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

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8 1 ............ . ' The Blue 6- White Tennis is a sport which is truly a refined one. Men and women, young and old, poor and rich, all types play this game. To be accomplished in the art requires both natural gift and incessant practice. It is in truth but a halfway mark be- tween the commonness of baseball and the exclu- siveness of golf. Not only is tennis an art but it is strenuous exercise, bringing into play the entire muscles of a person's body. Most sports require large gate receipts in order to maintain, without financial loss, the team. In tennis the condition is quite the reverse. Any player of worth in the high school class possesses both clothes and racket, the only necessities. VVhat money was raised by foreign guarantees and home attendance would abundantly supply the treasury with travelling expenses. The one remaining difficulty excepting the sup- port of the students is that of securing a coach. The need of a coach, and a competent one, is of some weight. Contrary to other sports. however, practice without an instructor would be fruitful. But few people of high school age would work continually without supervision in the ceaseless practice so important. Such a man as Paul, Ginger Fraser would be an ideal selection. With both a coach and the practice a progressive team could be made worthy of letters and a pride to the school. For the last quarter century the school has been lax in furnishing any teams but those of the three major games. In fact, no team of the minor type has existed, except one for track in the early nine- teen twenties, and a girls' field hockey team. Field events, track, ice hockey, and tennis are present in all noteworthy colleges and if the graduates of W. H. S. have only self-training in these things they represent the school poorly while in attend- ance at these higher grade institutions. An edi- torial favoring ice hockey similar to this was received with plenty of silent approval, but noth- ing whatsoever in the way of active assent. If you. the students, the faculty, the parents, are interested in and desirous of a tennis team for WV. H. S., show your desire by.speaking to Prin- cipal Philbrook. Not a team for 1931-1932, but for 1929-30 year with the spirit and desire new, vigorous, and fresh in your minds. With the voice of the scholastic body, the appeal of the par- ents, and the open agreement of the faculty, it seems quite certain that Westbrook, which has previously been known to support a strong team, in any sport which she enters, will be provided with an equally strong aggregation to prevent Portland High's team, as well as others, keeping from their boasted terrific paces. Principal Philbrook no doubt would be more than glad to stand behind a prospective squad if it be the will of all concerned and aid in selecting and acquiring the necessary coach. He waits for your verbal opinion. EDWIN RICHARDSON, '29. WESTBROOK NEEDS A HIGH SCHOOL This year, as every year before for many years, the pupils of Westbrook High raise their voices and plead for a new high school. We realize that we are not heard. Every year we have reason to realize it more and more. Yet we do not give up hope. for we realize that altho it may not come while we stay here. it must come sooner or later and there is no doubt of that. Must the pupils, members of the faculty. and parents bend their knees before the request is granted? Or will the city wait for a few more years and buy a few more portable chairs to place in the front of every classroom, that all the members may be seated? This is the case of several rooms nowg and the difficulties in the main room during assemblies can hardly be imagined. Every seat has two pupils in it and the back and sides of the room, including the two side doorways, are lined with pupils standing up. T wo years ago there was a rumor that reached the papers and was circulated throughout West- brook that the main room was unsafe and might collapse during an assembly. How this report started, very few know. There must have been some truth in it because a little later the room was thoroughly investigated by experts, so we are told, and pronounced safe. Until they gave their ver- dict there were no more meetings in the room, it is noticed. If there was enough truth in it to have it investigated and assemblies prohibited, why do the people of the city hesitate? It is also

