Wakefield High School - Oracle Yearbook (Wakefield, MA)

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THE BOOSTER A steadily growing circulation which in- cludes three hundred and fifty subscribers, an increasing demand for advertising space, a rising interest among the students in con- tributing articles, — all indicate a booming Booster. No review of the Booster ' s success can lack praise and thanks to Mr. Fulton, Avho has been always a constructive helper and an inspiring guide. When the Booster is the best school paper in Massachusetts, working hard to make Wake- field High the state ' s best school, its ideals will be realized. JOHN BUTLER, ' 27, Editor-in-Chief. THE BOYS ' DEBATING CLUB During the season of 1926-27, the Boys ' De- bating Club has had a membership of about twenty-fivo, comiiosed of Juniors and Seniors. Mr. Fisher, who has acted as the faculty ad- viser and coach for past years, kindly con- sented to give us his assistance again. At the first meeting, the election of officers took place and resulted thus: John Butler, ' 27, Presi- dent; George Tuttle, ' 27, Vice-President; James T. Cotter, ' 28, Secretary. Every second Tuesday there is a meeting and several debates have been held. The most in- teresting debates were on these questions: (1) Resolved: that American industries should adopt the five-day week. (2) Resolved: that the Ontario plan of modified prohibition is preferable to present coiiditions in the United States. (3) Resolved: that the recent decision of the Supreme Court relative to the power of the President to fire as well as hire meets the approval of this house. (4) Resolved: that the inte rvention of the United States in Nicaragua is justified. Besides more minor debates, the club is also looking forward to some interscholastic de- bates this spring. On Wednesday evening, April 6, Wakefield High School held a debate with Reading High School in our auditorium. The subject for discussion was: Resolved: that the United States should cancel the allied war debts. Our debaters were: John Butler ' 27, George Tuttle ' 27, Clifford Chatterton ' 27, with Thomas Glea- son ' 27, as alternate. Reading ' s debaters were : Robert Stevens ' 27, Dudley Killam ' 27, Gilbert Soule ' 28, with F. Heselton ' 28, as alternate. After a close debate, in wliich both sides showed excellent preparation, the judges gave Reading the decision by a 2-1 vote. This made the second debate which Reading has won from Wakefield. Last year some members of the Boys ' and Girls ' Clubs, belonging to the Class of 1928, met and held two debates, which resulted in a tic. This year the two clubs are planning to hold a del)ate in assembly in the spring. This dcl)ate is to determine the championship between the li)28 girls and the 1928 boys. JAMES T. COTTER, ' 28. GIRLS ' DEBATING CLUB The Girls ' Debating Club of tlie Wakefield High School has had a i ' iy successful season and an interesting one. We ' have made much progress along the line of debating and the memliers of the club feel that tliis practice is a valuable part of our education. We owe Mrs. McGay many thanks for her unflagging interest in us and lier help. The clul) is open to all thoge who are interested in debating and are prepared to participate in debates fre- 26

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college men, who learned the principles of clean play on the gridiron and diamond, have entered the sport, bringing with them a new era in professional wrestling. The amateur bouts, however, are far ahead of the others in si)crtsniauslup. Tliey are well-organized and have become the most exacting tests of physi- cal fitness that are to be found in athletics. As a means of exorcise, wrestling excels iu muscular development. It strengthens every part of the body and develops speed, grace, and perfect muscular control. It will build up a strong plij ' siqiie in even the weakest boys, and the liabits of clean living it requiies will be of invalual)le aid to health in manhood. Moreover, it is not only a good physical exer- cise, but a good mental stimulant. It develops in a boy the self-confidence and initiative needed above everything else in the business world. Schools and colleges have just begun to real- ize these important facts, and it is only a matter of time until wrestling, under the proper supervision and instruction, will rise to its rightful position in the world of sport. KEENICK SNOWDON, ' 27. EXPERIENCE TELLS Some folks thinks purty considerable of theirselves, an ' it don ' t make no difference whether there ' s a cause for ' t. That there Sam Lawson, as come from the city last year, was the wust I ever see. ' Course city folks is bound to be the wust. Well, you see, he ' d got a idee in his head as he was goin ' ter make some money a ' farmin ' . So he sets out last spring a-plantin ' ' taters. Well, now, you ought ter seen the way he done thet plantin ' ! He didn ' t bother with plowin ' an ' all that, jest dug holes in the turf aji ' stuck the ' taters in. As fer phosphate an ' sech, he never thought er that; said he was plantin ' nature ' s way. Mebbe ' twas, but nature ' s way ain ' t my way. I was goin ' ter ask him how his harvest fared, but I calc ' lated ' twant very large, fer I see him Iniyin ' ' taters from the store, much as he hates ter part with a penny. Well, last fall he come over an ' said he ' d like ter see some er that phosphate stuff. ' Jest lor look at, yer know. ' I lent him a spadin ' fork, too. ' Course, he said he didn ' t want ter use ' em. Jest study ' em, ter see what was in ' em, I s ' pose. I ain ' t never herd what lie done Avith ' em. ' Course, I ain ' t inquis ' tive. Anyhow, come ' tater plantin ' time, I calc ' late he ' ll come my way again fer some more gar- den stuff tor study. HOPE McCLOSKEY, ' 28. GRADUATION (An Interlude) Place— Wakefield, Mass. Time — Present Dramatis Personae NATURE — Soft warm winds carrying with them the fragrance of June roses. Clouds massed in the sky waiting expectantly. The sun in all his glory taking one last peep at a good day ' s work. The air is hushed; peace and quiet prevail everywhere. PARENTS — Rigidly sitting in summer attire in a hot assembly room, waiting patiently for the exercises to begin ; exclaiming over the beauty of the building, and the advan- tages that their children have received; pointing out to visitors objects of interest. The music starts; they relax. PUPILS— Awed— thrilled by the idea of ful- filling their hopes in graduating. Filled with instructions that teachers have diligently placed in their minds. Hopeful — as to the future. Dressed in caps and gowns, they march to the stage and take their places. Speeches are made, songs sung, diplomas received, and the night ' s work is done. Under that happiness each student carries a heavy heart, and sheds tears unseen, for the comradeship of the students with whom he has been associa ted all these years. Promises are made; kisses are given; good- byes are said; and this is Commencement Day of THE CLASS OF 1927 (Curtain) GLADYS WENLINSKI, ' 27. 25

