Page Two — THE GRYPHON — Thursday, December 16,1976
H
I
n
m
MARQUEE ANNOUNCES FUTURE EVENTS: The marqee
found outside the student commons is a gift donated by the
graduated senior class of 1976. It is used to announce events
such as band and chorus concerts, athletic events, and social
activities. Money raised from the selling of magazines by
seniors is used each year to present a gift to the school in
their remembrance.
The purpose of the Gryphon is to examine events in the school, the community and the world which affect the
lives of the students of RMSH. It is the Gryphon’s aim to stimulate awareness of issues, to promote a better
understanding of others, and to bring about positive action where change is needed. Student, faculty and
community response is welcomed and may be sent to the Gryphon, room 110; however, the editor reserves
the right to withhold libelous or profane letters.
Focus Explained!
This issue focuses on alcohol, its effects on people, and reform programs for
alcoholics. These stories are meant to relay the cold hard facts about alcohol and
its effects to the reader. The “Gryphon” is not forming a temperance movement;
however, the articles on pages six and seven may lead to a re-examination of the
purpose of drinking. The articles present the answers to many questions about the
use of alcohol but leave the choice of “to drink or not to drink” solely with the
reader.
The “drug scare” of the 60’s and 70’s has led to a decreasing awareness of the
problems caused by the excessive drinking of alcohol. More deaths are attributed
to alcohol than to other drugs each year, more accidents are caused by alcohol
than by other drugs each year, and more money is spent on the purchasing of
alcohol and the treatment of alcoholics than on the buying of other drugs and
treatment of addicts. The excessive drinking of alcohol can be just as dangerous
as taking of drugs.
Alcoholism can strain or destroy family ties. The sufferings an alcoholic parent
can inflict upon the children are mental and physical. Children can suffer ^rom
permenant mental scars inflicted by a delirious alcoholic parent. The physical
sufferings range from lack of necessities, such as food (because too much money
is spent on alcohol) to beatings from a violently drunken parent.
The excessive drinking of alcohol presents many severe problems which
require real help. Alcoholics Anonymous and other associations offer help to
those who want it. The articles on pages six and seven attempt to show these
problems and the organizations which deal with them. The question of morality is
not discussed; only the facts concerning the physical and mental dangers are
recorded.
Suspension Not An Answer
The word truant comes from the Old French word meaning a beggar, but
begging is hardly the connotation it gets at Senior High. Anyone would enjoy a
three day pass or so to go home, rest up and return to spend a day, or half a day at
school, to go home for three or four days to come back, to go home, to rest up and
. . . you get the idea. That’s exactly the treat (I dare not say punishment) one
gets for being truant at the best high school in Eastern North Carolina — Senior
High. At least, a student can get suspended up to five times in some cases before
permanent expulsion.
Of course, if you’ll pardon the cliche, “one can’t have his cake and eat it too,”
for the truant student does receive a zero mark for tests and assignments graded
while he isn’t present; but if a student “skips” he can’t be that interested in
grades anyway.
A new system of punishment for truancies should be enacted at Senior High. A
classroom should be set up for those students who love to be away from school.
Teachers would send assignments to them in the special classroom. The students
couldn’t go to the restrooms with other students or eat lunch with them, a type of
isolation in the midst of the other students would prevail. Students could get back
into the regular classrooms only after the supervising teacher’s, guidance
counselor’s, parent’s consent, and the student’s agreement to conform to the rules
of the school. Through this new method the student could continue to get a good
education but be punished through lack of privileges. Other schools are practicing
the hew program. If enough schools enter into this new concept, then the state
might pick up the added expense. The new system might cut down truancies in
stead of the present punishment of allowing students’ extra vacations.
’Twas An Interesting Occurrence Before Break
’Twas the week fore Christmas and all through the school
Students were talking and breaking every rule.
The teachers were nestled right snug in their chair
With visions of students emerging from their hair.
When outside the school there was a sudden clatter
I sprang from my desk to see what was the matter.
And resting right there on the school’s front lawn
Was the wreck of a sled pulled by eight fawns
The driver was no longer lively and quick
And I knew from the start it was tipsy St. Nick.
His eyes they just blinked. His smile so merry
From indulgence his nose was red as a cherry.
The police soon arrived and put him in grief.
No longer could be seen his big white false teeth.
Drunken driving was the charge the police made.
St. Nick came out with a knot on his big “haid.”
Now you may be driving drunk one night
And the wreck you have may be more of a fright.
So refrain from excessive spirits this long Christmas break
If tipsy no driving just for my sake.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
E.C.H.Q
llhu
By Jackie Wilde
Just recently Gary Gilmore
savagely murdered two men
that he didn’t know. He even
admits that they didn’t deserve
to die. The only reason he so
violently murdered the two
innocent men was to fulfill his
anger and hostility he felt
because of his girl friend Nicole
Barrett.
This type of crime happens
every day, and the “offender”
is usually charged with murder
and sent to life in prison. But
Gary Gilmore is different.
Gilmore is 35 years old, has
spent 23 years in trouble, and 18
in prison. He boasts of
paralyzing a man; organizing a
suicide collective, which he
didn’t participate wholly in; and
holding up business. He seems
like the average con-man, who
has only one thing on his mind,
but this convict has sensitivity.
He writes very romantic poetry,
mostly to his girlfriend, draws
and paints very descriptively,
and very obviously believes in
life after death. Surely he is
an interesting person to read
about, but not to meet,
especially when he is in a fit of
fury.
Gary wants a grotesque death
by firing squad. He should re
ceive it. This criminal is defi
nitely a psychopath, conscious
of only his needs and desires. If
the law keeps standing in his
way, he will die eventually,
either by suicide or by a
cell-mate defending his own
life.
His childhood days will prove
his character today. His family
was unsteady and despondent.
Somewhere from his mother’s
family he adopted the idea that
if he gives his life voluntarily, it
will pay the price.
Gilmore seems to be very
sincere about his death wish,
and he even seems to regret the
wicked tricks he has pulled,
although he knows he is
uncapable of restraining them in
a passion. The law charged him
and gave him a choice, so he
deserves his rights.
THE GRYPHON
Rocky Mount Senior High School
308 South Tillery Street Rocky Mount, N.C. 27801
Member of Colambla Press Association
Member of Quill and Scroll
PUBLISHED MONTHLY
News Editor
Managing Editor
Copy Editor
Photography Editor
Advertising Manager
Business Manager
Circulation Manager
Staff Writers:
®Uly Carroll
Jackie WUde
John Gilmore
Trey BuUuck
Kevin Maurer
Cathy Kilpatrick
Debbie Mosley
Clifton Barnes, Neeley Blanchard,
Kathy Carroll, Mary Davis, Mary Fleming, John Gilmore,
David Goff, Leslie Locke, Beth Hutchlsson, Jennefer Jones,
Frieda Jordan, Keith King, Robby Noble, John Smith,
Cyndl Strickland, Dan Thorpe, Kareii Walston
Advisor
Principal
Assistant Principals
Mrs. Henrietta Barbour
Mr. Elton Newbem
Mr. Charles Davis, Mr. Robert Miller