Though the four cabinets holding bundles of old Tattler issues (and other random objects) have never quite kept a distinct location, their history remains the same. Being archivist of The Tattler allows me to explore the tales and stories that once lived in the halls of IHS. Whether you enjoy history a lot or not as much, I’m sure you’ll find something you’ll enjoy in this section. Without further ado, here’s just a handful of these pieces, dating all the way back to 1892!
November 1999
Dodgeball: The Glorious Game
By TYLER BARNETT ‘00
The word “dodgeball” comes from the ancient Latin proverb “Bell ad God.” For those of you who aren’t devout Latin scholars, this means “bell to God.” When the ancients would play early forms of dodgeball, they would claim to hear heavenly bells tolling from above whenever someone got really plastered. Of course, archaeologists now know that ancient civilizations used specially crafted spherical stones rather than today’s modern playground balls. Consequently, a good hit often resulted in the deaths of many a stout dodgeballer. The post-game rituals for honoring the dead were among the most complex creations of the ancient world. The Egyptians, for example, would build pyramids in reverence to those who gave their lives. Dodgeball was also prevalent in the city-states of ancient Greece. In fact, the entire Trojan War was started when a player from Troy claimed that a stone thrown by a Grecian player bounced before it hit him. Across the Atlantic, the Incas would play dodgeball in the treacherous mountain passes of the Andes.
Games were often played to decide the winners of potato bake-offs, and the losers would get pushed off cliffs. Aztecs believed in the human sacrifice of the losing team. The Aztecs also built floating gardens specifically for a dodgeball-water polo hybrid called “Dodgeball-Water Polo Hybrid.” This mutant of a game died out when the Aztecs realized that it was hard to throw stones underwater.
So where did modern dodgeball come from? Well, where did the Native Americans get horses? Where did the Irish get potatoes? They got them from Christopher Columbus in 1492! When Chris landed in the West Indies, he brought the crew from the Santa Maria, who had won the privilege of being the flagship by beating the Nina and the Pinta in the world’s first three-way dodgeball game. The elite dodgeballers from Europe were amazed at the North American style, which included the revolutionary idea that players who were “out” could get back “in” if a team member caught the ball. Europeans contributed the idea of “headhunting,” and the modern rules of dodgeball were set. Thanks to the cultural exchange of 1492, these new rules were spread all over the world.
Dodgeball is the most important game in the world. Wars have been fought, elections have been lost, and continents have drifted. All because of dodgeball. So why don’t we study dodgeball in gym class? Students would be mentally and physically bettered if the entire P.E. curriculum were devoted to dodgeball. Dodgeball is a way for students to take part in a movement that has shaped the world. Dodgeball requires the ultimate balance of mind and body to be successful. A dodgeball player feels a connection with something greater than humanity when he/she smears someone, or catches the ball that frees the whole team. This divine game deserves our utmost commitment and devotion. It would better our school, our students, and our spirit.
January 2008
Letter to the Editor: ‘A Monster?’
There stands, between the cafeteria and G-building, a corridor. This corridor, which measures approximately 61’ by 13’, is the necessary byway for those students who live on a subsistence composed entirely of food. In the summer and spring, the corridor is just another commonplace hall. But in the winter…a monster! A cold icy wind blows across from door to door, and at either end, in the safety and warmth of either G-building or the cafeteria, hordes of students cowardly stand, gathering up the courage to brave the elements…surrounded by four walls. Finally the need for sustenance drives them through the doors and quickly over to the cafeteria. A corridor should not have such powers over the human body and mind! An ultimatum should be delivered; either we go, or the corridor is heated, since the elements would be even stronger if the corridor went.
January 2003
What Would Moses Do? Nametags
By MOSES WILKS ’03
I think everyone at IHS should wear a nametag. It could be of any sort, from an embroidered jacket, to merely a “Hi, my name is…” sticker. This is because, as I walk around IHS, I see a lot of nervousness and unkindness. I think this would be solved easily if we all knew each other’s names. It would be a lot easier to hold conversations, and a lot harder to be mean to someone, if you knew his or her name.
Now here’s the real reason I want people to wear nametags. A couple of weeks ago, I was sitting around having IHS students and staff pay to sit on my lap. No, no, no, I wasn’t performing the “world’s oldest profession,” I was being Santa at the craft fair. Apparently, I was the most popular of all the Santas, attracting the most customers. This caused a bit of a problem. Mainly because they all knew who I was, and I knew approximately ten of them. I get the same sort of feeling on class color day. I see all these complete strangers and I get a little worried.
It’s not just that I don’t know their names. I have never seen some of them before in my life. I’ve been thinking about how this could be possible, and I thought perhaps all of them knew me from the fine articles I write. Then I thought, “Well, not that many people actually read The Tattler, and those who do usually aren’t reading my articles.” For all of you who do read my articles, you are among the coolest people at IHS.
Anyway, back to the nametags. IHS as a whole doesn’t really need them but I do. I don’t know anybody, and you all seem to know me. Since most people aren’t willing to wear a name tag at all times, I’ve thought of some other ways we can clear up my confusion. 1) Always have a friend around who can refer to you by name for me. 2) Refer to yourself in the third person whenever you speak to me. 3) Be more interesting so that I have a reason to know who you are. And finally, 4) don’t speak to me.
Now, many of you are probably a little upset by this, and I just want you to know it’s not you, it’s me. It’s not that you’re not an interesting person; I just have more important things to think about. With this information, I hope you don’t feel insulted.
November 1998
Amnesty International
By KATY SHAW
Do you think that spending ten minutes writing a letter can save someone’s life? It can if you are writing in support of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, on behalf of a prisoner of conscience, or in order to condemn political killings.
Amnesty International is a worldwide movement that works to promote human rights by campaigning to free political prisoners, abolish the death penalty, torture and other cruel treatment of prisoners, end political killings and “disappearances,” and oppose human rights abuse by opposition groups.
The members of Amnesty International write letters, sign petitions, and stage public demonstrations to put pressure on oppressive governments to stop these abuses. The amazing thing is that it actually works! If enough letters are sent to the government officials responsible for human rights abuses, they will often become so embarrassed by the negative publicity that they will release prisoners or tone down infringements on freedom of speech. Case in point: Dr. Ransome-Kuti, the chair of the Campaign for Democracy in Nigeria, was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for exposing the unfair treason trial that took place in Nigeria in 1995. Amnesty International took up his cause, and because thousands of letters were written by Amnesty International members to the Nigerian government, Dr. Ransome-Kuti was released earlier this month.
Ithaca High School now has an Amnesty International Club. The club is just starting up and we invite you to join us. We held our first meeting this week so listen to the announcements and look for postings so that you will know when and where future ones will be. At meetings we will be discussing the focus case for the week as well as writing letters. If you have any questions feel free to ask: Katy Shaw ’99, Sarah Darcey-Martin ’99, Amy Rawson ’99, or our advisor Ms. Perl.
Ten minutes of your time can make a difference.