February 21, 1961 The Chatterbox | |
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Page Z
Grating Grades
The method of rading is one of the have graduated from here, and, after various periods of time,
have returned to serve at their alma mater. Most have come back
most difficult problems encountered in ed- as teachers, as is the case with Mr. Barren Wilson, Mrs. Joyee
ucation. This fact was again realized, re- Mitchell, Miss Dorothy Levensohn, Mrs. Elaine Mirsky. and
Miss Rosemary Hope. Two, however, are here carrying out the
cently, when it was decided to weigh Ad- work of secretary to Mr. McDevitt and treasurer. They are Miss
vanced Placement Course grades. This Margurite Shigley and Mrs. May Skilkin, respectively.
In each of these persons there is a strong sense oI loyalty
new grading system brins into even In.the school. Yhts seems quite natural. Several, however, have
sharper contrast a fundamental error in their doubts about teaching whare they had graduated. Mrs.
the grading process. Mitchell says that she still felt like a student when she first
Although attempts have been made to taught here in the fall of 1958. Now, however, after three years
she definitely feels a part of the faculty. Miss Hope tried soy-
give no grades at all, such as at Reed eral other schools at first, hut now she is very happy to be back
College, the effort ultimately fails. A at Walnut Hills.
The teachers find some things about the school changed and
record of the students' grades is kept any- some just as they were before. In its early years Miss shigley
way, and although not shown to the stu- recalls that Walnut Hills was a four-year high school where
dents themselves, it is preserved for grad- there was a far greater emphasis on studies. The only extra-
uate school applications. Thus, though curricular activities were intellectual ones. Miss Levensohu
found the atmosphere much more intimate because the student
noble in principle, namely, to discourage body was only half as large. Everyone knew both seniors and
working for ades alone, the plan does freshmen at the same time.
These former students have mixed emotions about Walnut Hills.
not necessarily succeed for those who go They, however, find it hard to express their feelings as former
on to graduate school, gimilarly, a record students because their position today is "so very much different
of grades must he kept at Walnut Hills, from the previous one," says Mrs. Mirsky. As a result Mr. wil-
son believes the curriculum more difficult while Miss Levensohn
since the colleges rely on them so heavily and Mrs. Mitchell feel quite the opposite in the case.
as a basis for admission. Since this is the Miss Hope definitely feels that Walnut Ilills suits her desires
case and grades are necessary, should for teaching and she thoroughly enjoys it here, but this, she
feels, is not because she was a student here. She attributes
they not be averaged in the fairest way her fondness for Walnut Hills to having taught here for a number
possible? of years.
The present system is to send only the It therefore seems that the common feelings which predominate
among these former students are a strong sense of loyalty, and
year average of each student's subiects, a happiness in teaching in the friendly atmosphere whereoue
This is not faulty in itself. ut rather than naturally seems to belong.
a letter grade, it is only sensible that the Topics Interest Class As
numerical average of the term and exam
grades be for,yarded to the colleges. 'or .r/,le
example if a student h,s three and Students Stu00,: Stu Dubin
five S's in a iven subject, his average is
9.625 and is recorded "B" on his tran-
script; if a student has four PJ's and four
A's in this subject, his average is 3.50,
yet still is recorded "B" on his transcript.
The suggestion, then, is that the numeri-
cal average be recorded on the transcript,
instead of the less meaningful letter
Alumni Still Serve School Teitz Raids Re
• Rej ing
by Be. Sehlous oct Radio's
Walnut Hills has among its faculty a number of members who
by Anne Redfern
"All right now class, take out your notebooks and turn to a
fresh sheet of paper. Today we are going to study stuart Dubin.
"The first main topic is 'Distinguishing Characteristics.'
Stuart Dubln is easily identified by his sleepy expression as he
averages Shree to six hours of sleep per night.
"Dubin'sspeeeh is highly individualistic, although he admits
that he has gained much of his poise and eloquence from the
study d Cicero. Certain phrases such as 'as it w ere', 'ye s, no -
check one', 'arg', and 'go to the moon', are often repeated for
rhetorical effect (or pathos). Dubin is a tenacious, pessimistic
by Joyce Teitz.
I am standing here in the shower minding m
own business. And all of a sudden I hear this
deep bass voice coming from the direction eli
the medicine chest. "Hel-lo there!" it sayS.
