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

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' ' A The Blue ff white 8 individual from sucll physical development if properly harmonized, because it not only bene- fits the body but also prepares one for mental activity. Westbrook, as well as any other school, could well make use of a daily course in calis- thenics because teachers find it hard to teach a class that is restless and unable to concen- trate on its studies. In this case, it would both help the teachers and scholars greatly because a period of strenuous drill tends to refresh the mind. There are, of course, difficulties to overcome in establishing a system of physical training in VVestbrook. The greatest of these is the lack of a gymnasium, which we hope will be rem- edied by a new school building. However, many other schools Find it convenient to exer- cise in the classrooms or out of doors when the weather is mild. The subject arises, Why make it compul- sory? Mainly because it will reach and bene- fit the individual rather than a few enthu- siastsg furthermore, the benefits can only be realized when each pupil partakes in that which makes study and recitation more pleas- ant. Eventually, in the course of progress, Westbrook will have compulsory physical training, why not now? A Q '31 ..., . GUM CHEWING Chewing gum in public has always been a serious question, especially in the schools. Some people, it is sad to say, look upon the matter as unimportant. The ones who do so are openly showing bad taste. Fortunately, for the good of all concerned, this habit is becoming less prominent. It seems that many are beginning to realize that the habit in no way benefits them, and in many ways injures them. The habit has been known to grow to such an extent that a serious opera- tion is necessary in later life, due to the great amount of sugar absorbed by the system. This, of course, is exceptional. The habit is disgusting. A well-bred person no more feels justified chewing gum in public than he would walking down the street eating his breakfast, dinner, or lunch. Even a child chewing gum in public attracts unfavorable at- tention, not to himself alone, but to his parents. Unfortunately, the habit is even more objec- tionable when practiced by women than by men. The utmost care in regard to one's out- ward appearance may count for little or nothing when a girl is seen walking down the street opening and closing her mouth like a fish gasping for air. This question has also caused considerable trouble in school. When a guest speaker is honoring us with his presence, what impres- sion of the school must be formed when he sees fifteen or twenty mouths rhythniically opening and closing before him. This habit has ceased to be a joke. Every pupil should have sufficient self-respect and ordinary de- cency to refrain from chewing gum in school. The reason for one's failure to impress his employer may be because of an offensive habit such as this. It also takes away from one's reputation, and marks him as ill-bred and uncultured, without respect for himself or others. R. M., '30, SCHOOL PRIDE Ever since civilization started and schools were first founded, there has been a desire in the heart of every boy or girl to have his or her school ranked the best. Nothing can stir them to greater indignation than to have anyone speak slightingly of their school, especially if said speech is uttered by a member of some other school. There are various ways for scholars to show their pride, such as in ath- letics, ranking high in class work, and an up- to-date appearance of the school. As regarding athletics, those who try out for the teams have pride in the school, and if they find that they are not needed or are not physically fit for such exercise, they follow along with the school body and cheer their team to victory.

