Greenwich Country Day School - Spire Yearbook (Greenwich, CT)

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fune 1932 - Amnesty granted to 15,000 by Mussolini. Sixteen boys receive diplomas. 12 l

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Ninth Grade - top of heap 'l'he Ninth Grader at Country Day occupies the same relative position in his own school as do those in their fourth year of high school or col- lege. 'l he curriculum is tar more demanding than in any or his previous years, and increased em- phasis is placed on extra-curricular activities. ln his spare time, however, he sticks in a min- ute ot study! ln English, a bi-weekly composition is required, interspersed at regular intervals with book reports on outside reading material. Gram- mar is offered once every week, along with vo- cabulary and reading. Second year algebra is undertaken by each stu- dent. Factoring is reviewed, along with poly- nomials, and synthetic division, before tackling complex numbers. Everyone attempts to decipher Latin and French twhich both are often thought to be an- cient Sanskritj. Through the annals of Roman history, with Caesar in Gaul, or on the streets of gay Paris, foreign languages are attacked with an unequaled fervor. Each Ninth Grader chooses between biology and ancient history as a fifth course. Biology is taught in five class periods a week, plus one pe- riod for observing animals and plants in the lab- oratory. Ancient history is also taught in five class periods, and students of this course try to understand the intricacies of ancient civilizations. Doc Davis and those funny little glasses. Altogether now - one, two, three. lYO1'1Cll'1ClSSS, groaning and grinning their way through these courses, is most rewarding for all Ninth Graders, by their own admission. Added responsibility for some appears as Ninth Grade Representatives, as well as principals in the operetta. Publications were attacked with zeal and are finally completed. The Ninth Grader has a responsibility to him- self, the school of which he is a part, and the people around him. Ninth grade at GCDS is add- ed responsibility, new and better privileges, more fun, and a changed outlook, but most of all it is the opportunity to be at the top of the heap after a long, hard struggle, before becoming just another guyv in a new school. The Ninth Grader looks toward the coming years with mixed emotions and a touch of sad- ness. He finds to his surprise that he will miss the old Country Day way of life, although he knows its spirit will remain with him always. He dis- covers that he may just possibly miss Doc Davis and his menacing laugh and queer little glasses, perched on the end of his nose. It is funny about those glasses, he always seemed to be looking down at his poor, petrified students with a superi- or l've-got-you-now expression. The Ninth Grader is certainly a paradox. He is, he thinks, misunderstood, maltreated, under- privileged, and even starved to death. But he loves it.