St Anthony High School - Tattler Yearbook (St Anthony, ID)

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DEBATING Debating ' has been the most successful activity the St. A. H. S. has ever partici- pated in. For several years our school has held the championship, either of Idaho or the division championship of southern Idaho. This year we have put a team in the field which we hope will grasp the old banner and once more un- furl it over this high school. In the year 1915 our team was nearly all inexperienced, but nevertheless we succeeded in gaining the championship of southern Idaho by defeating Idaho Falls and Blackfoot the same night in a tri- angle debate. Our negative went to Idaho Falls and met their affirmative. Idaho Falls’ negative met the affirmative team of Blackfoot at Blackfoot, and the St. Anthony affirmative met the Black- foot negative at St. Anthony. Our nega- tive defeated the Idaho Falls affirmative bv a unanimous decision. Our affirma- tive defeated the Blackfoot negative 2 to 1, thus giving us a total of 5 out of 6 judges. Last year, 1916, Idaho Falls and Black- foot refused to debate the question as it was stated, offering the argument that the question was entirely too broad, that the negative had the advantage of the discussion. As a result of this we con- sidered that we won the debate by for- feit, since any team refusing to meet an- other team on no legitimate grounds, ac- cording to all recognized rules, must for- feit the contest. Pocatello then offered to debate our negative team if we would change the question to a more definite statement. This we did, and began to prepare a team to meet the Pocatello affirmative at our school. We had two weeks to prepare a fifteen-minute speech and a four-minute rebuttal. They met us on the date agreed upon. The question for debate was: “Resolved, That the federal government should own and operate the public telegraph sys- tems.” Too bad! They beat us just two- thirds of one per cent, but that was suf- ficient to pronounce a “win.” The first time in the history of the St. A. H. S. that a decision had been rendered against us. o Of course it was not exactly a mar upon our record, since we onlv debated their one team ; then too, we granted them all the concessions they asked as to chang- ing the question and the time for debate. Last year three experienced debaters were on the team. This year there are but two experienced men on the team, but it is believed that this team surpasses any team we have had since the graduating of our state champions. All possess the abilitv to de- liver, and deliver with force. In the debate which will take place very soon between Idaho Falls and our school for the championship of southern Idaho, much work is being done by our contestants with the hopes of adding laurels once more to the many victories of the St. Anthony High School. We re- gret that the decision could not be pub- lished in this paper before it goes to print, but our contemplation is that another vic- tory will be won. The question for de- bate this year is. “Resolved, That a single tax on land values should supersede in Idaho all state, county and municipal taxes constitutionally granted ; that exist- ing federal taxes shall in substance be retained.” It remains for the debaters this year to do their utmost in gaining this victory, and we think thev will. Ptijre Twent v-one

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“LEST WE FORGET” The habit of forgetfulness is undoubt- edly the greatest impediment toward ad- vancement. All habits, good or bad, are formed by repetition. The theory is: For every action there is an equal and contrary reaction. Or in other words, every action we make in favor of some evil habit there is an equal amount of energy or will power spent in resisting that action. The first action in forming a bad habit is fought by your will power. If you consent to let the will be over- powered the first time by the infant habit you strengthen the habit and weaken your will. The first time a person forgets what he has intended to remember he passes it off lightly. This is so repeatedly done until he cannot trust himself, but must trust notebooks. Then he is all but past redemption ; he must then either deter- mine to master his carelessness or con- sent to be mastered by it. If you are a slave to such a master, think seriously of the following instructions : “All evil habits may be destroyed by the man who really DESIRES to master them.” You should resolve every day until it ceases to be necessary to remember whatever you ought to remember. Ask yourself, “Why do I wish to remember this thing? Will anyone be harmed if I forget it? Will anyone be benefited if I remember it?” You should make up your mind what ought to be done now and what can be done later. Fix your program and then see to it that you ful- fill it to the letter, regardless of incon- veniences, because you are forging a habit of recollection and this is worth all else. The habit of forgetfulness is just like the habit of drinking. Before it can be conquered you must resolve and have a strong desire to conquer the evil, other- wise you are merely fighting the habit and leaving the desire unmolested to fight you. The old adage, “If you do not run the machine of life, that machine will run vou.” Page Twenty

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“UTOPIA” Far away in the land of somewhere, amid the branches of the Rocky Moun- tains, which form a grand and pictur- esque scene from the Snake River valley, is a high school, cuddled down into a small community. Here assemble a small but industrious and intelligent number of pupils, who are gathering what knowl- edge they may from the opportunity offered them. From here, in the land of somewhere, can be seen the grand Teton peaks, which stand silhouetted across the wide expanse of sky to the east, and whose voraginous peaks form the footstool for the rising sun. To the west is the lofty Sawtooth range, which forms the western boundary of the Snake River valley. Between the shadows of these two ranges of mountains, and on a river which has its headwaters in the crags of the former mountains named, is the St. An- thony High School. A school in which young men and young women are striv- ing to secure the practical education which will carry them across the wide ocean of life that confronts them, away from their minor base of learning. Here pupils prepare themselves either for a start in college or for a start into the world with a mere knowledge of a few of the things that will help them move the large boulders in their path and smooth the rough places in their long journey. A high school learning is a practical and moderate learning, which if used to the best of advantage should ht a man or woman for the world. But where the opportunity permits it, a higher standard of efficiency may be obtained by continu- ing the learning, which should fit all per- sons for any and all emergencies that may obstruct their passage through life. Such a learning does this little school on the bank of the Snake River offer for the ones who desire the opportunity spread before them. It is here where you are sent across the bay in the best boats the community can afford you, and it is here that you are granted your pas- sage on the ocean steamer whenever your standards meet the requirements of this little school huddled in the Valley of the Snake. 1‘age Twenty-two