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THE FULL MOON
March 13. 1972
Give Us A Cheer
A poll was conducted by members of the cheerleading squad
bringing to light students’ feelings about the cheerleaders. It has also
brought up some important questions that we would like to attempt to
answer through studoits’ comments and our own.
Are cheerleaders needed? Cheerleaders help to boost the team’s
spirit when they are losing . . . What would we do if cheering for our
team was against the law? . . . I am a J. V. football player and I’m 100
percent for the cheerleaders. Oieerleaders are needed and ap
preciated — comments from Bulldog ball players show this. It helps to
know that the school appreciates the efforts of the team.
How should cheerleaders be chosen? Cheerleaders are chosen for
their popularity, not their ability . . . There should be more black
cheerleaders . . . Cheerleaders should realize what their respon
sibilities are when they go out for the squad . . . Spirit is not deter
mined by the color of the cheerleader’s skin. Maybe if more blacks
went out for cheerleading, more would make it. Perhaps an impartial
judge should select the cheerleaders, basing the final decision on
ability, appearance, manner, and dedication. There must be a better
way than the present system of letting the student body vote.
Cheerleaders should also be made aware of what is expected of them
before they agree to becoming a cheerleader.
Are our cheerleaders doing their job? I think they’re doing a great
job. . . Cheerleaders aren’t appreciated enough . . . There are only a
few cheerleaders who really care enough about the team . . .It’s easy
to tell the ones who care. . . Perhaps it was not noticed by the student
body, but during the basketball season, all of the cheerleaders were
not at all of the games. Was this because of a lack of interest or for a
legitimate reason? As one student remarked, “Spirit shouldn’t be
forced.” This is very true, but one must admit that the situation is
pretty bad when spirit must be forced on a cheerleader. This un
doubtedly indicates that the girl doesn’t care for her team or her
school. However, cheerleaders have to have someone to cheer with
them, so disinterest is not to be blamed entirely on them.
What about pep rallies? Why don’t we have J. V. pep rallies? . . .
TTie lack of pep rallies shows the administration’s lack of interest in
the school teams . . . Students cheer for the spirit stick, not for the
team. . .According to members of our basket ball and foot ball teams,
pep rallies boost morale more than many people know — but only if the
students supply the pep. The more students hear of our teams, the
more interested they will be. As it is, almost no mention is made of
sports outside of the games. Pep rallies would inform students of
sports happmings, but we will have no more until we show more in
terest in the teams. It’s a vicious cycle.
Let’s don’t criticize the cheerleaders until we take a good look at
ourselves. In the words of one student, “Getting together is hard, but
not impossible.” With all the apathy that has somehow seeped into
Senior High, an awfful lot of getting together will have to be done
before we can show we really care.
Although there are areas that could use improvement, the majority
of the students approve of our cheerleaders and the work they have
done. However, if the deficient areas are to be improved, we will have
to give them our support and help.
A new club is being organized in ASHS. It’s a club unlike any now
known, for it demands a commitment that is for life. The organization
is the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. The purpose of the FCA is “to
confront athletes and coaches, and through them the youth of our
nation with the challenge and adventure of following Christ, par
ticipating in His Church, and serving Him through our vocations.” The
FCA is open to all athletes willing to make a commitment to Jesus
Christ.
TTie FCA has doubled its membership every year since its con
ception in the early 1960’s. Unfortunately, the Christian athlete has
received little attention from the news media. One can always hear of
the athlete that is busted for drugs or alcohol or the athlete whose
“thing” is to rebel against all authority. Yet, one seldom hears of the
athlete who after practice drives 50-100 miles to tell a group of young
people about his faith in Jesus Christ.
It is my hope that we can make the people in this area aware of the
life that is possible when one makes the total commitment for Jesus
Christ. These are supposed to be crucial times for our society. Old and
young alike are looldng for the answers to our problems. Many turn to
drugs or alcohol only to find both cause more problems than they
solve. Many associate with Jesus Christ hoping that a church mem
bership will take the place of a total personal commitment, but this
doesn’t work either. A^y not turn on with Jesus Christ? Why not get
high on the love of Jesus? Why not join forces with the greatest radical
to ever live?
