Siskiyou Union High School - White and Gold Yearbook (Weed, CA)

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THE SCHOOLS OF TODAY CSecond Place Essayh Suppose a modern Rip Van Winkle were to awaken today? What do you think his reac- tions would be to live in our Twentieth Century? What would he think of the great ocean liners and airplanes, of television and telephones, of our highly developed government and of high powered atomic bombs? What about automo- biles, motion pictures, and the million other things that we take for granted but which were never even dreamed of in his day and age? Surely he would be amazed, to say the least, and believe that he had awakened in a truly wonderful age. Yet, much as he would be surprised with all these inventions, it would probably be no greater than his astonishment if he visited a really modern school. In Rip Van Winkle's age, the subiects were literally, Reading, 'Riting, and 'Rithmetic. And would it surprise you to know that very often they were taught by the aid of a hickory stick? It was a school that was not liked by the maiority, but only by a few, and usually only a few benefited by it. One thing that has greatly improved our schools is the discovery that children's minds are different, that all boys and girls do not think the same. When Rip Van Winkle went to school, his teachers believed that children, gen- erally, had the same reasoning and intelligence, and what was good enough for one was good enough for all. Consequently they all received the same lessons. And if one pupil was slow in algebra, or could not spell too well, instead of receiving special aid from the teacher, he was usually iust thought of as dumb and put at the bottom of the class or made to stand in the corner while the others recited. The discovery that the minds of individuals are different is so commonly accepted now that it takes something out of the ordinary to remind us of its values. But think, sometime, how with special care, the dumb have been taught to speak, the deaf to understand with their eyes, the blind to have learned to read and the poor student can lead his class where the material suits his ability. These accomplishments, when you stop to think of them, are much more valuable than powerful airplanes, telephones, or television. Another great discovery that happened while Rip Van Winkle slept was the finding out that as well as different kinds of boys and girls there are also different kinds of education. In Mr. Van Winkle's little red schoolhouse the same studies a boy's grandfather had learned were taught to him by very much the same method. A boy's mind would be a thousand miles away, while the teacher lectured drearily on. Wouldn't you be amazed if you were Rip Van Winkle to see the varied program on a normal schooI's curriculum? There are different courses that prepare you for a useful later life in whichever field you want, besides the many clubs and other activities you can participate in. And wouldn't you like to see Rip Van Winkle when he discovered the modern shops, gyms, band buildings, or the home-economics room, where girls may prepare for a future home of their own? You can bet by this time old Rip would be speechless with surprise and no doubt completely sold on modern education. We have reviewed two great discoveries, but the third, I imagine, would have astounded Rip Van Winkle most of all. For he would find LITERARY SECTION

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have an obstacle to overcome whether it be the loss of a leg or something not easily seen by others. I know now that it isn't the obstacle that matters-it's the way we overcome it that counts. l've been so busy with self-pity I haven't given myself nor anyone else a chance. Look at her- she didn't have to, but now she's bringing hap- piness to others with her playing. There's a way for me too, and the first thing to do about it is go see Linda . . . to tell her I'm still hers, if she wants me. Now I feel like the same person at heart. And if she doesn't want me, well, there are a lot of other things to do, He put the program, which had become so precious to him, in his pocket and got up and walked out. He had a smile on his face and the people he passed smiled with him. As he walked on in the brisk air he no longer felt afraid or sorry. The way to Linda's house was lust as he remembered. I'Il tell her about tonight, he thought. She'll understand. She always has. He was so eager he didn't feel the program as it slipped from his pocket. The old man painfully stooped over to pick up the piece of paper. Hey, young feller, you dropped something! Hey, you! But the young man didn't hear and continued his fast, yet lop- sided pace. Heh, wonder what it is, the old man pondered. Mebe it has his name on it. Disappointedly he looked a g a i n. Ah, it's nothing but a concert program. Probably doesn't mean nothin' to him so I iest won't bother to track him. He threw down the program. Slowly the mud oozed over the words, Piano Concert, by Miss Jean Rockwell, blind artist. BEVERLY PETERSON McCloud High School T H E 0 C E A N CFirst Place Poeml The ocean wave With icy blue fingers Reaches out to clutch A lone piece of driftwood Floating out to sea. An undercurrent Rushes toward the wave Like the north and south winds Meeting head on In a duel to the finish. It charges the wave With renewed spirit, White foam flies up Filling the air with the Brilliance of newly fallen snow. Now, all is calm on the sea. A sea gull glides gracefully Over the water, Looking for its dinner. He eats his fill and rests. The tide rolls in, It grows dark and the air cools. The moon shines brightly Over the horizon And everything is quiet. SUSAN SKIDMORE, '56 Tulelake High School

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that if he visited one of our schools, the teachers are not solely interested in filling your mind, but would also like to lead your heart. A modern Teacher takes more pride in turning out of high school a fine, healthy, noble boy, than one who was extra intelligent, but had not learned the ways of becoming a good, well-liked citizen. These three discoveries are the best that man has made. We could do without the ocean liners, and we could go back to sailing vessels. We could give up the streamliners and auto- mobiles and turn back to the horse and buggy. SUS KSecond Jim Baines crept furtively through the hall of the big old house. He stopped suddenly as someone in the bedroom rolled heavily in bed. Flattening himself against the wall, he waited expectantly until he heard the deep snore of a man enioying the last few minutes of a good night's sleep. Then moving quickly and quietly through the heavily carpeted hall, he made his way to the bathroom. He set down the little box of equip- ment he carried and flipped on the light. Turning, he quickly closed the door so that no light could get out. As he came back to the mirror he looked at his image and rubbed his chin reflec- tively. Then he quickly dropped his hand. He was getting the habit of rubbing his chin and he couldn't afford any habits in this business. Airplanes and telephones could disappear, and man could walk instead of ride. But once given a glimpse of modern education, men would find it would be almost impossible to return to long- ago methods. Yet all schools are not so good as they could be. Some are still almost primitive. But through modern education man will build up a store of common knowledge that will lead to better citi- zenship and better understanding. HARRIET KOCH, '55 Weed High School P E N s E Place Storyl Going to the medicine cabinet, he searched carefully through the bottles there, but appar- ently he didn't find the bottle for which he was searching. Returning again to the wash basin, he opened the box and removed the equipment he would need for this job and then turned on the faucet very quietly. He would have to hurry as the family would be getting up soon. Moving quickly but not very skillfully, he started the job. At last he was finished and now how he wished he had found the bottle of lotion for which he had been searching! lt would have helped to cover up those two nicks in his cheek which had come from his first shave. BOB ANDERSON '55 Weed High School THE JUDGES LITERARY COMPETITION: FRONTISPIECE ART COMPETITION: DR. ARTHUR KREISMAN Associate Professor of English H MRS. CHARLEEN K. EDWARDS MR- DONALD BOYD MR' WILLIAM T' DAWKINS Director, Art Department MR. ROBERT L. EDWARDS RSTSTA gifs? Instructors in English e mg' al Orme SOUTHERN OREGON COLLEGE OF EDUCATION Ashland, Oregon LITERARY SECTION