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

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VVestbrook High School 1-Mft f . 7 city to spend money on books when we do not take care of them? Not only do we destroy the library books, but also thetextbooks which are used daily. Any book that one picks up has all sorts of defacements on it. T As for the library books-they are either lying around on the desks in the main room or being kicked about on the floor. This causes the de- struction of many of the best books. Why don't we try to be more careful and put the books back on the shelves when we get through using them? Many of the books are found in the pupils' desks and in many cases are ripped from their bindings. There are three reasons why we should strive to keep the books in their places on the shelves: first, it makes the main room neat, second, it saves the books g and third, it gives the pupils who do want to obtain references a chance to do so and not have to hunt all over the building for a book. From now on let us be a bit more careful by using our books cautiously. M, R., '31. THIS STUDYING BUSINESS The following is an example of the way a high school girl does her studying. - Mim', arrives home from school at one fifteen o'cl-ock. Dinner is eaten while reading a letter from the college boy friend who has made a good showing in a big way by writing on green paper with a big gold fraternity shield at the top. VVhen the last prune is grudgingly swallowed and the letter clear on Mim's mind, the next move is to find the best perch in the big rocking chair near the radiator and just one short story in the new Delineator before tackling Ovid. But the good intentions are forgotten and three short stories and one serial are read before Mini decides that she had better start on Ovid and Andy jackson's administration if she wants to go to sorority that night. After about an hour's search, from the top to the bottom of the house for a pencil, a stub is found and Ovid gets a break at last. Credit must be given Mim, however, for the sweat-ran off her forehead for an h-our and a half before she finally stopped to read the evening paper which just came. By the time she had read the West- brook news, the school boy chips, the comic sec- tion, and the new scandal about Clara Bow, it was time for supper, which Mim enjoyed very much as stewed prunes were omitted and ice cream was served instead. After supper there were the in- evitable dishes to wash and an hourls practice to be spent at tickling the ivories. That left just time enough to walk two miles up in the country for the sorority meeting, and it meant leaving Andy jackson to study after all the gossip in town had been reviewed. Two hours and a half elapse and Mina is now comfortably settled in bed with pillows all around, a light overhead and jackson still waiting to be read about. Mim really meant well, but somehow sleep overcame her and the next morning found her sleeping with the light on and Muzzey's history book under her nose. ' M. B., '31, PLEASURES OF HIGH SCHOOL I wish I were back in high school. It was the best part of my life. I had more good times in those four years than .I ever had before or since, is what we often hear our older brothers and sis- ters or friends say. Yet we who are in high school at the present time wonder how this can be true. VVe think of it only as a grind from day to day, a necessary evil in our lives. But if we were to stop to consider the matter seriously, wouldn't we find a lot more to school life than ust studying? Nearly every day of the school year there are pleasant moments. Something comes up in one of our classes or we have an assembly with a speaker, an entertainment or at least fi change from the routine of classes. Then there are always the social activities in which nearly all of us participate in some way. The class receptions, assembly plays, prize, speak- ing contests, dances and other social functions. Sports are also one of the outstanding pleasures for all students. How many students go through the four years of high school without attending at least one or two games of some kind?

