Frankfort High School - Cauldron Yearbook (Frankfort, IN)

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gymnasium. Each particular line of work is an education in itself, and the lield the student covers is large. He is taken from the cul- tivation of the aesthetic through music, art and letters, from the study of the mysteries and wonders of science on to the more prac- tical to be found in the vocational departments. In connection with some high schools there is a gymnasium, the benefits of which cannot be overestimated when the health of the pupil is taken into consideration. Together with this, the ath- letic department, as a side affair in the high school, tends to fur- ther strengthen the body and maintain a proper school spirit. The health of the mind and that of the body are intimately related. The highest degree of mental efficiency can never be reached and main- tained if the health of the body is not at its maximum. Many go through life half alive, accepting positions of minor importance when they have the talent for leadership, because of a half-well, half developed body. Concentration, a perquisite for success in all lines of human endeavor, especially mental, is necessarily les- sened by ill health. Thus, the gymnasium, or athletics, by bringing into fit action all the organs and muscles vitally necessary for good health, naturaly makes the student a. better thinker, more active and, to a large degree, more moral. ' The health of the student, or any individual, undoubtedly has an influence over his morals. This opinion has become so preva- lent that the attention of medical scientists has been attracted to it in the treatment and the prevention of crime. Thus, the growth morally, as the last but not least phase of education here dealt with, is essentially necessary for the welfare of the pupil. It is, however, something that is often overlooked or undervalued. In the school. the environment of the pupil, the incentive to greater efforts, the acquisition of companionship and literature worth while, are all of the highest importance, especially in the case of the student whose training of a more religious nature is more or less neglected. Man, in the scale of progress, must either advance or recede. He may not or cannot remain as he is. Events occur 'and are for- gotten, days come and vanish in the past, which make for the per- son concerned a higher or lower standard of culture. The youth at the threshold of life must choose for himself either avenue on life's highway. The high school course has the tendency to make a man-a man in the truest sense of the word-of the student. Back of the knowledge acquired in the trades, professions, and other walks of life, must be the man or personality. Thus it can be seen that the development of the student through the three phases of education, already mentioned, is essentially necessary to' him who is to cope with the problems of a practical world. Proper High School Spirit. Epidemics in school are usually considered a great calamity, and' the health authorities and school authorities use every effort to pre- vent such. Yet there is one epidemic that attacks every person' who is, or has been, in any way connected with the Frankfort High School. The little germ that causes this epidemic, first pierces the heart of its victim and then the disease spreads through his sys- tem. For the last thirty-seven years not one member of the faculty, the school board, or the student body has been immune from it. T hey all fall into the clutches of this tiny bacterial organism. The peculiar feature of this germ is, that not one victim ever recovers from it. But, strange to say, instead of causing distress and misery as all other maladies do, this causes happiness and joy. This small: but mighty germ which causes this unusual disease is commonly called proper high school spirit. The True High School Spirit. Perhaps in every high school, there is no subject that is discussed more frequently than the one-true high school spirit. This dis- cussion is not to be wondered at, however, since the reputation of of the school depends largely upon its spirit. The students of a school may be ever so brilliant and studious, but if they lack true school spirit, the school will fail to do its best work. True school spirit is evidenced when the pupils loyally support the school en- tertainments, plays, basket-ball, football, games, and contests of all kinds, and when the students display the right attitude toward their studies, their fellow-students, and their instructors. Strange to say, the pupils of almost every school complain that there is no spirit in their school. This complaint is heard in the Frankfort High School. Eleven

