Townsend Harris High School - Crimson Gold Yearbook (Flushing, NY)

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FIFTY-TWO

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THE LOWER C CLASS It has long been a tradition of the Harris upper classmen to tantalize and persecute each new class of freshmen. During the last few semesters, however, a wave of progressiveness and tolerance has swept down through the grades in school, until it has reached the Lower C Class Through a natural sequence of actions, positions of merit on school publications and in other activities have been opened to the Lower School. The two upper classes voluntarily have thrown open the way to these positions. In view of this new attitude on the part of the upper school, the Lower C Class has given more time to school affairs. No harm was evidenced in class affairs, however. The Lower C ' s, on the con- trary, shouldered their responsibilities and faced their problems squarely. It is always a difficult task for officers to lead a class through its first term with any degree of success. But President Greenberg and his Council quickly mastered the intricacies of school politics, and ably administered class affairs. In the interclass tournaments the Lower C ' s, being at a natural disadvantage, were not very successful. However, they showed such spirit and fight that success in future terms is assured them. The main task of the Lower C ' s, however, was to become acquainted with Harris, and they did this to good advantage, preparing them- selves for the pitfalls which lie ahead. All in all, these achievements of the Lower C ' s substantiated the contention that if the persecution of the freshmen were halted, their dormant abilities would awake and become apparent to the school. LOWER C OFFICERS J President Robert Greenberg Vice-President Arthur Oxenberg Secretary Lester Tannenbaum Treasurer William Colgan G. O. Representative Robert Blackman Faculty Adviser Mr. Miermann FIFTY-ONE

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HARRIS SELF-GOVERNMENT An Editorial Recently, a meeting of delegates from most of the high schools of New York City was held for the purpose of discussing democracy In secondary schools. According to reports delivered at this con- ference, student self-government is far from being realized in many of the schools of the city. So atrocious are conditions in some in- stances that the student has no opportunity to air his views on many questions most vital to him. Student councils are deprived of all power; newspapers are ruthlessly censored; and clubs are permitted to hold discussions only on subjects suggested by the authorities. It is difficult for us at Harris to believe that such conditions do exist, for so liberal is our system of extra-curricular activities that we are rarely conscious of faculty domination. Our press is compara- tively free; the G.O. council has clearly defined and wide-spread powers; clubs are free to discuss what they wish. Of course, there have been times when the authorities have stepped down on some branch of activity, but if they were convinced that student opinion was solidly against their move, they often relented. The Director, and the v arious faculty advisers have always shown a willingness to cooperate with the students, because they heed and respect student opinion. That is the essence of student self-government. But now that we have obtained virtual self-government we have an obligation to perform. We must make good use of our privileges. We must, in the first place, interest the disinterested in our activities. Secondly, we should drive petty politicians from our ranlcs, for it is they who prevent progress, who abuse the liberties which have been granted them. Having accomplished these reforms, we can truthfully say that we have done our part, just as the authorities have already done theirs. «W9 FIFTY-THREE