Students participate in ‘bullying’ Oratorical

Glendale High School students on Friday participated in Oratorical, a 103-year-old campus tradition of speechmaking and spirit in which different grade levels compete against each other in four categories, including original speech, tableau, discipline and class spirit.

The event regularly draws top city officials, some of whom participated in Oratorical during their own student days at the school, said Mary Hazlett, a Glendale High School teacher and head of student activities.

“If you have been in it, you understand how cool it is,” Hazlett said.

The inaugural event took place in 1909 when Glendale High School was located on Harvard Street. Originally, each of the four classes created elaborate booths decorated to reflect the theme of their respective speeches. In 1923, the tableau, a still-life scene, was introduced.

This year, students selected “bullying” as the Oratorical theme. One student from each class delivered a five-minute memorized speech, and then each class created a tableau consistent with the theme. The classes also sang traditional Glendale High School cheers and songs.

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-- Megan O’Neil, Times Community News

Twitter: @megankoneil