Braintree High School - Wampatuck Yearbook (Braintree, MA)

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When Horace Mann accepted the position of Secretary of the State Board of Education, he wrote a friend, “iMy law liooks are for sale. IMy office is to let. The bar is no longer my forum. I have abandoned jurisprudence and betaken myself to the larger sphere of mind and morals.” Mr. Mann’s first effort in his new position was to educate public opinion with reference to the methods and purposes of public education. The growth of the district school systems and the extension of private schools had greatly weakened the efficiency and influence of the pul)lic schools. To arouse sentiment in favor of public educational progress, Mann called several public meetings, through which he literally stirred the thoughts and feelings of the entire state. These meetings made possible subsequent legislation which led to the re-estab- lishment of a common school sy.stem in Massachusetts. His next important reform was the improvement of the teaching forces of the state, and this he accomplished by the organization of teachers’ institutions and the establishment of state normal schools. Another important feature of Mr. IMann’s labors was the collection and distribution of information concerning the actual condition of public education, flis twelve reports on the state of education in Massachusetts and elsewhere, together with his discussions of the aims, purposes, and means of education occupy a commanding place in the hi.story of American education. One of these reports deals with the construction and hygiene of schools — ventilation, heating, and playground.s — and the physical factors in school life; the duties and responsibilities of school committees; the enforcement of school attendance laws; and the need of higher standards in the teaching force. Another report is devoted largely to the course of study and to a discussion and criticism of the current methods of teaching reading, spelling, and composition. For example, Mr. IMann was strongly opposed to the alphabetic method of teaching reading, and he warmly endorsed the word method. Other subjects emphasized in these reports were: the importance of school libraries, the utility of local and county educational associations; the value of music in the elementary schools; the u.se of the Bible in schools; the place of moral instruction in puldic education; the dangers of emplojdng young children in factories; the relationship of education and crime; the employment of women teachers in the primary schools; and education for defective and dependent children. It was clear to Horace IMann that if a nation is to have great men, it must have a great and noble people to inspire and support them. Every boy and girl must be awakened to the worth of himself, must be led to a.ssume responsibility, and must be trained in purpose, taste, and skill vintil he can stand alone, asking no special favors or privileges. Through the common school — given new life by Horace Mann’s leadership — this has been made possible for the young men and women of today. Now, the American school is rising to meet the needs of a new day. The growth of the educational enterprise is strikingly shown in the expansion of the high school from an enrolment of about 200,000 in 1890 to about seven million in 1936. The foundation of this great cultural enterprise was laid by Horace Mann. 29

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WILLIAM WILDER They call him Rouser and is Rouser mechanically minded. Mathematics are his meat. Boats! Why, boats should have been his middle name — he’s just crazy about them. Another thing he goes for in a great big way is fire-engines! Baseball 2, 3, -i; Band 2; Rifle Club 4; Basketball 1, 2; Wamp.4- TUCK. 4. HELEN WILSON Helen is a member of the trio of Susie and Dot. You usually see the three of them together. Helen is quite a hockey player and also plays a good game of basketball. Basketball 1, 2, 3, 4; Hockey 3, 4; Track 3, 4; Gj-m Team 2; Gradua- tion 4; Baseball 2. CARLETON WING He didn’t give us a chance to really know him for he’s only had time to look at one girl. He’s al- ways ha])i)y which is a good way to be. It’ll carry you over the rough spots in life, Carleton. Football 1; Basketball 1, 2, 3, 4; W.AMPATucK 4; Graduation 4. ELIZABETH WINKLER Betty, with her pleasing per- sonality, slow ways, and smiles for everyone and everything, including chemistry, is well-liked by those who have had the pleasure of know- ing her. Betty, I hear, expects to follow nursing as her career. EDGAR WYNOT Something wrong with the car’? Call on Eddie! For a beautiful specimen you should see the inside of his car. It’s a humdinger and so is Wynot. This boy sure knows his stuff when it comes to recitations. One swell guj ' . Basketball 1, 2, 3; Football 3; Reception 4. JOSEPHINE ZANGHI Joesphine is one up on us! She’s had a trip to Italy. We usually see Josephine around first period with the slips — this comes from working in hlr. Strangford’s office. A jolly girl with a smile and shiny black hair. The Founder of Education Class Salutatory This year marks the two hundredth anniversary of the birth of the American public school system. Therefore it seems quite fitting and proper that some tribute should be paid its founder at this time of our completion of those funda- mental principles which he held essential for a true preparation of American youth for higher education. Horace Mann, often called the father of American education, was born in P ' ranklin, Massachusetts, on May 4, 1796. He began his political career at the age of thirty-one, serving in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, and nine years later becoming President of the State Senate. During this decade there was a growing agitation for better schools, and in 1837 Massachusetts created a State Board of Education. One hundred years ago next July, Mann gave up a promising law and political career to become its secretary, a decision which was to be a turning point not only in his life, but in the history of American eduaction as well. When Mann resigned as Secretary of the Board of Education, eleven years later, he had seen many improvements in the public school system of the United States. After spending five more years in Congress, he became President of Antioch C ' ollege. Seven years later, on August 2, 1859, Horace Mann passed away, a glorious winner of victories for humanity. 28

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The plaid sliirts of Donald “Shirts” (’lark have l)econie so famous, or notorious that, when anyone wants a shirt for a gypsy eostunie or a minstrel show costume he knows where to go. . . . Walter Poor’s favorite sport is playing soccer with an inkwell cover in class. . . . Alma Tobin has been with us only a year but she certainly has made up for lost time Jimmy (’oilier can not only catch fish but can yodel also .... Ruby Oakley is thinking of joining the “White Parade”; she will look swell in a nurse’s uniform. . . . Will Earney uses his valuable pitching arm holding (’lary at the Saturday night dances. . . . Joe Avitabile certainly found it tough getting the Seniors to hand over money. . . . Dick Allen is a man of few words in English but wait until the girls are around him. . . . Shirley Thompson is Braintree’s champion giggler. . . . Frank Lavina is a combination of Harpo iNIar.x and Fred Astaire. . . . Edward FitzPatrick brought honor to his school by winning that trip to Washington. . . . Russell Ackerson owns that slow deep voice. . . . Dar Frey has a weakness for writing romantic poetry that never rhymes. . . . Have you ever heard Lloyd Dewar croon’? He is our Bing (’rosby. . . . Mary (’ronin just can’t seem to give up chewing gum. ... If only “Bifty” limes typed as fast as he talks in type- writing class. . . . Football (’aptain (’avanagh seems to prefer Red heads. . . . Ida DelPico joins clubs, sews, knits and tats. How can one person be so am- bitious’? . . . Charlie Ford has turned into a mad scienti.st. . . . Dot Donald- son has a grand time keeping up with her sports — or maybe it’s the sports trying to keep up with Dot. . . . Norma Iledluml is admired by all for her determina- tion to make a success of everything that she does. . . . Where would the Junior class be without Arsen (’harles’? . . . William Nelson — quiet and congenial with a leaning towards dramatics and borrowing erasers. . . . Graham Keigan is planning to study to be a doctor at Tufts. ... As a parting thought, what will the school do without “Romance” Mischler’? 30