Reading Memorial High School - Pioneer Yearbook (Reading, MA)

Page 30 text:

ASSEMBLIES The first assembly in September was a panel dis¬ cussion on “The Press and World Affairs,” with Mr. Louis Lyons, feature writer for the Boston Globe, as guest chairman. Mr. Lyons very ably answered the questions directed to him by the students. He discussed the duties of a feature writer, compared the propaganda of the last war to that of today’s, and touched upon the pros and cons of governmental control of the press, party politics, and other phases of newspaper work. The hour went quickly, as it always does when we have as interesting a speaker as Mr. Lyons. Our most important assembly occurred in October, when Dr. Grover, our new superintendent, was presented to the student body. From his remark about the Quaker seating arrangement in our assembly to his last words, he held the attention of everyone. Dr. Grover stressed the fact that we as members of a democracy must be taught to think for ourselves. He pointed out that we owe three loyalties—to our homes, our town, and our nation—and that youth should extend itself to further loyalties. In conclusion, Dr. Grover urged us to concentrate on our habits, which will enable us to be more competent in years to come. The radius of our circle of knowledge must be ever expanding. On October 13, the seniors and juniors attended the third assembly, which was a travelogue, “Wheels Over Africa,” shown by Carlton R. Thresher. The pic¬ ture revealed many important stopping places along the trek, among them being the inside of a sheik’s strong¬ hold! We were all equally entranced by the sight of an egg being fried on a stone. Our first November assembly was easily one of the most delightful to date. Mr. John Hines, a war veteran whose acting career was interrupted by his participation in the fracas of 1917, brought to life before the en¬ tranced audience the story of Ichabod Crane and the headless horseman. With only the bare R. H. S. stage for a setting, Mr. Hines created a genuine “theatre” at¬ mosphere. We were reluctant to let him depart and were well rewarded for our applause by his very funny pantomine of the little girl and the fly. The hall was filled to capacity on November 22 for the showing of a film entitled “The River.” Here we saw the part that the mighty Mississippi has played in the growth of our nation. In its lengthy career, the Mississippi has been both a menace and a blessing to America. We are indebted to the Reading Junior Hi jh School for enabling us to see a very thrilling and out¬ standing film. On November 24 we were privileged to hear Mrs. Adele Hors Lee, from the Bishop Lee school in Boston, give a very interesting talk on “Theatrical Arts.” Mrs. Lee mentioned the opportunities open for anyone in¬ terested in the theatre. She read two scenes from “Key Largo”, a recent play concerning the loyalists fighting in Spain. She also very effectively interpreted two scenes from “Abraham Lincoln.” The assembly re¬ gretted having her leave and many of us lingered to

Page 29 text:

CHRISTMAS 19 3 9 A NOCTURNAL LUCUBRATION All through our lives we need our time to do The things that count, those which add to the score That we present when we claim our just due For work we’ve done. We need that time and more. But there are some of us who’ve neither mind, Nor thoughts, desires, nor energy to lend Effort to worth-while chores, can they but find Some trifling game at which their days to spend. Those men whose labors made some useful thing Had little time to waste. Their hands and brains Were used in needful work, that they might bring To all mankind some profit from their pains. But those who sit up nights with words that rhyme Accomplish naught; they only waste their time. Franklin Hodges WINTER When fields at night Are shiny white From drifts of snow The wind did blow, ’Tis then I love The stars above— Shining there Through crisp, cold air. They seem so near, Now winter’s here. The friendly moon O’er snowy dune Just seems to tell That all is well. Russell Coombs WE GATHER TOGETHER Listen, friends, and I will tell A tale mayhap you’ve heard. If you were there you know it well; If not, please take my word. It happened in Hist’ry class Of period number four. The disturbance was so great It shook the very floor. Speech was made both pro and con On the bill of Franklin D. The subject of that hill was on U. S. Neutrality. The room was calm and very still When Mr. Dixon asked: “Mr. Chairman, if you will. Let’s hear now from the class. Still the calm and silence reigned: The students sat in thought— Right to speak had been ordained Yet there was said hut naught. Then Horace Jones arose and spoke; Gil Camp did not agree. Now on us the storm had broke Was this neutrality? Someone in the back proposed Our country go to war. With flushed face E. Comey rose And stood upon the floor. Loud she cried with voice pitched high; If we must go to war, She wished to know the reason why, And then she said some more. When she stopped, I said my say And then sat quickly down; For who was I to block the way Of shouts that flew around? And thus for half an hour or more The noise continued on, And students bellowed as before Until their speech was gone. Then the chairman left his seat; Sir Dixon voiceless stood As a symbol of defeat, For nothing else he could. At length there came a wondrous thing; The class moved o er the floor. They had heard the bell’s clear ring; All rushed now to the door. To the floor George Whelp ley fell; George True had pushed him down. I saw that it would not be well For me to stick around. To get beneath the desk 1 tried; Norm Putnam, he was there. The one crawling at my side Was David St. Hilaire. We struggled on, I and Dave, Beneath the milling throng; Our object was ourselves to save From being trampled on. From the room the class was gone And quiet spread o’er the scene. Like the still of early dawn Silence reigned supreme. To my feet Dave lifted me. And Norman helped me too; Now toward the door staggered we— We got there and passed through. If the class of history Of period number four Had to guard neutrality, I think we’d go to war! Gregg C. Brewer Continued on page 38 T uenty-three

