Newspapers / Rocky Mount High School … / Nov. 2, 1977, edition 1 / Page 2
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PAGE 2-THE GRYPHON, NOVEMBER 2, 1977 The GrypboB will inform its readers of matters of school, conuminity, and world interest and concern. All departments, activities, personalities, and organiziations'wili be given full coverage in proportion to their interest and relative importance to the entire school. The Gryphon will be student expression. However while exercising freedom of the press. The Gryphon will also assume the responsibilities of an ethical newspaper. Letters from students, faculty, and other citizens are welcomed and may be sent to The Gryphon, room 110. However, the editor reserves the right to withhold libelous or profane material from publication. Students Demand More Activities Questions have arisen lately concerning the lack of student activities, activities such as a Homecom ing dance and pep rallies. Many students have expressed a desire for a Homecoming dance and wonder why the student body “can’t” have a dance. It’s not a matter that there “can’t” be a dance. It’s just a matter of practicality and convenience. The Homecoming game ends at approximately 10 p.m. The football players, the center attraction of Homecoming, couldn’t take showers, wash their hair, etc. and be at the dance until 11 p.m. at the earliest. This leaves an hour for dancing. Why just an hour? The administration supports a policy (not written, just understood) of ending school functions by 12 midnight. This is because the school is located in a residential area. A few years ago the school held a function until 1 a.m. Many residents complained about the noise and called the police. The police came and asked that the activity end. What if the time of the game could be moved up an hour to leave more time after the game for a dance? That query was put to Athletic Director Dudley Whitley. Mr. Whitley explained that if the start of the game were moved from 8 to 7 that the expected crowd of spectators don’t show up. This results in a major financial loss for the athletic department. Since the proceeds from football and basketball support all other athletic endeavors, this flnancial support is important. Mr. Whitley expressed the willingness to try this time shuffle on a one year experimental basis. However, if the financial loss materialized as expected, the practice would be discontinued. Also, if another major activity were planned for the same day, i^ would de-emphasize the import ance of the game. Another area of concern to students is pep rallies. Why aren’t more planned? The fact and law remain that students must spend so many hours of school time in class. The first three periods of the day are longer than the last three. This allows 45 minute assembly every two weeks. The main problem is scheduling good assemblies. If every assembly turns into a pep rally, this shows a weakness in scheduling. Also, pep rallies should be special and strong. If there are too many, they become unimportant. It’s a question of sacrificing quality for quantity. There have been two excellent pep rallies, and the “Bananas” performances. This early in the year there isn’t that much good material for assemblies. The drama classes and band classes aren’t fully prepared for a presenta tion. . . Later on things will pick up with the traditional spring dances, assembUes and possibly one of the notary bands. Voter Apathy Apparent At School, City Polls In recent municipal elections only 29 per cent of the 16,712 registered voters, 4,774 people cast their ballots. This percentage is actually smaller since not all eligible voters even registered. Clarence Wiggins, Co-Chairman of the Elections Committee commented, “The citizens aren’t settipg a good example for the students by not voting. Maybe Senior High should set a good example for the citizens.” In recent student registration, 68 per cent of the Sophomore Class reg^tered. Over the past two years 71 per cent of the Juniors have registered. The Senior Class leads with 77 per cent registra tion. A total of 72 per cent of the student body is registered to vote. “It’s better than we expected,” stated Kaye Batts, Co-Chairman of the Elections Committee. “We just hope all 72 per cent show up ,to vote. At least it’s better than the city.” But in past school elections, only about one third of those who registered voted. Clarence remarked, “There’s not enough emphasis put on participation in voting. Most of the students are not aware of the missions of student government.” He also attribut ed low student voting to “a lack of school spirit, a lack of feeling that students should be involved in school government.” The officials