Riverdale Online Olympiad '75

Editorial artwork

I don't know about the rest of you but, when I recieved my copy of the 'Olympiad' way back in 75'. I didn't have any interest in reading the poetry or prose or short stories that graced the pages therin. Only now, as I have become nostalgic and scan the pages for names and faces that I once knew, do I read the offerings that these young students wrote and I am pleasantly surprised at the quality of the writing and vision they had in their early years. This short story you are about to read rings true, even today. If you stop and listen to yourselves you will see and hear these same opinions, maybe not in the same words (geeze I hope I don't talk like that even if I have lived in a rural area for the last 26 years)but in all likelyhood we tend to feel the same way about some of our youth today. Even though we know it is a vast minority that are responsible for our tainted views. As a whole, kids today are just as 'bad' as we were. Well some anyway. We never had to check for weapons at Riverdale ex'cept for the odd smoke grenade eh! When you least expect it you will hear these words force themselves from between your lips and quite possibly loud enough for anyone near to hear "My God! I think I have turned into my father!"

"Times are bad. Children no longer obey their parents, and everyone is writing a book."
~Roman Scholar and Statesman Marcus Tullius Cicero (104-43 B.C.)

Enjoy!
Keith Doucet

 

Modern Youth

My God, I don't know what the world is coming to. It's not bad enough that there's war and killin' everywhere, the young folks have t' go down the drain as well: it's disgustin'. The things they do and get away with are unbelievable. If I had done half of what the kids today do, my pappy would have taken a hickory switch to my hide.

These youngsters today have no pride in their appearance. They run around in tattered blue jeans that are about ready for the junk. That's nothing to be ashamed of, mind you. I wore them too, workin' on the farm, but these kids wear them to school and church. Lookin' like savages ain't all they do. When they're not practicing to be bums, they prance around half naked displayin' everything.

This, in my opinion, just shows the contempt for decency today's youth has. Why if I had said the things my grandson does (to his friends and elders), I would have been horsewhipped. I've nothing against a boy speakin' his peice, all I ask is he keep a civil tongue in his head.

Teenagers today have no idea of good honest fun either. Now I don't mean to say I was an angel: Hell-no! but I never destroyed anythin'. Everything kids do today seems bent on destruction. They can't enjoy 'emselves without crackin' up somethin'. Horsefeathers!

Apart from property, kids today have no feelings for parents either. David, that's my grandson, don't bother to tell us where he's goin': he just up and leaves. He comes back at an ungodly hour reekin' of beer and cigarettes.

It seems the only thing boys of this here generation can do right is drive and pick up girls. These are the only places where I respect David. That whipper-snipper realy knows how to handle a car and a woman. I've been drivin' for nigh on fifty years and that guy can do almost as many things with a car as I can.

But leavin' aside the good points, and them's the only two, the only way to starightin' out these teenage smartalecs is to warm their backsides with a good sized hunk of hickory.

John Pingree John Pingree


Story from the 'Student's Voice' November 1974

Riverdale X- Country rank high

Rick Janes

Rick Janes

On Nov 9th the Riverdale Cross Country team ran in the Provincial Championships held at Parc des Hirondelles, situated in the east end of Montreal. The course, which was spread out over a large grassy area, included a ski slope that rises at 45deg. The runners had to ascend and descend the hill twice in each 2km. lap.

Andy May and Ken Alexanderboth ran in the Bantam 3km race finishing 11th and 18th respectively
out of a field of more than 50 competitors. Scott Pepper led the Midget team to victory finishing in
2nd place over 4km. The other team members finished Chris Paddison-8th, Rob Alexander-15th and Doug Alexander 18th. Since their combined places totalled the least of the teams entered in the race they captured the midget title.

Rick Janes won the 6km Juvenile race. The course was greulling to say the least, especially when you consider that some spectators had trouble walking up the hill.
Both rick Janes and Scott Pepper were chosen for the Quebec team and competed in the national championships held on Nov 16th in St. Catherines Ontario. Scott ran the 4km Midget race finishing 13th out of a field of 140 competitors. Rick ran in the Juvenile Open race and finished an impressive 5th place. Since it was an open race Rick had tough competition from a handfull of excellent American runners.


Student Voice charicature