Is America sick?
This question has been on my mind for a long time and I have come
to the conclusion that the "United" States is indeed
sick or suffering some strange symptom.
Today, America is a tension packed country full of hate, anxiety, and fear. Every thinking person lives in fear of a war that could blow us apart. Yet this country faces coming apart at the seams without one H-bomb being dropped.
It seems this nation is filled with violence and hate at every corner. Turn on the television or go to a movie and one sees violence. In the past year, so far, we have seen the murder of two great leaders. Six men have been arrested this year for making attempts on the President. The cities explode into virtual civil war every summer.
VIOLENCE EVERYWHERE
We have witnessed an T.V. violent campus demonstrations. In fact the campus, the learning institution of the nation's young, seem on the verge of anarchy. Whether they were right or wrong, Chicago was the scene of massive police brutality. I am not trying to sound like George Wallace but people are afraid to go outside after dark. Policemen are now afraid to make arrests in the ghetto areas for fear of starting a riot.
Hate seems to go hand in hand with violence. The races seem coming apart. Negroes are constantly referred to by many as "them damn N--ers." Whites have always used this term but it seems filled with more hate lately, Negroes are striking back with the term "Hunkie." Hate groups such as the KKK and Black Muslims are gaining strength among the disillusioned. Ten million people voted for a party and a man who symbolized the hate for Negroes. Groups like Communist party fronts are gaining strength among the young.
Never has the antagonism between the young and the old been as pronounced as now. We read about it in the papers and witness it in the political arena.
WHERE IS THE GOVERNMENT?
What has the government done about the problems? Nothing! It is
too busy fighting an unpopular war. The young people, and some
of the old, of the country are rapidly losing faith in the country
and its leadership. The recent election gave many people, especially
the young, little choice of leadership. Many see no leadership
at all in the country. How can they? As soon as a leader arises,
he is shot.
Many people may say the sickness is in the eye of the beholder. But look around you, boy, it's got to scare you.
Are Teachers At Fault?
By Barry Weiner (Editor)
Scene: Two boys walking down the hall.
1st boy --- "Say, a re you going to that club meeting today?"
2nd boy--"No. I haven't heard anything about it."
1st boy--"You know, they announced It today in homeroom on
the announcements."
2nd boy--"Our homeroom is always so noisy until the skippers
list is called out that we can't hear a thing."
All right, stop! Homeroom is one of the most important periods
of the day. It is when you find out what is going on at Grady.
Unfortunately, some of Grady's homerooms are run as efficiently
as the Atlanta Braves.
The announcements serve many purposes: they make the students aware of what is taking place, such as club meetings, dances, sports activities; they describe schedule changes, class project plans, distribution of publications, and other important events. If a student misses these announcements, he may miss the events. He may even be kicked out of an organization for lack of participation.
Certainly, homeroom is a good place for students to catch up on all the latest gossip, but this should be done before and after the announcements. There are some teachers who run a very efficient homeroom and fortunately this type is more prevalent than the other. But it is the "others", the disorganized homerooms, that cause much confusion and lessen spirit and participation.
Teachers don't like to be disciplinarians. But discipline Is what it takes to make sure everyone hears the announcements and to take care of all business. There is even one senior Homeroom that doesn't get the announcements because It doesn't have a speaker In the room.
Mr. Derthick is always looking for ways to improve homeroom The best improvement would be for homeroom, teachers to improve the conduct in their homerooms.
Grady to Get New Gym; Remodeled Library
Finally, after many years, Grady is supposed to get a new gym.
According to Mr. Harold Miller, assistant principal, the passage
of amendments 76, 77, and 78 should enable the Board of Education
to get the money for a new gym and expanded library.
Amendment 79 was not passed but Mr. Miller feels this will not
interfere with the construction of the gym. There are several
places the gym could be built. One idea is to tear down the old
gym and build a new one on that spot. Another idea is to tear
down the girls' gym, which is the oldest in the city, and build
a gym on that spot. Another idea is to tear down part of the eighth
street wing and build a gym there.
There is a lot of red tape that could prevent work on the construction but Mr. Miller feels that by next year's basketball season, Grady will have a new gym.
Grady is also in line for a remodeled library. The Board of Education wants to extend the library into what is now Mr. Hilderbrand's room and on around through the teacher's lounge and girls' restroom.
Miss Martha Respess, however, would like to have a new library built on the unused senior patio. She feels that a library in that area would be more centrally located for students all over the school.
Other reasons for a new rather than remodeled library are that remodeling would not be that beneficial. Two classrooms, a teacher's lounge, and girls' restroom would be lost. With the school's increasing enrollment, classroom space is going to be a critical factor in the school. Portable classrooms would not have to be bought if the new library was built and this would save the Board of Education money.