Policy Changes Demand Added Responsibility by Judy Daly Shortly after being welcomed back for another year to the "ivy halls," each of the four classes were introduced to several "liberal changes" at the dean's assemblies. The changes are new and liberal; the ideas have been the center of controversy for several years. The changes have sparked discussion around school with a solid consensus that they are a step in the r i ^ t direction. The new freshman-sÂŤqÂťhomore lonnge, proposed by last year's Student Council, was to be set up in C-122 and C-125. This plan was turned down by the administration who felt it destroyed the guidance concept "exceptional and unique" to Maine South. Mr. Robert V. Simonsen, assistant principal, explained the deferral in instituting an alternative frosh-soph lounge. "It wasn't just a matter of saying this is it. Things work more smoothly when they open in the fan. Over the summer we tried to work with the class officers, executive committee, administrative council and members of the faculty in putting a workable plan into effect. Hopefully this year the lounge, library and resomrce centers have been more carefully worked out." Under the new cafeteria lounge system, freshmen and sophomores who have a study seventh, eighth or ninth periods are eligible to use it. However, an underclassman must have one full study each day before using lounge privileges. Freshmen are not allowed to use the lounge imtil second quarter. Lack of space in the cafeteria has been a problem. It is hoped that more early dismissals will alleviate overcrowding. "When cooler weather comes and overcrowding does occur, we will have to ask the students who come in late to report to their study halls," Mr. Simonsen said. A student receiving an F in any subject will be grounded from lounge and must report to study hall every day. Grades will be reviewed at the end of each quarter to determine which students will be ineligible the following quarter. Mr. Simon-
sen hopes this procedure will act as an incentive rather than a punishment. Dr. a y d e K. Watson, principal, reasons that such a student needs guidance. "We are obligated to work with that student as an individual and placing him in a study will give him the personal attention he needs." He added, "Anyone who has a positive attitude and tries will undoubtedly pass." Student Council president Bill Dickens, when asked to comment on the new system felt it did not go "far enough." "If the underclassmen are re-
Vol. 8, No. 1
to learn these things. After school should be the time for freedom and relaxation." Miss Fisher felt it wasn't quite as bad for juniors or seniors to have lounge because they have acquired study habits. Unlike last year, when a student fjuld report directly to the Jiorary, a student must now stay in study hall until roll is taken. Students having half a study say that they spend half the period just checking in. One obvious improvement over last year is the alleviation of noise and overcrowding in the library. Students have a
Maine Township High School South, Park Ridge, 111. 60068
Sept. 17, 1971
Council Leaders Define Aims, Programs for Their Offices "I want to be a servant of the will of the students in school," said Bill Dickens, Student Council president. BiU believes that he will be able to accomplish this only if Student Council becomes a student government which truly supports and protects each and every student. Bill also hopes that Council will reach and become an important part of every student's life. A new policy concerning Student Council representatives has already been put into action. The absence of representatives during SC meetings is now punishable by notification of the representative's homeroom of the absence. A representative incapable of representing his students will also receive a letter of warning. Bill suggested that this action
Committee Report Spurs Open District Meetings A decision in open campus will soon be reached by the district scho(ri board on the basis of a special committee's report on the subject. The committee was formed to investigate open campus as it exists in other schools. Headed by Mr. Jack Hedrich, past member of District 64 Board of Education, the committee consists of two students and one teacher from each Maine high school, eight parents and four administrators from District 207. This committee was divided into four groups. Each group visited northern Illinois schools havmg open campus. Letters were then sent throughout the country to schools that had open campus asking what the school's particular set-up was and what (if any) problems had been encountered. According to Mr. Norman Anderson, Maine Souths faculty representative, more was learned from the visitations than expected. From their information and first-hand observation, the committee compiled and submitted to the school board a written report. Any community opinions received by committee mem-
sponsible enough to accept one lounge period, why not have another?" BiU was optimistic about these changes and felt that they were a step in the right direction. He added, "Now let's work for the future." Student opinion was, for the most part, consistent. Most felt it was working fine and did not voice any complaints about overcrowding. A dissenting view was voiced by Miss Marian Fisher, language department chairman. "School is the place to learn discipline and good study habits, and study hails are places
bers were added to the back of the report. Mr. .Anderson stated that the committee members were quite open-minded. "They presented the facts," he said, "not their own opinions." Open board meetings a r e scheduled to discuss the report. Parents and students are invited to attend. A decision will be reached after the meetings. The first open meeting is scheduled for Sept. 29 at Maine South.
would not be taken unless a representative's absence resulted in a failure to produce a quorum. Another of Bill's goals is an audit system which would allow a student to sit in on a class of his choice during one of his studies. Lynn La Jone, Student Council secretary, would hke to see more done on open campus. She added, "1 also think a great deal of an appeal board
'New Word' ToComeOut When will the first edition of the Anteater be out? According to Bill Dickens, Student Council p r e s i d e n t , "There is no Anteater." The paper will be replaced this year by The New Word Press. Bill will be the editor. Assistant editor will be John Sassar •73. Bill explained that the Ant" eater had become "shoddy" and that few people were satisfied witli it. "The New Word Press will be highly organized," he said. The policy of the new paper will be explained in the first issue, which will appear some time this month. "The stories won't be finalized until the last minute," Bill said. He said that the paper will be aimed at two goals: accurate representation of the news and a forum for political discussion.
