Liberty High School - Lion Yearbook (Brentwood, CA)

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Our Relations to the N FEBRUARY 28, Professor VV. Scott 'llhomas of the University of California spent the greater part of the day at Brentwood looking into the work of the liiberty Union Iligh School. This was not his first visit. as his signature is found in the register under date of August 30. l905. Professor Thomas was some years ago principal of schools at Petaluma. Sonoma. County. and is now an adjunct professor in the Department of Educa- tion at the University of California. For the last few years he has been the sole representative of the University to visit the various high schools and to report upon the work done therein. llere he found at least one promising feature that was con- spicuously absent on his former visit. Ile went carefully over the new high school building almost completed and expressed his approval of it as in line with progress in school architecture. and con- gratulated us on our deliverance from the inade- quate quarters we had occupied so long. He was favorably impressed by the neat appear- ance. the courteous manner and the general cheer- Universily of Calytornia L fulness of the pupils. and the proficiency shown by those pupils who remained cool and did themselves justice. He was assured that the entire community was now in sympathy with the school and loyally supporting itg that the hoard was unanimous and eo-operating with the teachersg that all was har- mony within our walls. He asked' what pupils were looking forward to a university career. talked with some of them and assured the principal that he would use his influence, as he had done in the past, in behalf of these pupils if they came up later before the committee on entrance and bearing the princi- pal's recommendation. Of course accrediting was out of the question for this year. as we have no graduating class. as the three teachers are not entirely occupied with academic work. and as our library facilities and equipment are so meager. But all he said was hopeful and encouraging, and the chances for accrediting a year hence were certainly enhanced by his visit. Now, what does accrediting mean? Essentially that the examiner was pleased at what he saw. It 'is largely a matter of judgment based on impres-

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her place. In spite of the quarrel. I think she still cares for me. It does not hurt me. but I think the only honorable thing for me to do is to leave. So. old boy, since I have told you all. make my exeusesg sick, dead-anything but the truth. The next morning. bright and early. a neat little figure i11 gray stole from the house. Dear me, she said. isnt this provoking? I had so set my heart on having such a pleasant visit. So saying she gave the wheel a jerk and set the machine going. It was a beautiful summer morn- ingg the birds were singing and all nature seemed so gay that she was soothed into enjoyment. The road was perfect and the machine moved as smoothly as possible. Meanwhile Harry Brown had set out in his machine. also enjoying the pleasures of the morning. Soon he exclaimed to himself, MI see I am not the only one out for a spin. It looks as though that was a lady bending over a wheel. Hard luck. Suddenly he had brought the machine to a stand- still beside that of the young lady. To his great amazement the blue eyes of Winifretl Jackson met his as he asked. Can I be of any assistance to you? Recovering herself she quietly answered. I have met with an accident, They had hardly overcome their enibarrassment when another machine eaine toward them. Ilarry did not fail to notiee the tell- tale tiush on Winifrs-d's cheek when the young man in the other ear alighted and the expression on Iiorimen Andrew's face was evidenee enough for Ilarry. Neither did VVinitred fail to hear the ex- clamation Ilarry gave as he grasped the hand of a happy-faced girl seated at IJ0I'IIIl9I S side. Both IIarry and VVinifred understood then that their solicitations for each other had been useless. VVhat brings you two out so early in the morn- ing? Cousin Olive and I were just going to Fred Kenneth's. said Ilorimer. Wil are visitors there and were just running a race this fine morning. said Harry. when Miss .Iaekson's machine gave out. Perhaps we ean manage to tow the maehine there and still be in time for breakfast. At Ilarry's suggestion they did this. YVinifred seated herself in Lorimer's machine and they towed her maehine along behind. while IIarry and Ulive were speeding on ahead. lioth parties arrived at the Kenneths in time for breakfast. greatly to the surprise Init delight of their host and hostess. Before the summer had ended two weddings had taken place at the summer residence of the Ken- neths. E. C. HEIDORN. 'HIL

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sions--impressions formed supposedly during the few hours of his visit. It means more than any- thing else that the teachers are cheerful and doing the best they can under the circumstances. and that they represented to the examiner that their col- leagues. their pupils. their board and their patrons are doing just the same thing. Now add to these conditions fair teaching and fair equipment. and accrediting is assured. To the community accred- iting means that the name of the school. the location and the name of the principal are published by the University in pamphlet form and sent to each prin- cipal and to the clerk of each high school board. To the graduate it means that if his work has been satisfactory to his principal he can get from his principal a recommendation that will admit him to the University of California on trial without the formality of an entrance examination. If his work in the University proves unsatisfactory he casts reflection upon the efficiency and good faith of the principal. who recommended him and may discredit the school from which he comes. As shown above. the discrediting of a school by no means implies necessarily poor teaching, and unless the discredit- ing is for this cause the graduate of a non-aceredited school can generally get the same recommeudation and entrance privileges as the graduate of an accredited school can. If the pupil's work has been good and the work ofhis teachers has been good. he will be as ready to meet the entrance examinations as the Christian is to meet death. The bugaboo of an entrance exam- ination has no terrors for a satisfactory pupil whose principal commands the confidence of the University and has their assurance that those he recommends will be given a trial. But some of the best principals of accredited schools refuse to recommend any pupil. no matter how thorough in every subject asked for. and leave the pupil to take his chances at one or more entrance examinations. The only matter ot concern to the pupil looking forward to the Uni- versity is, are his teachers able and painstaking. and do they enjoythe confidence of the University? The rest depends upon himself. There are schools by the score where the teaching is good. and yet accrediting is denied. Wliile the merely passable pupil. or rather the unsatisfactory pupil. is not sup- posed to be recommended for further work, he may do much to keep the standard so low as to prevent accrediting. Slovenliness and lawlessness on the part of the pupils. want of harmony and co-operation among the faculty. discord and obstruction on the