Clifton High School - Rotunda Yearbook (Clifton, NJ)

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THE REFLECTOR yu IN Through the efforts of Principal Walter F. Nutt a group of teachers who have had special training in this field have been duly appointed as vocational counselorsv for the High School. They have willingly given of their time to this task. No special compensation is to be given them for this work, except that of a slightly reduced teaching load. They will be released from one regular class. The five counselors: Miss Clarice Smith, CColumbiajg Miss Erna Brown, fRutgersj g Mr. Willard Campbell, fRider Collegej 5 Mr. George Coulthard, CRutgersj g Mr. Langley Claxton, Cllutgersj , and Mr. Charles Berthold, CColumbiaj , have collaborated with Principal Walter F. Nutt in preparing the entire guidance program. The plan, while detailed and intricate in many of its phases, may be reduced to a few simple principles and practices accepted as sound by educators and laymen alike. First, information on occupations and on occupational opportunity will be given to pupils in the form of annotated lists of possible jobs and positions, supplemented by the qualifications necessary in each field. These lists will open up to the pupils a widened view of the field of human endeavor. Second, pupils will be asked to supply the counselors with informa- tion concerning themselves, their likes and dislikes, etc., in self analysis blanks. These will be given to the pupils through their home rooms since home room teachers are better acquainted with their charges than class teachers. The results of the analyses will be checked with the tentatively selected careers. Excessive introspection will not be a feature of these self- analyses. Third, individual counseling or consulting will rake place between the pupil and the counselor in charge of the field in which the pupil is interested. As the result of these consultations the pupil's course of study will be checked, a plan of special preparation for the proposed life's work laid out, reading materials in the field made known to the pupil, visits and talks arranged, and progress checked. Parents, of course, will be urged to consult with their children and with the counselors on these matters. The fourilo step in the program embraces the placement of pupils in positions and a follow-up of their work. Wherever possible this will be done, but at the present time it must be realized that the school cannot work miracles, nor, in fact, does it hope to do so at any time. What the School hopes to do is to help pupils plan their careers in- telligently and intelligently to use the present leisure time to advantage for the future. Under no circumstances will any attempt be made to influence the decisions of pupils. They must be, and will be left free to decide their own futures. The guidance program will aid them in finding their separate paths and in following these to their respective goals. CHARLES A. BERTHoLD. Twenty-nine

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Tl-IE REFLECTOR W' In PLANNING CAREERS Editor's Note: At our request, Mr. Berthold, Director of the Vocational Guidance Program to be introduced in September, presents in this article the guidance plan pro- posed by Principal Walter F. Nutt, and approved by Superintendent of Schools George I. Smith. Hard times are particularly hard upon the young, not so much on account of the immediate sacrifices they are call- ed upon to make, but rather because of the break or lack of continuity in their e life's plan brought about by a period of depression. While it is true that some pupils still are fortunate enough to be able to continue their studies in colleges or technical schools, many young men and women are leaving the public schools, not, as formerly, to enter upon their lifeis work, but, unfortunately now, to enter upon a period of enforced leisure or non-employment. The School is keenly aware of this condition and is striving by all means in its power to ameliorate the evil effects of it. 0ne expedient has been the en- couragement given to graduated pupils to return and take up post-graduate work in the High School. Whenever pos- sible, also, available funds have been applied to the further education of worthy students. To a limited degree some jobs have been opened up to pupils who have shown exceptional ability in given fields of endeavor. For many years academic guidance and advice have been given to senior students about to graduate. In recent years, however, it has become increasingly evident that new trends in society are forcing a planned economy upon us all. The School perceives the need of helping all its students toward the goal of the realization of a full and happy life. In order that each pupil may be speeded on his way of Ending his place in the world in which he lives, Vocational Guidance has been introduced in the public school systems. In the past, various plans of Vocational Guidance have been tried in numerous cities. Some have been most serviceable, others, due to the introduction of too much academic red-tape, have been disappointing. Our school has endeavored to profit by the successes as well as the failures of others and has, after careful consideration, decided to put into opera- tion a plan especially approved by the Research and Psychological Labora- tories of Columbia University. Twenty-eight

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THE REFLECTOR 'Ol an THE TEA CHERS' COUNCIL Because of vacancies in its ranks, the Teachers' Council recently has been reorganized, again under the presidency of Miss Edna Vorrath, its first presiding officer. The new council includes, in addition to the president, the following teachers: the Misses Ruth Smith, Agatha Spinella, Elizabeth Morrell, Elsie Tuttle, Erna Brown, Anita McLain, Margaret Kelly, George Coul- thard, Charles Berthold, and Adrian Struyk. The Council is at present at work on the project of a new report card and special report on studies, to be submitted to the consideration of the principal and superintendent upon completion. JOSEPH KOOSMAN, June '34. The Bed I slept in a bed. It was so soft, this bed of hay, Up in the loft. I stretched and yawned. What a necessity is a bed! A bed makes one-third of our whole life. We are born in it, We live eight hours a day in itg And we shall die in it. It rests our body, It soothes our pains. It is the symbol of rest. There is nothing so beneficent as a bed. JOHN CHOCHOLAK, Feb. '35. Dream of Days to Be When my hair is thin and silvered, and my time of toil is through, When I've many years behind me, and ahead of me a few, I shall want to sit, I reckon, sort of dreaming in the sun, And recall the roads I've traveled and the many things I've done. And I hope there'll be no vision of a hasty word I,ve said, That has left a trail of sorrow, like a whip welt, sore and redg And I hope my old age dreaming will bring back no bitter scene, Of a time when I was selfish and a time when I was mean, When I'm getting old and feeble, and I'm far along life's way, I don't want to sit regretting any by-gone yesterday. I am painting now the picture that I'11 some day want to see, I am filling in the canvas that will come back soon to me. And though nothing great is on it, and though nothing there is fine, I shall want to look it over when I'm old and call it mine. And I do not dare to leave it, while the paint is worn and wet, With a single thing upon it that I'11 later on regret. JEANETTE BURBANK, February 193 S. Thirty