Vergennes Union High School - Blue and White Yearbook (Vergennes, VT)

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12 VERGENNES HIGH SCHOOL thirty-eight pupils questioned nine were against the return of the recess schedule, twenty-seven for its return, while two gave arguments both pro and con. Following are the arguments against the reestablishment of recess. If we should have a five-minute recess in the morning and another in the afternoon, the total time taken up during a school year would be thirty hours or one school week. Would it be worth while? Another point discussed was the noise and confusion that comes with recess. Teachers are tortured by the aforesaid noise and confusion. One Senior claimed that it was childish to clamor for a recess. Furthermore, he said that in the bigger schools recess periods were not allowed. Recess breaks in on the studious attitude which one acquires towards the end of a study period. If a pupil stops studying to talk and laugh noisily, he has a hard time trying to concentrate during the next study period. A question raised in the minds of some of the Seniors is—will recess eliminate a certain amount of whispering? A goodly number think it would encourage whispering instead. The average student, after talking steadily for five minutes, continues during the following study period. The above are the arguments against the return of recess as stated by members of the Senior class. Now follow arguments favoring the return of that lost privilege—recess. Nearly all the pupils get nervous and jumpy after two periods of intense study. To have a quiet, efficient study hall these students have to work off their pent-up energy. Recess furnishes the necessary outlet in which they can relax, stretch, and prepare for the coming periods. One worthy member of our class went so far as to say that the Seniors should give up their speaking privilege, if necessary, to insure the return of recess. If he gained his way, everybody in school would have a chance to talk instead of just the Seniors. Stopping to drink at the fountains is discouraged by the faculty. With this situation the thirsty have to drink before and after school or during study periods, which is an inconvenience. Recess gives one a chance to relax, to visit friends and teachers, and to discuss topics of pressing interest. One might say that recess is the means to prepare for quiet, efficient study periods and to keep a happy, contented student body. It is said that in huge modern business plants recreation rooms are furnished, rest periods are allowed, and the contentment of the workers closely guarded. Why shouldn’t a school be as modern as a manufacturing plant in this way? As one Senior said—“Recess is like a dessert after a disliked dinner.” The opinion of the class as a whole is in favor of the return of recess. Although the Seniors are supposed to be the oldest and wisest in school, their opinions may not coincide with those of the underclassmen. Why don’t you of the lower classes do or say something on the subject? Do you want recess to return? Let the Faculty and the student body know how you feel about the question. The Faculty might take an interest in the affair. As I write, my eyes wander to the bust of Shakespeare which adorns the main room. By a proper display of feeling on our part the deaf ears of Shakespeare might be moved to listen. Understanding human nature, as we always believed he did, he might even quote a passage in our behalf which would influence the Faculty’s decision at the last moment. My advice is to win Shakespeare to your side as soon as possible. Faith Kenyon and Elaine Beach have made their comments in the Literary and Exchange departments in rhymed couplets which seem to be the closest approach in verse to the essay.

