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

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-A tnunl The Blue E-r VVhite 8 STUDY ' The lack of effort and interest in studies may be traced to the different reasons why pupils attend high school. They may be classified in three groups: those who are forced, either by parents or age to attend-but why not make the most of the opportunity given us, those who want a good time -there is a time and place for good times outside the study room, those who earnestly desire an education-they make good tutors for the others in time of need. Naturally the earnest students are hard workers. If the whole student body of Westbrook High School should put in as many hours of study daily as a few do every day, the majority would be on the honor roll. Oh, that some who never try to be on that roll should once have that Grand and Glorious Feeling! They would strive to remain. Besides being on the honor roll, there is the satis- faction of having done one's best. Study means not merely rank but also a real knowledge, a good foundation for either business or college. Teachers aren't such monsters as they look or seem when lessons haven't been prepared. just try having those lessons once and find how human those very teachers really can be. Prepared lessons will be daily rewarded by them. To be a member of the National Honor Society would be an excellent aim for Westbrook High School. Since the membership of the school de- pends upon the scholarship standard of the school, which in turn in this society depends wholly upon the scholarship of a certain percent of the Senior class, this woul'd bring about a greater effort by the student body to put their best work into the preparation of their studies and to give attention in the classroom. Only by the co-operation of the faculty and the student body can our Westbrook High School be a benefit to all. .-, THE SCHOOL LIBRARY One of Westbrook High Schoo1's greatest needs at the present time is a new library. Every modern school, such as Deering, Portland, South Portland, etc., has a convenient library with the necessary equipment. We will admit that we have that which is called a library-furnished with chairs, a table, and a few book shelves. As for books, we have a few sets of encyclopedias, one or two large diction- aries, histories, scientific volumes, and a few books of fiction. However, we should have more and a larger assortment. At present, because of the small size and the resulting confusion in finding books, but few at one time are allowed to do any reference work in the library. Therefore, a pupil must go to the Public Library for reference work. In this way he loses much time. If we had a more con- venfent library in the school it would save much time for every student, particularly for those pupfls living outside of the city. VVe are sure that a new library and more books in VVestbrook High School would be greatly appreciated by the English, Latin and Scientific classes, since there are many references in the books that are included in the different courses that cannot be found in the present library. An interest between the community and the school should be created so that we might urge on the idea of a new library. SCHOOL SPIRIT There is one thing, one element, which is neces- sary to the success of this school, that is school spirit! The popular idea of school spirit seems to be the supporting of the athletic teams. School spirit, however, stands for much more than this. It is support, not only of athletics, but of any school' project, large or small. It means not only financial support, but the giving of one's service to the school. Every person who possibly can, should aid. In the case of athletics, every person who could possibly hope to make the team should turn out and practice. Likewise with debating. When the assembly gives an entertainment, every stu- dent in the school should aid in making it a suc- cess. The student body, as a whole, should back up any school project. Petty rivalries, disputes and jealousies should be set aside, and the student body should work, not for the good of

