BEAT
DURHAM
THE BLACKBIRD
Published by the Journalism Class of Rocky Mount High School
Vol. IX, No. 4
Friday, February 11, 1938
6c Per Copy
Junior, Senior High Officers
Chosen For Spring Semester
Again Snead Low to Head Sen
iors; Billy Arie Selected
By Juniors
CLASS LEADERS ELECTED
Snead Low was re elected to his of
fice as president of the Senior high
school to head the list of newly elect
ed student government leaders. Others
selected as officers of Senior High are
Phyllis Perritt, vice-president; John
Chambliss, secretary; and Doris Roh
bins, treasurer. They succeed Eddie
Ryals, vice-president; Bill Leloudis,
secretary; and Mary Lee Daughtridge,
treasurer, who served during the last
semester.
Heading the Junior high school or
ganization are Billy Arit% president,
Bill Gurganus, vice-president, Elsie
Adams, secretary, and Jimmy Satter
field, treasurer. Retiring leaders in
clude the president, Charles Rhine-
hardt; vice-president. Anne Bennett;
secretary, John Daniels; and treasur
er, Elizabeth Pant.
The senior class chose Nell Speight
as president: Prank Williams, vice-
president; Constance Sweeney, sec
retary; and John Perry, treasurer.
Again the juniors decided on Nel
son O'Qulnn, their former president,
to direct the activities of the class.
Serving with him are Billy Young,
vice-president; Jean Lewis, secretary;
any Pete Strum, treasurer.
The boys came nto their own in
the tenth grade, after having let the
girls “rule the roost” for the fall term.
Tom Harris, Carroll Gardner, Jim
Johnson, Johnny Daughtridge. lil,ted
in trh® oMer 6i their positions, are
“the ones” now.
Those responsible for the guiding
of the ninth grade for the rest of the
school year are as follows: Zenobia
Wheless, president; Olin Perritt, vice-
president; John Wilkins; secretary;
and Jack Purvis, tretisurer.
__ Be^ty Atkins came through victor
ious in the race for president of the
freshman class. Nooky McGee, Jan
ice Worsley, and Graham Williams
were the other successful candidates.
The elections committee of the stu
dent government organization tabulat
ed the votes, and made known the re
sults.
Mickie Bennett and Prances Daugh-
(ContlDued on page four)
Blackbird Staff Surveys
Opinion Of School Paper
The journalism class recently con
ducted a survey to find out what op
inion the students have of the “Black
bird.” Each member of the class in
terviewed six students.
Decidely the most popular feature
of the paper is the Sports section.
Editorials proved to be the least pop
ular. A large majority said they did
read the editorials and advertise
ments.
In stating whether they thought too
much space was devoted to athletics,
the answer was an overwhelming no.
Nearly every student said his family
read the paper. The “Gossip” and
“Blackbird’s Eyeview” were the most
popular columns.
Every student interviewed was ask
ed to give brief suggestions for the
improvement of the paper. Sugges
tions were to have less stale ne^vs in
the paper and more pictures.
Choric Speaking Class
Will Recite At Meredith
Meredith College will be the scene
of the next appearance of the Rocky
Mount high school Choric Speaking
Class when they appear there before
the college student body. An invita
tion was received recently by Mr.
Edson, director of the group, from
Dr. J. B. Brewer of Meredith College
to present a program of varied selec
tions on February 23 at 12:30 A. M.
Negotiations are now being made to
give a performance at Needham Bro
ughton high school in Raleigh, earli
er in the day.
It has also been learned that the
speech choir will perform again in
nre-'nvUUi. thl.s time in a program to
be given before the Greenville high
schooL
New selections are being rehearsed
at the present by the department. In
cluding: Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address,
Tennyson’s “Bugle Song,” “Crossing
the Bar,** and Poe’s ‘•The Bells,*
RMHS PUPILS
WRITE PLAYS
Tom Avera, Billy Rawls, and
Reece Thomas Submit Orig
inal Dramas in Contest
Creative genius is on the loose!
Following the custon of the past three
years, the high school dramatics de
partment has again entered the ori
ginal play production contest spon
sored by the University on North
Carolina; four plays, written by Tom
Avera, Billy Rawls, and Reece Thom
as have been submitted. The win
ning plays, to be announced this
month, will be produced at the an
nual dramatics festival at Chapel
Hill in March.
