V o l . 10, No. 13
Maine Township High School South, Park Ridge, i l l . 60068
A p r i l 26, 1974
Student Editorial
Push for Assemblies Continues by Kathy Mueller '74
nje composition entitled: "Minstrel Memories" was performed at the International Festival of Aquatic Art which was held April 18, 19, 20 in Highland Park, Illinois. Marlin won top honors, which was the first time in the 20 years history of the Festival that top honors have been awarded to a high school group. Participants in Minstrel Memories were: Denise Ahlin, Ingrid Amtzen, Julie Cox, Sharon Beckman, Belinda Blomberg, Marilyn Curran, Kathy Currier, Melinda Dickerson, Gail Eaton, Sally Fullerton, Kim Frindell, Betsy Keitel, Dayna Limperes, Michele Nicolau, Julie Sorensen, and Karin Youngquist.
Increase in A i d Makes Summer School Priceless Summer school is free! The Board of Education's decision came about because state aid has increased to the point where it can cover the cost of summer school. TmtiMi-free summer school is a one-year experiment and will not increase taxes. Thirty students must be enrolled in each class in order for the state to cover the cost. Books and the enrollment fee are the only costs. A half-credit course would have an enrollment fee of $2.00; a whole-credit cotirse, one of $4.00. New courses will be offered in addition to those offered previously. There will be a Girls' P.E. program offering voDeyball, basketball and gymnastics. Schedules will be available in the homerooms. Freshman and sophomore basketball will be taught in the mornings; juniors and seniors will play in the evenings. "We are really excited about getting more girls into P.E.
Also, there are enough courses so anyone interested in taking summer school can get what they like," stated Mr. Simonson.
Latin Students Get Recognition Four Maine South students won high ratings at the South District Contest of the State Latin Contest on March 2 at New Buffalo Grove High School. High ratings consisted of a superior rating for the top ten percent of the contestants In the various fields of competition, and an excellent rating for the next highest ten percent. In Latin 1, receiving superior ratings were Bob Cordes '77 and Tom Larson '75. Receiving an excellent rating in Latin U was Joseph Solon '76 and receiving a superior rating in Latin IV was Michael Groziak '74. Michael is now eligible to participate in state finals on April 27 at Monmouth College, Monmouth, Illinois.
Hinge Offers Alfernative To T V on Weeknights A music workshop has been announced by the Hinge Place Coffeehouse. The success of the other week-night programs has made this new workshop possible. The workshop is held every Monday night at 7:30 p.m. in the Hinge Place Coffeehouse located on Busse Hwy. at the northwest end of Hinkley Field in Park Ridge. Bethany Pahl. coordinator, explains "the workshop is to exchange thoughts and ideas between musicians." Guitar, trumpet, recorder, flute, and french horns are played and taught. "Hopefully we can get a piano real soon because there are so many good piano players just sitting around listening to somebody else who plays guitar," said Greg Roman, a member of Hinge's staff. Jeffrey Oliver, Randy Wiggins and Barb Stover help with instruction. The emphasis is on aiding any person of high school age or older mature in their ability; beginners are certainly welcome. The structure is informal with small clusters of people listening to each other, trying new things and getting "together". Other week-night programs at The Hinge are chess on Tues-
day, jazz and modern dance on Wednesday, and figure drawing and painting on Thursday. All the week-night programs are free and begin at 7:30.
SW Editor Wins National Award Priscilla Condon, Southwords Newsln-Depth Editor, has been named a National Winner in the Quill and Scroll's National Writing Contest. Priscilla won the award by submitting a student editorial entered on the last day of the contest. Quill and Scroll, the International Honorary Society for High School Journalists, gives awards to students in eight categories, and Priscilla was the winner in the editorial category. Priscilla received a National Award Gold Key, and she is eligible to win a $500 scholarship for journalism. To win the scholarship, Priscilla must sign a statement, promising to major in journalism. The money can be used for the tuition of a college or university of her choice. Priscilla plans to attend Northwestern University in Evanston.
