High life. volume (None) 192?-19??, September 24, 1976, Image 2

Page 2 leN day 6 on+il a THE HIGH LIFE (i September, 24, 1976 New Policy Allows Student Absenses Who Will It Be In 76 Once again it is that time, that comes about every four years which is known as the “election year”. Of course, everyone knows this. We are spoon-fed the every move of the candidates. Our newspapers and other forms of media are dominated by the news of the campaigns. This summer, three networks showed us almost every minute, without relief, of the two conventions live (if you can call conventions “live”) from Kansas City and New York. All this coverage and hoopla surrounding the election and yet the American voters are not coming out to the polls. It is estimated that a little more than half the eligible voeters will turn out to the polls in November. Why are the people so apathetic in exercising democracy’s so- called greatest right, the right to vote? Even in our bicentennial year, people are not interested in voting. Are people becoming disen chanted with bigtime politics and candidates? Or do Americans just care less n 1976? After Watergate and all the national disgrace that occtired, Americans feel betrayed. The fact that they, the voters, put their faith and trust in one man who turned out to be something less than a bungling common criminal could be the cause of the lack of voter interest. People don’t want to take the responsibility of making a mistake such as many people did in 1972. This is one theory as to why people are uninterested in politics this year. Another is that, until lately, Jimmy Carter and Jerry Ford were little known outside of their own homestates. People tend to be less excited over someone they^have hardly heard of. When Ford took over office after Nixon left, many people asked the question, “Who’s Jerry Ford?”, And, before this year, not many people could name a single governor of Georgia except for Lester Maddox. It is hoped that this year’s candidates can restore the faith in government and politicians, to the American public. After years of bickering, students forging notes and receiving assorted zeroes for unexcused absence, the Greens boro School Board has at last departed from the ancient attendance policy which forced students to lie, cheat and steal their way out of school. The new policy allows students to miss up to ten days each class period per semester without having to show any form of an excuse. Almost all students are totally in favor of the new policy while most 0^ the administration and teachers seem to be taking a wait-and-see attitude towards the new standard. It now appears that the School Board has loosened its strict ties from the hands of senior high students. They have given the responsibility of the students attending class to the students themselves. This will give the students a chance to attend such functions as the GGO and getting out of school early for a beach trip at Easter without having to falsify School Should Be More Than Just Books Letters: To The Editor Editor: Greensboro is lucky in that it serves to house a chapter of the North Carolina Civil Liberties Union (NCCLU), an affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union. Since the closing of the Center for Student Rights, the NCCLU has not been actively involved in the struggle for students’ rights. Spokeswoman Liz Wheaton stated, “...everyday we (NCCLU) must deal with people, both young and older, who have lost jobs, money, property, and many times their freedom because they did not know their fundamental rights.’’ Heed this important statement of Abe Fortes, Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court in a 1969 case: “Students in schools are ‘persons’ under the Constitution. They are possessed of fundamen tal rights which the State must respect, justice as they them selves must respect their obligations to the State.’’ Any student threatened with expulsion deserves a formal hearing with school officials during which he can defend himself against changes made. A student may dress as he wishes as long as his personal appearance is not unhealthy or indecent. Students are guaranteed free dom of the press within their schools as long as it does not overstep the law. Remember that a locker is only rented and school officials have the right to open it when they choose to. Object but do not physically resist a search of your locker. Avoid trouble by not keeping anythng that could be embarassing in your locker. Students have the right to speak up if they feel they have been discriminated against. They can refuse to take part in patriotic ceremonies also. Preg nant students must be respected. When confronted by the police object to a search, but never physically resist, never! Presently the NCCLU is interested in speaking with students who would like to design a pamphlet elucidating the rights of young people in and out of school in connection with both the school administration and the police. The phone number of the NCCLU is 273-1641. Please call; the NCCLU wants to talk with students. The NCCLU also provides speakers and materials as their limited resources allow. Carol Eddy Another summer has come and gone. We try to sit back and reflect. What have we done and where has all our time gone? School starts up again right as we are starting to get the summertime doldrums. But class begins and we’re daydreaming about all the exciting activities we could be doing if it were only summer again. Yes, school has started again. The year has scarcely gotten under way when the student finds himself