Roosevelt High School - Strenuous Life Yearbook (Seattle, WA)

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9 ao vd

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ROOSEVELT SPIRIT HAT a wonderful character the man Theodore Roose- velt had! What lofty ideals, what sterling honesty, what qualities of bravery! He, perhaps, more than any other, was loved, honored and respected the world over. And why? Because he possessed all those desirable qualities which make a real man. First, he was a sportsman in every sense of the word. He was square, clean and energetic. He be- lieved in fair play, hitting hard and never fouling. Even in dealing with the worst sort of a cheat, he always played fair, square and clean, and he always came out on top. He believed in fighting for the right, never allowing justice to be trampled upon. He was an idealist who made his ideals practical realities. At every point he mastered the difficult situations instead of allowing them to master him. He profited by his mistakes. Loyalty was one of his ideals—loyalty to his country and to the best that was in himself. He was stern, yet kind. He respected all, whether lowly or high, and in turn he was respected. He valued true friendship highly and he put unlimited trust in all who were his friends. He set his own high standards and lived up to them every day of his life. Never did he flinch from his duties, no matter how un- pleasant they might be; nor did he shirk responsibilities, but bravely shouldered them and determinedly carried them through to the finish. He was always ready and prepared to meet any situation he might be called upon to face. One of his rules was, “Be ready,” and he followed it to the letter. Having a contempt for weakness he made himself strong. His morals were iron-clad, and never once did he lower them. The culmination of all his ideals was his boundless faith in man and God. He was a trail blazer who pushed constantly forward, over- coming all obstacles, no matter how great; steadfastly upholding his high ideals of loyalty, faith, and courage; and setting a standard which all are proud to follow. The body of Roosevelt is buried but the Roosevelt Spirit still lives. That can never die, but will remain forever enthroned in the hearts of the American people. It is the inculcation of all those qualities which made Roosevelt, the man, respected, loved, feared and followed. That Roosevelt Spirit is the thing this school is so earnestly endeavor- ing to embody. It is the unseen force that results in fair play, clean sport and a determination to win within the school. It is what “puts things across” and causes loyalty, faith and a desire to progress. It is the thing which creates a bond of union within the school causing everyone to move in perfect accord with one another, upholding com- mon ideals and striving toward a common goal. As time goes on it is the sincere desire of this school to embody more and more perfectly that wonderful thing, ROOSEVELT SPIRIT. PAGE 5

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OUR BUILDING ROOSEVELT High School is conceded to be the finest high school build- ing on the Coast. It was under the course of construction for eighteen months and the total cost was $1,050,000. In its style and proportion it is a distinct departure in high school construction and is not only eminently well fitted for its purpose but is an example of marvelous artistry. Dignity is the one word that best characterizes this imposing structure. It is a massive square building of cream colored brick, trimmed with terra cotta. At one side there is an immense athletic field. There are five entrances, two on each side and one in front. Upon entering the front door you find yourself in a large foyer. Di- rectly off this foyer is the auditorium, which may be entered from all three floors. The balcony entrance is on the second floor and the gallery entrance on the third. It is furnished with opera chairs and accommodates fifteen hundred people. The mural decorations and lighting effects are examples of superb architectural achievement. Deep rose draperies add a pleasing color note to the general tone of gray. The acoustics are excel- lent. The auditorium contains an immense stage with property, wardrobe, and dressing rooms adjoining. Leading off the foyer, on the ground floor, are the halls which run around a court in the center of the building. These halls are eighty yards long, and there is a stairway situated at the end of each one. The classrooms are well lighted and contain the most modern equip- ment. There are thirty-three recitation rooms, six laboratories, five rooms for commercial and drawing subjects, two for dressmaking, two study halls, a specially designed music room, an oral expression room, and two art rooms, both of which contain window display cases. The library, on the second floor, is an architectural triumph. It is long, light, and beautifully decorated. It is simple and pleasing, and forms an ideal place for study. Adjoining the library is the large study hall, which contains a stage suitable for small entertainments. On the opposite side of the building are the girls’ and boys’ gymnasiums. They are large adjoining rooms and may be thrown together into one huge hall for social affairs. A large portion of the third floor hall is finished especially for an art gallery. The walls, which are made of soft wood, are covered with matting, making ideal display panels. The heating system in itself is a marvel. In the tunnel under the building there are twenty-seven miles of steam and water pipes and over fifteen hundred valves. The air for the building is taken in through screened openings on the roof, warmed, forced through a fine spray of water, and then circulated to the rooms. Roosevelt is undoubtedly a beautiful building, but it is not entirely the building which makes the school. It is the spirit of co-operation, of fair play, and the willingness “to do.” The students of Roosevelt have started this year with a new building and a new spirit, and they intend to live up to the best that is in them, in order that the name of Roosevelt may never be dishonored. p A G E 7