FAC® TWO
THE BLACKBIRD, ROOKY MOUNT SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1956
Eyeing RMSHS
Girl Says 'Northerner!'
By Edward Riner
“A Northerner!” exclaimed Jean
Edwards before she was introduc
ed to Graham King, Principal C.
M. Edson’s nephew, who lives
in Chicago. Illinois.
Having met Graham in Mr. Ed-
Eon’s office. I w'ent along with
Kay Toler and him on the build
ing tour so I could get an inter
view. He attends Morgan Park
High School in Chicago where the
enrollment is about 1800.
Graham reported that they had
ten forty-minute periods a day
with some students going to school
at different times of the day.
^ey have no activity period.
Lunch time is considered one of
the ten periods.
When Graham learned of the
regulation permitting smoking in
the rest rooms, he said ithat no
smoking is allowed in his school.
As he was shown our chemistry
room, he remarked, “Your school
is twice as modern as ours.”
We continued down the halls.
Graham remarked tliat their lock
ers “must” be locked always.
Since Graham is a senior as I
am, he questioned me about grad
uation. Morgan Park has one
graduation at the end off irst
semestei’ and other, second semes
ter.
Graham’s visit here fell on a SO
day. so Kay took him to tlie
meeting. The television set in the
General Purpose room, brought
the remark that a TV would not
last long at his school because
students there were rough. Mor
gan Park has six sororities and
fraternities.
He likes tiae South because
everyone is friendly. Kay popped
up and said that it was just the
southeni hospitality that he was
enjoying.
“Everything’s better than ours.”
expressed Graham as Kay con
cluded the tour. His school is
three stories high and covers an
entire block. One has to join the
student organization there by pay
ing $5.25 a year. This includes
fees for all school dances, the
school paper, and the annual and
Several other activities. The jun
iors don’t give a Junior-Senior.
When I asked him about writ
ing a senior theme, he seemed not
to understand what I meant. Af
ter an explanation, he remarked
that they write a junior theme
sianilar to our senior theme.
After w'e had shaken hands
again and said good-bye, I walked
away thinking what a wonderful
school We have here in Rocky
Mount.
Lines on an Unprepared Student Taking a Test
mm
By Kelsey McGee
With his eyes all baggy and in need of sleep,
’Tis impossible to look, he only can peep.
The mimeographed sheet makes little or no sense,
Why, oh why is his mind so dense?
He picks up his pencil.
Begins to work,
Almost nods to sleep.
Comes iro with a jerk.
Then what to his wandering eyes should appear . .
But all his neighbor’s answers . . .
Just move your arm. my dear.
I hesitate to tell you-aJl
What our friends is going to do—
Think! (Sui'prlsed?)
To late ■— the test is through.
Alas, alas my unprepared pal
Does well to heave a sigh,
Most persons in his place
Would honestly, tmly tiy.
Remember, friends, the A’s and B’s
Are rewards to those who try.
And anyone who doesn’t
Will have them pass him by.
Eat First or Second Luiicli Period?
‘Teria ‘Patrons’ Sav Leave Schedule as is
NEW Celebrates Growth
National Education Week sei-ves to celebrate the gi’ow-th of ed
ucation In America and provides for added interest in this field.
This is the week to give thanks for those leaders who worked de
cades ago to provide public education facilities. It is also a time tc
thank ithose who strive to encourage learning through offering scholar
ships to those wishing to further their learning.
For people inteaested, there are innumerous money grants iwihere
by grades, achievements, and necessity indicate that they are worthy
of such help.
For North Carolina students the Angier B. DuJie and John Motley
Moorehead scholarship have the largest grants. There are several
other high paying awards for state and national students.
“Do you think that the lunch
periods should be changed so that
tliose going dm-ing the first period
will go second?”
Bobby Daniels — “Well it
doesn’t make too much difference
to me, just so W'e all get to eat.”
