Williams High School - Messalonskee Ripple Yearbook (Oakland, ME)

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is THE MESSALONSKEE RIPPLE DUTCH DATES I think that it is a good idea for the girl to pay when she goes on a date with a boy-at least, some of the time. This needn't be done to embarrass the boy and it should be agreed upon beforehand. No boy wants to take a girl to the movies and have her step up and buy the tickets. Since she is going to pay, she should give him the money before they reach their desti- nation. If he is lacking in finances, she should not expect him to take her to an expensive or fashionable place. She should be satis- fied just to go down to a drug store for an ice cream soda. QThat is, if she considers her escort.J way to get around the money Another problem is to invite him to her house for to study together. She could with a group of other school chums and make fudge or pop corn. supper or invite him In the winter, you could go on a skating party and have refreshments afterward at your house. No girl should expect a boy to buy her expensive things or to take her to expensive places. A girl should like a boy for what hc is, not for the money he has. CASSIE MORRILL '50 HOMEWORK Much discussion has arisen over the topic of Homework. Out of twenty students who voice opinions, fifteen are definitely against homework. This is natural, because it is human nature to avoid work. All kinds of labor saving devices have been brought forth since the creation of man. All these machines and gadgets have been designed to lessen the work of man. However, he labors approximately eight hours a day. Man couldn't survive without work. He would either go insane from his idleness or starve. Actually, I enjoy thinking of school as my working day, and usually I don't mind homework. But along with what I con- sider my working day, I include football, basketball, baseball, band, and glee club as recreation. We go to school five and three-fourth hours a day and only five days a week. When I get home, I enjoy my hour and a half of studying if I have any to do. Homework needn't be confined to the home. Most of it can be cleaned up at school. High school study-life is very easy compared to that of the college and univer- sity. Lazy students furthering their edu- cation will be hit hard with the long assignments. HOWARD J. CHARLES, JR. '51 TEEN-AGE DRIVER TRAINING One of the big problems in our school today is whether or not we should have a driver training course. Why not? To be sure, it will cost some money, but not nearly as much money as many people might expect. It is estimated that 25500 will be more than ample. This sum will cover insurance, gas and oil, dual controls, and textbooks. We have a teacher who has been instructed how to teach this course, so can't we somehow raise the nec- essary fund?

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THE MESSALONSKEE RiPPLE 5 5461046 In a democracy such as ou1's, a good government depends upon the education of its people. Nearly everyone in this country is required by law to attend school until a certain age. Each year, a greater number of students complete high school and are graduated. These graduates can read, write, add, subtract, and have some knowl- edge of other subjects such as languages, science, and commercial subjects. These subjects are, without doubt, valuable to the student. Nevertheless, they will not be of much bencht when the time comes for the student to vote and assume other responsi- bilities of citizenship. This is when civics, history, and problems of democracy are useful-but how many students have taken these important subjects? At Williams High School, American his- tory is required for everyone. However, problems of democracy, which concerns the present governments of the world and how they are run, is chosen by a very small per- centage of the students. This is not en- tirely the fault of the students. This sub- ject is primarily for juniors and seniors. Our present schedule allows time for only one period of P. D. This particular period conflicts with several other junior and sen- ior subjects, including American history. Students are not only unfit for taking over responsibilities of citizenship, but also they are, for the most part, uninterested. This is perhaps not so much the fault of the school as of the parents who set a bad example by not bothering to vote or to at- tend town meetings. It's up to the schools to do something about this. lnterest in the government should be en- couraged in the grammar school. Grade- school children should also be acquainted with government procedures. More courses concerning governments should be taught in high schools. American history is un- questionably an important subject: but it deals with the past. Some subject similar to problems of democracy which concerns various types of government at the present time would, in my opinion, be of more value to the student. This subject should be made a required course, or at least the schedule should be arranged so that a larger number of students would have an opportunity to take it. The future of this country depends upon the education of its youth. It's time for some improvements in our schools. CAROL YORK '50 SMOKING ON THE Smoking on the school grounds should not be allowed. When a person gets so he thinks that he cannot go four hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon without running for a cigarette, he needs to see a psychiatrist. In my opinion, there is nothing so sick- ening as to sit beside someone who smells of stale smoke, or to walk into the basement or shower room and Hnd smoke just hang- ing from the ceiling to the floor. SCHOOL GROUNDS lt seems to me that if a school has no laws to prohibit smoking on the school premises, a person should have enough con- sideration for others so that he would not fill the locker room, shower room, or base- ment full of smoke. When someone ,rides by a school house and sees four or five people standing around smoking, he usually gets a pretty bad im- pression of the whole school. FRANKLYN MOSHER '50

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THE MESSALONSKEE RIPPLE 7 There are many schools in Maine that have a driver training course-large schools like Portland High to small schools like Belgrade High. People may ask, 'tls this course worth the work and money our town puts into itll The answer is definitely, Yes. For many years now, the reason for a great percentage of our accidents through- out the country is the teen-age driver, but not because he isn't a good driver. It is because he hasn't been taught to drive correctly, to respect traffic rules, or to re- spect the safety of others. In Maine, up to this date, not one person who has taken the driver training course in high school has had an accident. When we, the students of Williams High School, say that we want a driver training course, it is not only to benefit ourselves alone but also to guard the safety of every- one on the road. Oakland can do its part in keeping our highways safe, and helping our generation to become good, careful drivers by having a teen-age driver training course in Williams High. JOE READY '51 SELF-CONTROL Self-control is one of the most important characteristics anyone can possess. It is one of the principal reasons why some students get along with classmates and teachers so much better than other students do. Naturally, teachers are not too fond of a smart-aleck who persists in making uncalled-for remarks in class. Neither will students care much for someone who is al- ways having an outburst of temper. Self-control is especially important to those who take part in sports. Regardless of how good an athelete he may be, no one who talks back to officials, makes uncom- plimentary remarks on all their decisions, or picks a fight with an opposing player at the slightest provocation will be popular with the spectators. Eventually, he will probably find himself sitting on the bench. Self-control is equally essential to those who watch the games. Spectators and students certainly don't help the reputation of the school by booing or by making sar- castic comments aimed at the officials and the members of visiting teams. CAROL YORK '50