High School of Commerce - Commerce Yearbook (San Francisco, CA)

Page 9 text:

Whefs Who At Commerce By Myrtel Schumann Y GIRL-FRIEND, newly arrived at our fair school, appeared to have a deep admiration for one of our teachers. So one day when we were together, talking under the bridge and my friend said, 'iWhy, there she is, skipping down the stairs by the gym, it appeared quite naturally to be our well-known dancing teacher, Mary Stehley Close. I told my friend who she was, and what she was, but I knew no more. So right away I set out for some first- hand information, for my friend's benefit, and apparently my friend did likewise, for MARY STEHLEY CLOSE my benefit. That very night in the midst of rather an unpleasant batch of home-work, I was disturbed by the doorbell's ringing in a queer way. A doorbell's ring seems to have a personality entirely its own. Dramatically bursting in, my friend completely fioored me when she declared she had met Mary Close, had conversed with her, and had even found out quite a bit. She said with a chuckle, 'iMrs. Close calls her life a checkered affair . . . you see it had been her parents' desire to make an artist of their daughter . . . so Mary Close, who found no fault with the idea, went to an art school in the East for three years. Yes, said I, not to be outdone, and while she was back East she also took a physical education course at the university. She said, She danced quite a bit in the East, and came to the Western coast, where a bit of her dancing was enjoyed at Santa Barbara, took philosophy at the University of California, graduated, and then taught dancing at State Teachers' College for a while. Commerce, though, is the only public school in which she served as instructress .... I: But Mary Close teaches at University of California during the summer vacation. She is writing a book on pageantryf' She: She teaches dancing because she thinks it is essential to girls' needs . . . and she likes every form of sport. I: Our dancing instructress' hobbies are interior and table decorating. She: How does she write those pageants? Mary Close decides one year ahead of time what the annual pageant is to be. This is done during the summer. So she is no sooner done with one pageant than she is thinking of another one. She designs the costumes, every single one herself, and selects the music with the help of the dancing girls' little pianist, Mrs, Irvine. I: There is a personal charm I have noticed that is emphasized by her graceful hands .... She: Also emphasized by her spontaneous, joy-producing laugh, and have you seen how well-liked she is by everyone? Pupils and teachers alike. But I've an idea, unusual as it may seem. Why don't we compile this information and put it where others may learn of our teacher? Here I leaned back in my chair to give full impetus to my next words, Let's put this in the Journal .,.. I Here my friend jumped up. I will, she said. RECORD., I5l

Page 8 text:

I MR. C. W. WHITE Principal .1,: . K p kyfk ' fr? ' 6 A T 3 7 MISS IDA GARBARINO MR. HARRY W. DAHLEEN Dean of Girls THE ADMINISTRATION of the HIGH SCHOOL OP COMMERCE DeanofBoys .., COMMERCE

Page 10 text:

To the Graduates Class of lane, 1931 OU are approaching that final night towards which your efforts have been directed for the past four years. When you entered High School, many of you came because your parents hoped that through the acquiring of an education, you might be able to gain a livelihood in a manner some- what easier than that in which they have been struggling. Hence, with that end in view, they have made many sacri- fices and will gaze fondly upon you as you step proudly forth on graduation night to receive that which is a recog- nition of your having successfully completed the require- ments. However, such in itself has little or no virtue. True, it is that the prospective employer will not likely be in- terested in you unless you have a high school diploma, but this to him is merely an evidence that you have the per- severance to stick to that which you have started. Then again, this same prospective employer hopes that you have acquired certain habits of regularity, punctuality, careful- ness, neatness, industriousness, and adaptability to the extent that these same may be manifested to you in his business. The school has done its part by you. Whether you go on to an institution of higher learning or whether you immediately take up that which is probably to be your life's work, the ultimate outcome and the measure of your success rest solely upon you. .. COMMERCE