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BLUE AND WHITE 11 on page one a flame of red which I later discovered was a bottle of ketchup. Immediately my mouth began to water, and I was forced to leave the fire and enter the cold pantry where I devoured sundry pastries and various other articles, each daubed with ketchup. Then, as though someone hit me, I felt a queer pain in my stomach. I told myself it was of little consequence, as it did nothing more than double me up in agony. I returned to my chair, again eased myself into it, again opened the magazine-—to page two, where I discovered a beautiful girl, all teeth, sweetly smiling at me. Just one glance reminded me to brush my own teeth, so I performed the task. Returning, I glanced at page three, where I saw a telephone which reminded me to call up Maude at the Hewses’. She asked me how I felt, and I said, “Never better in my life.’’ This reply-led her to invite me to come over and play bridge. 1 declined, however, and returned to my magazine. On page four I found a queer looking object which was said to be a stream-lined car, which, aflter having been tipped over on jagged rocks, showed not a dent. My car should be able to stand such a test. If it couldn’t, I would have to buy a new stream-lined one. So, with my stomach-ache still a stomach-ache, I piled rocks until midnight, and finally succeeded in tipping my car over on them. Result—car demolished, and damages done to my ribs, cheeks, collar-bone, and arms. I was taken to a hospital, where Maude brought me another magazine. I began a mystery story, but before long I was directed to turn to page 130, where, along with a part of the story, was the picture of a girl with a marvelous complexion which was gained by using one, and only one, kind of soap. I suddenly craved a bath with that brand of soap, so I rang for the nurse, who said she was busy. When the tears welled up in my eyes, she comforted me by telling me she could comply with my request in two hours. On the other side of the mystery story was an ad for gum—Spearmint. I’d forgotten how it tasted! I sent an errand boy to the store to buy me some. He brought it, and I began to chew. Only a few minutes had passed when I began to feel hungry, and, upon rereading the ad I found that gum stimulated the appetite. After that I went through the sweet mental and physical agony which results from hunger, and knowing that you can’t eat. I tried to forget it by continuing the mystery tale. Soon I reached a dramatic point in the story, but 1 couldn’t resist the interruption offered by a column of instructions for solving a puzzle. The puzzle was easy. Anyone could win a Sparrow car (the kind that defies jagged rocks). I scratched my head, and racked my brain, but to no avail. The next step was nervousness. It was so easy! Why couldn’t I get it? I was driven to insanity, and put under the care of a specialist. He took my magazine away, but for six weeks I was haunted with nightmares about the simple solution. When I finally regained my health, it was an absolute rule for me, “No more magazines!” May fate deliver me from ads like those And all the subsequent protracted woes. lEifftnrial PRO AND CON Edward Ryan, ’35 Recently we established an investiga- ions as to whether we should or should tion on our own account asking the not have five minutes recess during the Seniors of V. H. S. to give their opin- morning and afternoon session. Of the

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BLUE AND WHITE 13 Up Sppartpmpttt Jffrattrata Edith Pecue. ’35. Frances Kellogg, ’35, Editors La Solution A La Depression Depuis 1929 le raonde a subi une per-iode d’abaissement. Les hornmes ont perdu les millions de dollars. Beaucoup d’hommes sont sans travail. Beaucoup ont faim. Les homines les plus intelli-gents ont etudie ce probleme, mais per-sonne n’a trouve une bonne solution. Meme le president Roosevelt a manque. A cause de nion interet dans l’etat le l’ouvrier, la colonne vertebrale de la nation; j’ai etudie ce probleme constam-nient pendant cinq annees. Jai voyage, j'ai eu les entrevues avec les homines d’etat les plus intelligents. J'ai reste bien eveille beaucoup de nuits esperant trouver la reponse. Mes efforts n’etaient pas en vain. J'ai trouve une solution! Beaucoup de millions ont ete depenses annuellement pour l’education. Pour cette raison je crois que toutes les ecoles devraient etre fermees. On em-ployerait l’argent maintenant depense sur l’education pour encourager 1’indus-trie. Bienque ce plan soit nouveau, il est pratique. Je soumets maintenant ce plan au president Roosevelt. J’irai a Washington s’il le veut et je le lui ex-pliquerai en detail. Comme une recompense pour mon travail je ne demande que je voie l’homme americain encore ay ant du pain et du lait le souper de dimanche. Une amie de 1’homme pauvre. Tenpus Fugit Elaine Beach, ’35 Pendant que je medite dans les der-nieres heures de dimanche, mes pen-sees retournent a la phrase fantiliere du latin, “Tempus Fugit.” Ce qu'on acheve dans le temps assigne a son etre compte en entier sur sa capacite de comprendre la valeur du temps. On passe la trois-ieme de sa vie en dormant—une bonne pensee! ! Beaucoup de temps s’emploie en mangeant. Contbien de choses on pourrait achever pendant qu’on reste couche comme sur un oreiller! ! Cont-bien d’argent on pourrait reserver s’il n’etait pas necessaire de manger. Le temps est comme un mot. Une fois qu’un mot est parle on ne peut jamais le retenir. Line fois que le temps est perdu, on ne peut jamais le re-couvrer. Prenez un morceau du con-seil appris de l’experience. Ouand on vous appelle a sept heure pour ecrire un essai. ne levez-vous pas a huit heures! Le Loisir Kathleen Belden, '36 Les personnes demandent toujours les plus courtes heures de travail, mais apres qu’tls les gagnent, que font-ils avec le loisir? La plus grande partie des gens ne font rien profitable et voila la difficulte. Je pense qu’il est tres sage d'avoir line marotte de quelque sorte. Nat-urellement, si Ton appartient a un club on peut y aller et passer le temps tres agreablement, mais supposons qu’on n’est pas un membre d’un club. Lire est