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

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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 ,,.,,. ,. , , ,. , ,.

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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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RI Q 1' KV 1 S- ,. 'i kk F ,.,- I l j lfloogly IN THE ART CLASSES A great deal of interest has been shown in the drawing classes this year, and a large amount of new and creditable work has been done. Besides the regu- lar work of the drawing classes, there have been other phases of art work stressed. Special attention has been given to the choosing of the appropriate and suitable. Apartments, small cottages, large houses, in fact, all kinds of houses, have been taken and fitted up suitably. A number of the pupils visited Suydam's Decorat- ing Shop and studied some of the ques- tions of interior decorating. Great attention has been given also to period furniture. The good taste that must be used to give it a beautiful and not incongruous effect was emphasized. Plans to visit many furnishing houses and study the furniture were made. When the Best Co., the makers of children's clothing, exhibited at the Muehlbach, the costume designing classes visited the exhibition. The biggest thing in the art year is the competitive work for the Herald. The top headings are competitive for the en- tire school, but the folk studying drawing always compete more enthusiastically. The Herald covers this year were uni- versally contributed by all four classes. With the exception of one Freshman and three Sophomores, the remaining pupils were Juniors and Seniors. Virginia Beck- er, a Junior, won the first prize, Ruth Roberts, a Senior, was given second place, and Katherine von Minkwitz, a Senior, was awarded third. There were five judges: F. C. Slaugh- ter, an artist of the Holland Engraving Co., Miss Henry, a Central teacher, Miss Brian, an instructor at Manual, Mr. C. T. McCown, an art collector, and Mr. J. M. Mott, a representative from the busi- ness world. The Herald wishes tothank these peo- ple who have drawn the headings and have helped in this way to make the Herald a success. Musical Contest This year when Superintendent Cam- mack, like the benevolent father in the dime novel, proclaimed the bans, the ef- fects were immediately felt in the Musical Department at Westpoiot. Besides having much of the time for instruction cut short, many activities were omitted. .To crown everything, The Pirates of Penz- ance, a light opera, was reluctantly given up. Pinafore was presented last year, and a slightly more difficult opera