P{^e 2
THE BLACKBIRD
Friday, September IS, 1967
We Need Grumblers!
At the end of the last school year, the average
RMSH student had become aware of at least eighty-
seven things wrong with this school. He had heard
complaints from underclassmen and upperclassmen,
from friends and faculty, and, more than likely, he
had voiced a few himself. Out of all these grumblers,
the editors of the BLACKBIRD heard from only
eight. Out of eighty-seven letters that should have
been written, the BLACKBIRD received only eight.
Most of you were here last year. You remember
the spring play with no curtains, the social injustice
you saw committed, and hundreds of other things
you didn’t like, but were too indifferent to speak up
about. You just grumbled to yourselves, knowing that
changes were badly needed, knowing that without
changes, progress is stifled. You just grumbled self-
contentedly and let the foundations of democracy
rust in your minds.
By the time ths school year is over, the average
RMSH student will discover at least eighty-seven
things wrong with this school. The editors of the
BLACKBIRD are waiting, and hoping that more than
eight progressive and free thinking people will speak
up this year.
Good For You!
We have now returned to Rocky Mount Senior
High for the year 1967-68, Many returned thank
fully, though more did so less enthusiastically.
These first two weeks have brought us together
for the first time since last May. Yet throughout this
period one thing has been clear—this is no ordinary
student body.
The regretful fiasco in schedule.s with the IBM
computer presented an opportunity for mass con
fusion. But the students met the challenge with good
judgment and gave the hard-working office staff an
opportunity to rectify the situation. Other evidences
exist of the tremendous spirit this student body has.
For example, the smooth operation of the first fire
drill has brought the praises of the Fire Drill Com
mittee Head, Benjie Martindale.
So give yourselves a pat on the back,' students,
and keep up the good work.
From The Editor
Al’ouiid The Campus
With the coming of a new school year, a time of
planning for the future begins. For the seniors this
will mean planning studies and setting goals.
In looking toward the future, a good idea would
be for all students to take a hint from Captain B. T.
Godwin of the Rocky Mount Police Department.
Captain Godwin has been a detective on the police
force here for 28 years, and has had many experi
ences with young people in trouble.
“It is a pity that teenagers cannot foresee what
a criminal record can do to them when they try to
get jobs, or to hold responsible positions in their
communities, 'or in the state and federal govern
ments.”
The police captain suggested that when a group
of teenagers gather to decide how to get their
‘kicks’, they shoulfi stop and think. He reported
that nine times out of ten stolen articles weren’t
even needed.
A felony conviction, he stated, results in the
loss of one’s citizenship and the poss of many rights.
Lost citizenship can only be restored after many
years, and only by difficult action in a superior
court. After committing a felony a person cannot
vote, hold an office of public trust, obtain a passport
to a foreign land, or join the military. Captain God
win added that with a record, obtaining credit at
a bank or loan company would be difficult.
(^ptain Godwin concluded by saying that he
Wished young people would sit down and discuss
among themselves the effects of a police record on
heir lives. He said that if jhey would realize the
outcome of their actions, they would not consider
kicks’ worth the effort.
His message is clear. If a person wants to get
into trouble, he will surely pay the conseq'uences.
Thought before action is always the best policy.
COLLEGE NIGHT
The annual RMSH college
night will be held at the
school at 7:.‘50 p. m. on
September 21. Representa
tives from various colleges
in North Carolina and other
area colleges will come speak
to juniors and seniors about
their schools.
The date of college night
was set by the N. C. Higher
Education Division.
B £=fn
w ,Y-i
M|i TT
SOPMOMOSI’,
Dear Editor,
As summer slowly slips away,
we find approximately 1100 stu
dents busily involved in a new
•school year at RMSH. For
many it will be the opportunity
to renew old acquaintances,
and for some it will be a new
school with strange faces and
many adjustments to be made.
However, I hope all will find
fellowship and satisfaction as
the educational opportunities
present themselves throughout
the year.
Rocky Mount Senior High
School has been recognized as
a school with a challenging
curriculum designed to meet
the varied needs of all our stu
dents. It is my fervent hope
that all students will be able
to find the proper courses with
the guidance of the counselors
and teachers enabling each and
every student to successfully
complete high school and either
continue their education or find
a satisfactory job.
The policy of recognizing stu
dents in assembly who have
brought credit to themselves
and our school will be con
tinued this year. By the same
token students failing to abide
by school regulatk>ns will be
held accountable for their ac
tions. I suggest all students
read the handbook carefully,
because it has been printed
with great care at much ex
pense to give students an in
sight into our school’s many
activities.
The most important quality
which we strive for in Rocky
Mount Senior High School is to
have a student-centered school,
because it is my sincere opin
ion that students count more
than things. I want students
to he able to see clearly the
long pull of the school and at
the same time be able to make
clear-cut decisions in the pre
sent in order to reach the goal
of maturity. Robert Frost suc
cinctly phrased it when he
wrote, “You’ve got to be sweep
ing and you’ve got to be point
ed, but you’ve got to come out
somewhere.”
How will you come out at
RMSH? As a credit to your
parents, your school and your
self or as one whom ■ everyone
is relieved to see leave? Only
time will answer the question
for you. My wish is. for you to
be a valuable asset to our
school.
Sincerely,
Mr. V. 3. Colombo
Principal
Dear Editor,
Our school board has recent
ly approved new additions to
the school and more modern
equipment, such as air-con-
ditioning. It seems as though
they should consider the pre
sent needs of Senior High first.
The walkway from A to B
buildings has presented quite
an inconvenience in the past
because of inclement weather.
Our last year’s vice president
wrote a letter asking that a
drain pipe be installed to pre
vent the walkway from being
flooded. The letter was disre
garded.
After a fain, both the stu
dents AND teachers have a
choice of walking in the rain or
swimming through puddles.
The expense of the drain pipe
will be nothing compared to the
health of the students. This is
a MAJOR problem at such a
MINOR cost!
Lee Hudson
Senior
Dear Editor,
With the new school year
ahead of us, we all need to
be reminded of school spirit.
Without our careful thought to
this we could not be the united
body of students aiiid faculty
that we are.
Not only is school .splflf giv-‘
ing everything we’ve got, but
it also applies to any activity
of the school. This includes sup
porting our Hi-NocAr, Black
bird, and Paradigm. This spirit
is cheering for our school and
our team, backing them all the
way, while also using this
united support to extend over
every phase of school life. Tak
ing pride in the cleanliness of
our school and its appearance
goes with this.
We, as individuals, represent
our school in all its activities.
Students, let’s maintain the
proud name of Rocky Mount
Senior High!
Penny Hicks
Senior
Said the kind old lady to the
Intern/al Revenue clerk: I do
'hope you’ll give my money to
some nice country.
THE BLACKBIRD
Members of Columbia Scholastic Press Association
EDITOR
ADVERTISING MANAGER
BUSINESS MANAGER and PAGE 8 bSv HeadS
CIRCULATION MANAGER Betsy Heady
PAGE EDITORS- Elmore
1st PAGE „ ,
2nd PAGE Mann
3rd PAGE i
4th PAGF Bradshaw
sthPAG^::. ::::
fith & 7th PAGES . r ^ Matthews
9th PAGE T ®
10th PAGE ... rn
Dianne Whitfield
PARADIGM EDITOR Martha
JUNIOR STAFF: Marsha Hammel
Denise BosweU, Betsy Chipley, Karen Colombo,
Skipper Greathouse, Bob Joyce, Steve Parker
ADVISOR; Mrs. Margaret Williams
PRINCIPAL: Mr. V. J. Colombo