Well. I am just a little Surised because !'
am not expecting any company at this particu-
lar time. ! kind of grab a towel real qmlick and
wrap it around me (wrap, wrap, wrap) and thee
I open the shower curtain just a little to see
what is coming off outside.
"it's me again," says the voice.
Wham! The shower curtain closes.
The nerve of some people! Just dropping in
like that without giving you any advance no-
tice. "Who are you?" I scream.
"This is your frieneBy neighborhood physi-
cian," says the voice.
"Yeah, I'll say you're friendly."
I step out of the shower and look around.
end then suddenly it hits me. Namely, my
transistor radio, which has been.up on the
third shelf of the medicine chest all the time.
It has been sitting up there With the Mantan
the merchurochrome, and the Mum spray mist.
And now it falls off and crowns me.
I start to laugh. It really is kind of tunny
when you think about it. llere I am, thinking
someone has trapped me in a shower
and all the time it is only "Monitor."
It is a few hours later. I am sitting here in
the kitchen studying and eating this fried
chicken drumstick. At the same time I am
listening to the radio.
There is that voice again.
":Iel-lo there, friendly neighborhood physi-
cian!" I say.
hen I'm not in such a good mood which in
pretty often -- I cap on radio announcer s.
"Stop cheating yourself of lifeP' says the
friendly medic. Wham! I drop the drumstick and
snap to attention. The voice continues. 'Stop
clogging your aorta with cholesterol" it says.
I look hungrily down at the drumstick.
"Take fried chicken," says the voice. (So l
take it. Boy, was I relieved.
"Well," says the friendly neighborhood phy-
sician, "it is just loaded with cholesterol
And recent studies at Harvard show that large
amounts of cholesterol in the diet may shorten
the life span by seven to thirteen years."
"3ull," I say, "Harvard, Shmarvard. Look
at me, will you? I am in the prime of lifel"
grade.
Cultured Audience
The assembly program put on by the or-
chestra last Wednesday ,vas a delightful
addition to the school program. ?laying in
an orchestra or listening to it is a cultural
opportunity we should not miss. The pro-
ram, varying from an arrangement of a
"roadway musical to a violin concerto, re-
vealed the many facets of orchestral mu-
sic. The entire presentation was very en-
joyable.
qowever, we cannot mince 'vords on the
behavior of a small minority of the audi-
ence. The immature exhibition of penny
throwing and laughter was di,raceful.
Let us hope that some day these students
will mature enough to appreciate their
cultural advanta,es.
THE CHATTERBOX
The CtlATTERBOX is published every Tuesday
of the school year (thirty-five times) by the students
Of Walnut tlllls High School. Victory Parkway,
Cincinnati 7, Ohio. Subscription rate is $3.50 pet
yea/. Phone: WOodburn 1-3762.
EDITORIAL STAFF
Co-Editors .................... Waxene Fabe, Peter Rutter "Our third, tapic is 'Likes
News F.gitors ............. Emily Kraraer, ]ackie iiler and Dislikes.' Oubin exalts in
Editorial Editors .......... Sally ttamlim Helen Lu$toa Brandenburg Concerto, revels
Assocles .......... Louise Bettman, John Fischer in bagel, Iox, and cream
Feature Editors J r am G bert. Stephen Greemvo
Associaes...:i:Frann e Atkins, Camille LeGrand cheese, and luxuriates in a
Gale Lackhart, Barb tfichelson neck massage. Baalethali
Ottesen, [)ave einer games, epeciall those won
Sports Editors .............. gric
Asoclates....Jokn Bullock, Nancy Loudenslager by UC, excite him wlldlyfl'
Fourth Page Editors ................ Cynthia Crounse, Dubin recalls with fnd
"" Crlotte Epstein memories his summers spent
PRODUCTION S'rAFF at Camp Livthgston, at summer
P.evrtte Editor ............................. Nancy Bradeen school with John Steiner and
.socinte ............................... Sheen Burke Mr. Shrimptorh and a visit with
COpy Edlturs...Arleae Dingilian, ,elind,godiard his hmer in Ne York City.
Headline Co-ordinators ................... a.y ra mad "The last section is 'Future
Marilyn Meadors
Advertising Nanagers ...... Dins Block, Steve Skow Plans.' This summer DuNn
lut Au et would llke to sell newspapers
Head Typ .....................................
