PAGE 2 - THE GRYPHON, FEBRUARY 10,1978
Tfce Gryphon will inform its readers of matters of school, community, and world interest and
concern. All departments, activities, personalities, and organizations will be given full coverage in
pn^rtion to their interest and relative importance to the entire school.
TTie Grypbon 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,
Voom 110. However, the editor reserves the right to withhold libelous or profane material from
^pblication.
Community Aware
Of Teen Problem
The subject of teenage pregnancy has often been
a topic of discussion for social scientists and
moralists.
Pregnancy in itself has been a topic for medical
textbooks, medical specialists, and authors of
children and childcare books.
Birth Control has been a subject of much public
discussion and legislature debate.
When they does a high school newspaper think
that it should involve itself with the topic. What
new information does it propose that has not been
covered?
The Gryphon Staff sought to explore community
resources which deal with the problem.
The staff didn’t try to write another textbook on
birth control methods and devices. They didn’t try
to write another pregnancy guide for young
mothers.
What was attempted was an effort to show just
how involved the community is with the problem. It
was learned that local citizens are working with
many local organizations to aid teenagers in famUy
planning, making decisions about birth control, and
coping with teenage pregnancy.
The staff also found that many community
leaders involve themselves with their neighbors in
discussing the topic. Several wise leaders work
with their young people to find answers to
questions related to pregnancy, sexuality and
morality. All in all, the staff found that the
community for the most part is very aware of the
problems and questions that accompany teenage
pregnancy. Furthermore, the community is taking
steps to deal with the problem.
It is hoped that the Gryphon focus on the issue on
teenage pregnancy will be taken in this attitude: as
a study of Community awareness and the situations
that arise as a result of teenage pregnancy.
If it is, the readers may gain some insight on the
subject. If not, the meaning will be missed and the
reader disappointed.
Many Seniors Complain
About Abused Privileges
Most students at R.M.S.H. look forward to the
day when they can finally become . . . Mighty
Seniors. An advantage of becoming a senior is the
privileges that only they can enjoy. These
privileges are constructed by a committee of
seniors who submit these proposed amendments to
Principal Elton Newbern for approval. This list was
drafted earlier in the school year. Most of the
privileges are applicable for the second semester, a
few for the entire year.
There are seven senior privQeges for the 77-78
school year. Among these are the exemptions from
exams by seniors who have a 90 or above average,
the senior picnic at the end of the year, and the
priority for seniors to park in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th
rows within the parking lot.
There has been a great deal of controversy
concerning the senior parking spaces in the parking
lot and the senior bumper stickers. Only seniors are
allowed to park in these spaces provided they
display a bumper sticker. Many underclassmen
have taken these spaces. However, underclassmen
neglecting to abide by the set priorities will receive
a one hour detention. Many seniors have failed to
display the sticker on their car causing them to also
receive a detention.
A large number of seniors have been complaining
about the appearance of the bumper sticker which
was originally designed by the committee presi
dent, who allegedly failed to get the approval of the
committee members. The design was then sent to
the printer to be duplicated and sold to seniors for
50 cents each.
Since a controversy has arisen concerning these
stickers, seniors are aUowed to display only a
portion of the sticker to identify their class rank.
In view of the disapproval of the bumper sticker,
it appears that a new sticker could be designed to
the satisfaction of those seniors involved.
ode To Senior
How do we love thee; let us count the ways.
We love thee for thy dull and tedious days.
And for thy many assemblies so filled with pep
With the Sophomores perched upon that last step.
We love thee for thy beloved cop
Who directs our traffic to a stop.
We love thee for that last nine weeks
Without the break that the student so seeks.
And for the delivery of junior class rings
A little late but the joy they still bring.
For the senior stickers in whose glory so bright
Look as though stricken with some unknown blight.
In spite of all these faults so apparent here.
We have, to this point, survived this year.
According to most Seniors, anything’s better than this year’s Senior
bumper sticker. (Photo by Hutchisson.)
SEITIIKING
Often I’ve heard the pros and
cons of the Equal Rights
Amendment debated.
During such discussions Fve
heard the con side mention the
possibility of coed bathrooms
and women in combat or other
such things if the Amendment
is ratified.
Then the Pro side counters
by saying such possibilities are
ludicrous and that all the
Amendment would do would be
to insure equal job opportuni
ties, legal rights, etc. for both
sexes.
Whether a result of ERA or
Women’s Lib or some such, I
don’t know, but I do know that
a situation that is “ludicrous” is
developing in Rocky Mount.
It was brought to my atten
tion by an English teacher the
other day during a regular class
session. The other members of
the class and myself were being
instructed on pronoun and ante
cedent agreement. We wer^
instructed that when referring
to an unknown person of an
unknown sex, use the mascu
line pronoun in general refer
ence, such as in the following
sentence: “When buying a car,
one should know exactly what
type car he wants.”
The teacher remarked that
this all was for naught, since
the textbooks were being re
written to include masculine
and feminine pronouns as such:
“ . .. one . . . type of car he or
she wants.”
Also the course guides for
the English Classes are being
re-written and all references in
the masculine pronoun form are
being edited out or coupled
with feminine pronoun refer
ences.
To me, such a waste of time,
money and personnel services
over such a frivolous matter is
stupid.
This double reference will
only lead to more complication
and confusion on the part of the
student.
As a writer, I can attest to
the fact that the practice will be
cumbersome and will probably
end up disregarded by writers
as a whole.
Maybe someone can invent a
new pronoun to cover the need
for such.
Anyway, all of this hassle
just goes to prove that whether
ERA is ratified or not, it will
have an impact, whether good
or bad, on our lives.
908 Sooth Tfllery Street, Rod^ Mount, N. ^..27801
Member of ColnmMa Prim Ajmo^li^ieD
Member of QniD and Sfaroll
Member of SIP A. ,
' I^iMidwdBi-WeeUy .
EDiTOR^^lBJ'. ^ Keith King
MANAGING EDITOR • • ‘ .X .. .Clifton Barnes
.-r^.-i-.‘.Beth Hutchiason
^.John Smith
Dan Thorp
f.,. iv;......David Goff
I’ .vV Kathy Carroll
.L^^'Locke
PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOJl.,,.
GRAPHICS EDITOR
ASSIGNMENT EDITOR,
COPt EDITOR .. ; ..
AbViEiRTISING MANAOfiR- ■
BpifJESS MANAGER
,'CwCULATlbNMANAGER ....! .'.rT?;.!... .Mary Fleming
MATERIALS MANAGER Karon Walston
PHOTOGRAPHY ... Jerry Joyner
NEWS SECnONHEAD Sykes
Page 1 Donna Maasie. Steve Fehon
Page 12 ^ Mary Fleming. Patinya Battle
FEATURES SECTIONHEAD .Leslie LoAe
Page 4;. ' Stan Miller
Page 5’ Karen Walston
Page6 -C^KPiwlerick
Pa^7 -AngelaLloyd
PageS LindaRoberson
SPORTS SECTIONHEAD .Sam Ck>nts
Page9 ‘ .Clifton Barnes
Pi^ 10 Kathy Callahan
Page 11 BOl Brannon
EDITORIAL SECTIONHEAD Hope Kelly
Page 2 Melinda Penny
PageS Debra Henderson
ADVISER . - Mrs. Henrietta Barbour
PRINCIPAL Mr. Elton Newbern
ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS Mr. Charles Davis