Jesus Christ was the greatest exponent of love and peace to ever live
so why don’t the people who profess to be for love and peace turn to
him for guidance. Of course, no human can hope to equal his wisdom
and understanding but we can make the total commitment. This
seems to be where the shame of our society lies, we no longer have the
“guts” to make the total commitment. Or do we? (
—Charles Swanner
A plan for open lunch periods could follow steps similar to those of
other high schools. We could, at the beginning of the school year (or
whenever this might be enacted) have parents write a note of per
mission to the principal, thus assuming full responsibility for the
students. If the student is late or does not come back after lunch he
should be subject to suspension. Present modes would allow teachers
to know who was sick and who was not back from lunch.
Changes Pinned Down
Change! That has been the cry
of students in recent years. And
until recently, any time the ad
ministration finally broke down
and made a suggestion it was
usually met with disinterest.
But — no longer! Instead of the
usual apathy students show
toward new ideas, they have
shown a unique interest in the
curriculum study.
Approximately forty students
volunteered their time, and that
in itself is a surprise, for it takes
something really different to
capture the interest of more than
a handful of students.
However, the enthusiasm
didn’t stop there. Since the first
meetings, more students (who
had not volunteered) have come
to the meetings to listen and try
to offer their suggestions.
Tliis interest is really a shock,
compared to past attempts to
involve students with the school
— largest among those failures
being the Student Council. It
appears that students have
finally taken their own
suggestion — change — and have
become involved.
Ti' (TiWI ) '
Westerlund, alias “Aunt Nellie,” thrown in the clink.
Crime Does Pay For
American Problems
Friday, February 25, 20 odd
ASHS students were arrested for
disturbing the peace. Six police
cars arrived at the scene to
transport the culprits to the city
jail. Once there, the criminals
were advised of their con
stitutional rights. Leader
Westerlund (alias “Aunt Nellie”)
was handcuffed and placed in
solitary confinement. Patrolman
Greer fingerprinted the
prisoners.
Jorge Moutous, Argentine
Bandito, was nabbed for
possessing a forged passport.
Evidently his mother forgot to fix
him up before he left home.
“Put-up-your Dukes” Furr was
charged with careless driving
and resisting arrest.
Trooper Leopard, expert at
spotting cats who violate traffic
laws, came into the second period
class to discover inebriated in
tellects. He had the aid of the
breathalizer in his search for
dipsomaniacs.
“Madwoman” Marcia Carlson,
known for the formation of her
class caste system, was arrested
for molesting a sophomore.
“Cool Man” Calvin Ingram
aided in the escape of the
prisoners by crashing his big
orange school bus through the
pen gates.
The baffled police force was
left behind when Calvin’s driving
ability in his souped up machine
enabled the culprits to return to
Senior High in safety.
We are happy to announce that
classes are still continuing as
usual. But they are still:
WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE:
TTie American Problems
Day
After
Day
A class that is nothing but
lecture can be very boring. Day
after day students file in, sit
down, and supposedly absorb an
hour of words. But the truth of the
matter is that most of the words
go in one ear and out the other. In
this type of study, student par
ticipation is at a minimum, ^^^en
students are active participants
in class, they leam more,
As active participants the
students teach themselves. They
are allowed to decide the topics
and provide the materials and
resource persons. And while
working, students absorb
knowledge, leam to organize and
present interesting experiences,
and leam to respect one another.
The American Problems class
has this type of learning
situation. In this class, the
students decide what they want to
study. They break up into small
groups and decide on an idea for
study. The class then votes on
three topics, based on the
possibility of materials and
speakers. Each student gives an
oral report or gets a speaker.
More studies of this type are
needed. The upcoming
curriculum changes should
provide a way to include more
classes like this. We should not let
this opportunity for improvement
pass by.
Si
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