November 22, 2005 - Volume 34 Issue 5
Teachers
speak up on decades of trends
By Haley Barton, senior
and Haley Huffman, sophomore
Photo Editor and Cartoonist
At one time, who knows how many years ago, all our teachers
were teenagers. As difficult as that may be to believe for some students,
it is true, and several teachers lived very similar lives to current teenagers.
Music played a large and very influential role in the teenage lives of some
teachers, just as it does in the lives of many teens today. Much of today’s
popular music is deeply rooted in the revolutionary sounds many teachers remember
growing up with.
“ I listened to hard rock, such as Alice Cooper, Aerosmith, Kiss, Foreigner,
and Led Zepplin,” said Tim Osborn, art teacher.
Though many may fail to believe that teachers understand their lives, during
their teenage years, many teachers went through some of the same things as
today’s youth.
Like teens today, having a social life was a necessity. Cruising was a favorite
activity, along with attending dances and parties. Many spent their time hanging
around with friends and talking, while others even worked odd hours.
“ If I was not working, I would go out with friends. Usually, we would
go cruising or to a party,” said Hailey Schoendaller, English instructor. “One
time, some girlfriends and I were cruising in Chanute and the bumper of my friend’s
car fell off. We had to pull over and put it in the car with us.”
Many of the teachers were members of sports teams and clubs, ranging from tennis
and football, to music and pep club. The majority of the sports and clubs available
to students today were the same years ago for many teachers.
“ I participated in student council, drill team, cheerleading, dance team,
and drama club,” said Ruby Crawford, language arts teacher.
Since the teachers range from a wide array of ages, many of the trends they
recall are different. However, there are a many trends today that have transformed
from past trends. Today, high school students can be seen wandering around
with capris on, which were once known as ‘pedal pushers’ and flare
jeans, which were once known as ‘bell bottoms.’ High-top sneakers,
chunky jewelry, tattered jeans, acid washed clothing, and frosted hair can
all be attributed to decades past; decades that teachers remember well.
“ I wore blue jeans, high top basketball shoes with the laces untied and
a t-shirt. The jeans had rips in them and were acid-washed,” said Eric
Carlson, history teacher.
Through all the trends, fashions, and weekend plans, there have been some changes
through the years, but many things have remained the same. Just when students
begin to think that their teachers are clueless to how life is these days,
they should start to realize that just maybe those teachers were teenagers
like them at one time.
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Lance Carlson, Class of 1969 |
Tricia Greve, Class of 1979 |
Doug Leonard, Class of 1965 |
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Sandy Mintz, Class of 1976 |
Michael Healy, Class of 1971 |
Kim Isbell, Class of 1996 |
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Robert Myers, Class of 1995 |
Dorothy Neely, Class of 1974 |
Graciela Newman, Class of 1979 |
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Hailey Schoendaller, Class of 1995 |
Richard Weilert, Class of 1959 |
Teri Shaughnessy, Class of 1993 |
Standards raised, programs changed
Student benefit still at the heart of education
By Melanie Weilert,senior
Editor-in-chief
On a typical day at Humboldt High, students pass through the
halls occasionally glancing above their lockers at the framed photographs
of the senior classes that have come to pass. While some quickly race their
eyes past the thick-rimmed glasses, bouffant hairstyles, and funky retro
shoulder pads, others promptly recognize the faces of staff and faculty that
once graced those same halls as students.
Although trends have obviously evolved throughout the years, making their
rounds back into the current circuit of teenage lifestyles, the actual change
has occurred within the administration and emphasis on the importance of
education.
“
Education has changed in a lot of ways – requirements are greater and
it seems like there is more testing,” said Paula Kovacic, secretary. “When
I was in school, there was no such thing as grade checks where we got called
in to see if there were any other options to get our grades up. I feel like
these grade checks have helped a lot of these students.”
“
I think that education has evolved with more importance placed on state standards
and tests. We were taught the same material with less emphasis on actual
standards,” said Eric Carlson, social studies instructor. “However,
the dual credit classes through Allen County Community College have been
a big bonus for our school.”
Opportunity for communication between students and the colleges they wish
to attend has expanded well beyond its limitations in previous years. Students
are now able to take college courses, allowing them to preview what college
curriculum will consist of and what will be expected of them.
