Hamilton High School - Hamiltonian Yearbook (South Hamilton, MA)

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The HAMILTONIAN 9 The investigation committee, which was appointed at the last town meeting, has been through the school building looking for sufficient reasons why we need a new high school. Although they have not yet given any report, our hopes and prospects are still high be- cause we know our high school is not suitable for the work we are trying to do in it. New Periodicals New York Times T ' HROUGH the influence of our prin- cipal, Mr. Spalding, pupils of Hamilton High School are fortunate to have daily copies of the New York Times to read. We find this magazine an ideal one for school purposes. In the week day paper, there are always fine articles of current events which make interesting oral rec- itations in history classes. The editorial page always has .several interesting lit- erary articles, and pupils of Music Appre- ciation classes will find articles pertaining to this subject in nearly every edition. Sport tnthusiasts will find news to their heart’s content on the sporting page and there is plenty to interest the Movie and Theatre fans. Then there is the Sunday edition which reaches us the first thing Monday morning. In this edition there is a wonderful photogravure section and an exceptionally fine Book Review Maga- zine. Yes, we are all enjoying the paper; if you doubt it, visit the English room al- most any hour of the day and you will find several pupils quietly interested in “reading the news”. Current History We are sure that Mrs. Boyd’s heart is happy now. Current History has arriv- ed, and truly we agree with her; it is the thing for our history classes. Already we havt had several recitations upon especial- ly assigned or selected topics. Of special interest were the articles on “Monarchy a Lost Cause in Germany,” “British Policy in India.” The article on “Machinery and Unemployment,” gave us a better understanding of the unemployment now so prevalent through- out the United States. One of the most interesting as well as educational, articles was “The League of Nations.” It seems that the League is taking up such questions as “The Opium Problem and its Control” and “Inter- national Labor Organization.” The art- tide on “The Working Man of Russia,” was indeed an enlightment. We hope that no one will miss reading that article. Now that Hamilton High School is a sub- scriber to the New York Times and Cur- rent History, we should all be abreast the times in world news. No need for any one to be a back number now! Scribner’s Another new periodical that comes to the high school is Scribner’s magazine which should be of great interest to the pupils. This well-known magazine not only contains articles that can be used in English and History but also many ref- erences that are valuable for Economics and Geography, This magazine is pub- lished every month and can be found in Mrs. Boyd’s room. All pupils are invited and urged to borrow this and read some of its worthwhile articles. Standard for Honor Pupils Raised J HIS year there probably will be few- er honor pupils in the graduating class than there has been in past years, but, to be an honor pupil will be a much greater honor. In past years, ranks received in the ninth grade were counted toward Senior High graduation credits, and of the eighty points re quired for graduation, only sixty of them had to be honor credits.

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8 The HAMILTONIAN First, let us consider the unsanitary state of the bnilding. The lavatories are located in the center of the cellar, in such a way as to make proper ventilation impossible. They are .small, dark and damp, altogether a most unpleasant place. Also, their location next to the cooking room, makes that place unhealth- ful. Second, the bnilding is badly over- crowded, especially in the Junior High School. In one room, fifty students are placed, with .seats for only forty children. The rest are using a table for part of their books, and are sitting in portable seats. The Senior High School is over-crowd- ed to such an extent that pupils in study halls must try to study with a class reciting in the same room. This occurs several jieriods each day. The.se conditions and several more make the need of a high school of para- mount irnjjortance to everybody. — John M. Seivell, ’31. Farewell and Weleome E were all sorry when we heard of the resignation of our former prin- cipal, Mr. Cottle; however, we wish him great success in his new position. Under his .supervi.sion, our school made many .strides toward a higher goal. One of the most important of Mr. Cottle’s accomj)lishments was the raising of the .scholastic .standing of onr high school. Now, to be an honor stiident, out of the sixty credits required for graduation, fifty of them mu.st be honor credits. When Mr. Cottle came to Hamilton our school magazine was deeply in debt. Under his efficient management, the debt was cleared and, in addition, last year sufficient money was made to help the Athletic Association purchase some nec- essary equipment. Mr. Spalding, our new principal, is proving a very able successor to Mr. Cot- tle. We h ive already noticed several good changes. It is very evident that under Mr. Spalding’s intere.st and excellent coaching our athletic teams are going to improve. We have also noticed that although Mr. Spalding is quite, he means business. It is very evident that he believes court- esy is one of the foundation stones in building character, developing good citi- zens, and in securing an education. We like him, and hope we will be- have ourselves in such a manner that he will like us! Prospects for a New High School J HERE seem to be some real good prospects which may enable us to have a new high school. A few weeks ago Mr. Samuel Morse, Assistant Com- missioner of Education in Massachusetts, visited us and fomid that onr high school was not adequate to our needs. Some of the reasons why our high school is not up to the .standard are ; the rooms are so overcrowded that in many instances teachers have over forty pupils in a recitation period, which means less than one minute per pupil; rooms where pupils are trying to study subjects other than bookeeping and stenography, are conducted in the senior room when, at the same time, a typewriting class is be- ing held in the adjoining room with only a glass partition to separate the two; the lighting system is so poor that certain desks in the room do not receive as ranch light as they should; the labratory is not up to date; a gymnasium is needed; and although the basements have been paint- ed and cleaned during the summer va- cation, they are still very far from san- itary

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10 The HAMILTONIAN Just why ranks from the Junior High — which had already been counted once for a di])loma — should be given credit over again is a puzzle. Mr. Cottle, our pre- vious principal, saw the fallacy of this arrangement, and, in his desire to raise the standing of the Hamilton High School to meet college requirments, brought about the present change. Now, for a Senior High diploma, only ranks received during Senior High years are counted, and to be an honor pupil of the required sixty credits, fifty of them must be honor credits. College Credits i UR new principal is very anxious to raise the standing of the college preparatory standards, and has started quite a strenuous check-up system. Eor several years it has been the cus- tom at Hamilton High School to send Exehanges The Signboard, Bay Path Institute, Springfield, Your school paper is interesting. We liked your article on the Get -Acquainted Party and consider it a very good plan. The Cub, Manning High School, Your literary department is very in- teresting. It would improve your maga- zine to have a language department, don’t you think? Lasell Leaves , . Auburndale, Mass. In the Ahunni number, we enjoyed Elinor Packard’s Translation of Virgil. We always enjoy your magazine and hope to l)e fortunate enough to exchange with you again this year. out, in the middle of each term, defi- ciency cards to all pupils who are below a passing grade of seventy percent. Parents who receive these cards are thus warned of the low grades then ' children are doing. Whereas seventy is a passing grade for the majority of the pupils in the high school, it is not a passing grade for those pupils who plan on entering college. The necessary grade for certification re- quired of college preparatory students is eighty - five percent; hence, the parents of these pupils receive a deficiency card if their children fall below that standard. By this system there will no longer be an opportunity for parents of college preparatory students not to be aware that their children are not doing work of suflBciently high quality to enable the school to certify them for college. Spaghetti a Reducer? Orrin: “Hey, Esther, thought you were on a diet.” Esther: “So I am.” Orrin: “Spaghetti doesn’t keep your weight down.” Esther: “I know it, but the exercise I get eating it does.” — o — Miss Anderson; “Lawrence, why did the Romans abolish the cruel custom of feeding Christians to the lions?” Lamson: “Why, er — 1 suppose it was because the lions ate up all the prophets.”