PAGE—TWO
THE BLACKBIRD. ROCKY MOUNT SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1962
BLACKBIRD GRAVEYARD HAS POTENTIAL TO BE KNOWN
BY EVERY PERSON IN THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
How Many More?
The Blackbird Graveyard is
truly a symbol of victory. After
each Rocky Mount win, in a tiny
graveyard in front of the central
kitchen, a burial ceremony is
preformed for our conquered
foes. The ledgend ofEgor,“The
Spirit of the Blackbirds, lives
on, as his father solemnly places
a tombstone in the ground, reads
the victory poem, and pronounces
Egor’s prophecy for the next
week’s game, "Hail to the
Varsity” is sung as a tribute to
the mighty Blackbirds who have
eliminated another foe. As the
Birds have burled their opponents
on the football field, the student
body puts the opposition to rest
in the Blackbird Graveyard.
Why is it that the entire
student body does not enthusi
astically support this thrilling
way of symbolizing our victories
on the gridiron? Why hasn’t our
Blackbird Graveyard been recog
nized by the adults in Rocky Mount
^d by people all over North
Carolina? What can we do to
correct both of these situations?
The first problem we face
is that of arousing student in-
Interest In Government Is Needed
Our government greatly influences our daily lives,
probably more so than any other American institution
other than the Church. In everything we do, the national,
state or local government is in some way connected with
the situation. It is logical, therefore, that we should
definitely understand the fundamentals and functions of
government. This knowledge of government can be
obtained either through our schools or through individual
study and reading. After acquiring an understanding of
our government, we should study the basic political
theories that form its backbone. By gaining a knowledge
of these fundamental theories we will recognize more
easily the problems within our government and the most
logical solutions to these problems.
As high school students of today, we should see that
we must form some basic political ideals. By doing so,
we will have laid out the ground to build these ideas on
as we mature and further our education. This will surely
make us better adults in the world of tomorrow. We will
underetand our government, promoting those candidates
and ideas that we think best. We will be politically
educated and informed, and after all, isn’t knowledge
actually the backbone of democracy.
Underclassmen Abuse Senior Rights
Seniors at Rocky Mount Senior High have several so-
called “senior privileges.” These ri^ts have been granted
by the faculty to signify that as seniors, they command
respect from the underclassmen. Having waited 11 years
to obtain the rank of seniors, the upperclassmen eagerly
looked forward to exercising their privileges.
Since the beginning of school, however, the few
privileges that RMSH seniors hav* been granted, have
not been totally respected by the members of the ^pho-
more and Junior Clares. The undercl^smen have had to
be repririiarided seriously tor their Cohduct in the audi
torium. When seniors were dismissed, many sophomores
and juniors also began leaving, thus violating the oldest
of the senior privileges. In the lunchroom, seniors have
had to actually struggle to gain their place at the head
of the lunchline. Every student of Rocky Mount Senior
High knows of the senior privileges and also that he
snould honor these rights, but more and more disrespect
is being shown toward the Senior Class.
Each member of the Sophomore and Junior Classes
should remember that one day, he will also become a
senior and have the use of senior privileges. If the rights
of the seniors are not soon acknowledged by each sopho
more and junior, measures will be taken to insure the
high honOT and reputation of the Senior Class of Rocky
Mount Senior High.
THE BLACKBIRD
. .ofticial publication pf
' L_l LJ
RocRyWuiitSeniorlligh
terest in the graveyard and in
the burial ceremonies. About one
hundred truly school-spirited
students do attend the rituals
immediately following the ball
games. Why doesn’t everySenior
High School student who goes to
the games go to the burial after
wards? Is it because they don’t
know that the ceremonies are
being performed? If so, more
publicity should be given.,
Possibly there should be
reminders on the bulletin as well
as on the intercom.
We come to our second problem
now. Why isn’t the graveyard
known all over town and the
state? Some people may not even
know where the graveyard is
located. Should it possibly be
moved to a different spot where
it can be seen by everyone, yet
still have the simplicity of the
secluded location where it is
now?
On the whole, however, the
Blackbird Graveyard idea has
much merit and surely rated
commendation. It is a truly ex
cellent idea, and certainly needs
the support of the entire student
body. We should let it be known
to the town of Rocky Mount and
the state of North Carolina that
the Blackbirds intend on burying
each of their opponents. The
Blackbird Graveyard could
indeed develop Into a really great
symbol of victory.
Vn
Field Of Law Is Excellent Career
Fof Students With Varied Interests
(Editor’s note: Here are several
slips, funny ads, bits of philos
ophy, and other little tidbits that
were found printed in newspapers
across the country.)
(1) From the Marysville-Yuba
City, Calif., Ais>eal-Democrat:
“Greater control of automobile
traffic on the tops of levees in
Sutter county will be made
possible through a new county
ordinance, now in the process of
complication,”
(20 From an ad in the Los
Angeles Times: “Fly now, pay
later! You can fly Budget Fare
on the Golden Jet for only $7,50
down, take up to 20 minutes to
pay.”
