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

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Westbrook High School , A 7 they were failing. They might see that it was their lack of cooperation with the faculty due, probably, to lack of interest. Instead of criti- cising the teachers, let us, instead, cooperate with them in their efforts to teach us the funda- mentals of good-living and right-thinking. The faculty is not a body which delights in seeing students fail, but rather one which works hard. striving to make those pass, who think that the only thing in life is athletics or pleasure. Of course, there are teachers who show partiality and take no interest in the welfare of the studentsg but they are few, and there are none among the faculty of West- brook High School. The faculty cannot be blamed for becoming irritated at those who do nothing but bluff their way through their course, and talk disrespectfully behind the teachers' backs. If, instead of putting pleasure before study, we would put study before pleas- ure, the standing and respect of W'estbrook High School would be raised, and the number of failures would be decreased. F. L. w., Jr., WHERE IS OUR DEBATING CLUB? The lack of interest in a debating club for NVestbrook High School is greatly to be re- gretted. VVhy,is it that we have not before recognized the need of debates, other than those which are planned for class require- ments? Several years ago, the student body. under their instructive leaders, voted to form a debating club, and to hold regular meetings. Their plan was carried out exceptionally well, and the students, as well as the teachers, delighted in the subject matter which was discussed. Since that time, however, not much has been done, owing to the other activities of the school. In many schools, the debating club is one of the most important organizations, and regardless of the various activities which are carried on, every student is required to take part in the debates. Not only is debating an interesting subject, but it is also a good means of giving every individual a certain amount of self-assurance, which he would not otherwise obtain. We are all proud of our athletic team, and are indeed fortunate to have so many of our students interested in the production of ama- teur theatricals. But would we not also be proud to have W. H. S. represented in a debat- ing league which is under the direction of our state colleges? Vtfould you not like to have a West- brook debating society in order to promote the social life of the school? Many of our students have a great deal of ability in argument, and there is no reason why W. H. S. cannot be represented by a well- organized team. For to those students, debat- ing would be a great advantage, and not only would the society better the school, but it would also add to its social and educational value. B. VV., '32. MAKING THE MOST OF ONE'S CAPABILITIES There are many people the world over who have never tried to make the most of their capabilities. Not only is this found among high school and college students, but also among older people. When young people enter col- lege, they are more or less thrown on their own resources. They are given assignments and are expected to get them as best they know how. Those students who have been taught to do their work to the best of their ability are the ones who will be numbered among the successful men and women of America. Again, there are some people who are afraid to appear outstanding in their work for fear of being ridiculed. Every successful man or woman is bound to be the object of criticism and ridicule at one time or anotherg therefore, they learn to bear it as part of their success. ln this modern world where speed and efficiency are valued above all else. we cannot

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p--4 X 5 ,ff H Omgg MV 15 . ' of 'Wh AFTER ALL, WHY GRAMMAR? After all, why grammar? I can study con- jugation of verbs, declensions of nouns, com- parisons of adjectives and adverbs, cases of pronouns, relationship of conjunctions and one month later not know whether I decline my verbs or conjugate them. It's all the same, anyway, so Why bother? I may say them houses and my teacher will look at me in horror, but all the same she knows which houses I mean as much as if I said the correct word. I may learn after a great effort on my part and on the part of my family and teachers to say politely, Please hurry, but I can say one word, Scram, and there is no one who doesn't know what I mean. I can learn after weeks of agony to punctu- ate a quotation within 'a quotation and never come across one outside a grammar book. I can learn for one day, usually, that I must say UI shall go, and then be corrected at home when I say I willf' I am much like the little boy who was kept after school by the teacher to learn to say I have gone home, instead of I have wentf' According to directions he wrote I have gone home' for one hundred times and at the end, since the teacher had left the room, added, I have vvritten. I have gone home one hundred times, and now I have went. So, after all, why grammar? E. A., '33, NEEDED IMPROVEMENT Among the many needs of VVestbro0k High School, a gymnasium is one of the most im- portant. It is safe to say that every school of any consequence has a gymnasium of some sort. NVestbrook should not be behind the others. In most institutions each student is required to take a certain number of periods of physical exercise each week unless he is physi- cally unht. These exercises are very beneficial because, first of all, they improve the general appearance immensely, and secondly, they prepare the individual for mental activity. General appearance is very important in the world todayg a round-shouldered, hollow chested person is marked as a failure before he has fairly started out. The teachers would Find the classes more receptive to their instruc- tion if the members were mentally alert. A short period of physical exercise would bring this about. Physical education stresses strength and cleanliness of mind as well as of body, for it is very evident that the thoughts of each person reflect upon his body, and a clean mind produces a clean body. VVestbrook High School has its athletic teams, but everyone may not be on the teamg therefore, very few in this school receive physi- cal training. Some of the larger schools have refused to play our teams because we have no gymnasium, and in one sense they cannot be blamed for their decision. Fooner or later XVestbrook High must have a gymnasium, the sooner it can be obtained, the better it will be for the students. J N P . ., e fa. CO-OPERATION WITH THE FACULTY As the close of the year comes around, va- rious disrespectful remarks are heard from students who are failing to make the grade. If these pupils were to use their brains instead of their mouths, they might understand why