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dit 0 Y1 al 3. The 1931 Editorial Board has completed its first venture in the field of journalism, their toil will be fully rewarded if you, the readers, obtain enjoyment from between its covers. We of the editorial staff have endeavored to record in the pages of this volume the scholastic activities and achievements of the last twelve months. We hope that, in view of our honest effort to make the volume a success, you will not criticize too se- verely. ' CARE OF SEATS Why is it that high school students take so much pleasure in,tabulating each desk they occupy as their own especial property? It is hard to find in the building one seat which does not bear some evidence of misdirected artistry. You go into a room and by looking over vari- ous desk tops it is fairly easy to ascertain the person who sat there at some time, in fact, it seems to be a sort of sport-vying with one an- other to see in how many different places we can place our names or initials for future reference. But how many of us would think of marking up the tables and chairs in our own homes? When we sit down to read, most certainly we do not idly draw figures or trace our initials on the furniture. VV hy not take a little pride in our school, too? Perhaps we cannot have a new high school, but at least we can do our part in keeping up 'the ap- pearance of the one we have. To anyone seeing the school for the lirst time, scarred and mutilated desks do not convey a good impression. Surely we can prevent this to a great extent. Let's think it over, then, and decide to try in the future to im- prove rather than disligure our desks. D. E. W., '31. W limi THE WORK OF OUR JANITOR Passing from class to class through the corri- dors, every student sees small pieces of paper somewhere in the course of changing classes, but how many of these students bother to stop and pick up a single bit of this waste? Does it ever occur to anyone that all this work must be done by the janitor? V VVhen a student, wabbling his gum about from one side of his mouth to the other, is spied by the teacher, isn't it usually the quickest and easiest thing to plant the offending Wrigley product on the nearby window sill or lightly toss it into the corner? Does he ever think how much extra and unnecessary labor this makes for the janitor? The rooms of our school are kept neatly swept and cleaned. Our blackboards are washed each week in order that clear and easily seen outlines may be written there. Our school is usually well heated. Many times the rooms aren't warm, but this is not the fault of the janitor. These rooms would be much warmer if the windows were kept closed. I Curtains are sometimes broken as the result of an act of some careless boy or girl. Seats are often wrecked. Whois it that does all of this re- pairing? No one but our janitor, all of these things constitute his duties. After carefully considering the matter, would it not be easier and better to stop, pick up a scrap of paper, and put your gum in the waste basket when you know you have been seen by the teacher? D. E., '31, , TAKING CARE OF SCHOOL BOOKS One of the greatest needs of Westbrook High School today is the addition of new reference books to the library. But what is the good of the

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8 f ' The Blue 6- White Think, too, of all the friends one makes during these four years. And oftentimes those friends made during one's school days are dearest through- out the rest of one's life. Perhaps some of us have to work afternoons or evenings, but as a whole we are care-free and happy. Our parents assume all our responsibili- ties. They decide all our problems. After high school, however, except for the few who are fortunate enough to continue their education in college, and sometimes for these, how different everything becomes. We have to assume our own responsibilities, solve our own problems and make our own way in the world. Then shouldn't we look on our school days with a different light? Let's make the most of our op- portunities and try to realize that school isnlt all study and grind. g E. C., ,31. ...-l FRESHMAN RECEPTION The Freshman Reception of late years has im- proved considerably, but there are still grounds for improvement. In the years back, the poor Freshmen have suffered altogether too much. Their clothes have been wrecked and in some cases the students have been injured. Also when the Seniors have finished with the Freshman the Frosh does not like to appear before the public or dance with any girl. Some of the Fresh- men wear good clothes to the reception and when the Seniors get through with them the creases are all gone and the suit is a mass of wrinkles. Al- though the girls are painted up, they get away with a lot more than the boys do. I think that if an initiation was held separate from the reception, the people concerned would feel better. If this was started, the Freshmen would come prepared for the worst in old clothes, and when the reception came they could dress up and know that their clothes were not going to be ruined. i W. H., '31. LETTERS FOR THE PLAY CAST Those of Westbrook have not yet realized that the members of the play cast deserve letters. The boy who has taken part in the athletics and has gained his letter has something to show, in later years, for his work and success. But the boy who has succeeded in dramatic work, during his high school days, has nothing to show for his achievements. Some of the students will remem- ber of his success, but the majority will forget his work for the school. . When rehearsing for the play there are at least six weeks of steady practicing. It isn't all fun to go back to school every afternoon. When it is necessary to take time out of the school session for rehearsing, the time lost must be made up, which is no pleasure for anyone. A person participating in the annual high school play puts as much time and energy into his work as the athlete does in his. I truly believe the mem- bers of the cast deserve letters. D. L. P., '32. APPRECIATION Appreciation and grateful thanks are due to the following for their furtherance and splendid cooperation in making a success of this 1931 edi- tion of THE BLUE AND WHITE. To the student body for their willing contribu- tions to the book. To the entire editorial staff for their capability in fulfilling their various positions. To Mr. Henry S. Cobb for his heedful care and attention in the printing of this volume. To the teachers and Principal Philbrook who gave their assistance to the cause. H To the S. D. Warren Co. who kindlydonated the necessary paper for the publication. To our financial supporters, the subscribers, and advertisers. Q , To everyone who has aided in any way to make this edition complete. i