Polytechnic High School - Polytechnic Student Yearbook (Los Angeles, CA)

Page 27 text:

S ' 2.9 ASSOCIATED STUDENT BODY ORGANIZATION Marjorie Gitelson Mary Young Vice-President Secretary Lee Coats Boys ' Self Government Sam Shabo Board of Finance Harry Brosnan President Pierce Smith Ionian Society Alice McElheney Helen Schouboe Maurice Nemoy Mr. Brockhouse Adviser Maxine Roberts Girls ' Self Govt. Jack Luhring Scholarship Society Frank Doig Girls ' League Publications Board of Publicity Boys ' League

Page 26 text:

Wi9 ASSOCIATED STUDENT BODY ORGANIZATION Marie Kalionzes Lillian Vezzetti Vice-President Secretary Ray Morgan Boys ' Self Government Carl Estep Ionian Society Marjorie Gitelson Elsie Corbett Girls ' League Publications n Sam Shabo Mrs. Snyder Board of Finance Adviser Charles Burr AMES E. Smith Scholarship Society President Patricia Ryons Girls ' Self Govt. Sanford Greenlaw Harry Brosnan Board of Publicity Boys ' League

Page 28 text:

Jlssociated Student Body Organi atiofL A. S. B. O. Twenty-six years ago Mr. Francis, Polytechnic ' s first principal, announced a special facultv meeting to the fifteen men and women who comprised the teaching force of the new high school. Little did they dream what things were to come out of that eventful hour! He went to the point at once. What would you think of proposing to the boys of our student body the idea of self-government? Doubt was manifest on everv side. If the faculty were unable to maintain order, how could the serious problem of discipline be successfully handled by mere boys? However, after much discussion, Mr. Francis laid his plan before the faculty, and it received a favorable though hesitating vote of acceptance. The following day the boys were called together. When the purpose of the meeting was announced, they were as astonished as the teachers had been. For over an hour they argued pro and con, until the question was finally voted on, and passed. This was the beginning of Polytechnic ' s keystone organization which has become nationallv and internationally known. It did not grow in a day, but it has grown through the years into the reality of Mr. Francis ' dream,— self-government. The A. S. B. O., which is built on this essential principle of self-government, is composed of the student body president, vice-president, secretary, and the presidents of the nine primary organizations, which are as follows: the Boys ' and the Girls ' Self Government: the Boys ' and the Girls ' Leagues, the Scholarship Society, Board of Publicity, Board of Finance, Ionian Society, and Publications. The duty of the first organization is to provide a maximum of discipline with a minimum of restraint, while the Leagues sponsor friendship and athletics. During the past year they have entertained the children of the California Street School, whom they adopted and pledged part suppport. They have also furnished entertainment for certain groups of disabled soldiers, launched a better speech campaign, promoted athletic contests, and provided fun with aud calls, cake sales, and many jolly frolics. The Scholarship Society has honored the students, and enabled deserving ones to receive college scholarships. Chapter 57 was a very successful host to the hundreds of state delegates who attended the last C.S.F. convention which was held at Polytechnic. Notable among Ionian achievements stand the lovely Christmas program and the spring semester ' s contribution, the Festival of Nations. The presidents of these groups, together with the three student body officers men- tioned and the two faculty advisers, meet every other Thursday to discuss and formu- late plans, bring up problems, and, in general, direct student body affairs. Upon entering Polytechnic, one is impressed with the atmosphere pervading the halls. It is not silence, but the quiet air of power that is found in places of business conducted on the self-government principle. Mr. Francis organized self-government, but to another goes the honor of keeping faith with it, working for it, expanding it to its present importance, where it includes not only one organization, but where it has become the dominating spirit of a great school. To this man goes the honor of raising it from an experiment in a comparatively small institution to a successful actuality in a large one— Mr. Willis A. Dunn. 420]H-