Newspapers / Walter Williams High School … / Nov. 18, 1957, edition 1 / Page 2
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PAGE TWO Just A Popularity Contest People convey impressions of themselves to others through their personality, and the more popular they are, the closer they come to epitomizing their type. It is only logical that superlatives be chosen on popularity. The World Of Entertainment Two productions will be opening tonight, one by the Burlington Playmakers, “Junior Miss,” and one by the Carolina Playmakers, “Tea house of the August Moon.” The former should be novel; the latter, highly entertaining. The junior play, scheduled for November 26, may prove to be out standing for a high school. Mr. Might, former head of Henderson Players, will be the director. “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” was different—it didn't star the hunchback. Elvis may be making a million out of the cinema industry, but every cent comes out of the foundation of good movies. “Jailhouse Rock” offered two good songs for 50 cents — no more, no less. The future, however, has promise — “Bonjour Tristesse,” “A Certain Smile,” and “Peyton Place.” week. "Seven Lively Arts” was a television actor’s dream — a critic trying to do a show. But Crosby came through with what may prove to be better than “Omnibus,” or at least as good. Very intellectual. THE BARKER NOVEMBER 14, 1957 You have met those venerable W.H.S. critics who, after any election, start off with that line about, “I don’t care, it’s just a popularity contest.” They always show up after the beauty contest, the election of superlatives, or the student body elections. It’s not that they are wrong, but it’s the way they say it. Beauty is 90 per cent personality, and popularity is based on personality. Why shouldn’t the girls who are the most popular be selected? Student government offices are honorary positions and are not con cerned with life or death decisions. Therefore, what can elections be based on. except per-onality or popularity? The next time someone starts off with “She was better looking, but not popular enough,” ask them the number of beauty contests they have seen which are based on nothing but physical proportions.” Maybe you will hear someone say, “Jim is not serious enough for the job, but the other boy is more popular with the girls.” Ask them, “Why should an insipid person be president?” Stage: ‘The Lark” presented by the Carolina Playmakers, opened the College Theater season last month. On the local interest side, however, last year’s senior class president, David Smith, played a bit part. The high and mighty of the theater goers got their kicks from seeing Pecos Pete in “Oklahoma” at Woman’s College last week. Movies: “The James Dean*Story” can be addea to the list-of decent movies to come out of Hollywood, which includes such films as Haus- man’s “Lust for Life” and “Julius Caesar.” Everyone who went to see Kim Novak in “Jeanne Eagles”, saw her literally. Burlington movie theaters offer no competition for stage plays next TV: Desi and Lucy have come up with a less frequent, but longer version of their old show — entertaining. Jerry Lewis’s latest show was good, but the viewers can remember better. TV viewers are becoming experts on drawing a pistol. ABC’s latest entry “Maverick” is average. “Have Gun. Will Travel” — is too con vincing. —C.C.L. Published monthly as THE BARKER the official voice of Williams High School. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Calvin Linnemann MANAGING EDITOR Wanda Ware NEWS EDITOR Jim Copland EDITORIAL STAFF Feature Editors Frank Rich, Ruth Lemmons Society Editor Becky Carlyle Sports Editors Johnny Weeks, Malcolm Kilpatrick, Mike Barham Associate Editor Sandra Schiffley BUSINESS STAFF Circulation Manager Jack Newman Business Manager ... Advertising Manager Tripp May Photographers George Best, Lin Puckett Typists Billie Gray Thomas, Sandra Rackley ASSISTANT EDITORS.. Phil Deaton, Nancy Lorimer, Ruth Lupton, ADVISOR Mrs. Ella Booker The Year Is Yours BY DEWITT JONES “This is the year.” This statement was frequently heard from the in coming members of the .senior class. The year has now progressed, and from those members of the “Mid night Oil Burners Club” the afore mentioned saying might produce a great deal of controversy. Proudly young students enter by the heavy green door, walk the ca pacious marble halls, and depart by way of the smooth white sidewalls. Desperately they want to be accepted, to feel as though they belonged, and deep inside there is always that feel ing of awe, concerning the enormity of the new phase of life upon which they are embarking. Student Survey Suggests Changes For The Barker W. H. S. students gave their pref erences in newspaper articles during a survey conducted by The Barker staff last week. The poll determined that 55 per cent of the students questioned would like to read a greater number of humorous articles including jokes and student drawn cartoons. A junior stu dent commented, “Students like to laugh and there has been a deficiency The future is given little or no place in the minds of their happy-go- lucky characters. They care not what tomorrow may bring, but are content to bask in the new found freedom afforded them. The dawning of each tomorrow brings with it countless problems to be solved and situations with which they must cope. Students find them selves wanting position, distinction, and wanting to be recognized as ma ture individuals. Anxiety begins to grow which mounts year after year as the students prepare to become seniors. The big moment finally arrives. The one time unsettled, insecure stu dent has finally reached the crest of his high school career—a senior at last—his year. Does the realization of his desire measure up to what he had expected? The answer lies with in the individual and the amount of preparation and planning that each student put forth in his early years in high school. For those who planned well, the senior year can be the highlight of his social and academic achievements. It is from those who did not prepare, and at the last moment are attempt ing to make up academic deflciences, that one might receive somewhat of an irate look when, upon being in terrupted from their midnight study ing, they are informed—This is your year. My Opinion Of Les Femmes BY WESLEY BATTEN My opinion of girls is confused, because to me, girls are a mystery which I shall probably never under stand. There are