Two of the plays were written by
Tom Avera. The first, “Murder in B
Flat,” is a three-act mystery drama
dealing with strange murders com
mitted by an unknown hand. The
second, “The Brain Fantasy,” is a
one-act choric drama taking place in
the brain of man. Tom is one of the
few high school dramatics students
who have attempted to write a three-
act play or a choric drama.
Billy Rawl's play, “The Wrong Dam
Speaker,” is a mountain folk comedy
in one act. The setting is In western
North Carolina, and the play is con
cerned with the humorous situation
that occurs at the dedication of a re
cently built dam.
“The Medal”, written by Reece Thom
as, is a one-act tragedy which also
has its setting in the mountains of
western North Carolina. The time of
the drama is immediately following
the Civil War, and the play is the
story of two brothers.
For three years the dramatics de
partment has won honors in the ori
ginal play production contest. Sadie
Mae Deal won first place twice with
her plays, “The Word of a Huckins”
and “The Bridal Chamber.’ Last year
Tom Avera won second place in the
contest with “There’s Always Reno.’’
Mr. Edson, dramatic director, has
stated that in the future, play writ
ing will become a definite part of
the dramatic program.
Playmasters Start
Contest Rehearsals
Dramatists Select “The Brave And
The Blind”
The U. M. H. S. Playmasters have
already started rehearsals for the
coming drama contest. The playmas
ters have selected a one-act drama
“The Brave and the Blind.”
The play has as its setting the war-
ridden Alcazar of Spain. The plot
deals with the besieged rebels In the
Spanish war. The play moves quick
ly, and there is not a moment that
is not packed with thrilling suspense.
The dramatic ending of the play is
a masterpiece of human drama in It
self.
All parts of the play have been ten
tatively cast and those included are
Bobbie Williams, Haywood Taylor.
Dan Holmes, Thomas Easterling, Billy
Avera, Robert Bobbitt, Nelle Speight,
Eveline Ijooney, Billy Rawls, Leroy
Murchison. Elsie Adams, Bill Shearin,
Kathryn Jones, Milton Henry, Tom
Avera, D. B. Powell, Jr., and C^l At
kins.
“The Brave and the Blind” promises
to be one of the best dramas ever
presented by the Playmasters, and one
that has a good chance to win the
state contest. The play will be pre
sented in chapel in a short time and
will then go to the preliminary con
test in the early part of March.
Bennett Presides At
General Chapel Meet
‘‘The officers can’t do it; the teach
ers can’t do it; it’s up to you,” re
marked Mickey Bennett, president of
the consolidated junior-senior high
school, Friday morning, February 4,
In the auditorium, at a meeting held
to give the student body the semester
report of student government activi
ties.
After reports from the chairman
(or a representative)! of each commit
tee, Mickey discussed the progress of
(Continued on page four)
MICKEY BEINNETT, president of
the Junior-Senior high school,
who walked away with the Sen
ior superlatives. Iffickey was voted
most popular boy, best-all-roimd,
best sport, and most intelligent.
Junior National Honor
Society Elects Leaders
Officers for the charter group of
the junior National Honor Society
were elected Monday afternoon, Jan-
uai-j' 10, at a meeting held in the
cafeteria.
Alice Innes was made president;
Virginia Lee Knight, vice president;
Laura Ann Parker, secretary; and Bill
Arie, treasurer.
They chose Wednsday as the day
for their future meetings.
Lulu Wyatt Wilkinson, president of
the senior National Honor Society had
dharge of the meeting, and Doris
Robbins led in the devotionals.
The other junior members recently
taken in are as follows: Phillis Bry
ant, Zenobia Wheel'ess, Anita Whee-
le:ss, Nancy I^ean, Eugenia Marshburn,
Norma Ga^-land, Teddy Poplin, and
Local Students Compete
In Journalism Contests
The journalism students and the 12
J English students have recently parti
cipated in four contests: advertise
ments, sports, head line writing, and
copy reading. The contest is spon
sored by Quill and Scroll and is held
semi-annually.
