Westport High School - Herald Yearbook (Kansas City, MO)

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THE WESTPORT HIGH SCHOOL HERALD. 15 the cadet leaders have achieved a degree of success in their work which is very unusual. To form a battalion of four companies, each with its organization of commissioned and non-commissioned of- ficers, to whip this unit into a smoothly working military machine, to enforce a discipline of private school standards in a public high school, and all this with boys whose knowledge of cadet work was practically nothing, has been the work of the military department of Westport. The victories of our battalion have been thoroughly in step with the spirit of the year. Progress has been striven for, and by faithful work and earnest co-operation, great progress has been made. , Extra Study Halls Following up the lengthened lessons and increased number of failures, came the seventh and eighth hour study periods, compulsory to pupils who had received invitations to them in the form of F's. One failure plus a greater amount of work would make a better grade the next time, figured the faculty. A deserved popularity was enjoyed at first, but after four weeks of a good thing, it did not seem quite so enjoyable, and good results were seen. Certainly the extra study halls were an innovation, and they helped to make up for the many days missed in the fall. Clubs Last year the societies of Westport were very quiet, not to say dead. But with the new school spirit has come a greater loyalty to the clubs. The old established charter societies have felt the urge of the new day and awakened to un- usual activity. It is now a distinct honor to belong to a club where previously the novitiate had thought himself doing the favor. All were interfered with by the enforced vacation, but they have recog- nized their opportunities anyway, and made the most of them. Some weaker ones were united into strong clubs of unquestioned life. Others have pulled out of the mud by themselves. But either way, all go to make up a distinct element in Westport life. ...lt-.1--.T New Yells When Westport teams started on their brilliant careers, the need of new yells to help out the old ones was promptly filled. Old familiar tunes were given up-to-date words, and they produced a big effect when first sung in Convention Hall. Too much cannot be said for the cheer-leaders who kept us on our feet and howling for the scalps of the enemy. They had the pep and the winning spirit, just as the teams they cheered and the yells they led in had. They helped West- port get the will to win. Sophomore Organization Another new institution, a Sophomore Business Committee, has been founded. The Sophomores have been an ambitious lot, being the proteges of the Seniors, and they started something hitherto un- thought of. The class also put on a mixer which followed in the footsteps of those of the Seniors in its success. The Sophomores are comers. Debating The announcement of the ban on inter- high school debates this year came as a hard blow to Westport's hopes of a clean- up in this field. The influenza epidemic added another black mark on its record

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, -,. M..z.,f , ,, 2.2.4.1.,.,WF,iqul.,T,-3,1Q.nxfefn-A-..s-L----2355!-73-,:fff5,-:'f1fn:n:wnmf--fill fjzftxtn-'.-.f.f:z:-. .v::.m . t , , 111 THE WESTPORT HIGH SCHOOL HERALD. of selling advertising space in our paper and keeping ads out of the Herald, we have grown to an eight page news-maga- zine of distinction. Our ads have pro- vided the money for a paper of doubled size at the usual cost. Publishing the Crier met with difficulties. Hardly had things been first lined up when the flu ban hit us. -In spite of this we got out two editions during the holidays and ran on forced draft all the rest of the year. Needless to say, we are very proud of the Crier. We have worked with it and tried to make it a newspaper equal to the standard of the year. The dope has been presented in what we thought was a ,pleasing manner. In return for our labors we have had an unprecedented support. All of which we are very grateful for. With a new year we hope to progress in even greater strides, that is the we's who are not Seniors. To those we's and to all supporters of the Crier we wish good luck. Influenza Ban A Commencement on one of the last days of June, a six weeks' Vacation in the most delightful and usually busy time of the year, the shortening of courses of study, and the increase in the number of failures naturally needs ex- plaining. Kansas City was one of the first cities to be engulfed by the wave of Spanish influenza which rolled over the country. During the consequent bans on all public gatherings, the schools were closed and the pupils turned loose, some to profitable work, others to profitable and otherwise play. For unfailingly de- lightfully, warm weather, everyone was thankful, and the holidays were appreci- ated more in proportion. Then after a long period of idleness, nearly everyone went back to increased work and the cur- tailment of many outside activities which usually had made school life more in- teresting, and started to make up for lost time in a whole-hearted manner. This to the credit of the Westport of 1918 and 1919. ' War Work Last year Westport carried on an ex- tensive Red Cross Campaign. We became members of the Junior Red Cross organi- zation. Our Liberty Bond was given to that society. We held classes where hy- giene was taught by the Red Cross organ- ization. Our aim then was to relieve the suffering of those men, so gallantly fight- ing in the trenches. We hope that by the work we did that we alleviated some of their suffering. This year, the service has been de- voted to a broader scope of activity. Be- sides relieving the suffering of our soldiers, we have given our time to re- lieving the suffering of the people who have given everything to help the Allied cause. Without clothing, their suffering has been terrible, especially among the little children. Westport has made cloth- ing and sent it to them through the Belgian-French Relief and the Red Cross organization. lt will be years before Europe can hope to emerge fro-m the abyss of de- struction where the war has plunged her. The United States will continue to do everything to help her, and Westport, too, will help, because she is one hundred per cent patriotic. Military Training When we think of the work of West- port's battalion of cadets, we cannot but marvel at the progress made under the adverse conditions of the last year. Al- though hampered to an irreparable ex- 1391115 by the imposed influenza vacations, . .,.. .. .. .,,,f.- ,.. , ,, .. .1,,.-,L SA, ,.. .....w-f. 1,...,..,, , 0.54, :,,.,,,,,,,L,,:,,,.L.,,,,,,,,.. -..-f. .,- A -wmv-1-.7 51- ' gg-f - 'J - - -'- V ' M ----------.-----w 1- -----...K ff.:-an-:::'mxeI!i1,.fZ.151:I.:.!'.:.:Q,.4.,.-,...-...M -s ....,-.

