Tabb High School - Bengal Yearbook (Tabb, VA)

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Administrator ' s Hold the Reins To have a smooth running school, one must have an able staff. At the top of this list are the administrators. This job is headed by Mr. Richard Miller, School Principal. A familiar sight in the halls, Mr. Mil! ' r also spends his days working in his office and among other things, sorts out problems the school may have and eliminates others. Not all days are spent in complete work as Mr. Miller is a common speaator at sports and other extra-curricular aaivities, such as dances and music concerts. Tabb High is fortunate to have two dedicated and personable Assistant Principals, Mr. Charles Cherry and Mr. Ed Markoff. Mr. Cherry’s phone is constantly ringing as his office is constantly filled with people as he co-ordinates Tabb’s busy activities schedule. Patroling the schcxjl and scheduling events such as musicals, plays, dances, and concens are only a few responsibilities of his varied job. A most energetic man, Mr. Markoff is not only athl«ic co-ordinator, but also is concession stand direaor. Always busy and on the go, some of his responsibilities include planning the schedules for football, basketball, and baseball games, wrestling matches, gymnastic and track meets, and golf tournaments. Both men work with classroom instruction. U risi 1 - ADMINISTRATORS 105

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Point With the advent of the new year at Tabb High School, new attend- ance regulations were incorporated and made known to the weary stu- dents. These regulations stated that three tardies to class would consti- tute one absence from school and be counted as one of the allowable seven days absence. Also, any students found in halls without proper authorization would be escorted to class and counted absent for that day. The reasons behind these rules were to curb the rising amounts of student absences and tardies and to also prevent students roaming the halls during classes. Mr. Miller stated that it was a disruptive influence to the class and to the teacher when students came into class tardy. Sometimes the noise level in the hall during classes was completely out of hand. There are also legal obligations. Teachers are held responsible for the student from the time school begins to the time it ends. These problems of tardiness and attendance were noticeably decreased with new, stricter attendance regulations. r t r Counterpoint The purpose of attendance rules is sometimes not very clear to stu- dents. Are these rules objectionable because of the principle, or because of severity (should we allow 2 or 3 tardies, should we give zeros in class, suspensions, or paddlings?) Some say that mandatory attendance at spec- ified times is necessary to the proper and efficient functioning of school. It is also said that these rules are intended to teach responsibil- ity; that is, they prepare one for later life and employment. But if the purpose of the rule is to insure education, and the result of abuse of attendance- related freedoms is a lesser education, then many people feel that is punishment enough. The rule seems to insure that whether one’s actions are in themselves detrimental or not, their result, by way of punitive measures, is. The issue is one of who decides what is in the best interests of the student (the student or the administration) and what measures are taken to enforce it. While more stringent enforce- ment may be necessary for the younger, less mature students, it is of general student opinion that upperclassmen maybe should be given more leeway. It seems to many students the only sensible reason for tardy and attendance rules is in the case of homeroom attendance, where certain clerical and administrative functions must be carried out. This is the one area where omission of these functions, while not particularly damaging to the student, would hinder others. It is true that in the school struc- ture there is certain information needed from the students instead of needed by them; but here again the question of the rule’s intended effect versus its real one arises. A rule must be enforced equally in order to be fair; this leads, in this case, to tardy violations being reported for being one second late and the like. This brings about an intense hatred of rules and regulations; the same ones of which these punitive meas- ures are intended to instill a respect. Which is more desirable, an effi- cient bureaucracy,” or a relaxed atmosphere, admittedly less efficient, but intended to build a non-enforced respect for rules — those things which make a cooperative society possible. 104 ADMINISTRATION

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Secretaries Keep Communications Going The secrecaries of Tabb High, are not the stereo-typed secretary pictured as busily typing at her desk or scribbling shorthand. Each secretary has specific duties and her work is essential to the smooth operation of the school. Mr. Markoff’s secretary is Mrs. Doris Burcher. She handles all attendance records, temporary parking permits and textbooks. Mrs. Mary Fox is secretary in the guidance office and takes care of new students, transcripts, correspondence and of making guidance appointments for students. Mrs. Joanne Allamby spends her days in the General Office as a receptionist and bookkeeper. She is also Mr. Cherry’s secretary. Mrs. Doris Barnes is secretary to Mr. Miller. She handles school finances, repons and keeps rolls up to date. Mrs. Mary Fox, of guidance, tries to set straight a confused student. Constantly on the job, Mrs. Doris Burcher is found keeping attendance records in order. Mrs. Joanne Allamby is known for her r eady smile and helpful manner. Personal secretary to Mr. Miller, Mrs. Doris Barnes keeps active with records and accounts. 106 SECRETARIES