Constance Sweeney and Mary Lee
Daughtridge took the copy reading
contest; Prances Henry, the sports
writing contest; Mildred Thorp, Ella
Mae Lane, and Betty Knowles, the ad
vertisement. All the journalism and
12 J English students participated in
the headline contest. Only one paper
from each contest was submitted to
the final judges at Medill School of
Journalism. NoHhwestem Universi
ty.
In the fall contest, Mary Lee
Daughtridge won honorable mention
for her editorial writing. Last year
Mary Lee won the national first place
in a news judgment contest and
Prank Lee Greathouse received honors
for the composing of an original ad
vertisement.
The results of the recently held
contest have not been anounced.
Says The Governor
‘R<‘ky I\Tount is a fine town
and it hjis an excellent school
system” stated His Excellency the
Governor of North Carolina to a
Blackbird reporter.
The Governor w^s here a few'
days ago as the gu^t speaker of
the Chamber of Commerce, and a
high school reporter had the pri
vilege of meeting the distingui^e-d
gentleman in the Ricks hbtel lob
by prior to the banquet affair.
In a direct and friendly manner
the chief of state answered the
questions put to him by the young
journalist. Wlien asked his opin
ion of the appointment of Reed to
the Supreme Court bench the Gov
ernor voiced his approval.
He I’oiccd his opinions of a
(bird term for the President by
declarhig “I do not think he will
run again.”
In regard to the filibustering In
Congress. His Excellency stated
that lie considered it justifiable
In defeating a very unfair mea
sure.
Senior Class Takes First
Place On Scholarship List
STATE TESTS
WILL BE HELD
Many Departments Will Enter
Competitive Contests For
State-Wide Honors
Whpen the new year rolls around,
all the students begin to train ex-
issively for the academic contests,
both state and national.
The Joumalism department par
ticipated already in proof reading,
sports writing, ad writing, and head
line writing contests, which were spon
sored by the Quill Society. The win-
ners have not been announced yet.
This year for the first time the
University of North Carolina Exten
sion Division is sponsoring a physics
contest. Mr. Privott, physic instructor
in the high school, plans to enter
about five of his students. The test
ill he held on February 11.
Miss Aycock, Spanish teacher, plans
to enter Mildred Morris, Lilia Dale
Rosenbloom. Lula Wyatt Wilkinson,
Hazel Garris, Dorothy Jackson, Reece
Thomas, Rose Carlton Dunn, Verna
Bradley, and Frances Henry in the
Spanish contest which will be held
March 18. Last year Frank Davis of
Rocky Mount won first place.
The French instructor, Miss Cralg-
hill, intends to enter about fifteen of
her second year students In the
French contest to be held March 4.
No students of Rocky Mount High
School participated in the contest last
year.
Misses Ricks and Bond plan to en
ter several students of the trigono
metry and senior algebra classes in
the mathematic contest April 29.
Miss Ferrell will enter about four
students of the third year Latin class
in the test to be held February 18.
The Univ'erslty of Nortn Carolina
Extensior Division is sponsoring the
Latin, French, Spanish, physics, and
mathematic contests in order to in
crease the interest of the high school
students In the field of scholarship.
The D.A.R. and the U.D.C. are giv-
ing prizes in the history department
for essays written on the study of a
number of designated subjects.
The commercial departments plans
to enter a number of students in the
several classes of shorthand and typ
ing contest, but the date has not been
announced.
Seniors To Engage In
Part Time Vocations
Students WiU Gain Valuahle Working*
Experience
"Eighteen seniors are interested in!
doing part time work this spring,”!;
according to an announcement by Mr.;
Justice, vocational director.
The purpose of this plan Is to give;
student.s w'ho expect to go into cer-’
tain vocations, such as the business;
field, technical work, and office work,;
an opportunity to obtain a small am-i:
ount of experience under actual work-i
ing conditions in work relating to^
their vocational choice. Another rea-l
son for this part-time work, which isl
done without pay, is to enable thei:
boys and girds to get around the'
awkward situation that usually exists
when one with no experiences begins,
on his first job.
The .'students who participated in,
this work last year and their re-*
spectlve working places were as fol
lows: Elizabeth Low', Y.M.C.A.;!
