Evening star., 1927-03-25
W" CLUB ASSISTS
SCHOOL DISCIPLINE
Good Name of Western High
Is Kept Clean Through
Its Operation.

The good name of Western High
School and it's students is kept clean
largely through the operation there
of the wv" Club, according TO DIR.
Elmer S. Newton, principal, and the
example of Western might be follow
ed to advantage by other schools.
For, although it is not generally
known, Washington has one of the
pioneer scholastic "slow" clubs of the
country at Western, with an eN-
elusive membership Of high school
boys who have pledged themselves to
abstain from smoking. drinking and
rowdyism while attending school.
Not only do the members of this
club set an example for other class
mates to follow, but they are invested
with certain police authority over
their fractious or less thoughtful
comrades.
School officials are enthusiastic over
the success Of the organization, espe-
cially in an era marked by lurid ac-
counts in the press of the Nation
about student orgies and other
forms Of misbehavior among high
school pupils.
Westerns Club Different.
The local group is organized at
w ScICIff f1lEn CGiloOl ltIS tlSii|
of the "W"' Other high schools
in the city have so-called "letter"
clubs. whose membership is composed
of holders of athletic honors, but
Westerns club is decidedly different.
Instead of automatically admitting
any athlete who wears the school let
ter. the "W'' club will consider for
membership only such '.lettered" ath'
letes as are willing to subscribe to
solemn pledge against smoking, swear
ing, drinking and other conduct frown:
ed upon by the faculty. Only 10 OF
the schools most respected, outstand-
ing athletes have qualified for admls-
sion.
judicial powers of the club include
$ imposition on other students of mis-
conduct penalties ranging from post
ing of names of the guilty on the
school bulletin board to bestowal on
serious offenders of the ''rah-rah.
The "Rah-Rah."
The "rah.rah," let it be explained
for the benefit of those who are un-
initiated into the mysteries Of the
rite, is said to consist in running
the gauntlet" of a line of paddy
whackers." The treatment has proved
very effective in most cases. but
where the young recreant still re-
mains defiant the club resorts to its
most drastic punishment-haling of
the wayward enc before the principal.
Suspension Or expulsion is liable to
result from this procedure.
The president of the club is West
ern's star athlete, George c'Pee-Wee')
Walker, captain of the basket ball
team and stellar performer on the
schools base ball and foot ball teams.
Fred Owens is vice president, Sam
Coombs is secretary and Don CARRIER
IL treasurer. The other members are
Lester Buckley, William Stanley, Bob
Wilson, Glenn Wolcott, Charles
O'Daniel, Lawrence Schneider, Joseph
Rod, William Park, Quincy Owens,
Warren Rabbit. Edward Brownfield
and James Lowe.
Athletic Director Aids.
The club is not, of itself. form of
eutocratic student self-government It
initiates no policies of its own. without
first obtaining consent of DIR. Newton. !
In addition, there is a faculty super |
visor who takes part in the weekly
meetings, when the club holds court"
He Is d. r. Ahern, the school athletic
director.
THE club is merely an association
OF exemplary students held in high re-
Spect by the student BODY at large, and
who have taken IL upon themselves to
assist the faculty in maintaining good
order and discipline at the school," DIR.
&ewton states. When ii was first
&sYned more than decade ago, 1t was
Euhiected to ridicule and jibing. and
during the succeeding years ii suffered
various vicissitudes. Now. however,
with a strong membership. composed
of boys who are heroes among their
fellows. it is performing an invaluable
service"
It is expected at Western that such
clubs will become popular in other
local high schools, and that the idea
may take hold throughout the country