Montpelier High School - Record Yearbook (Montpelier, VT)

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the Student Council would find out they gave him his diploma when he learned to spell his name. Anyhow, after five hours of heated debate at a special fa- culty meeting one night, it was decided it would be better to humor the pu-pills along; but an extension of one week’s time was requested. With all due re- spect to the esteemed position held by the “character” in question, her name will be withheld — which also demon- strates the high ethical standards of the faculty. However, I do deCLAIRE it certainly was a lot of BARNEY. JOHN E. CARBAUGH Coach and Physical Training Director To name the most unforgettable char- acter since my arrival at M. H. S. is be- yond my ability. Many of the persons with whom I have dealt will be remem- bered for a long period of time because of their contributions, while others will fall into this class because of their eccen- tric behavior. The character whom I am about to describe typifies a group of boys whom I refer to as “The Groaners”. The Groaners, for some usually known reason, are the recipients of such a se- ries of misfortunes, that they must in- form me of their incapacity to partici- pate in the day’s activities. These in- dividuals usually greet me with, “Coach, I can’t do anything today.” This is fol- lowed by reasons which vary from hav- ing had a bad night the night before to sugaring, lameness or to having stubbed the toe while dressing in the morning. It seems that the Groaner suddenly re- members his ailments when his group moves to the parallel bars. Yet, if he is excused from the bars, I might find him slipping aw?ay from the group and per- forming the stunt somewhere else which puts more strain on the “injury” than it would receive in the required work. The first day the classes w ere asked to do shoulder stands on the parallel bars, there were enough suffering individuals to fill Heaton Hospital. Yet, after the stunt was performed, most of these in- dividuals suddenly were in good health and continued to participate. Fortunate- ly, the club is not large. Yet its mem- bers have already provided me with so much interesting rationalizing that I shall never forget them. HENRY W. CASWELL Social Studies My most unforgettable character is a boy who has since left school “ ’cause there ain’t no sense to this here book- learnin’ ”, as he put it. Let’s call this boy “Tom”, chiefly because I don’t think I ever had a Tom in any of my classes. Now’ Tom was the type of farm boy that city folks think of Vermonters as being: backward in his ways, awkward in his speech and manners, and a murderer of the king’s English. Because he was not very adept at reading, he had very little interest in English. His rather cynical attitude characterized the English class that year. As a result I found it very difficult to motivate any type of compo- sition work. One day I asked the class to write an essay on any subject they wished. Tom, per usual, couldn’t think of anything to write about; so, knowing he was on “The Great White Father’s” J. V. football team, I suggested he cen- ter his essay around what he had learn- ed in football this year. Tom’s reaction to this was, “As far as I kin see, ’bout all them fellars do in football is ta set ya up in a line and then bang ya heads.” And that was Tom's honest opinion of football. GRAY R. COANE Mathematics and Science To two brothers whose parents were born in a foreign country the encourage- ment and training received at Montpel- ier High School has meant much. Their home had little money to sustain it. However, and more important than mon- — twelve; —

