George C Marshall High School - Columbian Yearbook (Falls Church, VA)

Page 50 text:

Students fed up Above: One student ' s opinion of cafeteria food is number one. Above right: To eat or not to eat; that is the question. Right: The remains of another day are left for the cus¬ todians to clean. Opposite page, top: Mr. John T. Broaddus and Mr. James Hoy guard the nickel table. Bottom: Debbie Williams wishes for better cafeteria food. 46

Page 49 text:

Disturbances pierce liberties Latrine pass, water fountain pass, errand pass, locker pass and extra-ordinary pass. Requiring infor¬ mation ranging from degree of thirst to social security, these creations were students ' reaction to the frequent Where is your pass? Where are you going? These were familiar questions heard all over Marshall during the second semester. Due to the many disturbances that plagued Marshall ' s halls a pass system was put into effect. The whole root of disturbance started when outsid¬ ers began to come into the school and cause trouble. Great concern was raised by the Administration because trespassers began to affect the welfare of the student body. Consequently all doors, except the two main entrances, were locked. Faculty members were stationed at the four corners where outsiders were most likely to enter. This worked well in keeping out people who didn ' t belong, but it became apparent that the problem was also internal. Students made a daily habit of hanging around the halls and disturbing classes. This began to irritate many teachers and as one teacher put it, this is get¬ ting pretty gross. A faculty meeting was held and the problem was discussed. The pass system was voted in by a strong majority. Teachers were assigned to halls during each period of the day. This thrilled most teachers as they had to give ui their free periods. Students were not permitted out of class without a pass. To make the situation a little more pleasant, teach¬ ers and students invented the wierd passes. Above left: Diane Farlow spends free moments in the cafeteria reading. Abuses of such Senior priviledges may lead to crack down. Left: Caught without a pass, Mr. Chet Twentyman is ques¬ tioned by acting officer Mr. John La Cava. Activities 45

Page 51 text:

Cafeteria food has received severe criticism and accusations for quite awhile. Always a popular sub¬ ject, the trend has leaned toward exaggerated cases of food¬ poisoning, bland jokes about the resiliance of baseball-shaped rice, and other tales of the Cafeteria Ex¬ perience . As a good many students do eat the lunches, a few investiga¬ tions concerning their palatability and nutritional value have been launched. One of the more violent reactions came about as a result of the cafete¬ ria ' s admission to the use of soybean flour as a high protein filler in its meat. Rumors said 75 percent soybean and 25 percent pure beef. When asked, the head of the cafete¬ ria, Mrs. Elma Gardner, said that the meat used is 85 percent pure beef and 15 percent high protein food. This is used as a means of stretching the meat thus reducing the cost. This reduction in cost is important in keeping the lunch prices low in the face of rising prices. These lunches meet all require¬ ments for a nutritionally balanced meal. The specific guidelines are set by the Department of Agriculture. As for the menus, they are given to the schools by the county. This dispels any rumors of plots by the school to destroy the student body. One of the biggest complaints about the cafeteria stems from the condition of the room after one lunch period. Having to sit in some¬ one else ' s mashed potatoes or put¬ ting an elbow into a mess of goop left by some thoughtless juvenile is enough to set anyone off. However, this is not the fault of the cafeteria. If the place looks like a pigsty, it ' s the students own doing. Cafeteria food and conditions will continue to bring complaints and flagrant attempts at protest. There are few solutions to be offered; however, student action will hope¬ fully be directed towards improve¬ ments. Activities 47