Clifton High School - Rotunda Yearbook (Clifton, NJ)

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THE REFLECTOR CLIFTON HIGH SCHOOL FEBRUARY. 1925 spirit displayed by the students. Special commendation is due the members of the Senior 4-2 class who started the ball rolling with a pledge of one hundred dollars. The Senior 4-1 class was quick to fall in line with an offer to raise another hundred. The rest of the school was not far behind. Splendid spirit was displayed by the pupils of the sixth period 2-1 English class. In a con- test between boys and girls, these loyal students raised $116. The girls in Room 25 instituted the section room ads, and collected $57 in this wav. With such an enthusiastic effort, suffi- cient funds were soon obtained. Now that all anxiety is over we can think of the past events with a certain thrill of pleasure instead of alarm. The situation was really thrilling, hut the feeble constitution of the staff cannot endure many such sensations. So, stu- dents. let’s not wait next time until we are asked to help. Let’s pitch in at the start, and put the Reflector across with less regard for dramatic appeal. And if we do so, we’ll surely get the same feeling of satisfaction, the same “kick,” that we are getting now. And perhaps even more. M. Cantor, June '25. Dear Contributors: I’m not going to stop to thank you for what you have given us, but just take it to heart that we are mighty pleased with you. If you have handed in a contribution that has been accepted, do another for the next num- ber. Don’t stop there and think that your duty is over—or, rather, don’t think that the term of your privilege has expired. It never does— not until you have turned your back on Clif- ton High, never to walk within it again. 1 f you have handed in an article that was not printed, try, try again. Perhaps we liked it but couldn't use it. Don’t say, “Aw, I worked an hour and a half last time for the Reflector and they didn’t even give my work a show.” You will be wrong there. Everything from the big- gest story to the tiniest joke is given due con- sideration. Be a sport! Write some more! M. E. Craig, February, '25. A SUGGESTION What do we need in Clifton High School? Arc other high schools going ahead of us in branches where we perhaps could excel? If they are, let’s get busy. What about debating? Clifton High School has never had a debating team. We have our athletic teams which settle the question of vic- tory or defeat by physical prowess; why not a team to prove whether or not we have the mental edge on our opponents? .Judging from past performances on athletic fields, lack of ar- gumentation is not wanting, nor is there any lack of enthusiasm about the arguments. But— there is a time and a place for everything. Why not convert this tendency into more useful channels where its true worth will be appreciat- ed? In the olden days when church and state did not appear to go hand in hand some w'ise per- sons separated them. That’s what should be done to the sports and debating in Clifton High. Have a separate team for each, since either one, when coupled with the other, is not what might be called a success. But more seriously—we are behind the times in this respect. Other schools half our size are turning out teams of interseholastic competi- tion. and there is no reason why a school of our standing should not do so too. The new Clifton High School will open its doors in the fall. Let’s put this affair over with a bang, and have plans under way so that we can start things right in our new building. A debating team is an asset to any scholastic institution. It’s an idea. Think it over and then—ACT. Lee Adams, 4-1. Democracy 4-2 Class Miss Hill coming in room. “Austin, if you cut up this period I’m going to send you down to Mr. Nutt.” Austin—“But, Miss Hill. I’m not on speak- ing terms with Mr. Nutt.” Student—“Mr. Nichols, we ought to have a phonograph in this room.” Mr. Nichols-—“Why, haven’t we enough talking machines in this room already?” History Teacher—“What was Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address?” Student—“Why, I thought Lincoln lived in Washington.” PAGE TEN

