West High School - Chieftain Yearbook (Torrance, CA)

Page 37 text:

stage lthough the spring play Up the Down Staircase was a comedy it dealt with an issue important to us the students. That issue was the problem of the education- al system. The play illustrates how both students and teach- ers were chained to a system which allowed little ifany space for growth. Sylvia Barret was a young teacher assigned to an inner city high school. She was eager to share her ideas and knowledge but quickly learned that the realities of the system were not like anything she experienced in college. The administrators of the school were so preoccupied with their rules and regula- tions that they failed to recognize the needs of the students. One such student was Joe Ferone. Joe was intelligent, howev- er, he was misguided by the failing system. Sylvia tried to help and thus break the system. However, she was left frustrated by the futileness of her actions and at one point considered resigning from her position. Sylvia decided in the end to re- main at the school because she realizes that not all of her efforts to inspire students were wasted. The play was directed by Phyllis Ciitlin, whose goal was not just to make the play entertaining, but she hoped that her audience would be enlightened by the messages behind the laughs. Copy and Layout by Chao-Yi Wei Photos by Bill Hardy and Mike Richardson Students bring reality on M.-mdni v Cast-Row 1: Keith Ferguson, Erika Darby, Brian Charette, Chris Mock, Row 2: Stephanie Scharfman, Trena Custer, Heather Bradley, Sarinah Be- love, Jason Volz, Row 3: Mike Hannif, Chip Royce, Venessa Cabello, Dana Miller, Holly Richa -,on, Tom Vosburgh, Jeret Ochi, Taiho Yamada, Row 4: Jeremy McCollum, Ray Romero, Cierberta Royce, Kristin Momary, Linda Rrinsky, Holly Holloway, Pam Maclean, Sara Kotzin, Michael Luczywek, Tara Bostrack. V Overcoming her shyness, sophomore Dana Miller contributes to the class discussion. Showing enthusiasm towards her job, director Gitlin give pointers.