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VVestbrook High School E1 '.3n 7 we realize that in our every-day lives opportunities arise which could help us along the highway to leadership if we take due advantage of them? In pursuing the highway to leadership we must exert our utmost energy to conquer all fear of meeting any situation, all self-consciousness. and many other characteristics detrimental to a leader. We must acquire-personality and individualism, force of conviction, and keen wisdom. In our school life hundreds of opportunities are offered us each day which would cultivate any quality for leadership which we might possess. lt is only too true that we do not take advantage of these. On the one hand, we are not showing school spirit, sportsmanship, or any desire to coop- erate for the welfare of our school. On the other hand, we are scorning the magnificent privilege of building our character with a foundation which can withstand the most severe tests. To strive with an unfaltering energy to attain the heights of leadership is the one outstanding duty which an individual owes to himself. Great success in the future depends entirely on one's ability as a leader and the preparation which he has received. Too often does one find those who lack all qualities of a leader. Leaders are in de- mand everywhere to conduct all enterprises. Thus, it can be seen how vitally important are leaders to the progress of the world. With this fact in mind, one should not be indifferent or re- luctant to attempt any task which will aid him as a leader. Furthermore, special attention should be given those who display marked traits of leadership. More ways should be devised to bring the student in contact with the problems of a leader. Some students may be more adapted for social leader- shipg others, for intellectual leadership. In both cases the students should be encouraged. Lit- erary organizations and social clubs may offer splendid advantages for the development of leadership. Consider the heights that have been attained hy great leaders. it is not illogical to imagine that some day those individuals who have been distin- guished leaders,in their school life will add glory to their name as well as their school. Therefore. how could one show more school spirit and patri- otism than by faithfully seeking the highways to leadership as they extend in our school life. DOROTHY M. STAPLES, '29, NEED OF A WASHINGTON CLUB I believe that there should be a Washington Club started in the High School as early as the Sophomore year, so that the students would be able to earn money and to organize themselves for the Washington Trip. The lack of this planning has been the failure of the trip this year. The seniors. not knowing whether they were going to VVashington or not-till the first of this term- found that it was too late to make a success of it -the outstanding reason being the need of funds. The program, relating to the Washington trip, with a few exceptions, will probably be the same in the future. This year the seniors were plan- ning to leave about the middle of April and spend eight days in the cities of Philadelphia, Washing- ton and New York, enjoying sight-seeing trips, transportation, meals, and comfortable rooms for the total sum of eighty-three dollars. Naturally, this price sounds large: but different men who have gone there-on business-have said that that price is very cheap, and anyone who can afford it is very unwise not to go. This might be the chance of a lifetime to see the White House, Woolworth Building, and many other sights, of which so much is heard about today. Of course, the plan and organization of the club depends wholly on the students of each class: the success of it, on the cooperation of the whole school, combined with the help and interest of the parents. Do not be content by merely trying, for if at first you don't succeed, try, try again. PHILIP RRAGDON, '29. A RACQUET FOR TENNIS Since it has been the custom to use the general topic projects for editorials of this magazine, this article is in one sense a repetition for it is once more a suggestion for extended athletic activity.

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Westbrook High School T worthy to note that every time a street car goes rumbling by, the whole building may be felt to tremble. This may be the cause of the Wide cracks noticed running up and down the back of the building. We pupils want a larger and more complete libraryg we want larger classrooms with a little more attention paid to ventilation and lightg we want an assembly room that does not have to be examined before we are allowed to gather in it. Are these demands too much for the city to handle? Are we asking the impossible, or the possible? VV e would like to know the answer for at least one reason. It is this. Are we, the pupils, the only ones in the city who recognize the urgent need for a new high school? Possibly not, for about once a year, more or less is said about it in the newspapers, and in the BLUE AND WHITE. Still. there is no action taken. We do all we can and leave the rest for a higher authority, which, plainly speaking, is still sleeping it appears. Another tooth of shame for Westbrook is the Cumberland Hall Gym. Who can speak a good word for that so-called Sweat box, as other schools call it. True, it has helped develop some of the best athletes Westbrook has ever seen, but it does not continue to develop them. That ex- cuse of a gymnasium is one of the reasons why Westbrook cannot secure home games with schools that have reason to know its size and properties. We would like to ask the question again. VVhat must the pupils of XVestbrook High School do in order to get a larger and better high school and gymnasium? VVe do not ask this thing for our- selves. the graduating class of '29, but for the classes that follow and follow. Rest assured that the day in the future when the last brick is layed in the new school should be a day of rejoicing and gladness in the hearts of the people and pupils of Westbrook. T. Tl., '29. DEBATING XV hy not let VVestbrook High School enter into debating? Many of the students and teachers are N' 9 interested in an organization of this sort and would be willing to give their time to it. Debat- ing could be used as an educational feature and thus benefit the audience as well as the members of the teams. VV e have in our school students who have taken active parts in speaking contests, oratorical con- tests, and plays. In addition to this group there are many others who could do well if they were definitely asked. Colleges realize the value of this subject and have debating teams which compete with those of other colleges. Often these successful teams are requested to take long trips abroad, a privilege which adds much to their education. Graduates of Westbrook cannot be expected to take a share in these meets and bring honor to their high school if they have not been previously trained for it. Probably some Westbrook boys and girls will be active in politics. Practice in debating would be invaluable to them in campaigning or in the legislature. In fact, in every conceivable vocation a person is required at some time to present his views on a matter clearly and concisely. Oftentimes arguments come up in class work. These might be prepared as debates for the fol- lowing day in which the student would get a chance to express his opinions connectedly. Everyone enjoys debates. Especially, humor- ous questions would be appreciated in an assembly entertainment. Perhaps some business clubs would be interested to hear the opinions of their sons and daughters on matters of the day. There would be many ways of handling the subject. A debating club could be organized which might also have social gatherings. Debat- ing could be had in all English classes or between the various classes. Seniors would enjoy debates with freshmen over their relative merits and the rest of the school might be interested in the out- come. But if for no other reason, give us a debating team to conquer the other high schools which our athletic teams happen to miss. in-ARY PEABODY, '29.