Frances Mehle. Atlantic Coast Line
Rjiilroad; K. D. Batchelor, Peoples
Bank: Helen Saunders, Wilkinson and
Bnlluck; P. G. Cobb, Garret Tobacco!
Company: and Bumice Warren, radio
Station WEED.
Mr. Justice further stated that thei
work will possibly last three months;
and that the guidance department \as
Well pleased with the interest that isj
being shown in this project, especially,
by the girls. i
The .seniors will report at their em
ployer’s office during a part of the
school day and do workk closely re-
-embling that which will be done in
regular job.
R. J. Reynolds High offers trade
and business classes in free night
schools for adults and students over
i
—Pino Whlpers, Winston-Salem.
Twelfth Grade Claims 37 Names
On. Honor Roll; Juniors Come
Next With 16 Per Cent
GRIFFIN’S ROOM HIGHEST
Who says seniors are dumb? Un-
(^arclassmen—freshmeni, sophomoreSi
and juniors ssay so.
Well, last semester the worm turn
ed. The twelfth grade led the honor
roll with twenty students on the “A”
honor roll and seventeen on the “B”
honor roll. This number came from
an enrollment of 185 pupils maifiyig
20 per cent of the class on this dis
tinctive list. It seems evident that
since this grade led in scholarship
the exti-a year has been beneficial to
many students.
Following close on the seniors heels
(in numbers though not percentages)
came the lowly freshmen, who bad
thirty-five names on the roll. Five
“A” students and thirty “B” students
were the eighth-graders making the
honor list. However, the has
an enrollment of 269 pupils and only
13 per cent of these were included on
the list.
The juniors took third place accord
ing to numbers. Out of 147 students
enrolled 8 were listed in the “A” hon
or group and 16 in the “B” group.
According to percentages, however,
the eleventh graders are entitled to
ond place having sixteen i>er cent erf
their cLass members on the honor roU.
Pollowh?g in order were the tenth
grade with four pupils in the all “A”
group and 17 in the “B,” and the
ninth grade with three “A” students
and fifteen “B’ students. Again,
however, percentages changed this
ranking giving the ninth grade fourth
place with 8 per cent of their
in the honor ^roup and the tenth
grade fifth pla with 6 per cent of
their class making the honor rolL
Among all the home rooms in the
iIiT-e «Qhoo?, Griffln’e twelfth
grade room took the highest honors
with seven seniors m«.k!ng nothing
but “A’a” and five averaging “B’s”
for the semester. This number from
an enrollment of 35 pupils gave the
class the honor of having 34 per cent
of its membera on the honor list.
The next highest home room was
the eleventh grade room of Miss Pace.
This room had four pupils on the "A”
honor roll and 7 on the “B” honor
roll. According to percentages, how
ever, this class took first place hav
ing 35 per cent of its enrollment in
the honor group.
Scouts Celebrate Founding
Of Movement In America
This week, February 6-12, is the
twenty-eighth anniversary of the
Boy Scout movement In America.
Over one million Scouts are celebrat
ing this event.
In Rocky Mount the celebration be
gan Sunday, February 6, with a spe
cial message to Scouts by the Rever
end Norman Johnson at the First
Presbyterian Church. Monday night
President Franklin D. Roosevelt, hon-
rary president of the Boy Scouts of
America, addressed the Scouts over
the three national hookups. A "Wlio-
operee” was staged at the First Met
hodist Church Sunday School room
Tuesday night. Members from each
troop in the city parUclpated in the
program. Demonstrations of fire by
friction and knot tying, mass sing
ing, and an O’Grady drill* featured
the program.
Eagle Scouts from each troop ap
peared before each of the civic clubs
in the city and made short talks on
the history of scouting.
Saturday morning a tree-planting
campaign will be carried out- One
thousand pine seedlings will be plant
ed in Rocky Mount by Scouts from
each troop.
House And Grounds Group
Inspects All Home Rooms
Members of the House and Grounds
Committee, composed of Haywood
Taylor, Chairman, Rose Carlton Dunn
Phyllis Perritt, Dillard Bulluck, Frank
Williams, and Charles Powell, recent
ly graded the home rooms of the
school and used the point system of
grading for condition of the rooms
such as position of shades, paper on
floor, in the desks, and behlnl the
radiators, pictures, bulleUn boards,
(Continued on page ' four)