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upper right corner represent his family who’ve hardly seen him since last sum- mer; they’re waiting for him with a sup- ply of cokes and hamburgers. When spring comes, MUC will be hidden be- hind that sheet of music which you can see on the right border; or else he’ll be behind those reference books and “Do Not Disturb’’ sign just below the music. Along the bottom and left borders are scattered the signs and tools of his trade: pencils, autographed notebook, slide rule, and paper airplane. The thermometer dangling from the fishline is his own in- vention for measuring spring fever. If you had X-ray eyes as the faculty does, you might see a diploma and activity awards in the small box just below the jalopy. Why is the center blank? Why, that’s for your picture—YOU are MUC! KATHLEEN I. BRETTELL English and French Among those attending Sub-Freshman Day several years ago, was a no-non- sense, red-headed eighth grader from a near by rural school. With the others he had toured the building, taken a general ability test, attended a special assembly, and received a copy of the courses offer- ed by the high school in the freshman year. Some moments later he arrived in the office and asked to talk with the principal. When the latter was available, the boy, glancing down at the mimeo- graphed course of study in his hand, presented his case something like this: “I understand about English, Latin, and algebra; but what’s this here civics?” “Civics,” said the principal, “is the course that explains all about your go- vernment: local, state, and federal. It’s civics that will teach you, when you’re old enough to vote, how to vote.” Im- mediately this native son of Vermont’s hills stiffened, looked straight at his in- formant, and replied, “When I vote, I’ll vote Republican.” E. WINIFRED BRIGGS Guidance Director I remember a girl who made herself very well known in high school. She was talented in many ways and contri- buted a great deal to the assemblies and the Masque. She is rather small, quick, and a perfect mimic. Well do I remem- ber her in a little girl’s short dress, pig- tails with red ribbons, legs bowed for the moment, as one of the more obstreper- ous pupils in a classroom scene staged by the Masque. She is in college now and seriously interested in making good. GEORGE D. BROWN Coach and Driver Training Instructor Although I must admit it is not too difficult to find “characters” wandering through the charred halls of M. H. S., I could single out one in particular who fits nicely into the unforgettable class. I am not at all certain that the incident which so classified this “character” came about by sheer coincidence. It seems that a certain editor of a year book des- cended upon said school’s faculty with an inspiration which could root only from fiendish intentions. Apparently the burden of textbooks had found its mark, for the idea was along the lines of home- work in reverse. Our “character” pro- ceeded from one teacher to another with the assignment, “Write an essay on your most unforgettable character.” Of course the uproar among the faculty was tremendous. It wasn’t that this scholarly group was opposed to spending several hours on arranging a page of wrords. The insubordination among the ranks was too great a pill to choke on— students giving teachers homework. There was some muttering that the whole thing should be taken over by the English Department. Apparently one of the coaches w'ho majored at foul shoot- ing at Cowcollege University was afraid — ELEVEN —

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ey, it was a home of love, courage and principle. During their senior year they lost their father by death. In many characteristics the brothers were the an- tithesis of each other: one was serious, the other was jovial and always wise- cracking; one was the play-maker, the other the scorer. These boys also had a lot in common—integrity, courage, a de- termination to get ahead in life, and a desire to establish homes that would pro- vide more than the necessities of life. These young men are now well on their way to fulfilling their desires. This ful- fillment has not come without a strug- gle. With no money for college each persevered by studying at night and while working. These young men are now engineers and hold responsible posi- tions. Both of them have fine families and fine homes. In their experiences it has been demonstrated that by hard work, initiative, and courage many of the problems of life can be solved suc- cessfully. MILLICENT L. DIXON Commercial I find it impossible to mention one “most unforgettable character of M. H. S.” It is impossible because there are too many in my mind who are “unfor- gettable”. During my ten years at M. H. S. those who are unforgettable seem to fall into two classifications. First, there are those who were a joy to have in classes. Each time I think of these people it is with genuine pleasure. Se- condly, there are those who, so it seem- ed, tried to make my work as a teacher as difficult as they could. They were continually absent; their assignments were never done; little attention was gi- ven when explanation of new work was being given; and they figured study hall was for anything but study. Fortunate- ly, the first group is by far the larger. In fact, with few exceptions, all the stu- dents at M. H. S. whom I have helped prepare for a business career have been a pleasure to work with. They are un- forgettable in that I shall always be in- terested in them and all their activities. The unpleasant unforgettables I would rather forget! MILDRED L. HALLGREN School Nurse Where is that small group of high school students who were such little chil- dren a few years back? When they were in the grades they thought they were too grown up to take advice from their parents or teachers, but they were not grown up enough to take pride in their health and personal appearance. Where are the ones who said they liked school but would rather stay out of the class- room; the poor sport at basketball prac- tice who finally made the team; the one who enjoyed getting attention because of poor posture but is now a straight six- footer; the ones who liked new clothes but didn’t take time to keep tidy and clean; the ones who could not bother to brush their teeth but admired people with attractive smiles; and the one who continually complained about minor aches and pains but is now enjoying good health? They are in high school now, growing up and happy. ISABEL J. HOLMSTROM Girls’ Physical Training Director The most unforgettable character I have met has graduated from M. H. S. Her influence was not extended to all the classes, but her sense of humor was ge- nerally known. When confronted with an unhappy situation, she just grinned and came out with an appropriate joke. Among her many school interests she enjoyed hiking. The pack was some- times bigger than she, but one could al- ways tell what kind of a character she was by the odd hat which she wore. I believe that she had a terrible fear of being cold, as she always wore her fa- ther’s long underwear which she loved — THIRTEEN —