Wakefield High School - Oracle Yearbook (Wakefield, MA)

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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

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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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presentation. The first week in May, a joint concert is to be given with the Girls ' Glee Club and the High School Orchestra. The songs learned by the Club have been varied; folk, college, humorous, and popular songs, hymns, and adaptations from operas, have been rendered during the season. The soloists are Emery Marshall, Clifford Chatterton, Walter Ober, and Harold Decker. Clifford Chatterton and Harold Decker, ten- ors, have fine voices, and have been much applauded. Walter Ober never fails to please with his comic songs. Emery Marshall has an especially beautiful voice and is always heard with delight. Milledge Crouse, the ac- companist, composed an original number en- titled Fantasy , and has played it very ef- fectively on several occasions when the Club appeared. Thus a good beginning has been made this year, and better work may be expected next year. A high school glee club provides train- ing for students who are fond of music, and prepares them to take a creditable part in the ever-popular college glee clubs. Many thanks are due to Mr. Fulton and Milledge Crouse for their untiring efforts. VICTOR MeDAVITT, ' 27. THE GIRLS ' GLEE CLUB The Girls ' Glee Club has been holding regu- lar weekly meetings under the able leader- ship of Miss Baldwin, and the girls appre- ciate tlie time and effort she has given to make the club a success. There has been an excel- lent attendance at each meeting and much interest has been shown by the girls. There are many good voices in the club, and Mar- garet Moore has proved to be a very pleasing accompanist. The Girls ' Glee Club took part in the Christ- mas entertainment in assembly, and they are planning to sing again in assembly, April twenty-first. They are also rehearsing for the concert to be given by both the Girls ' and Boys ' Glee Clubs in the near future. It is hoped that the good work being done may continue throughout the rest of the season. EUTH OBER, ' 27. November. The following officers were chosen for the school year of ]926-l()27: President, George Tuttle. Vice President. Isabelle Atwell. Recording Secretary, Sylvia Nuto. Corresponding Secretary, Doris Bauer. Cliairman Program Com., Frances Spero. Chairman Social Com., Harold Decker. By the middle of the year, the active mem- bers numbered about fifty, which is very en- couraging to those interested in the growth of the club. The programs during the year presented a very interesting variety. In January tlie club was fortunate in securing Miss Gilmore as a sjieaker, and her address on European The- atres was most instructive. At the other meetings, members of the club have pre- sented programs of readings, short plays, etc. Perhaps the most enjoyable of these was the Party of Mouths in January. On this occasion the club was divided into twelve groups, each of which presented a short en- tertainment, aijpropriate to its month. At other meetings, plays were read and discussed. In March, Miss Ilicks told the story of Mac- beth and several members of the club de- scribed the recent presentation of the play at the Repertory Theatre. This spring, a stage model contest has been planned, which will doubtless prove both interesting and instruc- tive to the members. The club is looking forward to the plays which are to be presented in the auditorium April 22 at the public performance. The two plays chosen are Beauty and the Jacobin by Booth Tarkington, and The Whole Truth by Louise Bronson West. It is also planned to give a short play May 10, at the Parent- Teacher Association ' s meeting. The one se- lected is Station YYYY by Booth Tarking- ton. It will also be presented at an assembly. The growth of interest and membership in the club has been very gratifying indeed, and all the members feel that hearty thanks are due to Miss Hicks, who has given generously of her time and is a most enthusiastic and inspiring leader. SYLVIA NUTE, ' 27. MASQUE CLUB The Masque Club, wliich was organized in our High School a year ago last fall, met for the first time in its second season early in LE CERCLE FRANCAIS Last fall a new organization, Le Cercle Franeais , made its appearance in the Wake- field High School under the direction of the French teachers. Miss Cousens, Miss Mason, and Miss Goddard. It is somewhat different from other clubs in that membership is re- 28