Page 31 text:

CHRISTMAS 19 3 9 hear her helpful answers during the question period that she granted us. On November 29 noontime brought about the end of school and the beginning of the Thanksgiving holi¬ day. An appropriate assembly was held and we were reminded of what we have to be thankful for today. Richard Lewis and Carleton Adams represented us on the platforms, and that well known trio—Evelyn Comey, Alma Mansfield, and Vivian Hook—entertained us with song. By now, you have enjoyed several other interesting and varied assemblies. At least, as the Pioneer goes to press, there are planned for the month of December a film entitled “The Symphony Orchestra’’, a performance by Bruce, the Magician, a talk on “The Work of a Sec¬ retary” by Mrs. Thurber, and our annual Christmas as¬ sembly. We know that it is safe to say at this time that they all proved worth while. Erdine Farwell THE TIME TO START IS NOW! In most of the higher class schools in this great country, there are student governing bodies of one sort or another. Reading High is typical of one of the high¬ er types of high schools in Massachusetts. As most of the student body and faculty know, we have in our school this year an organization known as the Student Affairs Committee. The members of the committee were chosen so as to represent thoroughly the different factions of the school. The committee is comprised of the leaders of various school activities: captains of athletic teams, class officers, leaders of organizations like the Hi-Y and the Service Squad, editor of the Pioneer, and last, but not least, the homeroom repre¬ sentatives, who have one vote and who inform the home¬ rooms of what is being done by the committee. We are banded together to work as one unit for solving the problems which are always arising in mat¬ ters involving scholarship, athletic competition, civics, and sportsmanship. If we in the council can make a favorable start towards the solution of these vital prob¬ lems, then we believe that a great part of the task of improving our school will be accomplished. But we can function only with the complete co-operation 6f the student body. We must have that co-operation. Will you give it to us? If you do, we can promise you a bet¬ ter student government than ever before, and also one that will accomplish something for our school. We were not chosen for the committee by any elaborate elections. We were merely selected, as leaders of school activities, to represent you—the student body. It is our duty to carry out fully what is expected of us as mem¬ bers of the committee and also to uphold the standards of Reading High. A student governing organization is a great thin 2 . On our committee we have a very capable and ambitious group of students and a very fine adviser. Mr..Spencer, all ojLwhom take a great interest in school affairs. W • are not politicians; we simply are a body of students all seeking a common goal; mainly, the betterment of our school. We are fervently trying to get the ball rolling. If you can help us give it enough additional push, it is our expressed belief that in future years Reading High School will have a Student Affairs Committee that will really stand for something in school affairs. Irving Holcomb THE HI-Y CLUB “To create, maintain and extend throughout the school and community, high standards of Christian character.” That is the purpose of Hi-Y, its officers, and members. The club has this year the following hardworking set of leaders: Sherman Poland, vice-presi¬ dent and chairman of the program committee; “Dick” Fellows, secretary; “Ray Hutchinson, treasurer; and Tom Connelly, president. We hope this year to pep up Hi-Y socially and scholastically and to give its mem¬ bers some interesting and beneficial programs. We really believe that 1940 will prove a very eventful year for Hi-Y. The season did not begin until quite late in the year and the first meeting was held in the school library on October 5. Plans were made for the future and a program committee was appointed for the remainder of the year. We felt fortunate in obtaining as the guest speaker Mr. Orville Poland, Chairman of the Civil Lib¬ erties Committee of Boston. Mr. Poland gave a very clever talk on the functions and some of the odd experi¬ ences of that committee. On October 20, we met for the second time and this meeting was a regretful one, for we said “goodby to Mr. Pope, who resigned as our advisor. Mr. Pope has been Hi-Y advisor and an active member of the club for four years, and under his guidance our club en¬ joyed a fine position in the State League and in the community. We were genuinely sorry to lose his services, and we wish him the best of luck. On the same night we welcomed Mr. Spencer, the popular young Latin teacher, who very kindly accepted the hard and irksome job of advisor when that position was offered him. The Hi-Y club feels that it has been very fortunate in ob¬ taining his aid, and we hope he enjoys his work with us. On November 2, we had for our guest speaker Dr. Grover, Superintendent of Reading Schools. His talk was on “The Problems of Youth and stimulated one of the best discussions that the club has enjoyed in a long time. Many of the difficult problems of the modern youth were brought out and discussed. Later in the evening we selected twenty-one new candidates for mem¬ bership. November 16, that was the night! At that time we initiated into our cozy circle the selected twenty-one. We might add that the boys took their medicine, their spankings, and other such punishment like troopers. Cheer up, fellows, you’ll have your turn at walloping and frightening 1940’s crop. After “the works were administered by those subtle brains who originated all Tuenty-fiv