Brodhead High School - Red B Yearbook (Brodhead, WI)

Page 73 text:

Valediotory THE SIXTY-FOUR THOUSAND DOLLAR QUESTION 1 There is no doubt that all of you in the audience have seen, or at east -heard of that sensational quiz program. The S64, O00 Question, 1. On this show many people get the chance to win large sums of money and ifithey are fortunate enough to get to the really tough questions , they find themselves faced with the decision of whether they should,be Satisfied with what they have or to gamble that sum in hopes of winning ?n even greater amount. The whole production is made very suspense- ful by the soundproof booth, the complexities of the questions, and the act that so much money is at stake. A comparatively few people of the world are given the opportunity to appear on such a program, 3, Verl' Small per centage would be prepslared to answer the questions Successfully. But at some time or ot er every adult member of the V3-St television audience has had to make decisions which have affected his life far more than 564, 000 and yet, he perhaps doesn't even realize it. I am referring to the time when every young man and Woman must decide what he sould do with his life. t To me, there is a striking similarity between one of those con-L Sstants and a high school graduate. We too, have a decision to Ulake. Should one be satisfied with one's training as it is, and go rlght out and get a job or should one gamble the time and expense Feefied for college in the hope of. someday attaining a higher position 111 life. Also, the boys must ask themselves whether it is better to gg Into service immediately after graduation or wait for the draftg d Ould he enlist for a plan with more actual service.and less reserve butl' Or vice versa. There is nothing dramatic about these questions Ut there is nothing harder than finding the right answer to them ?Hd for each individual the answer will be different. That is why I ieel that most young people need and desire advice and guidance dn Planning their futures. What we do in the next few years will setermine our whole future. How many times have you heard cgmeone say Oh, if I had only gone to college when I had the a ance or If I had only prepared myself properly I could hold i etter Job. All too often a young person doesnot realize the an17:1P0rtance of further training. To find good employment without O lgh Stchool diploma is almost an impossibility today and in many iccupations, a college degree, if not an absolute necessity, is an Hvaluable asset. en .Our nation is making an urgent plea for scientists, researchers, Thg-lneffrs, teachers, nurses and many other professional people. 6 chief source of this supply must be the youngg but many high school g?ad11ates will never enter a school to study again, unless they are given the encouragement and opportunity to do so. Of course, it is delle that a certain percentage of our population would not need a thglfee for their type of wor , there always has to be someone to do But J0bs which do not require a great amount of specialized training. one What of the boy or girl who as been blessed.with an aptitude for ha Of-the professions ut refrains from developinfg it because someone puzhfailed to give him the inspiration and self-con idence needed to C011 Oneself ahead. Then too, what of the youngster who desires a the ege educat1on,.but cannot attend because of a lack of funds? Must , indse P?0ple also Join the laboring class? Our highly mechanized leagstries and complex social system are creating a greater need for mu ers. Those who are capable to fill these positions should not, St Tyot be kept from doin their duty for their nation and themselves. wo It IS up to us, the friends and relatives, to help that young man or man, that boy or girl, get the right start in life. .That you are in- t . erested in someone on this stage tonight is exemplified by your presense ifreibut it is not only for us members of the class of '56 that I am maki is Plea, indeed most of us have decided on what we want to do. Rather

Page 72 text:

W X EXX, !J

Page 74 text:

it is for the coming graduates: the dignified Juniors, the green Freshmen, the timid first-graders of '56. Let us encourage them in their ambitions and stress the importance of a good education. I think that there should also be more guidance for the high school student in choosing his subjects, for many of them have a tendency to pick the easy courses rather than the ones which would aid them in their prospective vocation. As for money to cover the expense of college, an insurance policy or an educational fund set aside by the parents for such a purpose is wonderful if they have had the foresight to do so, but if not, the youngster himself should be urged to get a part time job and save money for a college education. I also believe that more scholarships should be made available. People con- tribute to the Heart fund and various other drives, why couldn't an annual scholarship fund be established in the community for the purpose of aiding some of the deserving students of each graduating class. This indeed would be a worthy project for some of the various clubs in the community. Then too, why couldn't the government arrange to sell their surplus food-stuffs to the college cafeterias at a cut rate so as to ease the students' food expense? All of these things would help to make a college education more attainable for those who may hesitate to try -to get higher training because they can not, at present, afford it. p All in all, it is our duty to aid and encourage our young men and women i to take advantage of their educational opportunities so that they may fully f v Z develope their potentialities of leadership: Let us remember that t e . children of today will eventually inherit t e vast responsibilities of governing the world's foremost nation. Will they all be adequately prepared to keep E our country at this lofty position? That ton in the 9564, O00 question. I -Beverly Mau ' alutatory . l I E THE PROBLEM OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY I E Juvenile delinquency isa major topic in almost every magazine and news- z paper that appears on our new.stands. Just what are some of the problems of E Juvenile delinquency and what can you and I do about them? 2 Do you realize that the largest group of people serving time in penal ' E institutions are between the ages of 1-9 and 20? This is a major problem that Q we must now face. It is incredible to believe that 170 of the nation's children Y between the ages of 10 and 16 pass before juvenile courts each year on j delinquency c arges. In my opinion based on research and personal observa- 5 tion, the major cause of this problem lies in the home and in the responsibiliwi of the parents. You who are parents and we who most likely will be parents i must be prepared to prevent delinquency from creeping into our homes It is a fact without question that most of the delinquenc begins in the home. Parents may be poorly educated in the principles oiybringing up their children and may not be capable of understanding the problems that arise I concerning their offspring. Alcoholism in the home is a frequent cause of the unrest of the children Poverty is usually a result of 'alcoholism of alcoholism is a result of poverty. but, in any case, the parentfis far from being in any position to take Care gf p a child adequately in these conditions. Alcohol depresses the mind and weaken! a person's nervous system. Excessive nervousness around children emotionalll upsets them. When families separate, the children don't know whatcgurge to fgllgw. There has no doubt been excessive quarreling in a home of this sort and the children become nervous and undecided as to what ideals and principles to cling to. sa