Somerville High School - Radiator Yearbook (Somerville, MA)

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SOMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL RADIATOR 5 The Radiator staff extends a hearty welcome to the class of 1915. Freshmen, your .first year will be enjoyable, in- teresting, and trying. We say to you: Start well! and it means a great deal. It is the secret of a successful high school course; and we have neither the intent nor the desire to sermonize when we urge you to be careful about the formation of your habits with reference to school matters. Realize now that you must either succeed or fail. You will fail if you start in with the one idea of having a good time: but succeed you must if you take high school as it is meant to be taken. Then, we assure you, much pleasure will offer itself. In this connection we wish to call your attention to the Letters to a Freshman. beginning in this number. They are written by one who knows, and are well worthy of your serious consideration. . •» » The pressing and rapidly increasing need of much greater High School accommodations is be- coming more and more apparent. In 1895 the English High School building, which now constitutes the West wing, was con- ceded to be crowded. The number of the English High School students at that time was (500—just equal to this year's Freshman class. Think of what the situation will be in a few short years if pupils continue (and they will) to enter High School in Somerville 600 or more at a time! v . The football season is now in full sway, and, as in the past, Somerville High School is being heard of to a considerable extent. Owing to the team’s late start, it is rather early to make any predictions, but the work of the squad up to this time is of the sort that usually brings results. In consideration of the remarkably splendid showing that Somerville High School has made in football for a number of years, it is difficult to understand why there should be any need of an appeal to the students or alumni in order to bring out a fair amount of really good and effective cheering. Yet the situation is such that we feel called upon to make just such a plea. Nobody can doubt that the student body is suf- ficiently interested—even enthusiastic. Well they may be. For where is there another school that can vie with ours in extolling its athletic achieve- ments? But. strange and sad to say, neither the interest nor the enthusiasm produces the organ- ized cheering that we so sadly need. At the kimlge games the cheering is generally good, and loud enough to be heard. But what is it in proportion to what it might be, and ought to be. considering the vast army of our students and alumni who attend these Thanksgiving Day games? And where has been the organized cheering at the battles against our newer but none the less worthy foe—Waltham? What the other brave nations of the athletic world must think of us who, as a race, have so degenerated in our ath- letic warfare, and have become so tender-hearted to our foes, that there remains not in us a yell of encouragement to our own warriors! Students and alumni of the Somerville High School, this situation has already existed too long. What, then, are you going to do about it? Allow it to continue? Don't! There is a rentedv for it. Everyone has long felt that there is need of a plan bv which there should be regular cheers and songs, and official cheer-leaders. Now Mr. Avery has expressed his intention to aid in furthering this plan, and has invited co-operation. See to it. then, undergraduates and alumni, and you. officers of the Athletic Association, that this plan is car- ried out—WELL. And then let each one of us cheer, cheer. CHEER! Don't cheer during one game in a year—nor two. Cheer ALWAYS, LOUDLY, and TOGETHER. Remember the Waltham game next Saturday: also the Rindge game on Thanksgiving Day. Get vour tickets for the cheering section. r. The attention of our readers is called to the communication by Superintendent Clark which appears in this month’s Letter Box. Permit us to say right here that we consider that the Letter Box” can be made one of the most valuable and interesting departments of the Radiator. It offers to students an avenue for

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4 SOMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL RADIATOR The members of the Radiator staff of 11)11- 1912 make their official editorial debut with min- gled feelings of pleasure and misgiving. Because of the high standard set by our predecessors, we feel that, in assuming the burdens of the previous staff, we must each and all do our very best. An editorial in the June issue referred to the new staff in a highly complimentary way. We thank the past management for this and other courtesies received. But we do not yet feel the confidence in ourselves which they have expressed in us. Realizing as we do how very much is expected of the Radiator, it is our strong desire and it will be our earnest effort to produce a paper which will please and interest a set of intelligent but critical and widely different readers, and which may also be of some literary value. Our greatest assistance will be received from you, schoolmates. It is essential that we have your attention to our efforts, your indulgence for our mistakes, and your support, both literary and financial. The purpose of the Radiator is to cul- tivate a high literary spirit among the students and to exercise them in critical and creative com- position. Let it not be mistakenly thought that the Radiator lives solely or even largely for the amusement or anxiety of the members of the staff, or that theirs is anything like a monopolistic spirit. The Radiator is an ever-open door of opportu- nity through which the students may transmit the results of their literary efforts. We trust, then, that the students will favorably accept this solici- tation, and we sincerely hope that they will be im- bued with a more active spirit, which will result in frequent contributions representative of a large number of students. The spirit in which this editorial is written is one of spur rather than of complaint. v k v, V, ■Unites Me Stant) It would seem that it is not necessary to say a great deal on the subject of the new plan of con- ducting the Somerville High School. School has already been in operation over a month, and everything seems to be settled and thoroughly or- ganized. This fact, together with the clear and interesting exposition by Mr. Clark in this month's “Letter Box.” leaves almost nothing to be said. However, this point cannot be too strongly brought out: That neither of the schools has swallowed up the other, but that both go to make up a third and entirely new organization. Some of us may have had opinions at variance with those of the framers of the new plan, but surely we shall agree that the change was made in an aim for the better. Several important ad- vantages have already presented themselves. It remains only for the pupils to realize that the suc- cess of the plan from their standpoint depends upon themselves. Let each contribute his share to the process of development, and to make the surroundings pleasant. Mr. Avery struck the keynote when in the Seniors first period he said: “Loyalty, loyalty to the school.” Loyalty, then, let it be,—loyalty to the NEW SCHOOL.

