Montello High School - Granite Hilltopper Yearbook (Montello, WI)

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First Row: Eugene Blodgett, Froncis Cotter, Carroll Schmidt, Robert Krentz, Earl Wilson, Hillard Esselman, Robert Rabbitt. Second Row: Mr. Owens, Arnold Klimke, Donald Wetloufer, Robert Tagatz, Arthur Zuelke, Donald Siepert. Third Row: Henry McTrusty, Walter Kenitz, Charles John, Burt John, George Wilson. DEAR DIARY: DEBATE CLUB I'm in a terrible rush. In a few minutes I must be at Debate Club meeting and I still don't have my material collected. Meetings every Tuesday and Thursday at 1-1:15 don't give one much time to get arguments organized. Some people in school, including Mr. Owens, think we havn't proven our worth this year, but it seems to me we have. Like any other club we first elected as our officers—Donald Wetloufer, President; Hillard Esselman, Vice-president; and Charles John, Secretary-Treasurer. We spent consider- able time leading up to actual speaking by studying the arrangement of ma- terial and the types of argumentive speech. After this we could see some improvement in ourselves. Then we organized into teams and quarrelled over the subject: Resolved: That the United States should construct aid defenses for our larger cities. As this was our first debate it was only thirty minutes in length, which was plenty long enough to suit us. Debates were held regularly at our own meetings. We recently purchased material on the state contest question, Resolved: That the United States should own and operate the railways. After practicing an interminal length of time, a final selection of teoms showed—Affirmative: H. Esselman and D. Wetloufer; Negative: F. Cotter and D. Siepert; Alternative: B. John, but a public debate on this question won't be heard until we've had more ex- perience. Besides our speech endeavors we hove done a great deal of extra work which deserves mention. We sponsored two all school parties, the first being the first dance of the school year and the second, that memorable event after the Westfield game. We set the pace for the year by presenting the stunt for the first Pep Session of the season. And so it goes. Is it any wonder I'm nigh unto exhausted from rushing7 Page Twenty )

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First Row: Maurice Metcalf, Jock Farrell, Stewart Cotter, Vincent Metcalf. Second Row: Robert Robbitt, Francis Cotter, Kenneth O'Connor, Carroll Schmidt, Alfred Schmudloch, Bernord Giese, Earl Wilson, Hillard Esselmon, Rhyinold Schmudloch, Mr. Owens. Third Row: Willus Mittlesteodt, Charles Goodnature, Georoe Wilson, Charles Metcolf, Thomas Foley, Robert Zellmer, Charles John, Jack Metcalf, Arnold Klimke. F. F. A. DEAR DIARY: Early this evening as I roamed about the Hilltop I was reminded that this is the Thursday for the monthly meeting of the Future Farmers and just for the fun of it decided to barge in on them. Upon entering the agricultural department, which is in the new annex, I noticed the president, Stewart Cotter, sitting beneath the rising sun; the vice president, Dan Cotter, with a miniature plow at his desk; an ear of yellow corn was suspended above the station occupied by the secretary. Jack Farrell. Treasurer Maurice Metcolf sat beneath a picture of George Wash- ington and Vincent Metcalf, the reporter, was seated beneath the American Flag. At the desk of the adviser, Mr. Owens, was an owl perched upon a realistic limb. The secretary took roll call and twenty-three boys responded with present, after which the treasurer read the financial report of the Chapter. Then various members discussed the various objectives and activities that the Montello Chapter had undertaken during the current year. They reported that the horse and colt show held on the new athletic field in August had drawn on at- tendance of five hundred people. Also that the Father and Son banquet given in January in the the new gymnasium was attended by one hundred people. They considered themselves fortunate in having as their guest upon this occasion Ivan Kindschi, National F. F. A. President and Nat- ional Baton Twirling Champion. Mr. L. M. Sasman, the State Adviser of Vocational Agriculture and Professor James of the University of Wisconsin were other guests of the evening. The presi- dent pointed out that the most important work done by the Chapter this year was the seed treating program carried on this spring throughout the surrounding community. It seemed that the F. F. A. members had put on a seed sales campoign that helped to meet the Chapter expenses. You guessed it! While all of this business was taking place the cocoa had burned and fumes telling of the disaster were wafted across to us from the home ec. kitchen. Nevertheless, refresh- ments were served, and, while the boys were eating, the discussion rambled from one thing to another. How they gloated over their WIBU Radio Broadcast during the holidoys, Stewart Cotter and Charles Johns reminisced about the District Speaking Contest held in March for nine neigh- boring schools. They said it was a lot of fun to enter a contest if you knew your speech. And of course Hillard had to boast of the success of the F. F. A. Basketball team in their encounters with Wautoma, Princeton, and Westfield. Then the conversation turned to the day they planted trees in the school forest just north of the athletic field. They claimed to have about eight thousand trees planted in the forest and re- minded Mr. Owens of how crabby he was when he found three trees planted in one hole. Then having completed their business the officers adjourned the meeting with the usual clos- ing ceremonies. Reolly, diary, I was amazed at the seriousness with which those young farmers go about their work. It made me feel that they have something there. 9 Page Nineteen )

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First Row: Morion Doy, Mory Block, Chorlotte Horring, Agnes Nickoloi, Shirley Moore, Arleen Sommerfeldt, Betty Giencke, Gladys Foley. Second Row Morion Ransom, Marie Collins, Agnes Pufohl, Violetmoe Westphol, Blodwyn £rahn, Vero Burlingame, Morie Kurkoske, Miss Swiggum. Third Row: Kenneth O'Connor, Orlond Rodke, Morge Metcalf, Mertice Johnston, Audrey Zastrow, Jock Robinson, Douglas Ritchie. FORENSIC CLUB DEAR DIARY: I've just come back from the local forensic contest and I'm still in a state of bewilder- ment. How those students, some of them in my own classes, can get up before an au- dience ond talk is beyond my ken. Just the thought of giving on orol theme makes my heort thump and my knees knock, but when these modern Demosthenes' turns came, they walked up on the stage with an unconcerned look ond made you laugh, cry, or gave out political information, as if it hod been an every doy occurance with them. I marveled so at their ability in this line of extra-curricular work, that I mode up my mind to find out something about this Forensic Club and how it operates. Here are a few of my findings: When Montello High joined the Wisconsin High School Forensic Association in 1927, the club consisted of six members, besides Miss Swiggum, the instructor. The interest which the students have felt in this work may be clearly shown by the fact that the club has grown to a total of 26 members and four advisers—Miss Swiggum, Miss Petchel, Miss Scobie, and Mr. Nickel. The student may choose from five different forms of forensic work in which to develop his ability. These are: oratory, dramatic declamatory, humorous declamatory, extempo- raneous reading, and extemporaneous speaking. A local contest is held in the spring, to select the school's contestants for the league meet. If the student is successful in the league contest, he proceeds to the district contest and from there to the state meet in Madison. The contestants this year have really had to be good if they were to beat the win-record set by last year's fine group. Of the five contestants in the league meet, M. H. S. won two first places, one second, and one third. Of course you know the league contest was held in our own school last year ond attracted much fovorable attention. Kathryn Ann Metcalf took honors last year by getting an A rating at the district contest and going from there to the state tournament, where she received a B rating, thus bringing more honor to her school. Yes, dear diary, this forensic organization is something worth watching. ■d Page Twenty-One |