Co-ed Lunch Begins
at Western High School
THE BREEZE, Western High School Newspaper
November 25, 1940
50 YEAR TRADITION ENDED BY VOTE ON COED LUNCH
A half century of tradition was shattered when 63% of Western’s student body voted to do away with the bilateral type of lunchroom in favor of the more generally used coeducational arrangement.
The poll was conducted with the approval of Dr. Newton and the District Board of Education and after a panel discussion held before the school on November 14.
Sitting on the edge of their seats and straining to hear every word, the students heard Bill Stone lead with the argument for change. Following this excellent presentation Robert Kibler introduced the shrewd case of the present plan advocates. The affirmative believed much of the success of their proposed plan depended upon an actual report as to the conditions in coed lunchrooms. To deliver such a report Betty Jordan of Central contrasted our then present condition with that of her new alma mater. In reply, two though provoking speeches for the negative were delivered by Nancy O’Rourke and John Harrison. The final words were allotted to Robert Irons who eloquently summed up the affirmative lunch and delivered a stirring rebuke to his opponents.
Those favoring the change explained the social advantages arising from coed lunchroom. Contrasting Western with Central they showed how their plan would promote courtesy, companionship, and school spirit. On the opposite side, the native appealed to our traditions as a reason to be more conservative.
In order to allow the students an opportunity to ponder the question, Dr. Newton postponed the vote until the following morning. Without waiting for further orders, the students inaugurated during the noon periods, Western’s first coed lunchroom.