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dit 0 fi all ,ff X E l:r1v l Jw. J . .: . , ' , SF- 13,5 x -...- .,..:-.-1-:'.If-1!.'ftj1-:jj-121- . f-',',-,Q'.7'g:-.fiE235 1:.:,'5,::g-' g 'A ' ' ' I Fa! . ' ' f11'F'i?' 3'-'r3.'-If 1 - -f1'f.'-,'-:F-'I-'ii' N I - J-.Ir ,1 ., I- ..'-1-.1,'.'-' ' .-'q:.'Y'. 'u'-','1'I. q :5jz-- i -.312 21' ' 'fg1.'.1.j.'..i1-'.g-1f..f.,1. X 2 I . . a pwirei-:L:.:::gI-I..-::,-x :.-i.-Snug: 4 . - f -:15a:fq.2f - ' ' ' '.. . 7 ,A - i V '12 i FOREWORD The events of another year in the routine business of VVestbrook High School have be- come memories and history. The memories may remain in the minds of the students a few years, but we, the members of the Editorial Board, have attempted to record the history upon these leaves for eternity: that when memories become dim, they may be refresh- ened by scanning the printed pages of this 1930 edition. lVe have attempted to portray the social and sporting occurrences. as well as the liter- ary achievements of the scholars. in a manner which we hope will be pleasing to our readers. Therefore, we beg that your criticism be based on an understanding of the willing toil we have performed in order to compile, edit, and pub- lish this edition for your approval. D. VV. L., 550. SCHOOL SPIRIT The success of every school, large or small, depends a great deal on the spirit of the stu- dents. The achievement in studies and sports and the rating of the school as a whole is de- termined by the attitude and effort of the stu- dent body. This attitude is called School Spirit, and, good or bad, it is present in every School. lYestbrook High, a small school, competing in athletics with schools many times its size, and winning out, has been noted for its won- derful school spirit, and it cannot afford to lose it. Now, more than ever before, VVest- brook High needs the support of the student body in her games. Real school spirit never deserts even a losing team and it is at the games that every individual can show that school spirit which belongs to VVestbrook High. Excitement is stirred to the highest pitch when two rival teams come together. If there is a large crowd at a game, the players are greatly encouraged. A good play brings a yell from the crowd and the louder the yell the more encouraged are the players. They are in- stilled with a desire to overwhelm and crush their opponents and sweep to victory. Cheer leaders should be present at out-of- town games as well as home games, and the student body should be there to support them. F. B., '3l. WHY WAIT lVashington! llihat a thrill the very sound of the word gives us. To think of New York! the Capitol! Luray Caverns! a dress parade at lNest Point! But-sad to relate, owing to shortsightedness our Freshman year, a very small number will go to VVashingt0n. If we had formed a XVashington Club our first year, earned money by giving dances and possibly a bazaar, what a different story. But we just can't expect dad to look pleasant and beam upon us when we ask for the small sum of 384.50-and graduation only a month away. So, Freshmen, profit by our mistake. Form a VVashington Club and go to it. R. E. I.., '30, COMPULSORY PHYSICAL TRAINING Physical training has,.no doubt, a distinct relation to an alert mind. There can be no question as to the benefits received by each

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Westbrook High School 9 Ranking high is another desire of the ma- jority of the pupils. Many are on the honor roll, and as time goes on many more are added to this list. If everyone studies, it not only gives him a place on the honor roll but also in- creases the ranking of the school with others. The personal appearance of the school should be kept up to the highest standard so that people would be proud to say that their school was the neatest of all others. The lawns should be kept clean from leaves and other waste. The floors of the school should be kept clean from torn papers and other such things so that if an official of the schools of the state should walk in and inspect the school, he would go back and tell the people what a good appearance this school made. VVhen tourists pass through a town or city they are always observant of public buildings, and if the school buildings are in a poor con- dftion, it helps to give strangers a poor opinion of the town or city, whichever it happens to be. Year by year one sees new buildings being erected throughout the rural districts in place of the old red schoolhouses that were a com- mon sight a decade or so ago, which goes to show that people are taking more and more pride in the appearance of their schools. Taken as a whole, pride is one of the high- est essentials to the welfare of a good. prosper- ous high school. C. C., '32. COURTESY One of the most trustworthy tests of char- acter is courtesy. It is the outward sign of the soul's nature. Courtesy is not something artificial. It springs from the heart. It is an expression of thoughtfulness for others. It is doing to them as we would be done byg and at its foundation lie the great moral qualities of kindness and self-respect. Nothing will so rehne the character as the practice of courtesy. It has a reflex action on one's own mind, banishing therefrom coarse- ness and rudeness. It implants there a delicacy of feeling and a sensitive sympathy that will End expression in beautiful deeds, in attentions that ease the way for others, in the doing of little kindnesses that most leave undone or despise, in tolerance and forbearance. VVho- ever aims to be truly courteous will have con- stantly before him a lofty ideal of conduct, a standard of perfection that cannot help but lift him in his attempt to attain it. Nothing, either, will afford so much protec- tion as courtesy. No one can insult a perfectly courteous person. Rudeness vanishes from his presence. Manners, the outward expression of cour- tesy, are sometimes called the minor morals , yet such is their importance in daily life that we cannot class them as minor matters. The word manners refers to the specific acts of daily life. It deals with small things as well as great. It implies obedience or disobedience to the proprieties as regulated by custom. Good manners are rooted in courtesy, which we have seen as an essential element in a Hne character. So desirable are good manners. so pleasing to others, and so conductive to suc- cess, that those of defective and even thor- oughly bad characters strive to imitate them in order to pass among worthy people and to keep a place in society. This side of character and conduct is one that should never be neglected. It is the part of benevolence and kindness to make all inter- course with others as pleasant as possible. No right-minded person will willingly add to the hatefulness and misery that already exist in the world. No self-respecting person will be otherwise than courteous to all whom he meets. So let us, as students of Westlnrook High, be as courteous to our teachers as we are to our own parents and friends. B. Q., '31,