Clifton High School - Rotunda Yearbook (Clifton, NJ)

Page 8 text:

Still another point which we should appreciate is their interesting and wide-influencing personalities. An entirely different atmosphere hovers around each teacher,—the result of his own individuality. Each brings to us, apart from our required lessons, thoughts and feelings that are the basis of similar thoughts and feelings in us, thus opening many doors of the mind that had hitherto remained locked. But by far the most admirable thing to be appreciated in our teachers is the attitude they take toward the students. Figuratively speaking, they have removed the platform from under their desk and chair. They have discarded all sternness and have replaced it with cheerful smiles. Instead of being our austere pedagogues, they are cur teacher-friends,—as much outside of school as in school. At the social activities of the school they are our companions, enjoying them- selves with us. Then here’s to the appreciation of our teachers for all they have done for us and the students before us, and for what they will do in the future for those students who have not yet entered the high school! May they know that their efforts are not wasted ; rather, they are bearing fruit day by day. May we, the students, fully appreciate all that our teachers are, and all that they do. E. E. E. RESULTS FROM THE Al). CONTEST. The members of “The Reflector” staff wish to thank all the classes and the Athletic Association for their support in the Ad. Contest. Due to their efforts the June issue of “The Reflector” is an assured success. The results obtained from the ad. contest are as follows: Fresh- men 1-2, $25; Sophomore 2-2, $23; Junior 3-1, $19; Senior 4-2, $14; Freshmen 1-1, $1 ; Five Dollar ad. from each class, $40; Athletic Asso- ciation, $5; Total, $127

Page 7 text:

- EDITORIALS - BACK UP YOUR SCHOOL. Back up your school. It’s not the building that contains it, but the spirit, that counts. If you criticise and make little of it, others will not be slow to follow suit. If you are quick to praise, others will wake up to the merits and follow your example. Encourage your athletics; for your school has teams of which any one might be proud. Devote your entire energy while in school to your pursuits, whether scholastic or otherwise. Show the citizens of your community what you reall} can do, and a building worthy of your endeavors will not be slow to follow. ' V. C., ’20. APPRECIATING OUR TEACHERS. T is a well-known fact among teachers and students that the teachers of our high school are not fully appreciated. Day after day they meet us, not merely to earn a day’s salary, but to educate us to be efficient American oitizens and intelli- gent members of society. To do this is by no means easy. It is tremendous when one stops to think it over. It requires far more than just a knowledge of the subjects they teach. It requires a high feeling of responsibility, an earnest desire to accomplish these ends, and a personal interest in the students themselves. Our teachers meas- ure up to all these unconsciously, not knowing all the good that they really do. There are many appreciable qualities in our teachers which we should especially consider. One of these qualities is their patience with us. They are always ready with clear explanations when one does not honestly understand a paragraph in a literature lesson or a grammatical construction in Spanish or French. Then, too, how- ready they are to grant us their time after school for extra help. Be- sides this indispensable quality of patience, they are a source of encour- agement to us to do our best. Little stray sentences that apply indi- rectly to us often have the effect of spurring us on to complete a task which we had decided to leave incomplete. Moreover, in those things which apply directly to us, they inspire us with confidence to do things w-e never had the least idea we could do. What our teachers think we can do, we’ll make sure that we can do. five

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“GEE.” E were sitting quietly in the parlor, I)ad reading a news- paper, and all the feminine members of the family, except myself, sewing. I ignored their old-maidish occupation, and had become deep in Dante’s “Inferno ”. Suddenly, Dante saw a terrible punishment in purgatory, and, nat- urally, I saw it too. It was horrible, and the only word in my vo- cabulary expressive enough, and short enough, was “(reel” So “Gee” came; and it came strongly, surely, wonderingly, almost admiringly. “Gee!” What kind of English do you call that?” It was Dad. He didn’t understand, because when he read “Inferno” he had been discreet enough to say only “Humph.” Then “Yes, it’s about time you stopped saying that.” It was my oldest sister, who never had imagination enough even to enjoy Dante, much less ejaculate over him. Also, “S’pose your teacher had heard you say that?” It was my other sister. If I had had a larger family, I swear I’d have had a re- mark from each one. It was abominable. “Gee”—that’s the most dreaded word I know. Oh! no, there is no special charm, no awful meaning, but just the thought that every time I say it (and that’s very often) I have violated the laws of de- cent ( English. ‘‘Gee”—that’s the word that has brought me more trouble than any other. Saying it has brought humiliation upon this humble brow. Saying it has caused my esteemed English teacher to require this composition of me. The worst of it is this—it slips. That’s why it is so bad. I won’t be thinking of anything but the wonder of electricity, (or something of that sort) when suddenly the great glory of the invention strikes me with full force. An admiring, wondering “Gee” ensues. When I real- ize what I have said, I wonder with disgust why I have tried to break mvself of the “Gee” habit, and when I make the slip, an angry, almost indignant “Gee” resounds, as it seems, throughout all creation. It is extremely unfortunate to be a slave to slang or bad English. I have confided to all my friends the plan that I have made to rid my- self of the habit. When I say “Gee” I will follow it with h, i, j, k, 1, m, n, etc. But even that doesn’t help, because in every instance, so far, my memory has failed me. Won’t someone help me, someone with an inventive brain? I will publish my need thus—“Wanted—a plan to rid me of the “Gee” habit. Kindly do not make the plan too elaborate, for the one visited by this demon is very forgetful.” MARIE MEYER, Senior 4-1. seven