(3) “Ever notice? the man who
never made an enemy never made
anything”. T. A. Lally, Bridge
port, Neb., News-BIade.
Law , like government. Is
concerned with society, with men
and women In their daily lives,
With the rights and conduct of
citizens in relation to each other
and In relation to society as a
whole. Law affords, therefore, a
fascinating penetration into the
complexities of human behavior.
The lawyer finds his work a
vast variety of problems call
ing for his wisdom and advice,
In his defense of life, liberty,
and property.
The lawyer, if he is to pro
perly fulfill his function, must
be a man of high moral character
a man of learning, with a
well disciplined mind, capable of
keen and positive insight into
complex situations, and capable
of clear, definite interpetatlon of
the law in Its application to
particular cases. The lawyer
must be able to express himself
forcefully, intelligently, and in a
manner that is appealing to his
hearers. He must be a gentleman
convinced of the vital importance
of his life in society, enthusi
astic and properly interested in
Purposes Are Needed To Establish
Program For Student Organization
Member of the
Columbia Scholastic Press Associaticjn
Editor Dwiffht Thomas
Assiiitant Editor J. C. Kermon
Advertising Manager Nancy Helms
Business Manager Dell Harris
Circulation Manager Mike Floyd
Art Editor Betty Armstrong
1st Page Marilyn Spencer
2nd Page Greg Low
3rd Page Jimmy Williams
4th Page Carlton Edwards
5th Page j. c. Kennon
6th Page David Lamm
7th Page Mike Fioyd
8th Page Dell Harris
Reporters . Barbara Swinson, Cheryl Andrews, Ellie Watson,
Betty. Armstrong, Laurie Collins, Nancy Peyton,
Sherry Bolluck, Jeff Kincheloe, Linda Edwards,
Ann Chandler, Jean Joyner, Jay Kridel, Bob Sides
Advisor Mrs. Z. L. Williams
Principal Mr. C. M. Edson
(Editor’s note: These articles
concerning the Student Organiz
ation will be continued through
out the year. Each will deal with
some phase of the Student Org
anization that needs to be ex
plained and emphasized more.)
There are several general
purposes and aims defined and
implied in the Constitution of the
Student rOrgaWzation of Rocky
Mount Senior High School. Each
student should be aware of these
objectives for the Student Or
ganization, for everything the
Student Council does falls into
some category that is outlined
in its constitution.
The Preamble of our consti
tution states the general purposes
for which the Student Organiza
tion is established. These are
the basic goals for which It is
constantly striving, as well as the
limits for its functions.
The first stated objective of
the student organization is to pro
mote student participation in the
government of our school. If the
students are allowed to handle
certain school affairs which are
delegated to them from the ad
ministration, they can feel as
though they are an actual part of
their school. This student feel
ing is necessary in order to
have student co-operation in
school functions. Of course, this
leads to interest in the school
among the students, which is the
second defined objective of the
Student Organizatlonl Therefore
the first goal of our student
Council, the encouragement of
student participation, is actually
a prerequisite for the second
goal, the stimulating of student
interest in school affairs.
Our Student Organization is
also established to stress
scholarship, leadership, char
acter, and service among the
students of Senior High. These
are natural goals which can be
easily detected In nearly every
thing the Student Organization
does. They are indirectly shown
by the Student Organization in
its projects, though the Student
Council does sponsor some acti
vities to directly promote these
objectives.
All o f these purposes are the
foundation for everything the Stu
dent Organization undertakes.
Each activity represents one or
more of these objectives, and in
some way promotes the general
welfare of Rocky Mount Senior
High School.
The outlined purposes certainly
make our Student Council a much
more effective organization. Any
group must set some goals before
it can truly operate efficiently.
his work, and unwilling to sac
rifice principles for expediency.
A student may prepare for law
in many ways, as no single college
curriculum can be designated as
the exclusive preparation for law.
Though the student thus may
choose one of several curricula,
whether technical or non
technical, in his preparation for
law, he should be careful to obtain
a broad background including
courses in accounting, eco
nomics, English, history, mathe
matics, philosophy, and ethics,
political science, and the natural
sciences. He would greatlybene-
fit from courses in modern lan
guage, sociology, and the study of
literary classics. Everything that
will give him a deeper under
standing of his fellow man Is of
extreme importance to the
sincere student of law.
The student who seeks to ob
tain the Bachelor of Law de-.
gree must pursue a three-year
curriculum In day sessions of
law school, and a four-year
curriculum In evening sessions.
He must be prepared to pass a
state bar examination upon com
pletion of his law school train
ing.
Opportunities in the field of law
are too numerous to be de
scribed in this article. The ex
perienced lawyer has further
possibilities in government,
business, industry, and In non
governmental organizations,
which need legal advice. The
lawyer has the possibility of be
coming a Judge and partake of the
satisfactions and compensations
of that high office.
Law is not merely an occup
ation, it is a life, and the as
pirant must, if he Is to be a
worthy lawyer, value his pro
fession above its compensations.
Ben Blackbird
Sez
BACK THE
BLACKBIRDS
ALL THE WAY