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uentiy. The organization has a president and secretary. This year Ruth Gersinoviteh was chosen president, and Isabel Atwell, secretary. A new idea has been recently introduced, that of Debating Club pins. Sylvia Nute kindly took the time to make a design which proved to lie l)oth unique and appropriate. The pins liear the Greek letters Gamma Delta Kappa. The members and Mrs. McGay be- lieve that these attractive pins Avill be an added inducement to join the club. We have had some very good debates during the season. The questions discussed are usually local problems, such as the timely topic of Metropolitan water versus Crystal Lake water, on which there was an excellent debate. One especially good debate was on the question, Eesolved : that Wakefield should become a city. Another interesting debate was, Eesolved: that industry should adopt Henry Ford ' s five-day-week plan. Miss Reed and Mrs. Guillow have been so kind as to come to some of the meetings and judge the de- bates. Their criticisms h ave been very help- ful. Other ladies interested in the school have, at Mrs. McGay ' s invitation, judged a number of debates, and their opinions and ideas helped us greatly. On November 18, 1926, a program was ar- ranged to give the student body an idea of the work done in the club. Four senior girls de- bated in assembly on the question, Resolved: that the IJjiited States should adopt a policy of preparedness which will result in a navy equal to that of any other nation and an available army of 500,000 men secured, if nec- essary, by conscription. Helen Taylor and Doris Bauer spoke for the affirmative ; Sylvia Nute and Frances Spero argued for the nega- tive side. The presentation was notably good on both sides. The judges decided in favor of the aflirmative since they had the stronger arguments. That the debaters were evenly matched is attested by the fact that the same girls had previously debated the same ques- tion, with the negative side winning. Ruth Gersinoviteh was chairman at the debate in assembly and spoke a few minutes about the club, and urged that more students become members. The club is looking forward this year to interscholastie debates with Reading, Arling- ton, etc., and also to intcrclub debates. The Boys ' Debating Club has challenged us and we shall accept this challenge. Soon, three Jun- ior girls and three Junior boys are scheduled to give a debate in assembly. It was Miss Ingram who instituted the club in the Wakefield High School, and throughout her life she took a great interest in its activ- ities. For this reason we feel that it is a fitting tribute to her memory that the work of the Girls ' Deljating Club should 1)e carried on with enthusiasm. . ISABEL ATWELL, ' 27. THE ORCHESTRA Considerable progress has been made by the orehestia this j ear under the supervision of Mr. Jones. In four years, it has increased from twelve to forty members, which is note- .vorthy. The majority of the members are •iither freshmen or sophomores, a fact which promises future success. The rehearsals rare held on Tuesday and riiursday afternoons from two to three o ' clock, md they have been well attended. A great ' aricty of music has been played ; as, marches, ivertures, gavottes, and waltzes. Although the )layers are so young, they plaj ' very well, iiul have appeared successfully on several oc- ■asions, including the weekly assemblies, a ■ iweetser Lecture, and the annual Senior Play. They are to give a joint concert in May with :he boys ' and girls ' glee clubs. Mr. Jones has worked very faithfully since .he organization of the orchestra. He has pa- -.iently drilled the different parts and has often ■.t yed overtime to give extra instruction. The result is highly credital)le to him. MARGARET MOORE, ' 28. THE BOYS ' GLEE CLUB The newly re-organized Boys ' Glee Club, with a membership of about thirty-five, has had a very successful season under the di- rection of Mr. Fulton. We have already given several concerts, and arrangements have been made for others in the course of the spring. Our first appearance was at the Christmas assembly. A concert was later given at a meeting of the Parent-Teacher Association, and this program was repeated at assembly the following week. On March 17th, the Glee Club sang at the Elizaljeth E. Boit Home for Aged Women, and the ladies ex- pressed great pleasure with the program. We are also scheduled to sing at the Universal- ist Church Fair, and at the Maiden Young Men ' s Christian Association later in the spring. Plans have also been made to assist the Masque Club at their annual dramatic 27