Paxton High School - Reflector Yearbook (Paxton, IL)

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12 HOW THE FACULTY SPENT CHRISTMAS. The Faculty are strangely reticent concerning the manner in which they spent their vacations. Almost without exception they state that they “just stayed home.” We can scarcely believe that, and yet, perhaps that was all they desired, for, our teachers you know, most of them, are a long, long way from their respective homes. Remember that, Oh students,, and when they seem cross and unreasonable, bear with them; for, perhaps, they are weary and homesick and pining for a sight of Mother. Why sure, they have mothers just like us ordinary folks, didn't you ever think of that? Our commander-in-chief, Mr. Berg, had a most interesting vacation. He most obligingly gave us a detailed account of his movements which were so varied that they are somewhat confused in the limited mental capacity of the writer. However, we are sure Mr. Berg will pardon us, as he has already had ample opportunity to discover our limitations. Anyway, here are some of the things he did; Went to Chicago, went home to Crystal Lake, Til., visited Joliet, spent a day somewhere where I used to teach”, and spent Sunday at home. This is all very interesting, but we are led to believe that Mr. Berg eagerly returned to Chicago New Year's Day and from there to Paxton in spite of the fact that it meant school the next day. Miss Kaar spent her Christmas vacation at her home in Princeton, 111. Her home-coming was made pleasant by the return of a brother from the Mexican border. The usual round of Yuletide festivities was enjoyed by her. Miss Wightman spent her vacation in her beloved Kalamazoo. While there, she stayed at home, but had “two dinners.” Also, we are given to understand, that she entertained all her schoolma’am friends. Wouldn’t we have liked to be “mouses' in the corner, just? Miss McClure also went home” to Abingdon, 111. As it was the first time she had been home since September, we are sure they were glad to see her. Frequent visits to Galesburg enlivened her visit. Miss Holmes spent the holidays at her home in Normal, 111. She employed her time chiefly in eating and sleeping”, so she says. While journeying from Paxton to Normal her progress was burdened by a black cat, a brick bat, and a chocolate cake. We don’t quite get the connection, unless she was bearing Christmas offerings to the dear ones at home. “Home, sweet Home” was also the refrain of Miss Hanson’s departure from our midst, on December 23rd, as she boarded the 5:15. Her vacation was spent in entertaining, being entertained and forgetting she is a teacher. Her home is also in Normal. Mr. McCord also spent his vacation in Normal. He says he worked hard all the time. Still his labors were not continuous, as he found time to go skating and to take a trip to Gridley, 111. He returned to Paxton late Tuesday night, not one moment before he had to. Mr. Chenoweth went right back to the farm for his vacation. He reports that he spent the holidays with a sister and that he employed his time hunting. The number of rabbits slaughtered was fourteen. We have only Mr. Chenoweth’s word for this, as there were no witnesses. Dorothy W. (after inquiring into the condition of the raspberry pie): “I don’t, like soft things, Elizabeth!” “Oh! I do,” was the innocent reply.

