Principal's Message

I occasionally hear that some committee members to whom definite responsibility has been given, do not conform to what is required of them. This is unfortunate, as leaders should not ask of others what they are unwilling to do themselves. From my own observation, I would say that this is occasionally, but not generally true.

I am told, too, that some students at times refuse to co-operate with the committee members, regard them in a joking way, or resent being held to account by them or being reported by them. This is equally bad. Committee members have a specified responsibility, and a definite authority. Student should recognize this as being entirely impersonal. This authority, of course, should never be misused.

What I would like to emphasize particularly, is that every student in the school has a responsibility in school affairs, in the establishing of right standards, and enforcement of the laws of the school. The brunt of law enforcement should not fall on a few. Not enough of our students are accepting the job which they automatically assume when they become members of our student body group. We are not developing leadership qualities in some of our students as we should . Lack of executive force, personal magnetism, energetic work and thinking, may keep us from getting as good leaders as we should have. It is the duty of every student to try to develop these qualities.

Leadership here requires the intelligent guidance of persons and affairs in accordance with a high purpose. This in turn involves friendliness to all fellow students, desire to learn, willingness to work for self-improvement, ability to face a situation fairly and squarely, adherence to principles in the face of personal and petty objections, loyalty to all that is best in the traditions of our school, and eagerness to serve. The fact that we require a moderate scholarship qualification of our chief officers will never keep us from getting good material in those offices. The problems that general student officers and council members meet require intelligent handling. These officials should be personas capable of doing satisfactory work. This is not all that is necessary, however. Mental ability bears very little good fruit anywhere if accompanied by mental laziness. The great achievements in the scientific and industrial world today have been accomplished by the workers. Doing well the thing that we can do is a real proof of intelligence. If we cannot expect good work from our leaders, of whom should we expect it?

There are opportunities for leadership other than those offered by general offices. I had hoped that in class organizations, citizenship committees and club groups, individuals would show executive power. In these smaller groups there is much opportunity. I am disappointed to find that some clubs have practically lapsed, and that, in general, very little real development has taken place this year. In the clubs and in the class citizenship committees much constructive work can be done, but, first, student leaders must come forward to direct this work.

Students of Diablo, I hope that you will pledge anew your allegiance to the ideals for which Diablo stands, and that you will plan for yourselves a definite program of service in your school.

Someone has said that the school is a laboratory for teaching citizenship. In other words, it is a place for developing citizens by practical methods, by having student s really function as citizens. It is in this period of four years in high school that we should develop the capacity for self-government.

Self-government means self-control. We are all influenced by emotional impulses. A feeling may be a worthy or an unworthy one. It is part of our necessary self-training that we try to direct these impulses in the right way - that we think as well as feel when we act. This is self-control or self-government.

Not only must we control our individual impulses, but we must be governed by the needs and rights of others; we must be willing to set aside individual wishes and conform to laws that are necessary for the group in which we find ourselves. Co-operative student government, if rightly carried on, should help us to accomplish these things which I have just mentioned, and it should develop school spirit to a wonderful degree. Real Diablo spirit springs from love for Diablo, a wish to serve her, loyalty to her traditions, to the principles by which she is governed, and to the ideals for which she stands.

If we look thoughtfully over the last four years of our experience with student co-operative government, we shall find, I think, that, on the whole, the plan has proved to be worthwhile, but that in some ways it is not sufficiently effective.

BERTHA ROMAINE