Baldwin High School - Piper Yearbook (Birmingham, MI)

Page 8 text:

As their share in the national war effort most schools have in- itiated a war-service program. Here at Baldwin we seek to exert our war-service efforts through the revision of existing courses of study and the introduction of other courses and other activities which will effectively gear the school program to the war effort. We are concerned here with what takes place within the indi- vidual as a result of the program. We are concerned with develop- ing an awareness of need and a willingness to serve. The extent to which we accomplish these things will measure the service which our school program can render. In response to an appeal by the War Department last fall, we established pre-induction courses in machines, electricity, and radio. At the beginning of this current semester a pre-induction course in automotive mechanics was installed to supplement the already established course in that field. Along with these courses aimed directly at pre-induction preparation, the physical education course for our boys has been altered into an individualized program of physical fitness. This, along with instruction in Hrst aid and instruction in health and hygiene for both boys and girls, should go far toward promoting and maintaining healthful and vigorous participation in any field of service. A course in home-making has been instituted to help our girls to improve their potentialities for service in the home. As a part of our program of commercial training we offer to qualified students an opportunity to participate in a co-operative work and study plan. In addition to offering training in actual work situations, this plan also serves the community by helping to alleviate the labor shortage in the fields of office work and retail selling. Along with these specific alterations in and additions to our courses of study, we are consciously endeavoring to emphasize the practical and directly useful applications of learning in all other phases of our school program. To cite but a few: In our social sciences we are emphasizing the values inherent in democracy, trying to learn more about our various economic problems and trying to sharpen our concepts of spherical geography, similar kinds of emphasis upon learning for use are apparent in mathe- matics, foreign languages, English, commercial subjects, and sciences, among which is included a course in pre-flight aeronautics. Most briefly, here are set forth some of the things which we of Baldwin offer as our contribution to the war effort. Along with this we offer a pledge of further service: We shall maintain, increase, and improve our contributions to the utmost limits of our abilities and of our resources.

Page 7 text:

ALDWIN students contribute both to the actual winning of the war and to constructive preparation for the peace that must follow. The necessities and innovations of war time serve a two-fold purpose at Baldwin. We render valuable service to our country now and at the same time store up a reserve of knowledge and skills for use in the post-war world. Never before in the long history of the United States has so much responsibility been placed upon so many people. And the high schools of America have gladly assumed their own special share. We have made our watchword SERVICE, and we have lived up to its challenge. It is, then, this year of work and preparation that the PIPER, 1943, will seek to com- memorate. Baldwin has done her best to relieve the manpower shortage in Birming- ham. Students swell the war-depleted ranks of community employees, over one-third of the students now have part-time employment in local businesses and offices. After the war these people will find that they possess a deep well of experience from which to draw for future work. Nor have we neglected the farmer. A call from the land brought droves of students to the farms as harvesters. By saving his crop, we helped both the farmer and ourselves and liked the job so well that many students plan to migrate to the farms this summer. Our peace-time vocabularies have been augmented and have taken on new meanings, we place emphasis on the useful and are learning that some home front jobs must be done in the back yard. Practical courses enroll us, and we have found that, in spite of our trepidation, we enjoy them. We are up to our ears in volunteer work. Most of us have at least one non- paying war job. Attack in all its aspects is a fearful thing, but we have tried to prepare against it. Through elected representatives we instituted protection for our school and our community, and we have trained groups of volunteer mes- sengers and first-aid experts. Baldwin will not be wanting if an emergency does arise. To meet the requirements of endurance and stamina set up by war- time training, a compulsory program of physical fitness was established this year. In those hours we may relax from the grind of the day and yet learn how to co-ordinate our efforts with those of others. In addition, we have been able to keep our interscholastic sports. Above all we have maintained our sense of balance. All work and no play will soon wear even the strongest down. It is not an easy thing to interrupt the busy rush of war for fun and recreation, but we have managed to do this. Plays, speakers, assemblies, and just plain simple humor all contribute to the general air of zestful living that characterizes Baldwin. A year of hard work is almost finished. In days to come we may look back upon the year with the deep satisfaction and justifiable pride that come from the knowledge of a difficult job well done. Right now, however, we must keep living up to the demands of each hour, using to the utmost the training and experience given us. We students have learned that by working together, the seemingly im- possible can become a probability. Therefore, with high ideals of service, with faith in ourselves and our country, with quick response to every chal- lenge, let us face the future unafraid and unfalteringly.

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grit F if in 4 i'No victory save to him who has given all' '... no triumph without tears, no glory without Service. Today, in the crisis of war, young America must give its all, must shed those tears, must render that Service. Behind every shining moment of triumph will stretch many dark hours of unselfish devotion to duty. Hours ol Service given without thought of personal rewardg Service hidden in the silent shadows of neces- sity. America needs young, eager, tireless hands to give that Service.