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

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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 |

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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: Gladys Foley, Charlotte Harring, Morion Day, Marie Kurkoske, Agnes Pufohl, Marie Collins, Mary Block, Arlowayne Blodo, Betty Giencke. Second Row: Miss Swiggum, Arlene Sommerfeldt, Ruth Colnin, Violetmoe Westphol, Dolores Metz, Leona Bettin, Eleanor Geske, Blodwyn Grohn, Norma Metcalf. Third Row: Hilory Howe, Marge Metcalf, Audrey Zastrow, Jack Robinson, Herbert Hallman, Melvin Crown, Florence Bell, Marvel Guerke, Arthur Gruhlke. DRAMATIC CLUB ' Sparkin' practice at four o'clock on the auditorium stage. All out for 'The Fixer' immediately following. 'Aldrich Family' will meet for final dress rehearsal tonight. It was the appearance of these announcements on the bulletin board that made me sit up and take notice. What's getting into these young folks and where's the world headed? Was this a family reunion? But now that the three plays, directed and produced by members of the Dramatic Club, have been presented, the light begins to dawn. They were given on the auditorium stage tonight, and all I can say, is Watch out Kath- arine Cornell, you and Guthrie will have to be pretty good from now on. Afterward we all adjourned to the gym for the first post-Lenten school dance. And did we swing out to initiate the nickelodeon recently donated to our school by Mr. Adrian! This one night's entertainment would have been enough to justify the group's very existence, but come to think of it, it was this same Dramatic Club that put on that extra-special pep stunt before the Westfield game. That was when Mahatma Geske, after much crystal gazing and cajoling of spirits, foretold a brilliant season for M. H. S. Cagers; and when sweet Miss Montello became Victory's blushing bride. Methinks those Thespians must have loads of vim, vigor, and vitality in addition to their dramatic ability and be a source of pride to Miss Swiggum, their ad- viser. I'll see them again sometime. Page Twenty-Two