who are to serve Rocky Mount were elected by 29 per cent of the registered populous. The vast majority of people declined to use their right to vote and elect officials. Only 1,191 students have exhibited their desire to retain their votes. Twenty-eight per cent of the student body effectively voted against student government. The 72 per cent, must turn out to vote for their and for student government. Maybe then the city will catch on. Bo Ghost Strikes Listen my children and you shall hear The ghost of Senior High’s career. On the thirty-first of October in Seventy-seven; Came down a poltergeist straight from heaven Who rendered chaos from here to there. He slammed the doors and caused books to fall By pushing, shoving, and tripping a bit, PranKs remained to be his chief call; Teachers dismayed and students a rit The ghostie’s smile resembled a many toothed saw. Now our poltergeist whose name is Bo Visits quite often and makes himself felt. By borrowing a pencil or crushing a toe; Or with a snowball giving quite a pelt He can be quite funny as you probably know But don’t run away or give him a scream For a trickster is all that Bo be. Just remember that this life is really a dream; Bo waits be^^nd the next D. T. Also beware'yoiir dish of ice cream. GOBELINS VISIT: Spiderman and Snow White trick or treat. Officials ask everyone to look out for poisonous treats and goodies with sharp objects inside. Photo by S. Clonts Editor's Echo Editor's Echo By KEITH KING A student’s life is filled with many conflicts and paradoxes. One of those paradoxes is school. School prepares for later life, life as adults, right? In school, one is taught to act in a mature manner. Unfortunately, this maturity has been measured purely in academic success. A person who makes good grades, always does his home work, and never misses school is considered to be mature. A student with less than desired grades, or a student without homework is deemed imma ture. A student may make some judgement on whether or not to do his homework. If a student decides that something else must be done at home, if something else can be more beneficial than homework, it makes no matter. This student doesn’t have his homework. Teachers may excuse such students, but the student may seem immature and undisciplin ed. On the other hand, school doesn’t judge a student’s matu rity by personal character or judgement. Students at Rocky Mount Senior High are reach- ing the age that they will go out into the world and make a living. Yet, here at school stu dents must be accompanied to assemblies by teachers. Also, if a student wants to go from a particular room to the library or restroom he must have a corridor pass or face detention. The teacher must write this pass out. This system doesn’t give the student much credit for knowing where he’s suppos ed to go. This happens to every stu dent. A student could be mar ried, be a mother or father, and still be treated as a “school child.” This has resulted from a generalization of students. Some students become delin quent, so other students must be punished with the guUty. Bad judgement by a few results in total disregard of good jugement of many others. It’s time school taught maturi ty in other areas than academ ics. Students should be allowed to exhibit their own self-con- trol, such as attendance to assemblies, etc. At this point I have no concrete solution, but after all, the first step to solving a problem is recogniz ing the problem. THE GRYPHON rocky MOUNT SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL 308 South Tillery Street, Rocky Mount, N. C. 27801 Member of Columbia Press Association Member of Quill and Scroll Member of SIPA Published Bi-Weekly EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Keith Kins MANAGING EDITOR . Clifton Barnes PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR Beth Hutchisson GRAPHICS EDITOR ASSIGNMENT EDITOR COPY EDITOR David Goff ADVERTISING MANAGER Kathy Carroll BUSINESS MANAGER ^.ocke CIRCULATION MANAGER l^^ry Fleming MATERIALS MANAGER Karen Walston PAGE EDITORS Pai;.’ 7: i>aLM* 9: Molinda IN-nny. .)’rry .loynor 11- m\ Hrannon - Kathy (.alhihan ‘ ‘ _ Sian Miller 1: Trai’v Syk«*s - Mary Fleniini' 2: llopi* Kelly (’liftm Harm*'* -i: Dciira Ib'niirrrson — Sle\o Frilon 1: .Xnjifla I.loyd - Kathy ('arroM l*aK‘ •"): Sam Clonts Payc H: KrediTirk - I’atinya HaltU* Page 12; Donna Mas>sic ; ADVISOR Mrs. Henrietta Barbour PRINCIPAL Mr. Elton Newbern ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS Mr. Charles Davis, Mr. Robert Miller
Rocky Mount High School Student Newspaper
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Nov. 2, 1977, edition 1
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