Hoover High School - Husky Yearbook (Des Moines, IA)

Page 9 text:

The youth was being drawn into politics through the 18-year- old vote which became a reality in the election year of 1972. Along with voting privileges came controversial 19-year-old majority rights. Though these didn’t directly affect the students, the idea of it all, the responsibilities involved, brought about more pressures and more thinking on the part of ' the students. ' The outside, wordly affairs combined with the usual Hoover High School activities to pressure students into awareness. But their awareness turned toward outside interests, interests in- volved in the school but not the traditional activities. Because this was an election year and because of the 18-year- old vote, 17-and 18-year-olds involved themselves in party cau- cuses,- conventions and campaigning. ■- • ■ 1. An all-city underground newspaper caught one student as a writer, others as promoters and hundreds more as readers. Because of outside interests combining with some indifference toward school, the activities at Hoover— Homecoming, movie nights, holiday festivities. Keck Seminars, Student Council, Earth Week, and senior activities— were all organized by the same few in- dividuals, supported by different groups, striving to keep these traditional activities from being abolished. This didn’t seem to make much difference, though, because attendance was unprofit- ably low. The lack of money to. begin to sponsor Homecoming, Christmas Dance, Pancake Day, open houses, and movie nights caused review of the worth of these events. The behavior of a growing minority of Hoover students during school hours was detrimental to the issuance of more student freedom. Only five or six school assemblies were attempted during the year because some students couldn’t sit still for one-half hour. Even when the assemblies were voluntary, students felt it neces- sary to attend and cause disturbances. The Central College Symphony Orchestra presentation proved embarrassing to Hoover because of the rude inattentiveness of the “voluntary” audience. Poor manners were also displayed at a Simplicity Fashion Show by the audience and one of the models. Assemblies were not the only events jarred by childish student behavior. Open Finals held at the end of January “opened” the school and nearby businesses for an invasion of a few immature youths. Because of this behavior, the open finals system had to be reviewed by the administration and faculty as to its future exist- ence. It was decided to reform the system in hopes for better finals next year.

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On and on goes the list of results of childish behavior and re- direction of student interest away from the traditional Hoover ac- tivities. But not all was bad at Hoover, Indeed, many students poured their time and efforts into helping their school and com- munity. A Service Volunteers Club made many visits to needy families, cheering them along and taking them food. Girls’ Club performed several service projects, among which was their annual Thanksgiving dinner for a few needy families. They revisited these and other families many times throughout the year. Humanities classes visited the Polk County Home for a Christmas party and caroled at the Home and Blank and Methodist Hospitals. Athletics at Hoover showed strong support from parents and a few students and provided entertainment for countless students and parents. Drama productions brought in a sizeable profit along with creating new areas for students to explore. Hoover joined Lincoln High School in a profitable mixer held at Lincoln with no vandalism or rowdiness apparent. Student Coun- cil raised money at other entertaining affairs. The Keck Seminars provided unusual experiences for most students with its wide vari- ety of classes held during the two-day session. In a drive to clean up our environment, 300 students “pledged” to collect 30 cans or bottles each for recycling. 1491 pounds of excess garbage (cans and bottles) were collected. Senior Banquet drew the largest crowd in Hoover history, entertaining over 200 seniors with good food, music, and speakers. Senior prom drew about 150 couples, a big success for a prom. These positive ac- tivities brought about the hope that not all the year would be con- sidered bad. r