Adrian High School - Sickle Yearbook (Adrian, MI)

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original. Coming from different parts of the country, they are, so to speak, representatives of their respective vicinities. They reveal the ideas, opinions, beliefs and customs prevalent among their neighbors. Representing various communities, these students differ not only from the city pupils, but also from one another. Originality is never too common, and the city pupils, who have been gradually becoming more and more alike during their association in the grades, are not slow to realize this fact. They appreciate variety, although they may call the odities countrifiedf' The benefit which each class derives from this contact of city and country is also of great importance. The urbanity of the city tends to modify and refine tl1e rusticity of the coun- try youthsg while simple honesty and straightforwardness have their effect upon polished city life. The city and coun- try C0lll6 to realize their close relation and mutual dependence. They have more in common than formerly, more knowledge of, and more interest in each other. Through the contact of these two elements in our High School, the city pupils are strengthened and come to recognize the true worth of their associatesg while the country people go back to their homes fully equipped to become leaders in their neighborhoods. It is to be hoped, therefore, that this custom, so beneficial and helpful, will continue in our High School. E, M, F, glgylbyfgyfg QE love our High School and wish it the highest success. It is for the interest of all concerned with this insti- tution that such courses of study be offered as may prepare the students for whatever is to follow graduation, whether a college education or a business career. For either course of action Greek is of great value. To the student hav- ing a college course in view it gives not only culture but also the necessary preparation for college Greek. The Greeks were a great, grand peopleg a creative, not an imitative race. To them nearly all the marks of the civili- zation of to-day can be finally traced. Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides were the originators of the dramag Socrates, Plato and Aristotle were the world's greatest philosophers, and little has since been added to their reasoning. Prom Homer we get our conception of the epicg from Alcaeus and Sappho, our lyric poetry. Xenophon, Thucydides and Her- odotus were famous historians. T he Ten Attic Orators have been the study of all aspirants for forensic fame. If such are the products of the Grecian race, their language must be worthy of attention, for a great people cannot live in a small language. We cannot afford to miss this study which is one of the most precious heritages of posterity. But as a botanist goes directly to the fields to study the flowers, so we must go to the Greek language itself to learn its fullness of life and beauty. Our graduates have keenly felt their disadvantage in not being able to enter the first course in our colleges and univer- sities. The failure of Adrian High School to meet require- ments is not owing to a lack of any science, but rather to the absence of Greek. The value of Greek is appreciated by the leading High Schools of the state, and Adrian must take second rank because of the fact that this important branch of study is not offered. Ours is the largest High School in the state without Greek. Not only will the students of the High

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it, nor does it 1nean that you must call him to account, unless you are the captain. And if you are the captain, and you find a person breaking a law in spite of your own orders, and you consider it advisable to put him off the team, don't be afraid to do it. Gentlemen are not cowards, mentally or physically. If you are elected captain of a team, read over your rules, and note exactly who are allowed as contestants by those rules, not by the customs of some predecessor, not by what you think some rival will do, but by the rules themselves. Having done that, never let a thought enter your head of making use of any man not cleanly and clearly eligible. You will save yourself many a future worry if you start fairly by looking into the record of every candidate at the outset. It is your duty to know that every one of your players is straight and square. The boys of the school should attend the games and cheer their team, and in this way encourage them to put forth their best efforts to win. But they should also be courteous to their rivals and not cheer an error made by them. Moreover, if your rivals make a good play, you should cheer them and conceal any chagrin you may feel at the loss it may be to your side. And after a winning game, there is no reason why you should not do plenty of cheering, but there is plenty of reason why you should not make your enjoyment depend upon in- sulting those who have lost. Show that behind the fun there is the instinct and cultivation of a gentleman's son, and that the enthusiasm, although it may be a bore to those who fail to kindle to it, has nothing of the vicious element, and is thoroughly innocent of intentional offense to anyone. .NE subject relating to the High School is gradually becoming quite important. For many years the country people have been coming to the High School to obtain a better education than is offered in the rural districts. The advantages afforded by the High School are readily recognized. In the district school the opportunity for the pursuit of study is limited. There, only the rudimentary branches are taught. Little or no instruction is offered in literature or history. The language work is confined largely to the oral use, by pupils and teachers, of much abused English. For a right appreciation of literature and history one must live among men. Such conditions are even more necessary in acquiring a language. Therefore it is only natu- ral that the foreign pupils should appreciate the privileges granted them even more than their school-mates, who have been accustomed all their lives to skillful teachers and improved methods. In the city schools so much knowledge has bee11 presented, even though in an interesting manner, that the pupils' minds are actually surfeited, and their excel- lent opportunities are not fully appreciated, while all the new ideas are eagerly grasped and assimilated by those whose advantages have been limited. Over against the advantages rendered by the High School, and almost as important, is the benefit resulting to the High School from these same pupils. They have come inspired by the study of nature. They have climbed the hills, forded the streams, and wandered through the woods. They know how the grain grows, how the birds build their nests, where and when to find all kinds of Wild flowers. Another fact regard- ing the country pupils is not to be overlooked. They are

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School deeply regret their inability to pursue this study, but the High School itself will eventually be the loser. For for- eign pupils wishing to attend some school higher than their own, will seek for the best-for an institution that offers all courses of study. Mahomet had to go to the mountain because the mountain would not come to Mahometf' The added reputation to our High School would more than compensate for the extra expense incurred by the intro- duction of Greek. If Greek, together with a class in French or German, could be started alternate years, rather than each year, scarcely any additional expense would be incurred. It is generally conceded by Latin students that a knowl- edge of Greek is absolutely essential to a thorough mastery and appreciation of Latin. It would seem the student pursu- ing four years of Latin, undergoes great hardship in not being permitted to study Greek. A majority of the present senior class have studied Latin in our High School. If the reasons for the existence of the Latin are sufficient for its future retention inour High School, is there not an inconsistency in longer delaying the introduction of the Greek, a knowledge which is so necessary to a complete classical yltsftltaeltvylfa the leading American High Schools of the present day the subject of United States History is receiving more TE thought and consideration than formerly. Wlieii we consider that the stability of this republic and the progress in the world of American ideas and American principles depends education? upon the knowledge and intelligence of our people, we must hail with delight this remarkable enthusiasm for and interest in our national history. Gur safeguard as a nation is the in- tense patriotism of our people. The best method of perpetuat- ing and increasing this love of country is by enlarging our knowledge of American history. Of all the nations that have existed from ancient times to the present day, the jews alone have preserved intact the spirit of nationality and of patriotic devotion, and this despite the fact that of all peoples the Jews have been most cruelly and most vindictively persecuted. What is the explanation of this marvelous vitality of Judaic patriotism? Of all men the Hebrew is, and always has been, most thoroughly versed in his national literature and history. His religion, his philosophy, his thoughts, his tastes and desires, his very existence are all involved in this history of his race. And, as a result of this, the Hebrew is the most patriotic of men. The best fuel with which to sustain the fires of patriotism is that afforded by the great facts in our American history. But this knowledge does much more than preserve our love of country. Ignorance of the common people has been the most potent cause of failures in former attempts at self-govermnent. That nation which, in dealing with the problems of the present disregards the past, must and ought to be disregarded of the future. The American Republic will advance in proportion as our people come to know more of our history and use their knowl- edge in dealing with those problems wl1icl1 their rights and duties as American citizens require them to consider.