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8 afford to sit back and wait for the other fel- low to forge ahead, gaining the success which we might have had if we had not been afraid of being ridiculed for making the most of our capabilities. F. A. L., GRADUATION To graduate from Westbrook High School is expensive. Why has this comparatively simple ceremony become such a financial hor- ror to parents? Because of intense rivalry between seniors to dress very elaborately. As a matter of fact, the person simply dressed looks more distinguished than one magnifi- cently dressed. It would be a crime to deprive anyone of the privilege of graduating because of lack of funds. To solve this problem, why can't the present senior class vote for simple clothes to help cut down expenses? VVhy not adopt for the graduation exercises the gray cap and gown which is made especially for high school students and which is hired out for a small fee? Or, why can't the girls adopt a standard of dress and wear simple sport dresses of the same length and of similar style? After all it is simplicity that predomi- nates among the fashionable. E. A. VV., 532. NEED OF A NEW LIBRARY Since the library of W. H. S. has been made into a class room, the cry of many students has been, We need a new library! Even if the room was lacking in artistic decorations, nevertheless, it was our chief source of obtain- ing, information, and the students found a great deal of enjoyment in the reading mate- rial. But now the library is gone. Some of the books that are needed by the students are placed in a corner of the assembly room, while others are placed in different rooms. Now, if the student desires to obtain material, he goes to the room where the books were placed. For instance, if a student desires material for i viii The Blue 6- White commerce and industry. he has to go to room sixteen. If he wants material for history, he goes to room thirteen. If he wants material for English, he goes to room twenty-one, where some of the books areg not flnding the particular book that he is looking for he gives up hope of ever finding it. Now, if all these books were assembled and placed in a particu- lar spot, where the students could find the information required, then the students could get the books that they want without rushing all over the school, and would take more inter- est in their work. In this way, a better under- standing would be created among the students. The students would discuss books. that they have recently read, among themselves, thus each student would gain a vast literary knowl- edge. The books could be cataloged and a l lzrarian could be trained at the Memorial Library, where the librarian has kindly offered to train them, and not only would this give the students a great deal of experience, but it would also help them in later life. If this plan was followed it would be a great improvement to the school, and it would also raise our pres- ent school standard. V. R. H., '32. LET'S SUPPOSE The subject of VVestbrook having a new high school has been worn threadbare, but then, so has the high school. When the new school is realized, this subject will be forgotten. Let's suppose that we have this prospective building and are to begin a tour of inspection. We enter and walk down the corridor. In one of the large, sunny rooms, there are rows of shiny, new typewriters, each on its own desk. In a room adjoining this one is a bookkeeping department with up-to-date equipment. We continue on, passing many sunny schoolrooms. and reach the end of the corridor, stopping in amazement before a door marked, Lunch Room. Here we behold a spotlessly clean student's lunchroom with a tempting and healthful menu tacked on a wall. Shall we