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Westbrook High School 7 SCHOOL SPIRIT To the townspeople of Westbrook the high school students are woefully lacking in school spirit. At the games the percentage of outsiders to students is at least three to one. Surely this does not give strangers a very good opinion of the school. If we are to have championship teams, we must give them our support. If we do not, we have no right to complain when the team is beaten. On another side, there is the question of finances. When athletic teams just break even financially they are not an entire success. How- ever, this is not the fault of the players. They go out on the field andi do their best. It is up to us, the student body, to give our teams our sup- port. If we go in the hole very much we must remember there is danger of some branch of sport being dropped. Then there is the cheering. It would be absurd to expect to get the volume of Portland or Deer- ing, but surely we can make up in pep what we lack in numbers. Often we read of cheers rolling across the field. Westbrook's cheers usually just pop here and there. The cheering really is not much of a credit to the school. A remedy that we would suggest for all these situations is a rally before every game. We could have speakers such as Mr. Fraser and former stars. We could also have real cheer practice. This would take time, of course, but if other schools can do it, why can't we? Let's all get behind W. H. S. this coming year. Let's show the townspeople that we are alive, and let's make this the best season in every way that Westbrook High School ever had. ART Westbrook High School has a very good Art Class. The one trouble is the size. In other schools the classes are large and much interest is shown, while at W. H. S. the class is so small that it does not secure the interest that is necessary for good work. However, many good works were produced this year, among them, parchment lampshades, which have been in great demand this year at all furniture stores. Telephone screens were made, using gesso. This was first made by the ancients who used it to decorate columns. The use of it on telephone screens gave the class a unique task. Art working on soft leather was another ex- ample of Mr. Sterling's genius. Pocketbooks and billfolds were made by the students. Mr. Sterling has been laying stress on the study of some of the most famous artists. This has proved to be veryi interesting to the students. An exhibition will be given towards the end of the year, in which the best work of the pupils will be shown. HOCKEY INSTEAD OF BASKETBALL We live in a sport-loving town. All of us like clean, speedy games. We have the material and facilities for such a game. Why not hockey? There are as many good hockey players in W. H. S. as there are good basketball players. As many hockey games could be scheduled during a season as basketball games. Hockey is a clean, spirited, and fast game. That appeals to our community. Opponents would play willingly here because of the good facilities for hockey. That is something we cannot boast about, at present, in basketball, because our gym is so small and insufficient that most of the scheduled games are played away from home. This disappoints our community and ourselves who are not able to follow the basketball games away from home all the time. When games are played in our gym W. H. S. often loses money, even if the hall is packed, because the receipts aren't large enough to cover expenses. There is no danger of that happening in hockey because the hockey park is fitted with plenty of seating space, regulation ice rink, and good seats. Thus we would have better financial success. Hockey is fast becoming pop- ular in the large schools of today. Why shouldn't VV. H. S. keep up with the rest? If we start hockey, the higher gate receipts, l'esser expenses to the school, and the keener interest of the students and community, will result in W. H. S. successfully producing a paying champion team of the nationally liked sport of hockey.

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Westbrook High School 9 one particular class, but for the good of the whole school. The one great trouble in most schools is lack of interest. The majority of the student body takes no active interest in what the school is doing. They are not content, however, to keep quiet about it. When something dissatisfies them, they commence grumbling, but still they take no steps to remedy the matter. There are people in the school who have never once attended an athletic game. Their only excuse is lack of interest. If they would turn out to the games and get some- one to explain them they would soon become interested. But above all, if they can't become interested, they shouldn't come back to school the next day and grumble about the rotten showing made by the team. If they consider themselves better players than the other fellow, the only manly, upright thing for them to do is to get out and show it, quit grumbling, and work shoulder to shoulder with the rest of the student body for the common good of the whole school. The students of W. H. S. should take care that the above does not apply to them and should work hard to keep up the school spirit. ASSEMBLIES Assemblies here are truly rare occasions and of decidedly short duration. No wonder they are hailed with such wild delight when it is rumored that one will re-ach the unbelievable length of half an hour or will take up a whole period. Can't something be done to remedy this? A plan which ought to prove very efficient is as follows: At the beginning of each year let a committee be appointed to conduct assemblies regularly. In this way anyone might make sug- gestions to the committee, whose duty it would be to bring them before the assembly. Here each question could be given careful consideration. Improvement of rallies would surely help make the assemblies more successful. Most schools hold them oftener and for a much longer time. The complaint is now made that we do not cheer loud enough. How can we since most of us are just getting warmed up when we have to stop? Speaking by members of the athletic teams ought to be encouraged. Scarcely anyone has confidence enough in himself to say a word. Comments on games and sports are always best if they come from a member of the team. The committee should also prepare interesting programs. There are innumerable ways in which this might be done. Anyone possessing some special talent, such as speaking or playing some musical instrument, should be glad to use it. Good readings and recitations are always well re- ceived. A short play might be given occasionally. Miss Stevenson conducted singing one morn- ing. Everyone enjoyed it. Singing will furnish amusement anytime. Why could not the school orchestra occasionally brighten things up a little? Not only would this plan furnish regular meet- ings and entertainment, but it ought to create a stronger interest in the affairs and welfare of the school. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS In publishing this magazine much credit and many thanks are due to the following friends of the BLUE AND WIIITEZ To the S. D. Warren Co., which has generously furnished us with the paper on which the BLUE AND WHITE is printed. To the members of the faculty who have aided us in the preparation of the different departments. To Mr. Henry S. Cobb for his hearty c0-opera- tion and for the splendid care and artistry with which he has printed this book. To the whole Editorial Board for their com- petent aid in their various positions. Finally, to all of our advertisers who have thus aided us in making our magazine a financial success.