The traditional All-School Honors Assembly, held every year in the last weeks of school, has been dropped. This year only seniors wiU attend the assembly. Why? Because the administration has decided that we can't handle ourselves like young adults. I am told that the Administrative Council has considered this move for several years. The behavior at the Honors Assembly has gotten progressively worse. Last year's Assembly was the tipping point for action. At that Assembly, water balloons were thrown (some landing on parents), firecrackers were detonated, and some students showed up drunk. The administration, therefore, is judging the present student body on the basis of last year's seniors. The fact has already been established that underclassmen did not cause trouble or disrupt the Assembly. They did not light firecrackers or throw water balloons — the seniors did. I can see the Administrative Council's point. In their eyes, an assembly is not worthwhile when it is noisy, disruptive, and causes parental complaints for the next several weeks. However, assemblies held so far this year have been good. Our Principal considers the Homecoming Assembly one of the finest assemblies in our ten-year history. Although the senior "Meet Your Candidate" Assembly was not ideal, the Brotherhood Assembly was quiet, well-behaved, and weU-received. The students currently attending Maine South have shown they are capable of handling assemblies, so why are they suffering for acts of former students? The whole issue boils down to present Maine South students losing their traditional privileges and assemblies because of a few rotten apples that used to be in the barrel. The administration does not want to "threaten" students into behaving with the loss of an assembly. What the administration doesn't realize is that most students would rather be threatened with losing an assembly than to have it taken away with no warning. The threat hanging over our heads that the assembly could once again be taken away will surely chasten those prone to disagreeable behavior, if it is restored. An optional assembly would probably remove most of the rowdies. They aren't interested in honoring outstanding seniors — so let them slay away. Last
Money Won The winning tickets for the Student council raffle, El Ffar, have been drawn and the prizes have been claimed. Frank Stubblefield '75 won the $25, Gwen Zurrow '76 the $50, and Beth Bowers '76 claimed the $100 prize. Of the total $582.83 that was collected from the drawing, $381.83 will be given to AFS to pay for next year's foreign exchange student.
year's Honors Assembly was mandatory. Had it been optional, many of the troublemakers might not have gone. An optional assembly seems to be the test solution to prevent trouble. The purpose of the Honors Assembly is to recognize those seniors who have made outstanding achievements. Being honored in front of 800 classmates is not the same as in front of 3500. It is also a time when the underclassmen may see what they are working for and be challenged to strive for higher achievements and goals for themselves. By not permitting the underclassmen, the Council will remove part of their interest and incentive to attain higher levels. In addition, younger brothers and sisters will not be able to see their older siblings awarded honors. If the seniors have their own assembly, it is doubtful that the All-School Honors Assembly would return. If the Senior Assembly goes well, the Administrative Council can pat themselves on the back for finally finding the "key" to a successful Honors Assembly. If the seniors' behavior is disagreeable to the administration, the administration could say, "See! We can't trust them. We should keep the assembly small to permit better control." No matter how a "seniors only" Honor
Assembly works out, future classes will lose. Future classes will also lose, though, if the students regain the assembly and the seniors blow it. The senior class has a responsibility to act as they want to be treated, as mature young adults. If even a few abuse the privilege of an allschool assembly, the entire student body, now and in the future, will suffer. So, seniors, act like adults: honest, it doesn't hurt! To those of you who signed the petitions going around to change the Assembly back to "all-school", thanks for your support. Now, more support is needed: write letters to Southwords: talk to Dr. Watson or Mr. Simonson; make your views known. Only by expressing ourselves will the Administrative Council know we are concerned about losing our Assembly. Editorial Note: Kathy Mueller '74 heads a committee to make the Seniors' Honors Assembly all-school. Under her direction, over 1,500 signatures on student petitions have already been acquired. A delegation of two students has discussed this problem with the Executive Committee and the Administrative Council. We on staff fully support an all-school assembly. As of this printing, the decision is not yet known.
Multimixers on the Move "Multimixers on the Move", Maine South's 10th .Annual Fashion Show, will be held on Wednesday, May 22, at 7:30 p.m. Approximately 100 different outfits will be modeled by the Clothing II and III classes. "We have a wide range of fashions," said Mrs. Anna Burger, clothing teacher and fashion show sponsor. "Coats, blazers, short fur jackets, slacks, tops, jumpers, long spring and summer dresses and knit projects will all be included." Latest fashions from McCall's, Butterick, Simplicity and Vogue were all selected and constructed by the girls. "We do have some duplicate patterns," added Mrs. Burger, "but it is amazing how unique each one looks due
to the variety of materials and trims used." Original designs from the Clothing HI class will be featured. Special guests between the ages of two and 13 will model children's outfits including party dresses and play clothes. Narrators for the one and a half hour show will be: Polly Bush '74, Lisa Dahlin '75 and Pat Papacz '75. Admission is free and free refreshments will be served: Scarlet Fruit Punch (non-spirited version) and cookies made by the Foods II class. Mrs. Burger concluded, "All students are invited to come and enjoy a delightful display of the latest fashions."
Literature of Chicago classes participated in a special Senior Citizens presentation. A special panel of Senior Citizens f r o m the area presented a seminar on the nature of Chicago at the t u r n of the century to students of the Literature of Chicago classes. The group met during eighth and ninth periods A p r i l 10. Senior citizens w e r e top left, M r . and M r s . Bjorgno now living in Park Ridge; f r o m right front are M r s . Eubanks, Mabel Whitelaw and M r s . Heinman all residents of the St. Matthew Lutheran Home in Park Ridge and at bottom left M r . Nelson, a retired Park Ridge teacher. At center rear are M r . M i k e Deinis, English teacher; and M r . T o m Kerth and Bill Drennan, teachers of the Chicago lit course.