"Because of circumstances beyond our control, pencil sharpeners and wastebaskets will be delayed a few more days."

This news led Mr. Dale Marshall, mathematics teacher, to only one course of action. Taking matters into his own hands last week, Mr. Marshall proved that he could meet the emergency. He brought his own pencil sharpener to class mounted on a board.

In his years of teaching, Mr. Marshall knows also that students need a small amount of persuasion before reaching their maximum output. Therefore, Mr. Marshall found his device could double as a paddle.

Last Thursday found Mr. Ernest Thide, one of Maine West's hard‑working carpenters busily putting up pencil sharpeners. Teachers could hardly believe their ears when asked, "Where would you like your pencil sharpener?" Of course, The Westerner had a reporter busy interviewing Mr. Thide, which slowed down his work somewhat.

Students and teachers have been taking problems of opening a new school in stride and everything seems to be running very smoothly despite these unpredictable arid unavoidable things.