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THE REFLECTOR CLIFTON HIGH SCHOOL FEBRUARY. 1925 GREETING Our work of guiding the Reflector has come to an end, and once more we return to the ranks of the privates. Our discouragements, our toils, and our triumphs, as we watched our paper grow, are all over. Those never to be forgotten experiences—for who could forget the sickening sense of disappointment which swept over us when we realized that the spark of life which we had carefully nurtured in our paper was about to die for lack of fuel, or ads, and our boundless joy when the entire school rallied to our support with ads galore?—are now but memories. All of reality that remains of our reign is our paper, which it is now our pleasure and honor to present to the school. If the paper i3 not up to your standards, we know you will overlook its shortcomings; for it is natural to forgive those we love, and you have given ample proof of your affection for your paper. But while you may forgive, do not forget these mistakes, for in your hands lies the fate of succeeding issues of the Reflector; and while we fervently hope you will consider our Reflector the “best ever.” we also hope that the next issue and the next will be better still.” You see, we wish you not to praise and honor us, but to join us in the glorification of our Re- flector. Alice A. Hornby, February ’25. TO THE STUDENTS This article was originally intended to liter- ally belabor the school for its neglect and its failure in getting behind the Reflector. But subsequent happenings have indeed made this unnecessary. Students, the Reflector which you hold in your hand is like a human being recovered from a deadly illness which threatened its life. Saved from the grave, we might say, by the heroic'efforts of Dr. School Spirit. Nor is this an exaggeration. At one point our Reflector was on its death bed, dying of starvation, of lack of sufficient pecuniary aid to keep it alive. But, lo, assistance was at hand, though in a dormant state. The school, learning of the dire condition of the paper awoke to its responsi- bility and sprang into action. Sustenance in the form of ads was brought to the invalid, and strength and vitality returned. So. students, we still have our Reflector, just as big and strong as ever, we hope, in spite of its convalescense. And its success is due to the splendid response of the school body to the last desperate appeal for aid. Without that whole-hearted support during the crisis, this issue would have been impossible. We of the staff, who saw impending disaster staring us in the face, are especially thankful for the fine PAGE NINE

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THE KEF L ECTOR CLIFTON HIGH SCHOOL FEBRUARY. 1925 To the Students: I deem it only right that a Senior should pass on some of the thoughts that have come to him through his four years of experience, with the hope that they may benefit the students of the lower classes. When I first entered high school, I fooled away my time, and I’m still fooling it away. The new system, the greater liberties, of which I took an unfair advantage, proved my undo- ing. Now, in my final year, I’m paying the penalty—a penalty which becomes harder each succeeding year. Perhaps you are fooling too, but you also will have to pay the penalty of which you know so little at present, but will experience with a pang of regret later. Now you say you’re getting away with it. True, you are for the time being; but you are only harming yourself. Often my teachers and Mr. Nutt have told me what I am telling you. They had had the ex- perience, and were trying to make me profit bv it; but youth so often will not listen, taking only experience as a teacher—a bitter teacher, and harder by far, as I have well found out. However, I’m not crying—not at all—but merely giving you a word that you may be wiser than I. You laugh, and you well may, lest the time to cry come sooner than you know. Respect your teachers, and Mr. Nutt es- pecially. If you are willing to work, he will do anything in his power for you. I have found him fair, square, honest, and in all respects a man to whom you may go with your troubles. He is trying to send you ahead, manages the school with ability, has many responsibilities, .and is, in my estimation, the best principal Clifton could have. Sacrifice other things for your studies, if you must. Boost the school— but not too noisily, in school, as I did. Support the teams to the best of your ability. Start the new High School right, and practice this ad- vice in the old. This is all I can say. The rest is for your own judgment. May it be fair. Remember, do the right thing to others and they will do the right thing to you. E. Homberg. A WORD FROM THE SCHOOL PAPER I f you a poem can give me, Or advice to me will lend, Come right up to my editor, Or your contribution send. I need my friends to help me With story, wit, or rhyme. To make me more appealing Each succeeding time. So then, just come right forward, And show what you can do,— For I am your school paper And I in representing—you. A. Crowther, June ’25. TO GREET YOU We greet you as before! And we hope that we won’t bore You with our book. In fact, We hope you’ll find it packed From the front right to the back. And nothing may it lack. But now we wish to thank All those on whom we bank. In whatever way or line, To make our book so fine. We hope you’ll help again,— We’ll let you know just when. Margaret Craig, February ’25. OBLIGING “I want a cake of soap, if you plaze, sor.” “Scented or unscented?’’ “Thank ye kindly, sor, I’ll take it wid me.” PAGE ELEVEN