Associates .............. Susan FosseZt, Louise Watt Niw York. He will probably
Art Editor .................................... M.k Amw.oas spend the next four years at
Aasoclalu ................................ Liz iller Harvard, Yale, Princeton, or
photeg1"aphar$ . Frannie Grace. Eric Stein
Citculatlon g'.'.'.'.'-" .................. t#ike Thayer the University of Chicago. Ul-
Matllng Edltora..Paa/a Berkowirz, Betsy Flanafan timately Dubin wants a hoose
with 25 foot ceilings and a
dvmer ................................ It.s. Ether H. Let3, gigantic hi-fi system."
perfectionist who plays short club. I take a bite of chicken.
"The second main topic is 'Accomplishments.' Dubin has
made outstanding contributions to the school in his positions "Think!" Mares the voice. Is the taute of 1
as president of Latin Club, and Radio Club, AFS carhivai prize that food worth thirteen years of your life? I
committee chairman, and as a member of the editorial staff of iluh, is it? Is it worth thirteen years of sun" 4l
the CHATTERBOX. He had in addition distinguished himself rises and sunsets? Thirteen years of seeing |
when, as Walnut Hills' Boy Mayor candidate, he was elected to your dreams fulfilled? Thirteen years of watch-
City Council. Dubin is a Merit Scholarship Finalist who would ing'your grasdchildrnn grow up?"
I switch the radio off, and go to the re-
like the money."
Further proofs of his intellect are membership in Cure Laude frigerator for another drumstick. I mean, it's
and the title of Best Student which he won with an outstanding all I can do right now to get intp college, with-.
record in five advanced placement courses attained with the aid out having a bunch of grandchildren to worry
of tranquilizers and No-Doz tablets. Lesser known, but highly about.
file Get Letters...Letters...Letters
I am an egotist, _As a stu- Receipt of a diploma has no meaning in It-
dent council member I want self. It is only a symbol of the years of study
to be respected around the and work which precede aduation. At the
school for the position that graduation itself there is no distinction made
I hold, and for the time and between the honor student and him who has
effort which I put into our barely passed.
student government. I don't This year, as always, the question bus
want to be stereotyped as been raised whether to wear caps and gowns
\\; one of those persons who, or tuxedos at graduation. As there Is no old-
while he may be found climb- cial distinction between graduates, •there
ing the walls in the bath- should be none even informally at that time.
rooms searching for smokers No one would advocate humiliallng the poor
or ehasing a person through students hy dressing the "A" students in
the school who seems to be red, the "B" students in white jackets, etc.
traveling too fast, stiL! re- This, however° is the only sensible diffeP
fuses to devote his vote in entiation, If this is not to be done, everyone
significant accomplishments Student Council to a project should be dressed alike. The only way to In =
are Dubin's championship ping- or device furthering the gee- sure this is by caps and gowns.
pong ability and his musical eral welfare of the students. Graduation is the culmination of as much
skill, both instrumental (on the Student Council is not go- as six years of competition, There is no
recorder) an vocal (in the ing to receive the participa- point ie continuing it on the auditorium
shower), tion and support which it stage. Tradition is eertalblY of importance
wants "and requires by the but one must have the discretlon to know
mere support of outside when to discard the old for the new.
school philanthropic activi- -Liz Miller, Maria Lewis, lit LevInateth
ties, in-Council activities, How accurate a measure of achievement is
and activities concerning the Cure Lasde Society? Because membership
single students or small
: factions. The purpose of Stu-
dent Couneil in a school of
this size is te do as much as
it possibly can for as many
students as it possibly eas
effect. If this necessitates
the purchase of salt for the
icy walks, if it means the
pumhase of shrubbery and
"keep of the grass" signs,
it should be done without
hesitation and with unahim-
is dependent solely on grades, students are
encouraged to strive only for the almighty
grade. Frequently we are reminded by the
faculty that grades hould occupy a position
secondary to knowledge. Therefore member-
ship in Cure Lande should be based upon
learning, the primary oblective of education.
We propose the following:
A. That entrance be based upon scores on
standardized tests.
B. That all students having an average of
3.00 be eligible for a competition.
To this proposal some might say "But I
ity.
This reatlse is not pro- don't do well on standardized tests." Rather
seated in disparagement of than a fair criticism of objective examtha
Student Council. tions, this seems to be an Indication of the
--Frank Jauzeinoo fallacies of a subjective_Name Withbeldgrading ystem,.on Requeet