Los Angeles High School - Blue and White Yearbook (Los Angeles, CA)

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To put into words an adequate tribute to the man who for thirty years has guided the educational activities of the Los Angeles High School is not possible. Rather is that tribute found in the quickened heart beats of the great procession of graduates when stirred by memories of their school days under the leadership of Mr. Housh. Scholar and educator, kindly neighbor, loyal friend, faithful home-maker, discerning citizen, gentlemen, Mr. Housh has in himself been the best example of that which he has striven to make operative in the lives of the students. Amid the belittling and distracting influences of the petty details of the day's work, Mr. Housh has retained the power to idealrize. His ideals are enshrined in the stately building of the Los Angeles High School, embodied in its worthy traditions, and best of all, are being realized in the lives of thousands of the capable and courageous men and the high-minded women of this city. Mrs. Susan B. Dorsey Mr. Housh has grown bigger every one of his thirty years as principal of Los Angeles High School, bigger and more understanding. He is the per- sonal friend of every teacher, student, and employee hexe. Our principal is a man with vision, conservative, yet progressive, and be- cause of these qualities he has led the high schools of this city until they rank among the best in the world. The respectful, sympathetic, attention which he has always given to every suggestion made by faculty member or pupil has helped him to do this. Because of this fostering df initiative L. A. has been the training ground of executives. lt was here that the principals of Manual, Poly, Fairfax, Warren I-Lardfilng, and Wilmington received their training and Mrs. Dorsey, hers for the superintendency. - Katharine Carr Now, Miss Stewart, what is your real reason? Mr. Housh instinctively challenged a conventional presentation of your problem. So you re-stated your case, giving basic considerations, and received sympathy and under- standing. Mr. Housh's interest extended to all subjects. As a teacher, his field lay in the Natural Sciences. I have always thought Mr. Housh spec- ially adapted to the Social Sciences. Mr. Housh has served successfully and happily as Chairman of the City Art Curriculum Committee, Mr. Housh has always declined to be drawn into controversial debates, stirred up by champions of special causes. He is a follower of the Golden Mean and maintains a judicial attitude. Under his charge, Los Angeles High School has welcomed the New-but not with a mad rush, overturning the Old with its proven utility. Carefully evaluated and adjusted, the New has been incorporated with the Old, of which it has seemed to be but a natural outgrowth. Anna Stewart To my beloved and honlored principal, man of vision and culture, dev- oted to humanity and justice. Even to the old red school house, when I first knew him, he gave beauty with its vine-clad tower and walls and setting of green lawn. Here and later he also showed a love of and a faith in young people. also a keen sense of justice so that the members of his faculty felt his spirit and tried to express it themselves in their contact with the students. Always looking ahead to improvements that would make a better school, but never seeking fads, he has shown rare balance and vision-loving all the fine and beautiful things of life, he has led the school, its student body and faculty, a truly cultured man, but ever broadly human and friendly. Long may he preside over the destinies of the oldest and best high school in our city. Bertha Hall 25

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ACHIEVEMENT He gave himself to life as swimmers fling Their headlong strength upon the shifting sea, Tasting like wine the perilous ecstacy Of wind-piled wax es, of buffetings that bring The quickened heart beats, and the sweet, sharp, sting Of salty spray on the lipsg the victory Wrung from embattled waves, exultantly He rides beyond the white surf's thundering. Leaving upon the shore the rabble rout Of ignorance that fears the untried vast, Confident, calm, he came to rest at last He sought the shining sunway of the truthg Upon the pulsing, sunlit heart of youth. Breasting the breakers of distrust and doubt, Snow Longley Our high school has been indeed fortunate to have had as principal for over a quarter of a century a man of such courtesy and innate refinement as Mr. Housh. Happy is our school tio have had a principal who could influence the many young lives with which he came in contact, not merely by precept, but still better by example. In all these years his keen appreciation of the best in life as well as in literature, in art, and in music has helped to establish the ideals and stan- dards oof a great school. Bertha Oliver Understanding and appreciating the American doctrine of self-government, Mr. Housh hals made the Los Angeles High School a truly self-governing insti- tutiong and in so doing, he has given the young people the training so impor- tant in life. Always a leader in education, he has brought the school to a position fore- most among the high schools of the country. Young people going to Mr. Housh are always sure of a hearing and of an understanding sympathy. Their problems receive the greatest consideration and with his friendly advice cease to loom so large in their lives. Instead of gearing to go to his oflice, they welcome the opportunity of a conference with im. Calling out the best that is in them, he has always secured their loyalty and has proved a tremendous influence for good. His sincerity and sympathy have endeared him to all. Frances V. Harrow One does not fully appreciate the depth of nobility and the fineness of char- acter of our Mr. Housh until it is his privilege to be one of the family circle in his home. it is here that the unfailing thoughtfulness for all about him and the con- stant sacrilice of self for the comforts and wishes of those he is with stand out as a beautiful clear cut cameo. in that realm, the little principality he rightfully calls his own and where he is monarch of all he surveys, the spirit of this ruling potentate is one of sharing equally with others whatever is his bo enjoy-equal rights in every Way. There the younger generation, as well as the older, regard him with the truest kind of respect and affection and find him a delightful companion and friend. Lowell's words, Not what we give, but what we share,- For the gift without the giver is bare, are the keynote of his character as portrayed in his home: and the same courtesy and thoughtful care is bestowed, with fine gentlemanly respect, upon all who enter his family circle: so that the guest feels and says, Here is a life that has been unfalteringly lived for others! Elizabeth Day Palmer 24