different kinds of girls, just as there are several kinds of cats, and several kinds of insects. There are small girls, tall girls, plain girls, and beautiful girls. There are some girls who do not look like girls, nor do they look like boys. In fact, I don’t know what they look like. Girls can be divided into two specific types. One type which is not very common, is the intelligent type. They are usually found with their noses in books. (I wonder how they breathe.) This type can easily be recognized by such peculiar char acteristics as wearing glasses, wearing conservative apparel, and always be ing able to answer teacher’s question about when Columbus discovered America. of amusing items in The Barker.” In favor of gossip columns were 45 per cent. Students want to know who is going steady with whom, when students’ birthdays are, and other in teresting items of personality news. One student said, “I want to read about student life, love and good old living.” Forty of the students enjoyed see ing opinion polls and students’ names in the news. “Names of friends and their views are always appreciated by the student body” was the general opinion. A greater variety of .society news was desired by 15 per cent. Features on the current fads and fashions are of interest to a large percentage of the feminine readers. They also like to read boys’ remarks on girls’ clothes. A senior girl mentioned, “I think we should have more news about all of the clubs’ activities. Such organizations as the Jr. Tri-Hi-Y, F. T. A., and the Bible Club are given an insufficient amount of publicity.” Creative writing is of primary in terest to 20 per cent of the students. Poetry, essays, and short stories all rate high in preferred reading matter. Receiving a 25 per cent vote of interest were articles featuring per sonalities of the month. Students want to know interesting bits of informa tion about people in their school. “Spotlighting per.sonalities is very good human interest,” stated one stu dent. The other type is most common. They are t.he not-too-intelligent fairly#! good-looking girls. These are the ones who know absolutely nothing about algebra, English, or biology, but are smart enough to have boy friends who do. Judging between the two types it is difficult to decide which is pre ferable, to develop an inferiority complex by going with a “brain” or do double duty homework by going with a “doll.” If the two characteristics could be combined, then I should cease to mystified by the opposite sex called girls. Crossword puzjlss, popular record lists, reviews capture the attentiojt r 2b P^r cent. Generally students*. ' Wejtsre^i in arn^,es' of such interest as‘. the latest records. Crossword puzzles using the names of school personalities are also of interest to a large percentage of students, and they feel that book re views would be helpful in recom mending books for book reports. There was an unusual range of in terest voiced by a member of the Junior class. He commented, “It’s human nature to like exciting things, so I’d like to read some “Confiden tial’ material!” ISpeak For Democracy BY JIM COPLAND The voice of democracy is a mighty voice, because it is made from the tones of individuals who speak their own thoughts and from the group chorus which speaks as a united choir. Christopher Columbus, looking at the dubious faces of the sailors around him, spoke the first words for democracy when he said, “Sail on!” Although he was unaware of the fact, he was democracy’s first voice because his was the voice of vision—a voice not content to remain static, but ever striving to move for ward. Democracy has a voice of free dom, also—a voice which has had many individual spokesmen. Roger Williams, insisting that all who col onized Rhode Island should have re ligious freedom; Paul Revere, warning that the British were coming; Nathan Hale, regretting that he had but one life to give to his country; Thomas Jefferson penning the Declaration of Independence; Abraham Lincoln, in a speech at Gettysburg; Woodrow Wilson, striving to make the world safe for democracy; General McAr thur, saying to the embattled forces on the Phillipines, “I shall return”— are just a few of freedom’s voices that have spoken for the democratic ideal. In our democracy we not only have Voices of Freedom but also voices of action. Take Betsy Ross, sewing on a national flag; Molly Pit cher, loading a musket; Luther Bur bank and George Washington Carver working to produce better plants for human use; Albert Switzer, giving the magic touch of his fingers to the keyboard of an organ and to the surgeon’s scapel, so that men in darkest Africa might have a chance to set the lights of truth and freedom, and Dr. Jonas Salk perfecting a vac cine so that children, especially, may walk and run—unmained by polio. Again, these are but a few of the voices of action but they represent all people of achievement in the en tire free world. Yes, democracy has many voices —the workers talking in the factories, the teachers conducting their classes, the doctors prescribing for the sick, newsboys calling, “Extra, Extra,” the newscasters sending their messages across the air waves, families gather ed around the dining room table— yes, all these are democracy’s voices —voices that must not be silenced, yet which we are all too often apt to take for granted. Today 1 speak for democracy be cause it is not only interested in what I am but what I can become; because it doesn’t grant me a living, but an opportunity to earn one; be cause it charts no road to happiness but allows me to seek my own, road, and because it gives me the key to freedom. When I accept this key I accept it as an object which can unlock the door to responsibilities and which can lock these privileges of freedom when 1 abuse them. Finally, I speak for democracy be cause it is the only free voice in the world today—a voice that resounds across planet earth, acclaiming that all men were meant to be free. Be cause democracy allows me to speak the thoughts of my own choosing, to become as much a penson as ability and hard work will allow, to remain an individual in a united group, I speak for it today. 1 .speak with a free voice—a clear voice—an en thusiastic voice, for without democ racy I should not be allowed to speak at all.
Walter Williams High School Student Newspaper
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Nov. 18, 1957, edition 1
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