Mr. Jayne who is an eminent student of playgrounds and recreation parks, at a recent Board of Commerce banquet, gave the idea that such a thing was not only necessary, but also showed the development of a city as much as anything. It was decided by the board, further states Mr. Galbraith, to look into the matter of providing places for recreation. About nine parks in different portions of the city have been looked over, and something will probably be done by the park board in a little while. As it is, many of the parks, such as the ones at Thread Lake and at the Waterworks, have been beautified, and means of providing amusements such as swings, merry-go-rounds, etc., have been placed for the people to enjoy. A list of the parks given by Mr. Galbraith is as fol- lows: Oak Park, consisting of about four acres; Thread Lake Park of fifteen acres; the new Willson Park of three acres; the Walsh Park of four acres; the Mac Farlan and Hamilton Parks, each of about one-half an acre; and the Woodlawn, and Dort school grounds of about six and four acres respectively. All of these would make good places for play grounds, and as there are 7,894 school children in the city, some place will have to be provided for the youngsters, if Flint expands as much as it has in the last three or four years. Some little work has been done by the city, and about one hundred and twenty-five dollars has been expended to beautify the play- grounds. Mr. Galbraith, in concluding said that he wanted to be quoted as saying to the people of Flint, “Take all of the obnoxious ‘Keep off of the grass’ signs, and burn them up, so that the people may enjoy what little greenery there is in the city.” One of Flint’s Well-known Book I covers—Most high school students make the mistake of reading the wrong books. Instead of reading volumes of Shakespeare, Tennyson, or some of the scientists, they prefer to spend their time with such books, which, while they are perhaps harmless, nevertheless do not broaden their minds, or influence a taste for literature. Books on economics, civil government, housekeep- ing, histories, and the best old and modern authors are the ones, which are greatly abhorred by the younger set. There was a time, continues the speaker, when chil- dren never thought of reading trashy novels, which were not worth the paper they were written on. But now-a-days, these books are the first ones asked for, or bought by the pupils. There is also a lack of interest in new approved books, not enough attention paid to the library and different reading rooms, and to the literary devel- opment of the people. Everything is hurly-burly, and people are so occupied with chasing the “almighty dollar,” that they don’t have time to turn their attention to literature. Reading societies should be organized, not only for boys and girls, but also for the older people, so that the one class could influence the other in regard to good literature. Many schools have their library in connection. This is a very good thing, and one that should be encouraged not only by praise, but also by dollars and cents. The Central High School is sadly lacking in anything like this, and it would be a great thing if some one would start a movement to furnish one for it. A few books could be obtained at first, which would help the students in their studies, and then more could be added from time to time until a large and valuable collection would be secured. Many students, continued the speaker, do not know what to read, and do not take any pains to find out. Any one of the teachers, parents or librarians would be glad to help them in their selection, if they would but only ask. It seems that every English teacher should post a list of books which would prove valuable to the students, and then give the pupils five or ten per cent extra on their year’s mark, if they should read them all. This would stimulate interest, and give them something to work for. “It seems too bad that something can t be done to rectify this error of the students, and if there is anything which will make them see their mistake, I am ready to take it up, and help all I can,” said the speaker. THIRTY-THREE