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TRADITIQNS OF L. A. I-HGH In the forest of activities and reminiscences that go to make up the life of our great high school there is one tree that lifts its head high above all the others,-that which bears the traditions of L. A. A monarch it sccmfr, so sturdy is its trunk and so massive and heavily laden its branches. Proud is it, too, for having achieved such immensity, growing ever mightier with passing years. There is an air of mystery about this great tree, for it has seen many things and guards a wealth of secrets. Time has taken no toll from this mon- arch. Its leaves are as green and fresh as when it was a mere shoot, new- sprung from the earthg its bark, as smooth and unblemished. Such beauty and strength is not the product of mere chance. Such a Wealth of traditions has not grown up unnourished, unwatched, and uncared for. Only as the result of the most zealous care have they come. Ever guard- ing them with jealous tenderness and a never dying devotion, has been the un- wavering spirit of Mr. Housh. It is this generous spirit, with its broad out- look, which has given the tree its majestic breadth and stature and which has imbued all these traditions with life and meaning. Since the time that he first became leader of this great institution, like the gardener who watches and coaxes the growth of the tree from a little shoot into a stately monarch, Mr. Housh has put heart and soul into the strengthening of L. A.'s traditions. Nor has he labored alone. From the beginning unto the present, he has been assisted by a splendid band of teachers. Noticeable for its freshness, yet apparently great strength, is the branch of Self-Government. It is fresh because L. A. has not always had Student Body Government. Indeed, under the old system, before Mr. Housh became principal, the students had no vo-ice whatever in the running of the school. It was done entirely by the faculty Consequently, there were few or no activities and the students were subjected to strict rules and regulations. These many rules look humorous to the present-day L. A. High student, so few has he to abide by. For example, it used to be the custom for the students to line up by classes, in the morning, before the entrance to the building and march in at the principal's word, Pass, given from the top of the steps. Neither at this time nor in passing from class to class, was any conversation allowed. In the daily morning assemblies, too, the same lack of participation of the students in school affairs was seen. The students were seated by classes. The singing was led by a teacher and if that teacher chanced to like one song better than another, the students would have to suffer. Another teacher would pro- vide the music. The principal would make the announcements and any moral talk that she thought necessary or appropriate. But this state of affairs did not exsist long in L. A. With the coming of Mr. Housh, an entirely new system was put into effect. Mr. Housh did not be- lieve in suppressing the individuality of the students and in allowing them to have no part in the school's activities. On the contrary, he sought to acquaint himself with their points of view and to discover their ideas and opin- ions. To this end, he would call the seniors into his ofdce tlor consultations and discussions. As he saw that their judgment was good, he laid certain responsibilities on them which increased their ability to carry them. It was, then, from Mr. Housh's desire to see the students take an active part in the running of school affairs, that Self-Government sprang. Its establishment is an achievement of which every student of L. A., past or present, should be proudg for ours was the first high schoiol in the country to have it. Student Body Government in L. A. developed from the Athletic Association formed in 1904 for the purpose off supporting and managing school activities. The administration of the Athletic Association consisted of its regular officers- president, secretary, and treasurer, with an advisory board of pupils and faculty members. The organization of a regular Student Body took place in 1905 when a constitution was adopted. Along with the development of Student Body activities, Self-Government Was instituted this same year with a supporting vote of ninety per cent of the students enrolled. The Self-Gov- . 26