Griffith High School - Reflector Yearbook (Griffith, IN)

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Due to the rising popularity of bikes, route signs were erected by the town, offering added safety for the cyclists as they take to the road. With today ' s economy crisis and shortages, Mr. Tom Sfura, assistant principal, finds that riding his bike to school saves on fuel and also keeps him in shape. Thinking of other things he could be doing besides washing his car, Kerry Peacock discovers the maintenance takes a lot out of him and his wallet. 26

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Rat-race participants rush to find relaxation Weekends — those glorious hours jetween 2:55 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. vlonday . Books have been written ibout it and a myriad of novies on it. People ind it one of their favorite opics of conversation. “What did you do this weekend?” “Where do you want to go Saturday? jet’s do something special.” There are as many different uastimes as people to pursue them. Though weekends are considered the days of rest and personal enjoyment, the week can prove to be none to taxing to the individual either. Whether an early riser to catch the bus or a student driver, the only serious effort made by most before 8 a.m. is getting out of bed. Morning practices and tests are two exceptions to the rule. Once class starts, many a student’s mind still succumbs to sleeping. As the five-minute break begins, a student is forced to dip into his energy reservoir for the trek to his next class. Mid-day brings the North Hall’s version of the Dan Ryan’s rush hour with wall-to-wall students. The stampede — the slow down of which requires more than the appearance of a teacher in a hard hat — signals the start of the 35-minute lunch. A student’s body shifts into high gear to gobble mounds of food served by the ladies in white. Freed by the 2:55 p.m. closing bell, students head for home, trying to think of ways to pass a restful evening. For some the decision was easy; a boss issued his edict by making out your schedule. Others followed a teachers’ wishes and decided to study “for the hardest test you’ll ever take.” When a little imagination was called for, students usually came up with original ideas like the TV Movie of the Week or ignored the energy crisis and cruised Broad Street. No matter how much sleep a person receives or how he spends his spare time, it seems to be the American way to complain of being tired in this, the age of luxury. Discovering the consequences of absenteeism on test day, Chri s S zewka finds staying awake and concentrating difficult obstacles when making up an exam at 7 a.m. Who said teachers don ' t need a break ? After a few hours of giving tests, lecturing and making assignments, Mrs. Margaret Clark, relaxes while reading an assigned book from her class. 25

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The wheel: from rolling logto modern necessity, it’s vital for day-to-day living If the caveman who developed the wheel could have lived for 5,000 years, he would probably be amazed at all that ' s evolved from it. Little did he realize that his rolling log was the first important step in transportation. The first object to use the wheel was the cart, with chariots and coaches next. Later, the covered wagon appeared with trains coming soon after. Bicycles were next with cars and motorcycles invented shortly. The latest device to employ wheels is the airplane. Probably the most often used of these wheeled vehicles is the car. It has become a necessity to a lot of students. Besides a way to and from school, it was used to take friends to lunch. Still at school with the bus long gone, students wished that their parents had let them borrow the family car. Leaving the auditorium at 9 P.M. from a play rehearsal, students found it a relief to get to ride home in a car, instead of trudging the distance half asleep. Guys tried to convince Dad that taking their girlfriend to the drive-in movies on a motorcycle wasn ' t very romantic. Mom was more lenient. In fact, she wanted Junior to take the car, but for her convenience. Susie needs to be picked up from lessons at 2 P.M., and Billy has practice at 4. On the way, would you pick up some bread for supper tonight? Money poses another problem. Whether the car is a rebuilt ' 57 Chevy or a ' 75 Cutlass Supreme, upkeep was expensive. Insurance was the biggest expense, along with gas and oil. Most people worked to get the money needed for their car. Students who drove to school regularly knew that finding a parking space could be a hassle when they were late. School rules dictated that all vehicles be registered in the main office and that the car be parked in the senior high lot. In warmer weather, students sometimes substituted a Honda for the car. For those not old enough to drive, but who still wanted transportation, the bicycle was an ideal compromise. After the initial hurdle of buying the bike was cleared, it proved to be the cheapest way to get about, requiring only leg and lung power. Male or female, a guy ' s ten-speed was the status symbol of the non-driving set. No, the caveman didn ' t realize what he really started rolling when he pushed that first log down the hill. As more teenagers sought a sense of freedom, cycling gained increasing popularity. Leaving his worries behind him, )eff Ward takes his motorcycle out for a ride. Today ' s ten-speed bike is a far cry from the first two-wheeler. To an amateur cyclist, the complexity of the bike design is mass confusion.