“
I still think that Humboldt continues to have teachers that hold students
to high expectations. One thing that has changed, however, is that students
have more class choices. When I was in school, we did not have the opportunity
to take dual credit courses through ACCC,” said Hailey Schoendaller,
English instructor.
“
There are more opportunities and visits by college representatives and trade
schools now, which did not happen when I was in school,” said Richard
Weilert, technology instructor.
Several organizations, clubs, athletic programs, and additional extracurricular
activities have come to pass just as the trends of past decades. While many
current students readily believe that organizations such as FCA and athletic
programs including softball and baseball have been around since the dawn
of time, in many instances, these are recent additions to the lives of Humboldt
High students.
“
When I was in school we had a KAY club that I was president of my senior
year and Sandy Mintz was the sponsor. There was no softball, baseball, and
FCA. Weightlifting was not as big as it is today either,” said Kovacic. “I
think these new things have given more students the opportunity to get involved.”
“
The option to participate or not participate in school activities was not
really an issue,” said Weilert. “We had peer pressure to do so
and social isolation if we did not. ‘Be there (join) or be square’ had
a real meaning and we all profited by it.”
While their college years may have drawn them away from the close knit community
that they grew up in, many Humboldt alumni were drawn back by the strong
sense of positive encouragement that developed them into the brilliant individuals
that they eventually became.
“
Humboldt is the best area school to teach in,” said Carlson. “It
is not perfect; nothing is. However, it is my opinion that we are in a class
by ourselves. We have great students and we have a great staff. We also have
great community support, which is essential for a strong school.”
“
I have always had a strong family connection to Humboldt. I wanted to give
back to a community who helped develop me into the person I became,” said
Schoendaller. “Most of all, I wanted my kids to go to a great school,
where I know people will be watching out for their best interest.”
Humor makes it worthwhile
By Blair Umholtz, senior
Advertising Manager
School may seem dull at times, but the teachers at Humboldt
High School all know better than to think that. Throughout their years of
teaching,
certain humorous classroom incidents stand out in their minds from the
ordinary day-to-day occurances.
Doug Leonard, math instructor, recalled, for instance, something that had
happened while the school still held an open lunch hour. A student had been
late to class after coming back from lunch. When Leonard asked the student
where he had been, he claimed that he had crawled into the back of a truck
and fallen asleep there. However, when he woke up the truck was no longer
where it had been. Someone had moved the vehicle while the student was still
inside.
“
When I had asked him whose car it was, he said that he did not know,” said
Leonard.
Leonard also thought of a day that three students skipped school. The principal
heard that they were at the cemetery, so the school counselor and principal
went to the cemetery to find them. The boys were all hiding behind a tombstone.
However, one of the boys had such a large Afro that it stuck out above the
headstone. Needless to say, they were easily caught.
Lance Carlson, social studies teacher, recalled when a student came to him
for advice. Police had found an illegal substance in his car after pulling
him over, and the student did not know what to do about it. The student was
able to prove that it was an illegal stop through the knowledge he gained
of constitutional rights in his government class. All charges were dismissed.
“
When he came back to me, he said ‘Mr. Carlson, it was an illegal search
and seizure! Should I ask for it back?’,” said Carlson.
Dorothy Neely, family science instructor, remembers a class from last year.
For a long time, a student had been calling her name. Not getting any answer,
she shouted, “Fire!” Neely immediately gave the student her full
attention.
Another story that stands out for Neely included a student from a few years
back. It was her first year teaching and he had sewn the top of his pants
together. When she told him that he would need to rip out the stitches, the
student reached for a pair of scissors and simply cut off the top of his
pants.
Sheryl Palmer, business education instructor, described a situation were
her class was studying banking activities. Palmer asked a student where they
would go to get a loan. The student said that they would go to their bedroom
to “get alone.” Thinking that the student would realize that
she was talking about banking activities, Palmer replied, “No, where
would you go to get a loan?” Once again, the student misunderstood,
saying that they would go to their room and close the door. Finally, Palmer
had to make it clear that she was talking about banking activities and that
she had to spell the word out once and for all.
Gracie Newman, English instructor, spoke of one of her first plays as the
drama coach. They presented a three-act play where all kinds of crazy things
happened.
“
When the cliff-hanger dude did not make it in time because he could not get
dressed fast enough to enter at the end of the first act, the kids improvised
magnificently to cover for it.” said Newman.
However, she said that backstage it was chaotic with them re-writing the
script.
