South Paris High School - Chronicle Yearbook (South Paris, ME)

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THE CHRONICLE 27 ies hard and puts all he can into it, he will gain in the end although he may be the lowest ranking member of his class. This was only one of our many dis- cussions on how this motto could apply to life. The remainder of my visit was full of fun and excitement, and I soon found myself at the station saying good- bye and thanking them for a wonderful time. Just before I left, Bobby's father said, I have given your school motto much thought, and I have decided to have a plaque made for my oliice bearing the motto, Not Whether We Win But How We Play. M. Turner, '53 . OUTSIDE ACTIVITIES The problem of pupils being excused from classes to participate in outside activities has been a subject of discus- sion at Paris High School for some time. I think that all extra activities should be held outside of class time. A stud- ent should not engage in more activities than he can schedule without missing class work. When time is continually taken from classes, information is lost by the pupil, and the teacher's time is wasted. When a test is given, the pupil may receive a low mark because he missed important material. I believe that extra-curricular activities will soon become more important than scholar- ship in our school if this practice con- tinues. By having one session of school, I think this problem would be solved. During the afternoon all outside activi- ties could be carried on without taking class time. The students who do not participate would have these hours to do their studying. The rotating schedule might be another answer because an ac- tivity period could be worked in when necessary. As this school has worked under the rotating schedule before, I think it could be successfully carried through. What is the solution to this problem? I think that we should either schedule an activity period or insist that all ex- tra-curricular activities be carried on after school hours. E. McKeen, '53 - BASKETBALL A whistle blows, a ball is tossed into the air: there is a scramble for posses- sion, and another of America's hard- wood court games is underway. Bas- ketball is one of the most popular win- ter sports in the United States. It is an original American game which was formerly played with a rubber ball and a peach basket with the bottom pushed out. At that time there was no limit to the number of players on a team. The game was very rough because you did not have to bounce the ball before you could move, and there were very few rules. As the game gained popu- larity, more rules were made: the num- ber of players was reduced to seven: and the rubber ball was discarded for a leather one. After each basket the ref- eree would have a jump ball at center court. In those days twenty points a game were considered very high. As basketball started being played on a professional basis, it became necessary to do something to hinder the tall boys who merely had to stand under the bas- ket and have someone throw a ball to them above the reach of other players.

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-fU.lIll'lLf.lFli' N v A rs ., ef A 2 7 1 ' C N' gd Q , C3 S V 1 I d ', Q -S' 3 ' A :Quik 1' -4+ ,aff NOT WHETHER WE WIN: BUT a show, I reached into my coat pocket. HOW WE PLAY It seemed as though school would never end. The day seemed extra long. I wanted so much to get home early from school because I was going to visit friends in New York for the week's vacation and had never been there be- fore. The bell finally rang and school was dismissed. As I passed the book store, I stopped long enough to buy a school seal. I placed it in my pocket and hurried home. Hello, Mom, I called as I went through the door, is everything all all ready? Hello, she replied, yes, everything is ready and I will drive you to the sta- tion about five. Through the excitement I managed to eat a few bites and soon found myself saying good-byes and was on my way. On the third evening at my friend's home, after coming into the house from What should I find but my school seal! I hung up my coat and took the seal to show Bobby. He is about nine years' old and very curious. Showing him the seal, I explained it to him as best I could. He was much interested and suggested we show it to his Dad. Bobby's father took the seal and seemed to study it. Soon he spoke, It's not whether we win, but how we play. He paused and then continued, Tell me, what does that mean to you? Well, I replied, to me it means' that if you play the game fair and square, you will truly win in the end no matter what the score. Do you associate it with just sports? he asked. I hadn't given it much thought, I replied, but now that you mention it I believe it can apply to almost anything in life. For example, let's think of the student who has difficulty with his school work. If he does his best, stud-

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28 THE CHRONICLE That is why the ten-second lane was made. When the number of players was reduced to five, it became a high scoring game. The omission of the center jump after each basket made the game faster. Various offenses are used in basket- ball. One of them calls for three men outside, one man in the pivot and one man floating under the basket. The Paris High School team uses the fol- lowing offense: one man on the outside, called the playmakerg one man in the middle, called the pivot, one man un- derneath the basket, who is known as the float or sucker: and two wing men on the sides. The most effective defense is the man to man defense. Basketball has changed a lot since the days when peach baskets were used for hoops, but the game is as enjoyable to watch, play, or listen to as it will ever be. B. Snow '53 ilill- THE GIFT OF LIBERTY Few of us appreciate our most won- derful gifts. For example, consider the gift of liberty. How many people real- ize what it is and what it stands for? Men are fighting and dying for it ev- ery day. They are fighting for us, the people of the country, so that we may have and enjoy a free and peaceful way of life. We are fortunate indeed in having freedom of religion, press, and speech. Any day this could be changed, and later we would be sorry we had not taken advantage of these wonderful gifts. Any one of us is willing to live in this country and use the opportunities which are offered, but few of us are willing to take a little time for civil de- fense, Red Cross work or anything else that could aid our country during this crisis. The people of this country are too confident. True, we have won every major war we have fought, but one does not win every time. If we are to have a successful future, the people must work together for the preservation of the gift of liberty. G. Downing, '53 A BOY AND HIS DOG Great-grandfather, telling about the exciting times of his childhood to little nine year old Donnie, began this story: Well, Donnie, today I'll tell you how Shiner and I solved a mystery. When I was about your age, I had a puppy called Shiner. 0ne morning the dog and I went to the woods to play. My mother told us not to go because a man had escaped from a local asylum. Al- though we knew better, we went just the same. Toward noon, after about three hours of walking, we came upon an old shack. When I saw smoke com- ing out of the chimney, I was frightened, for this place hadn't been in use for years. Slowly Shiner and I sneaked to- ward the building. We peeked in the windows and saw a strange man who fitted the very description of the es- caped inmate, as he had a scar on the left side of his cheek and a crooked nose. Hastily, I searched through my pockets for paper and pencil and wrote a note. I then sent the dog home to mother with the note under his collar. After what seemed a long time, I saw mother and some policemen coming to- ward me. The escaped man was cap-