1

Initiation


The grade twelve class of 1958-59 officially welcomed the junior grade tens into the Bentley High School during the eighteenth and nineteenth days of September. On these two days about 50 initiates were required to wear garments and follow a particular set of behaviour patterns selected by the seniors.
To meet the low standard, the girls had to wear men’s jeans held up with rope suspenders, T-shirts, nylons rolled below the knee, unmatched high heeled shoes, earrings, and nipples around their necks. Their make-up, consisting of dark, heavy lipstick, a band-aid worn on their noses, a blackened right eye, was in accord with their hair style. This style featured one half of the individual’s hair curled in rags and the other half worn straight. The girl’s carried a wrench, as well as a shoe polishing rag, in a sack tied on a stick. The boys, on the other hand, wore gunny sack dresses, paper plate hats tied on with a ribbon, homemade beads, nylons held up with garters, and shoe box shoes. They were very attractively made up with lipstick and multi-colored freckles. Their hair was worn in the popular two foot long pony tails and bangs. They carried baskets and shoe polishing rags. Both boys and girls wore "frosh" signs of a specific size.
One of the highlights of the two days occurred Friday noon when the grade twelves paraded the grade tens down town. This adventure was enjoyed by the public as well as the participants.
The climax of the initiation came at 2:30 p.m., on Friday, when the high school met in the auditorium so see the grade tens brought forth in court manner to receive undeserved penalties given by biased grade twelve jurymen. This activity illustrated the good sportsmanship of the initiates.

2

Initiation #4 - 1942 - Bentley
1942
Bentley, Alberta


Credits:
Bentley Museum Society

3

Initiation #3 - Bentley
1900's
Bentley, Alberta


Credits:
Bentley Museum Society

4

Initiation #2 - Bentley
1900's
Bentley, Alberta


Credits:
Bentley Museum Society

5

Initiation - Bentley
1900's
Bentley, Alberta


Credits:
Bentley Museum Society