“
All of them were going crazy with, ‘What do we do?’ ‘How
do we fix it?’ ‘How do we get him on?’,” said Newman. “When
the curtain rose though, they all appeared as calm and assured as could be.
The contrast I saw in them was funny.”
One thing can be certain through all of these stories, the teachers’ many
years spent here at Humboldt High were anything but boring
Students test knowledge in preparation for
Scholars’ Bowl
season competitions
By Daniel Weilert
and Melany Megenity, sos.
Ad Designer and Reporter
The tenth element on the periodic table, the island
that contains Haiti and the Dominican Republic, the thirty-second president
of the United States;
all standard knowledge to the usual Scholars’ Bowl participant.
While the Scholars’ Bowl graduated five seniors last year, the team
gained a new coach, Hailey Schoendaller, as well as a few new participants
while retaining some veteran members.
“
I want to learn a lot about Scholars’ Bowl, so that by next year, we
can host our own meet,” said Schoendaller. “I hope that our returning
Scholars’ Bowl students receive varsity experience, so that the younger
students can learn from them.”
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Photos by Melanie Weilert |
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Newcomers, including Todd Hauser, fr., have begun to feel the
excitement and pressure that comes along with the involvement of Scholars’ Bowl.
“
I felt nervous because I have not done this before,” said Hauser. “But
after sitting out a few rounds and finally getting in, I answered a couple
of questions correctly and felt like I was going to do alright.”
Practices for the upcoming tournaments are held in Schoendaller’s classroom
on Mondays and Thursdays after school. During the practices, the team is
quizzed over their knowledge in the fields of language arts, mathematics,
fine arts, social studies, foreign language and current events.
Did you know the answers?
1) Name the tenth element on the periodic table.
2) Which island contains Haiti and the Dominican Republic?
3) Who was the thirty-second president of the United States?
Answers at the end of the story!
“
Our purpose in Scholars’ Bowl is to compete against other academic
teams, which allows the students the opportunity to learn more in various
academic areas and improve upon them,” said Schoendaller.
On November 3, the group participated in a meet at Pittsburg,
leaving with a record of 3-4. The second meet for the team, on November 7,
was at Burlington,
where they finished with a record of 6-5.
“
I try to remember all of the questions that were asked before at the last
meet, then I can study for those questions the night before the next one,” said
Katie Hauser, jr.
The most recent meet was held in Eureka on November 12, allowing the group
to head home with a record of 4-2 after they broke finals. The next tournament
for the Scholars’ Bowl team will be held on November 29 at Yates Center.
“
In my opinion, I think we’re progressing well, and I hope the team
makes it to the finals in Yates Center, like we did in the Eureka tournament.
That would really boost our confidence,” said Daniel Weilert, so.
answers to above quiz... 1) Neon. 2) Hispaniola Island 3) Franklin D. Roosevelt
Scholars compete, break finals in tournament
By Jordan Young, sr.
Sports Editor
Competing in three tournaments thus far, the Scholars’ Bowl
team has traveled to Pittsburg, Burlington and Eureka leaving with records
of 3-4,
6-5, and 4-2 respectively.
“
I am very optimistic about how we will perform this year, despite the fact
that we lost a lot of our team. We’ve gained some very intelligent
people who will contribute immensely,” said Vernon.
During their tournament in Burlington, the team came away with a score of
100 points out of a total of 160, which has been their highest score so far.
Scholars' Bowl
Owen Heisler, sr., Paul Vernon, sr., Melanie Weilert, sr.,
Katie Hauser, jr., Emily Hauser, so., Haley Huffman, so.,
Daniel Weilert, so., Todd Hauser, fr., Coach, Hailey Schoendaller
Individuals with the highest scores during two of the tournaments so far
were Katie Hauser and Emily Hauser. Emily Hauser was also the high individual
points leader at Eureka.
“
I’m not sure if we are going to make it to State yet, but I hope so.
We’ve lost five seniors and missed placing by one round at each of
our first two meets,” said Hailey Schoendaller, coach.
The Scholars’ Bowl team recently traveled to Eureka on November 12.
The team made it to the final round, but ultimately lost to Northern Heights.
During the Eureka tournament, the team beat Douglass 40-10, Burlington 50-10,
and Caney Valley 40-10. The team suffered losses to Marion 10-40 and Northern
Heights 10-70.
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