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plete and intensify the education which the elementary school started. In the high school the children move naturally from the studies of the elementary grades to more advanced studies, but the purpose of both elementary and high schools is the preparation of children for living. In our first days outside of school, we may regard the time spent in high school as so many years of useless labor. But as the time passes, we shall see that the years spent here have given us not -only knowledge and intellectual stimulas but moral and spiritual growth as well. The true student is he who attempts to prepare himself to enter into the practical world. It is often said that many students do not attend school with this purpose in mind. Some seemingly have no interest in their school work, and no am- hition. NVC cannot understand their purpose in attending school. They not only neglect the regular school work, but also all other school activities. Such a life does not lead to development. Other students spend all their time in preparation for the work required to finish the course. They have no interest in other work, in school society, or in outside societyg high scholarship is their only ambi- tion. Narrow-mindedness and lack of development is the result of such a life. The true high school student is the one who is inter- ested in all activities of school. He will reap a rich return, for he will have something of the breadth that is required to meet his work in the world. The work in each of the departments of the high school aids in the developement of the students. The English course acquaints us with the great men of the world and develops an appreciation ot our best literature. The history and civics departments famil- ia rize the students not only with the framework of our government hut also with the actual problems of civic and political life. One of the chief duties of society is to insure health. This training is included in the study of chemistry and hygiene. From the study of Latin and German we are able to appreciate the classics and add to our knowledge of English. Next to the regular work come other school interests of vast C important in the student's advancement. Such interests include the debate, oratory, music, art, literary work, and athletics. The literary work broadens those who take part in it and those who listen to the discussions, it accustoms the students to appear before an audience and interest them in the topics of the day. The orator- ical work brings the students before the public, and gives them ease and power in public speaking. The debate work does this and more,, in that it develops the ,power to concentrate, to reason, and to have self-control. The music and art develop the artistic taste. The athletics furnish much needed exercise and recreation, which de- velops all the muscles of the body. It also inoculates self-reliance, manliness, fairness, and a love of clean sportsmanship. Also, they create an interest in the school life and increase school patriotism. VV hen we had completed our high school course, we felt that we had gained much from The Frankfort High School, and we felt that we had done much to add to its pleasure and success. Here we have built our characters, and here we have laid the foundation upon which weishall build our lives. 1.111--,iii The Value of a High School Education for Entering a Practical Work. Education in the broad sense consists of the broadening or the uplifting of the individual in all of the three phases of education, which make or destroy a man's chance of success, namely the de- velopment of the mind, the body, and the morals. It is difficult to set out one of these phases as being of more importance than the rest of a man's welfare. One is just as important as the other. If one is undeveloped or neglected, the man must suffer. It is the purpose of a high school education to develop the student, as far as possible, along all of these lines. The development of the mind is of predominance in the school. The student's powers of concentration, self-reliance, and perception are quickened. He learns to see things in their proper perspective, and in their relation to one another. just thesame as athletics strengthen the body, so does the pursuance of suitable studies de- velopthe mind. The school becomes the mental play ground or

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Some people in the Frankfort High School think that the school lacks spirit because the students do not carry out the color scheme of the class colors in their article of clothingg because color Fights and tank scraps are not indulged in. However, the faculty and the people of sound minds see the fallacy of such practices, for, instead of stimulating true high school spirit, they kill the true spirit, and arouse a feeling of class distinction, enmity, and bitter- ness. This false idea of what encourages the true school spirit is obtained from such practices in colleges, but many of these colleges have seen, or are beginning to see, the wantonness of such practices and are discarding them. ln our own state. Purdue has abolished tank scraps, and NVabash College and lndiana University have cur- tailed the most dangerous sports connected with their annual scraps. The pupils of the Frankfort High School do have the right kind of spirit. liach student seems to realize that he is a part of the school as much as he is a part of his own family, and that the school serves him as much as the home does. The students show the right attitude to their teachers, and vice versa. W'hen school events take place. the students usually loyally patronize them. l rankfort's delegation to oratorical contests is always the largest delegation. When class plays take place, there is always a crowded house. Chesterfield says, Spirit is now a very fashionable wordg to act with spirit, to speak with spirit means only to act rashly, and to talk indiscreetly. An able man shows his spirit by gentle words and resolute actionfi This is the kind of spirit the students of the Frankfort High School possess, the commendable spirit. VVhy not leave well enough alone? -RUTH HAMMOND. NVe, the members of KUFHE CAUI.ukoN staff, desire to thank those who have in any way assisted in the publication of THE CAULDRON. VV e appreciate the kindness of the subscribers and of the merch- ants who advertised in THE CAULDRON,u thus making its publica- tion possible. Many of the pupils and members of the faculty have willingly given their time and assistance. Especially do we desire to thank Miss Boyd, our art instructor, and her class, for they have worked faithfully in order that our Annual may be a success. la ix . . l I 1' 6:16 . T w e 1 v e G