because too many people are in trouble for things they did not do." The appeal board would publish a book of rules so that each student would know what is right and what is wrong. According to Jay Rasmussen, Student Council treasurer, the SC treasury has a balance of $2600. Council's main source of money this year will be V-Show. In previous years, the treasury received from $300 to $400 from Traffic Court fines. This year Traffic Court was transferred to the Senior Class. Questions coming before Council include concerts, V-Show, the Busy Signal, homecoming, exchange students and elections. Mike Goerss, Student Council vice-president, said everything that happens will "depend on the people, their willingness to get things done with the people, the community, the administration and the teachers." Student Council also has planned a board to review the new laws of punishment set down by the administration.
negotiations began, received a notice signed by Dr. Richard Short, superintendent of schools, which informed the Board that all non"tenuTe teachers had received a contract. Salaries in the contract were based on the '70-'71 schedule with a stipulation that once an agreement was reached salaries would be adjusted. All teachers signed and returned the contracts. In August, the Board of Education sent statements of salary, signed by Dr. Short, to all tenure teachers. The statements informed all teachers that once an agreement was reached with
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Blase Sues District 2 0 7 To Eliminate 'Unfair' Tax Maine Township District 207 is the target of a suit filed recently by Nicholas Blase, Mayor of Niles. Mayor Blase wants to eliminate "the unfairness of personal property taxes" which he feels favor students of wealthy sub-
Wage-Price Freeze Halts Teachers' New Contracts Teachers at Maine South have not yet received contracts for the '71-'72 school year. Mr. Ralph Frost, assistant superintendent, explained the situation to Southwords. The chain of events leading to this situation began last January when the Teachers' Association and the Board of Education began negotiations concerning salaries for the '7l-'72 school year. Negotiations have reached the stage when a salary proposal will be presented to the faculty and the board of education within a few days. The Board of Education, after
more suitable atmosphere in which to study and do research. This alleviation makes room for the resource centers. Open to students wishing to pursue independent study or seek extra assistance, the centers will be operating on an experimental basis. Perhaps the most noticeable change in discipline concerns the elimination of the in school suspension system, "the box." Replacing it is a new kind of student suspension: suspension of a student's individual rights. If a student cuts a class, his lounge and library privileges will be revoked for that period. "The fact that the same faces were always in the box meant the system was somehow ineffective," Dr. W^atson said. Inconvenient bus schedules have eliminated before and after school detentions. Detentions will be served in a study with lounge and library privileges revoked. Smoking, cheating, fighting Lud vandalism will still warrant suspension. With a first offense, a student will be placed in his study hall until a parent conference is held. A third violation will result in a three-day suspension which will continue until a parent conference is held. "V/e hope that all students will know what the rules are and the penalty for these offenses," Dr. Watson said. This year a student will be allowed two tardys. A third offense will result in a letter to the parents and a one day loss of lounge and library privileges. Four tardys will warrant two days in a study hall. Another letter is sent for a fifth offense. A sixth violation results in the student's confinement to study hall all day. Class tardiness will be handled by the teacher. If a student, despite warnings from his teacher, is continually tardy, he u-ill be referred to a dean. Such cases will be classified as "insubordination," disobeying a direct order. According to Mr. Elbert Smith, dean of students, if a parent calls and explains that his child is absent due to some cause other than illness, the student will be excused. "However," Mr. Smith continued, "if a parent drops his child off at school and he fails to attend class, there will be a stiff penalty."
the Teachers' Association salaries would be adjusted. On August 15 President Nixon announced the wage"price freeze, which made any changes in salaries impossible for the 90-day duration of the freeze. On August 30. during a Teachers' Institute meeting. Dr. Short explained the effects of the wage-price freeze on wages. Mr. Frost feels that the staff accepts the President's decision. In their September paycheck the staff will receive a notice Uiat because of the wage-price freeze then: salaries will remain at the '70-'7l level.
urbs over those of poorer urban areas. The suit is filed on behalf of his daughter, currently a freshman at Maine East. At present, according to Dr. Richard Short, district superintendent, Maine Township taxpayers are at a distinct disadvantage since the district has very little commercial and industrial development and must rely heavily on the homeowners to support the schools. In District 207, less than 15 per cent of the operating money comes from the state. The rest of the money is mainly from property taxes. Seventy-five per cent of the money collected in personal property taxes goes to schools. The California Supreme Court recently ruled on a case similar to Mayor Blase's. The court found that equal educational opportunities should be the right of all, rich and poor. The court decided that the California tax system, similar to the Illinois system, did not provide such equality.