Polytechnic High School - Caerulea Yearbook (Long Beach, CA)

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CAERULEA '34 21 CHRONICLE Charles Francis Seymour S SIX o'clock approached, on March 10, 1933, the Girls' League friend- ship committee and its adviser hurried underneath the dome and through the columns, lot it was nearly dinner time. Then the automatic clock system clicked 5:55 p.m. Something snappedl Upon the very spot; where hurrying test had barely passed, with a maddening roar Poly's dome came hurtling down and lay a mass of tangled masonry. At that very mo- ment the Girls' l'L club and its two sponsors were sitting down to banquet in the sociai hall. They didn't stay to sit, rushing trom the building instead, plasterecovered but uninjured. In another minute or two the Science Building was in flames. ted unquenchabty by storerooms full of combustible chemicals. And Poly lay a ruin, all because Nature had taken eleven seconds to play a Chime of ten pins. Then for a fortnight. uncompromising guarcts stood in the way at all ap- proaches to the wrecked school. At tirst. even the teachers were not allowed to Cross the street. The registrar smtted quizzically and remarked that It was the first time anybcdy had ever been able to keep him 0111 Of his OfflCe. Fin, ally there came a day when the authorities cnndescended to permit some teachers, men only, to sign their lives away and to enter the tottering remains of dear old Poly, of course under the directicn Of a supposedly expert wreck? ing crew. Then the reputedly fragile femate instructors lined up on curbs, while vatiant pedagogs 0t sterner stuft Came and went, carrying to them prized personal possessions and the tools of teaching However, matters shortly be came somewhat ordered, As the third week at enforced vacation wore away, one day the oftice staff took seats behind an ottic'ml rope at the edge of the lawn; For two days long lines of waiting students receiVEd identification and the aforementioned courageous faculty males, assisted by caretakers, equip- ped with waste baskets and cards bearing the locker combinations, ran end- less errands and delivered tons Gt textbooks to wearied hut eager FBCiDiemS. for on the following Monday, school was to reopen. But where? At least we had an auditorium. No , said the inspectorst The walls have spread ever so tittle; the roof bolts have been sheared Off and the Whole top might cave in. if We should have another eleven seconds Well then. the bleachers. But, HNo. aqaint The braces had the jim-jams and the superstructure, the jitters. There was no place for us on the bleachers. So Burcham Field was pegged eff to represent moms. Consequently. when at nine o'clock on a bright April 3, the bugle sounded and a reassembled

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20 CAERULEA '34 James c. Penlwell, Viee-Frincipnli Miss .Evelynanfiand, Dean 5! elm; Frank 5. Reid, Rugulrar; Mlli Jana L. Fax, Counselor; Mlsa Nuille G. Haddack, Aulstam Cnunlelnr ADMINISTRATION yearsj the administrative officials have functioned as usual under the trying circumstances that have followed the earthquake. The lirst objective of Mr. Peniwell, Poly's viceAprincipal. is to assist Poly boys in solving their problems and to help them meet similar difficulties in the best and most prolitdble manner. He is desirious for no boy to think of his office as a piece where punishment is meted out but rather as a place where sympathetic advice is gladly given to any boy Wishing it. It is also his aim to lurther interest and participation in student government. This is manifested by the manner in which he performs the responsibilities of his position as ad- viser to the Commission and the Boys' League. Mr, Peniwell considers a profitable use of leisure time an essential to a well-munded life ol a student. Miss Loiland, the Dean 0! Girls, and her office encourage the girls 01 Poly High to see their own possibilities. MISS Lofland's position is not that of a dise ciplinerian or administrator at harsh justice to girls. who have been unable to meet diticult situations in the best way. It is rather that of an adviser who aids the girls in finding the best way over the difficulties of school life. Her offices and services are open. to all girls. Whether it is a problem of conduct or one of developing leadership she graciously assists the girls in solving their problems, Mise Letland's services are invaluable to the girls of Poly High because of her sympathetic and conetructive attitude. In capacity 01 Registrar, Mr. Reid's duties are varied. Registration is under his able direction and supervision. Credits essential tor graduation and college entrance can be checked up with Mr. Reid. Any student wishA ing advice concerning these requirements can obtain it in the Registrar's office. In addition to these tunctions pupil personnel records are accurately kept. These are avaiable to students during their high school days and at any time after graduation, Mr. Reid's position also includes the discharge of all the extraneous business of the school. He acts as Comptroller of the student body funds and financial adviser oi many student activities. The counselorsl Miss Fox and Miss Haddock, are ever watchful for chances to help the young people of Poly High take advantage of their opportunities for growing up, in body, in mind! and in personality. Not only should the health of boys and girls be fostered and their knowedge broadened, but they should leave their childishness behind and become more manly and more womanly with each passing semester. UNDER the leadership oi Mr. David Buncham, principal of Poly for many

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CAEBULEA '34 A View 1mm the Ble achers Poly had stood at attention on the big oval, class groups found themselves staked out, With a folding chair for the teacher and. for the studentsl time and space. Some teachers had brought card tables. and some had beach umbrele last One had a galvanized can to build a fire in, a charcoal burner, as it were. As for the eager students, they who could sat on the turf and others stood up The sun turned even the least industrious into fervent and ardent seekers for truth or shade. But for the courtesy of the Texaco broadcasting wagon, boom- ing out the encouraging voice of Daddy Burcham. that that day would have been a mad scramble. Instead, it was only a happy riot ot successive ten, minute periods. joy to stucients, modified pandemonium to instructorst The otftces of this open-air, antt-tuherculosis school Were first at the part- time sahool, then in the rear end at the auditorium, then in a tent, and finally in the girls' outdoor gym. This building acquired canvas waltsl lights, heat, and telephones. The library pursued a ditterent and somewhat more individual evolution. After being opened beneath the weeping partrtime school pepper tree, it moved to the south tunnel under the bleachers, then to the north tunnel, and tmally into the wide open spaces of the outdoor gym. there to await the slow routine of Franklin D's RFCs. Who ultimately set in place some shelves and a part of the books. Meanwhile, by a similarly devious advance. the discipd linary ottictals: Vice-Prtncipal. Dean of Girls, attendance clerks, and school nurse. alter gallivcmttng tor a time about the bleachers gates and tunnels, soon tound asylum in the schoot-owned cottage down at the deadaend of Myrtle Avenue There they were costly ensconced and snugly tit is even rumored smuqut content. But there were no cosy cottages tor classes and teachers, Tent-houses, it is true were promised and contracted for, but the ten-day guarantee of com- pletion was destined to lengthen into more than twenty. 1n the interval every- body scrambled tor planks and boxes. City parks furnished picnic tables Shortly, as it by some evil magic. distorted skeleton trames appeared on gride