Clifton High School - Rotunda Yearbook (Clifton, NJ)

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THE REFLECTOR VW IN in the latter part of the day. This doesn't seem satisfactory to most of the underclassmen. The common view of the students is that it is better to go to school in the morning and be able to have the rest of the day off. This point is hardly worth consideration because, as long as the system may have to be installed, the students will break out even, having two years of each type of class day, morning and afternoon. Disadvantages of this plan do not pertain so much to the students as they do to the administration, whose duties lie in the regulation of the teaching staff and control of the longer school day. It seems that it is best for the students. Congestion will be relieved, for one thing. Everyone knows the inconveniences of large classes. There will be more opportunity for extra curricular activities, as far as the time element is concerned. As time goes on, the system will gradually adapt itself to the lives of the students. A NEW ERA This September will mark a period in the history of Clifton High School as what may be termed A New Erav. The new term will see the inauguration of a thing which is more necessary in the present age than has ever been before. Vocational Guidance is to be introduced into the extra-curriculum of our High School! With the demand for highly specialized labor and professional men, it has become necessary for school to give the student more than his readin', writin', and 'rithmetic, and the other school subjects which are supposed to teach him enough to get a diploma, and then entrance into a college where he doesn't even know if he is taking the course that he likes best. But many students do not go on to college. Schools have had of late a propensity toward mechanical output of students. One does not see, universally, the interest of the administration of the school in each individual, which may prove a means of finding out what the student likes and is capable of doing. True, schools have become crowded. It has become necessary to concentrate efforts on the exact re- quirements of the curriculum, without addition of individual qualifying courses. Vocational Guidance will help the individual pupil to find his place in the society in which he lives. Under the system to be instituted, case studies of individual pupils will be begun. This fall, the system will not affect the whole school but will begin with one group, probably the juniors. In succeeding years, the other groups will be added until finally each freshman will be carefully guided during his entire High School career. He will become acquainted with various kinds of work, and by the time he is ready to be graduated, he will have a more definite idea of what to do after graduation. The plan, once begun as a trial, will last at least four years because it must see through to the end the freshmen with which it started. With sufficient interest in their own future, the incoming students will find Twenty-four

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THE REFLECTOR VN IW times more unpleasant thoughts. But the Organizations in the school, we may look back at them and recall the happy days of diversion spent at meetings, planning and doing things. We recall many more friends through a pleasant association than through some unpleasant experience such as receiving those gas-billsv in Latin or Math. So with a kindly and helpful thought for the underclassmen in particular, we urge each one of you to join at least two organizations of Clifton High School. You will never regret having done so. THE DEDICA TION ESERVING indeed is A Deane Nichols of the dedi capacity of assistant to Walter F Nutt our princi pal he pursued his arduous activities to the detri ment of his health Recovering slowly but surely Mr Nichols is expected to be able to return to school in September. Mr. Nichols has been kind enough to supply us with facts concerning his life. His career is a notable and distinguished one, and we are happy to relay the high spots of it. Arrol Deane Nichols was born at DeRuyter, New York, December 22, 1892. His education included courses at the Utica School of Com- merce fSecretarial coursej Utica, New York, School of Accounts, Com- merce and Finance, New York University, B. C. S. degree. Experience in the commercial field came as instructor in Keystone Academy, Factory- ville, Pennsylvania, Business Department-1914 to 1918. QI-lead of de- partment 1917-1918J. During the year of 1918-1919, Mr. Nichols was in service in the fifty-sixth section of Searchlight Engineers, United States and American Expeditionary Forces, France. He has taught in Clifton High School since September, 1919. Mr. Nichols is Secretary of the High School Commercial Teachers' Association of New Jersey, a member of Kappa Tau Alpha Fraternity, New York University, F. and A. M. Western Star Lodge No. 15 , Bridge- water, N. Y., and Mohawk Valley Consistory, 32 Degree, Utica, N. Y. cation of the Reflector this term. While serving in the , - 1 . . . l , PART TIME This September may see the inauguration of the part time system in our High School. The Superintendent of Clifton Schools, Mr. George Smith, has given his suggestions to a committee of the Board of Education as to the need of the new system, and also plans for the working of the new school day. A decision was not ready at press time to be printed in this issue of the Reflector, but it is the opinion of many that we shall have it. As with most things, this plan has its advantages and disadvantages. If the plan goes through, the chances are that the Juniors and Seniors will attend in the morning, and the Freshmen and Sophomores will have classes Twenty-three

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THE REFLECTOR vu - f on this assistance the most substantial, and probably the most interesting, part of their High School life. SOMETHING NECESSARY What this school needs, say the bicycle riders, is a shack for our bikes. Righto! Some sort of a shed is really necessary for the boys who come to school on bicycles. After all, busses don't come to the High School from everywhere, and, for some of the fellows, it is necessary to come to school on a bicycle. Some boys who take the bus would much prefer coming to school on their bikes, but they can't afford to take the chance on having them stolen. If a shed were built, these persons could be saved the fare, and it would be much more convenient. They would not have to get up a certain time in the morning, they would take no chances on being late, and their own pleasure also means something. The cost of a shed of this sort would not be too much. We are no bidders for the job, and so we needn't venture a price. Inasmuch as the structure is not to be the eighth wonder of the world, or anything like it, it is within reason that it could not cost a fortune. Here's a thought. just as was once the case with locker keys Ca thing that has been done away with by the advent of combination locksj , a price could be charged each user of the shed for the use of a key. The boys have a mutual interest-that is, to prevent bicycles from being stolen. Therefore, there would be no thefts from within the school. Once we had wooden racks for the bicycles. There Was a slit into which a wheel of the bicycle was inserted, and anyone who wanted to steal the thing would have to take the stand and another dozen bicycles on his back. As the stands aged and fell apart, they were not replaced, and the fellows had to lock the wheels without attachment to anything else. Naturally, the crook could easily carry the bike away and file off the lock later. Since the last vestiges of the racks vanished, there were several instances of trouble concerning the theft of bikes. With a nominal sum to start things going, the building of a shed would become a realization. It is sure to pay for itself in time. 0 Twenty-five