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6 SOMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL RADIATOR their written opinions on matters of school inter- est, an opportunity of placing their ideas before their fellow students, that they may read and re- flect thereon. To the alumnus it affords an op- portunity of communication with the student body. The teacher, too, must have some point which he wishes to make clear to the parents of his pupils, or vice versa. In short, we are glad to receive communications upon any subject of school or local interest. The writer's name will be kept back upon request. Mr. Clark’s interest in the Radiator, shown by this kindly contribution, is deeply appreciated by the management. We feel that the students at large will also appreciate this interest. r » n 9, We feel sure that our readers will welcome an article from the pen of the Radiator's old friend. Mr. Baxter, and we appreciate his kindness in contributing. It is only a new instance of the great and friendly interest in the Radiator which he has always shown. We are proud to number among our contributors this great good man. The Radiator joins in expressing the sentiment that has been voiced everywhere—that of regret at his absence and of best wishes for felicity in his future career. 9t ► r The Debating Club has not been organized yet this year, but when it is let it be with much enthu- siasm. With the united forces of the combined school there should be a large number of inter- debaters. The club has made a splendid record in the past, and we must not fall short of past achievements. A challenge has already been re- ceived from the Brookline High School which should arouse us to prompt action. Athletic interests in the High School have met with a great loss in the resignation of Mr. Harry L. Jones as treasurer and faculty manager. Mr. Jones has achieved a great deal under trying con- ditions, and sometimes in the face of opposition. He has sacrificed his own personal comfort and interest for the good of high school athletics, r. r. r r, The Radiator wishes to make clear its position with regard to the School Notes department of this number. Instead of being worked out, as in the past, by class editors elected by the various classes, this department has been placed for one month in the hands of a board composed of las: year’s class editors and their assistants. This has been done at the request of the headmaster for a reason which we shall endeavor to explain. Considering the circumstances growing out of the recent uniting of what was two schools. Mr. A very has deemed it beneficial to the school that no class elections be held so early in the year, hollowing out this idea, he requested that last year’s class representatives be appointed to look after the School Notes in the first number. It is our intention to make provision for the election of class editors by the classes in time for the November Radiator. » »• The High School, in common with the city at large, suffers an irreparable loss in the death of Mr. S. Newton Cutler. I'or many years as mem- ber of the School Board he was the faithful guar- dian of our interests, and throughout his life lie has been the generous helper of the school, the personal friend of each instructor, and the one whose optimistic good will followed each member of the classes which yearly go forth from our midst. Mr. Cutler was graduated from Somerville High school in 1873, from Harvard College in IS?L attaining honors in English and membership in the Phi Beta Kappa Society. Throughout a busy and successful career he still found time to cultivate his marked intellectual tastes. In many of the great bookstores of Boston in a quiet corner a chair was kept “for Mr. Cutler. where, when a leisure half-hour served, the latest and choicest books were brought for his inspec- tion. to the enrichment not only of his own exten- sive library, but that of our school and the private libraries of many of his friends. His genial smile, his courteous bearing, the up- lift which followed even a momentary greeting from the cultured Christian gentleman will be greatly missed, yet his inlluencc cannot cease among us. nor his name be forgotten. By his many benefactions in the past and by his last generous bequest, through all the future, as in the past, one of the strongest working factors of the school will continue to owe much to Mr. S. Newton Cutler. We could fain wish the High School many friends like him. We are thankful to have had and to have come under the influence of one such as he was.