locked into another long year already wanting it to end. Homework, registration fees, teachers and all the pressure which goes with these common place happenings which accom pany the opening of a school year start to pile up on the student. The first week or so (depending on the student), the student seeks out some relief from this hazardous time of year. But no outlet can be found except for the too-short weekend which is crammed full of activities so the student is exhausted by the time school begins on Monday. But wait, school isn’t as bad as all that. There are many good things about school opening. Not the classes, tests on Monday mornings, but the things that go on in the school environment. The common student at the beginning of any given school year may stop to question this statement, but as the year wears on, he will find something about this institution which he enjoys. Take, for instance, the opportunities which arise from the school environment - the many clubs, organizations, bands, orchestra, athletic teams and many other activities to which a student can apply his various talents or interests. A student may think of school as a place solely for books, teachers and desks. It can be that way if the student wishes. But, if one wants to stretch out into other aspects in his spare time, then there are more things for the student to do than he possibly has time for. A student never has to be bored during the school year. Practically every night there is a school-related function which the student can apply his valued time. A concert, an athletic event, a play or any number of things occur in a given week. And now with a new intramural schedule of activities being formed, any student can participate in some form of athletic event. All the student has to do is want to. Participation in any extra curricular activity will be a learning experience as well as leading people to new relation ships. School should be more than an 8:30 to 3:30 day. To experience the high school years to their fullest, one should be involved with what is going on around him before he has to leave it behind. Our Thanks The entire HIGH LIFE staff would like to express our utmost appreciation to all students who subscribed to HIGH LIFE in our recent drive. Your support has been greatly appreciated. It is for the students, we produce our paper and your help is greatly desired. Also, we would like to show our thanks to those students in Ms. Sroog’s third period Journalism lA class, who without their help our subscription drive would have not succeeded. Their help in promoting it with their posters and announcements, as well as going to the homerooms to collect the money. HIGH LIFE thanks all of you. a note or having their parents to do the lying for them. With ihis new policy, the students will learn that it will not be easy to miss ten, or for some people seven to eight, class periods and still be able to pass. The student who wants to learn and receive the best grade he can will budget his absences properly. The new policy will give the schools a semi-college situation. Students will learn that if they want to receive an education, they must attend class. When the college-bound student arrives at the institution of higher learning, they will have already been subjected to attending class at their' own discretion and, therefore, know how to handle the situation. Whereas, if the former policy hadn’t been changed, then many students would have abused the freedom and possibly have been a flunk-out statistic at the end of the semester. The School Board should be commended for hearing out the students requests- It is hoped that, in the future, when problems arise, students will take their grievences to the Board for it is now known that they are willing to listen to the students. The students of Greensboro have been in on several of the Board’s most major decisions directly concerning the students such as the exam policy and now the attendance policy. It is now hoped by everyone involved that the students of Greensboro’s senior highs will be able to handle the freedom as responsible high school students. Our Policy HIGH LIFE will welcome all editorials, articles and letters to the editor. Anyone who wishes to submit an article of some type should feel free to do so although we cannot guarantee publication of all material submitted. Top priority will be given to those writings which are interesting as well as good writing. Most desired are those letters to the editor. A special effort will be made to print all of those. However, it is not our policy though to print letters using profane language. All material which is submitted should be left in Room 868 or placed in Ms. Sroog’s mail box in the office. Material can also be given to any member of the HIGH LIFE staff. All writings should have the name of the writer as well as his class on the paper. HIGH LIFE invites anyone, student, parent, teacher or administrator, tP express his talent or opinion. HIGHUFE Published Monthly by Grimsiey Senior High Schooi 801 Westover Terrace Greensboro, N.C. 27408 HIGH LIFE is a member of Quill and Scroll and the National Scholastic Press Association. The cost is $1.50 per semester, $2.00 per year. EDITOR: Lee Evans SPORTS EDITOR: Billy Tsintzos NEWS EDITOR: Carol Eddy FEATURE EDITOR: David Bulla ART EDITOR: Curtis Fields ADVERTISING MANAGER: David Bolton BUSINESS MANAGER: Susan McGlamery PHOTOGRAPHERS: Terry Williams, Richard Biller, Randy Apple ADDITIONAL STAFF: Charlie Brown, John Cauble, Hank Howard, Gary Sue Steve Theriot ADVISOR: Ms. Kathi Sroog