Jefferson Junior High School - Jeffersonian Yearbook (Rochester, NY)

Page 14 text:

l l DMM !! The Student Forum is an organization of deepest interest and vital im- portance to Jefferson. To provide the right type of citizen for the future is the aim of every good school. In order to be a good future citizen, one must be a good present-day citizen. Boys and girls cannot afford to wait until they are men and women to learn how to live their lives happily and efiicient- ly. They must practice right living now. So the Student Forum aims to form a more perfect union, to establish respect for law, to insure co-operation by putting service above self, to promote school spirit, to provide equal op- portunity and equal responsibility for.all. Every member of the school is a member of the Student Forum. Teach- ers and pupils strive to work intelligently and happily together. Real leaders are given a chance to show their abilities and influence for good. The Student Forum is patterned after the national government. The ex- ecutive, legislative and judicial departments are recognized. There are ex- actly forty-eight home rooms in our school and each one represents a state of the union, with its corresponding motto, colors, state flower or insignia. The idea of this attempt of student participation was presented to the assembly by Mrs. Rodney, chairman of the Student Forum committee. The other members of the committee are : Miss Gallagher, Miss Kelly, Mr. Colson, Mr. Rumpff and Mr. Viegel. After the home rooms, or states, were organized, each one chose a leader, or state committeeman and elected its officers, consisting of Governor, Lieutenant-governor, Secretary of State and State Treasurer. Then the political parties began to shape themselves and soon began a plan for the election of the officers of the Forum. Each state sent delegates to the national convention to nominate the Forum officers. The campaign manager was chosen, and after debate and careful consideration the candidates were nominated. The campaign opened with great enthusiasm. Before joining any party many students waited for an evidence of the policy of school spirit and ac- tivity offered by each candidate. Each campaign manager, with the advice of one teacher had complete charge of his party campaign. Party members were anxious to offer political advertising and campaign material. Before 12

Page 13 text:

Officers of the Graduating Class, June, 1924 I I tw right: Carleton TIl1lj'Cl', Treas.: Otto l l:1l1n. Sec.: Laurie Butler, Vice ics I lmoln Burrows, Pres. SENIOR CLASS OFFICERS The Senior Class organizes early in the term and aims to be helpful in securing the cooperation of all pupils in every- thing of interest to the school. The boys organize into the Boys' Senior Corps and the girls into the Girls' Senior Corps each with a definite piece of work to do. The January class has a party at Hallowe'en and the J une class at St. Patrick's Day. Parents of the pupils together with the girl's adviser and teachers act as chaperones on these accasions. 11

Page 15 text:

anything was put before the public itwas censored by the Manager. In this way the whole campaign was carried through with a high ideal of civic order, clean politics, artistic value and Jeffersonian spirit. The campaign was a challenge to the initiative, the finest ability and judgment of every individual. The response came in the form of the plat- form, typed copies of which were sent to each home room. Posters and slogans expressing the party principles, tags bearing block printprofile of the candidates, and life size silhouettes posted in the corridors, published the record of the attitude, ability and achievement of the candidates. At the regular assembly the campaign speeches were made. The mana- ger introduced the candidates of his party, each of whom addressed the as- sembly, outlining his policies if elected. Party spirit was very much in ev- idence by penants, bearing the party slogan, attractive and convincing posters, artistic head dresses, lantern slides with pictures of candidates, songs cheers, etc. After a week of the most enthusiastic school spirit Jefferson has ever seen, election day came. The school was divided into six voting districts, each provided with election commissioners, printed ballot, booths, etc. The polls were open from 8:15 to 4 o'clock. The entire student body and faculty voted at their convenience, without interruption of regular work. Election returns were published next morning. The news was received with many expressions of a non-partisan and wholly Jeffersonian spirit. The inaugural address was given before the student body. The ofiicers were installed by Mr. Finch. ' At the first regular Forum meeting the president delivered his message to congress and outlined the plans for his administration. Among the great Forum business projects are, the spring pageant, The History of Music , details of which you will find elsewhere, and a paper sale for the purpose of strengthening the Forum treasury. There is no limit to the possibilities and the power for good which the Student Forum may reach. A code of honor will be completed by the close of this semester, which will help the constitutional committee to draw up its constitution next term. We are hoping to plan all campaigns for next semester so that there will be plenty of time and a thorough understanding of detail. We are treading 'slowly but surely, hoping that whatever the Forum accomplishes will be of lasting benefit to us and to those who will share the joys and responsibilities of our great school in the future. If the school is to train for democracy we should make a democracy of the school. Our Forum is step in making of Jefferson a real democracy. 13