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11 Following is a copy of the credit card” referred to on the opposite page. Algebra, 190 hours; credit, 1% units. Plane Geom., 127 hrs.; credit, 1 unit. Solid Geom., 03 hrs.; credit, % unit. Eng. Comp. 127 hrs; credit, 1 unit. Eng. Lit., 381 lire.; credit, 3 units. Latin, 508 hrs.; credit 4 units. German, 254 hours; credit 2 units. Anc. History, 127 hrs.; credit, 1 unit. Eng., and U. S. History, 264 hrs.; credit, 2 units. Civics, 03 hrs.; credit, % unit. Bookkeeping, 240 hrs.; credit, 1 unit. Com. Geography, 03 hours; credit % unit. Physiography, 03 hrs.; credit % unit. Physics, 170 hrs.; credit 1 unit. Chemistry, 170 hrs.; credit 1 unit. Botany, 88 hrs.; credit, % unit. Zoology, 88 hrs.; credit, % unit Physiology, 88 hrs.; credit % unit. Man. Training, 254 hrs.; credit 1 unit. Dora. Science, 254 hrs.; credit, 1 unit. Total, 24 units. The school was last inspected Jan. 11, 1917. The above credits are to expire June 3 9, 1919. Approved by the Council, Jan. 31, 1917. (Signed) Thomas Arkle Clark, Secretary. Paxton Township High School District No. 117 Declared by a Recent Decision of the Circuit Court to be Without Legal Warrant. Last summer legal proceedings were instituted calling into question the validity of the Paxton Township High School District No. 117. The questions involved were argued at the September term of the Circuit Court, but no decision was rendered until late in December. In the mean time, a decision of the Supreme Court was rendered, in a case that had been taken up from Leroy, 111. This declared the 1911 Township High School act, under which the Paxton district was also organized, unconstitutional. The decision of the circuit court, which soon followed, therefore, came as no surprise. According to “The Illinois Teacher,” published by the Illinois State Teachers’ Association, 198 township high school districts have been organized under this law. Those districts that were actually maintaining schools at the time the decision was rendered—• or those in which bonds had been issued, taxes levied and collected, and the money wholly or in part, expended for the erection of buildings or the employment of teachers—it is generally understood will not be seriously affected 'by the decision. They will be given legal status as “de facto schools. The Paxton district, according to an authority on the subject, only missed by a narrow margin being a 4,de facto” organization. But it missed. Rah! Rah! Rah! Team! Team! Team! Who? Team! Team! Team! Students of Paxton High School: You should be proud of your basket ball team. It’s a great team, and is sure to make a name for Paxton High ! such as it never has before. The residents of Paxton are more loyal to the team, than you. the students who should back your teams no matter if they win or lose. The team has entered the tournament to be held at Champaign, Feb. 23 and 24. Be loyal to the team and show the boys that you are anxious that they make a name for Paxton by winning the Championship of this county. Physics Student (ready to construct apparatus for experiment): “What kind of pulleys should we use?” Mr. Chenoweth: “Use movable fixed pulleys.”

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13 ATHENAEUM ELECTION. On Friday afternoon, January 12th, a mass-meeting of the members of the Athenaeum Literary Society was called in Room 11. The purpose of the meeting was to elect officers and organize for the work of the Second Semester of the school year. Miss McClure, Faculty-director, presided as temporary chairman. Mr. Bainum also was present, in an unofficial capacity, acting as “Guide, Counselor and Friend” to those being initiated into the procedures of a club meeting. The meeting w-as called to order and the roll of the members called. Miss McClure stated the purpose of the meeting. The officers of the society numbered seven, a President, Vice-president. Secretary, Treasurer, and an Executive Committee of three, one to be appointed by the Prtsident, one by the Society members, and one by the Faculty director. The Athenaeums will present a literary entertainment about February 16th. Election of officers followed and resulted as follows: William West- brook, President; Florence Hodam, Vice-president; Agnes Johnson, Secretary; Maurice Peterson, Treasurer. Everett Farrell was chosen as the “people’s choice” on the Executive Committee. The other two members of the committee appointed by the president and faculty director, respectively, are Dorothy White and Agnes Johnson. The first meeting of the Executive Committee was held January 17th. It was decided that an entertainment shall be presented, either February sixteenth, or twenty-third, whichever is more convenient. The program will consist of two parts; the first, literary and musical, and the second of a short play. PLATONI AN SOCIETY ELECTION. On Friday afteronoon, Jan. 12, a meeting of the Platonian Literary Society was held for the purpose of organizing for the programs of the second semester. The meeting was called to order by Miss Holmes, the Platonian faculty director, who spoke briefly of the programs that it has been the custom for the two literary societies to give during the year and who acted as chairman until the election of officers. The following officers were elected: President: Chalmer Rudolph. Vice Pres.: Katherine Kemp. Secretary: Lester Johnson. Executive Board: Evelyn Wylie Treasurer: Floy Casey. Executive board: Evelyn Wylie, member. Lowell Hodam and Anna Watson were appointed by th? President and the faculty director as the two other members of the Executive Board. At the close of the election Mr. Berg in speaking further of the plans for the work of the remainder of the year, aroused considerable enthusiasm, and the meeting was adjourned. Lester Johnson, Secy. SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS. The operetta, Snow white and the Seven Dwarfs, is now in progress under the charge of Miss Dunham. The plot of the operetta is taken from one of Grimm’s well-known fairy tales, which makes it especially fascinating to the smaller children. About one hundred children will take part in the chorus while the leading characters will be taken by High School pupils. The best selection of talent has been made, and the operetta is sure to be a success. The date is not definitely fixed, but will occur sometime in the month of April.