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r .-.C-Q-,-,77 5,:.:c7.f,:,1-1 mgng-r v Lu ff .3--in 5 A -.-nnu,,,,,:-.,.-,q :uc I : v'z-r:.um.1Ia-an-.a,f , 1- ,- 16 THE WESTPORT HIGH SCHOOL HERALD. when it caused the debates to be called off. The despairing scholars found one solace however- Senate Debating. This form of verbal combat, originated by Mr. Humphrey, was tried out by his Public Speaking classes in a debate on the League of Nations in assembly. Its success was most justified since it offers a chance of speaking before an audience to a large number, -when before, few had been benefited. With a few changes, it should be made a permanent thing, not only for Inter-Public Speaking, but also for inter-class and society contests. l1 ' Mixers Mixers that mix are hard to find. Westport has had a number of the gen- uine article. Their success in making everyone feel easy has been partly due to the stunts which preceded nearly all of them. In staging a really artistic play, the Seniors lead all the others in the elaborateness of the entertainments. The jazz orchestra of one of Westport's pupils furnished music as good as that of out- siders and made the affairs seem more truly Westport. The excellent precedent of inviting the parents of the class of- ficers has been established, the mixers next year should follow their leaders. Enjoyable as well as profitable, the Mixers of 1919 are worthy of note. Senior Play A play which gave opportunities for acting of allkinds and yet was of direct personal interest to a high school aud- ience has been found. Such was the of- fering of the Senior Class of 1919. It was a big and difficult production, pre- sented in a big way. The spirit of the play is the spirit of Westport. The artistry of the players showed the ability and thoroughness of her students. The End of the Rainbow epitomized the Westport of 1919. Campaign of Friendship and Clean Living One of the most pleasant recollections of the Seniors will be that they organized and put across the biggest and best cam- paign of Friendship and Clean Living ever held either in Westport or in Kansas City. Unforseen conditions which necessitated its abandonment after three helpful days were the only mar on the otherwise smoothly running schedule, and these were not faced in Westport. Hard work and a good organization assured the suc- cess of the campaign even before it started. The opening rally for the boys caused a rush of applicants for interviews, as did also the first few conferences. The spirit of doing what was best for Westport also helped to put the meetings across. The girls' assembly with its well-liked speaker, also helped along the work of the High School Clubs. .. .. ,. ... ,.. .....w....u ... .. .,.f':. :.i,.....,.4...,.......,. -U . .1--. 1-... 11'-t'-infer gf-. -f - - - -' - ' ' 'v'f t 1' ' fa'vasv-azz:-u:::11..z:.ZeSv:Zf:Z?.:,:L4...L ,,.,,. ,. , , ,. , ,.