Brenda Burnette —“I think it
should be left as it is, because I
Ben Blackbird Sez
National Education Week can be one for remembering the past
and planning the future.
“Happiness is not getting what
you want, but wanting what you
get.”
just got used to eating early.”
Linda Gail Pridgen — I’m sat
isfied with my schedule the way it
i.s. I think if they do change it
second semester everyone will get
mixed up.”
Sandra Shaw — “I like the
schedule as it is now.”
Barbara Southerland — “I think
it w'ould be only fair to change
the schedule.”
Sanya Hooker — “Yes. I think
the schedule should be changed
to make it fair for all of the stu
dents.”
Nancy Harlow — “It doesn’t
really make any difference to
me.”
Judy Brown — “I don’t think
the schedule should be changed
because everyone is used to eating
at one certain time and now after
five months it would be hard to
be;ome accustomed to eating at
a different time.”
Cecil Marks — “I’m satisfied
with eating second period because
I get my classes off in the
morning.”
Miss Bond — “I think the
schedule should not be changed
because the students have grown
accustomed to it by now.”
Mrs. Blackburn — “Personally
I like my schedule as it is.”
Solsorten- Who?
Solsorten flies . . . Solsorten is
here in RMSHS . . . Everybody
knows Solsorten (or should) . . .
You don’t know who Solsorten is?
Tiuti the page upside down to
lear his identity.
Which Is It?
Padded Cell or Easy Chair
The General Purpose Room is now a lounge for Rocky Mount
Senior High students who show that they deserve this privilege by
throwing candy wrappers, nut shells, and other paper on the floor. _
Walking into this room one always finds the chairs neatly arran
ged with maybe only half of them out of place. That’s the way each
student expects to find the room the next time he enters it. He knows
that there are servants here to move the things he leaves around!
In the halls one may find anything from Hershey wrapper or a
few nut shells to a cigarette butt. What’s wrong with that? Where else
would these things go? Certainly not in the trash cans so much in
evidence.
After the fun of wading through candy wrappers and other
papers and tripping over disarranged chairs, if and when a juke box
is placed in The General Purpose Room,
the students may even find a place to
dance.
School officials and parents are im
pressed by the way their children follow
the home and school training.
Is this the way students keep their
own rooms at home? II: is not likely, but
what brings about the change in attitude?
This is their home too.
The question now is, should a student
lounge have comfortable chairs, a juke
box, or should it be a nadded cell with
bars.
1 Political Battles Interest Young Blood
Political campaigns of today are a far cry from the political
battles of old in which only men took an active part. At every political
rally, speech, and convention, there appear women and an ever in
creasing number of high school students, who play an important part
in every political battle that occurs today.
Leaders of today have used the phrase, “The teenagers of today
are the voters of tomorrow” to the best advantage, and have given the
youth in their parties ever increasing roles as campaigners.
When students pai'ticipate in mock campaigns and elections such
as those that took place at Rocky Mount Senior High School last week,
they learn a great deal of what actually goes on in a real election.
Not only do they gain personal knowledge, but they gam the satis-
faction of knowing they have acted in a way s^miiar to adults. In other
words, they get a “kick” out of carrying on a campaign and voting.
They know too that background of elections and campaigns, even
.c.W
THE BLACKBIRD
Rocky Mount Senior High
Member of the
Columbia Scholastic Press Association
EDITOR Edward Riner
BUSINESS MANAGER Clare Davenport
ADVISER MRS. T. D. YOUNG
Published nine times during the year by the Journalism Class of
Rocky Mount Senior High School.
if they are mock or student elections, will
help them tremendously when they reach
the civic voting age. They will know then
the correct procedures to follow and the
proper line of thinking to pick candidates
of their choice as leaders of their coun
try.
Majority of high school students look
upon that future of accepting responsibi
lities, as a time that will be here very soon,
and they know that it will be up to them
to see that the United States remains the
great woi'ld power it is today.