Westbrook High School - Blue and White Yearbook (Westbrook, ME)

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mba Blue ant white 7 EDITORIALS CHANGE IN zum TEACHING STAFF. It seems that every year brings changes in the faculty of the West- brook High School. Miss J. Pauline Herring, who had been in the school for two and a half years and was very popular with all of the students, left us last term to accept a position in the Deering High School. Although we were sorry to bid farewell to Miss Herring, we were glad to welcome Miss Hanson of Colby, who was ap- pointed to take Miss Herring's place in the History Department and as teacher of Junior Oom mercial English . ....li.T A NEW PIANO ron 'run MAIN Room. Our school is much in need ofa new piano, and as we have on hand a small fund left by a former class, would it not be well for each class to add to this, with the idea of obtaining the long-needed piano when we shall have accumulated an amount large enough. Should we not enjoy the musical features of our general exercises more, and would the pupils not be more willing to play on special occasions if we had a better piano? The instru- ment now in use is in poor condition, consequently, the pleasure of music lovers is marred by its defects. Let us show our interest in the matter and then, perhaps, succeeding classes may be stimulated to follow our ex- ample. Mnsrc IN 'ma Wnsrnnoox HIGH Scnoor.. Why not have a course in singing in the Westbrook High School, and have the grade music teacher, Miss Phinney, visit us once a week? After we leave the grammar school, we do not have any general instructions in singing. Why not follow the exam- ple of the Gorham High School, where Miss Phinney gives profitable instruc- tion once a week? We know that she would be glad to help us, too, if ar- rangements could be made to that effect. We hope that the School Board will find it possible to provide such a course as we advocate, for we feel sure that it will meet a need long felt in our school, not simply by a few music loving pupils, but by many. A FEELING or CONFLICT. In spite of all endeavors to the con- trary, there seems to be a feeling of conflict between the athletic and non- athletic factions of the school. This feeling cannot exist without doing permanent harm to the student body, for a house divided against itself cannot stand. Now it is up to all of us to boost the Westbrook High School. Come on, athletesg boost the non-athletes, and, non-athletes, get behind athletics and push. Let us have a perfect, smoothly running ma- chine in this High School, without any friction anywhere. 1-- ii No Lnrraas ron mm: DEBATING TEAMS. The committee appointed to con- sider the advisability of giving letters to the debating team recommended limiting the bestowal of letters for prowess in athletics. We feel that

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8 V wha Blue ani: white the recommendation was wisely made, for, as our W has always stood for athletics, to give the debating team this letter would make a confusion. Of course, the debaters work long and hard, and it is no more than right that some recognition be given to them. We think, however, that a medal, or some such reward, would be much more fitting than the letter. NERD or A CROSSING IN FRONT or 'rss Scnoor.. During the rigorous winter weather and the spring thaws, we realized more than ever how much we need a crossing in front of the High School. Pupils and teachers who come on the street cars are obliged at times to wade ankle deep in mud and slush in order to reach the sidewalk. Much unneces- sary dirt is thus carried into the building and tracked from top to bottom, maki he work of the jani- tors doubly hard. A good crossing opposite the High School, besides benefiting those students who patron- ize the cars, would prove a great con- venience to hundreds of pedestrians. A SCHOOL LIBRARY. We possess the nucleus of a good working library, but of late this nu- cleus has not grown in proportion to the needs of our school. To be sure, we have an excellent Memorial Li- brary near at hand, but it is often necessary to make extensive use of reference books, as well as of others, during the school session when we do not have access to this library. At such times it would be of untold value to be able to obtain the desired .infor- mation right on the spot without waiting until afternoon or evening to consult proper sources at the Memor- ial Library. It would be convenient, too, if we possessed more works of standard authors. We have a few, but lack many desirable classics. DRBATING. Outside of the preliminary debates the debaters this year have so far carried on two debates, one with the Biddeford Team at Westbrook, an- other at Lewiston with the Jordan High School Team. Our school was represented at Westbrook by Dodge, '17, Leighton, '17, Burgh, '18, and Miss Huston, '18, who upheld the negative side of the question, Re- solved: that a system of military training similar to the Australian Plan be adopted by the United States. The aiiirmative side of the question was upheld at the same time at Lew- iston by Welch, '17, Miss Libby, '17, Laverty, '17, and Hurd, '18. At Westbrook the members of the team won a unanimous victory over their opponents, while the team at Lewiston lost a hard-fought contest by a vote of 2 to 1. With the closing of this year the school will lose some of its best de- baters. Welch, Dodge, Laverty, Leigh- ton and Miss Libby will graduate, and this will leave only Hurd, Burgh and Miss Huston as a nucleus for the team next year. But, as We have some good debaters who will join the debating class next fall, there is no need of worrying about the outcome of next year's contests. GIFT or THE SENIOR CLASS. Very appropriate was the gift of Seniors to the Assembly this year, consisting, as it did, of a beautiful