Paxton High School - Reflector Yearbook (Paxton, IL)

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Paxton High School Reflector I 1 A TRIBUTE TO GOOD SPEECH. In an article written by Olive N. Bear of the Decatur, Illinois Mich School, upon the general topic, “Eradicating Speech Errors,” the tollowing splendid tribute to “Good Speech” is given: “Good speech is one of the most valuable cf mans attainment-. It is his means of securing a better job; his capital with which to do business; his most paying investment. Through it. as his evidence of culture, he secures his ticket of admission into the best society. It is his source of influence; his scepter of power; his wand to remove all obstacles; his open sesame to unlock all doors. Indeed, there is no other accomplishment that does so much for him as the ability to speak correctly. Good speech is music to the ear. It arouses the inattentive, it disarms the antagonistic, it charms the connoisseur. It makes one forget the plain man's plainness, and without it the pretty face and rich apparel have no power. The correctly spoken word is the most direct, the most effective, the most sure means of accomplishing one’s end. It moulds the life of today. By it our wisest deliberating bodies, as they sit in council over questions of great moment, as they gather er masse to hear the spoken word, form tlie judgments and make the decisions that determine the policies of a nation. No president of the United States dares trust to the people his pet theories until he has. by the most effective use of the human voice cf which he is capable, impressed and convinced and won them over to his way of tninklng. And during the late World War. was not the vast army of four minute men second only in importance to that other army aercss the seas? No drive could be launched and successfully carried through without the backing ot that most potent factor of influence—the spoken word.” OTHER STRIKING QUOTATIONS FROM OLIVE N. BEAR’S ARTICLE ON “ERADICATING SPEECH ERRORS.” Training for speech is train ng for life. It is fundamental ir all Education.’’ ••• •• “Not only from an educational standpoint, but from a social one as well, is (good) speech fundamental. It mul.iplies many times the rienress of life. “Not cnly is society enriched by the verbal expression of the individual, but the individual himself frees his own soul, and so misses the tragedy of soul imprisonment.” How famMiar to teachers and supervisors is the following picture drawn by tile same author: “Mary stands and recites in a high-pitched toneless voice scarcely to be heard by the pupil sitting next tc her. John stands with bent knees and with motionless lower jaw, clenched teeth, and ceiling-ward gazing eyes, mumbles something, nobody knows what, about 'having saw.' what fur.' ‘it was jist like this.’ and ’I did not git it.’ ”

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10 Paxton High School Reflector OUR BETTER ENGLISH ENTERTAINMENT (By Grace Larson, ’22) The “Better English Campaign” which is being observed all over the Cr ited States, has aroused a great deal of interest in the schools. Our own school has taken upon itself the task of improving .he English of the community. Fosters were placed in the shop windows to remind us of our faulty diction, and a ‘ Better English” entertainment was given in the High School assembly. January 11th. This entertainment consisted ot two short plays which were given under the direction of Miss Wade. The first—given by a Sophomore English class—was a modern version of the mythological story ‘Fandom's Box.” Th s play was secured from Prof. H. G. Paul of the Department of Er gl.sh a. the University of Illinois. It was written by Miss Nila Banton Smith, and published by the Illinois Association of Teachers of English. The following is a short synopsis of the play: “Pandora (Phyllis Ncrdgren) receives a strangely carved box from Epimelheus (Howard Hill) but is cautioned not to open it. However, overcome by curiosity to discover what it contained, Pandora unloosens the cord with which the hex is tied, and gazes eagerly into it. But instead of disclosing a beautiful gift, a great many imps rush out. representing such menaces as “Harsh Voice, “Small Vocabulary.” Indistinct Speech” and “Unpleasant Oral Reading.” These imps are followed by a multitude of slang and dialect “Pests. Pandora is thoroughly frightened at what she sees and quickly closes the lid. Soon a sweet voice within the box is Heard, but she hesitates before opening it again. When she does sc, Hope” (Frances Watts) appears. followed by the staunch soldiers, “Good Grammar,” ‘ Distinct Speech, and “Large Vocabulary,” and by their aid the imps and “pests ’ are overcome and forced to return to the box.” The second part of the entertainment was a comedy entitled, “Rosie Reforms the Rollisters.” This was presented by members of the Junior class. The sketch was especially enjoyable, because it was written by Emily Johnson, our Junior authoress. The characters were well chosen and the “Better English” theme was cleverly woven into the plot. Emily deserves much credit. The play, in addition to the entertainment it furnished, proved tc be highly effective in emphasizing the hateful character of incorrect English. It appears in full in another part of this issue. The cast «r characters was as follows: Rosie Hollister....................Kathryn Jane Dunnan Angeline Rollister.....................................Emily Johnson Mrs. Rollister.......................................Emeline Kollman Mr. Rollister................................Francis Henry Dick Van Replen..............................Kenneth Larson Jack Rollister...............................Sherman Olson Professor Doodle...............................Herbert Gee Aunt Priscilla Patterson...................Elizabeth Patton Katie G’Haligan.........................Elizabeth .VlcDevitt

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12 Paxton High School Reflector BETTER ENGLISH SENTIMENTS OBTAINED By Our “Inquiring Reporter.1' A Reflector reporter was assigned the special duty of calling upon a few representative citizens of Paxton and asking them for an expression ot opinion concerning the value of our “Better English” campaign in the schools. The following are some of the replies received by the inquiring Reporter”: O. H. WYLIE—ATTORNEY AT LAW Better English—A motto or slogan that should appeal alike to young and old, student and scholar, business man, and those of the professions. Every one should be interested. As these present times in the commercial and business world differ from the prosperity of the years that are past, so do the custom, manners and language of the present differ from the past. The prevalence of slang is but a sign of the times. Our Puritan ancestors, with their old fashioned elegance of custom and manners, would be shocked with the up-to-date progressiveness of young America. The Stately Minuet is supplanted by the Toddle and Fox Trot. Instead of the Sabbath Worship, is the Sunday Baseball. The Moving Picture has usurped the place of Art and the legitimate drama. The Courtesy and Chivalry of the past are los,. by the entrance of the fair sex into business and professional competition. It is our duty to take an inventory and note wherein deficient. Compare the present efficiency with past accomplishment. The elegant diction and better English of Washington Irving, Oliver Wendell Holmes, James Fen-nimore Cooper, Bulwer Lytton, Charles Dickens, Sir Walter Scott, and Victor Hugo are often times pushed aside for the light trashy novels of the present day. It is a hopeful sign that the youth of our schools are pushing the propaganda of “Better English.” The High School and Grades of today are the well educated, bright, up-to-date citizens of tomorrow. The Youth are the hope of our country—and in their hands, if enthusiastic tor Better English, rests the safety of the future success and universal use of Correct Speech. REV. W. ROY COLUMBUS—PASTOR CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH Language is the means of expression. Good language indicates good thinking. So when we are endeavoring to use “Good English.” at the same time we seek to show good thinking. While the English language has not the art of the Hebrew nor the verb of the Greek, its mood, tense and case are adequate to good expression. Slang is only a weak substitute of studied expression, and profanity a disgusting exchange for argument. A mind well trained, and a will applied, are the parents of “Good English” and clear expression. S. LUDLOW—COUNTY JUDGE Many of the things that we have and enjoy every day are never appreciated Our lovely English language is one of them, and is a heritage that