Clifton Springs High School - Cliftonian Yearbook (Clifton Springs, NY)

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THE CLIFTONIAN 3 throats and tears in our eyes. We fear that this is the end of a good time in our lives. But let us try to think that glorious and wonderful things are awaiting us just around the corner and take this opportunity to welcome each other to our graduation. And now that, at last, we are graduating, we begin to wonder what it really means, what it’s all about. For the first time in our high school careers, we sit down and try to figure out why we go to school and what is expected of us after we graduate. Almost immediately, we discover that the idea of a high school being the one last chance for us to have a good time before settling down to this serious business of living is all wrong. We find that our high school education is the result of our heritage made possible for us by our forefathers, costing them much in suffering and privation. This sobers us up a bit and makes us regret that we haven’t taken better advantage of what cost them so dearly. Somehow, we never looked at it in this light before. Next, we wonder what a high school education is for. Is it merely an experience to end with graduation? Is it something given us to be enjoyed and then forgotten? Are we expected to give anything in return? These are a few of the perplexing questions which arise in our minds. Geometry has taught us to treat problems logically. It seems reasonable that if our forefathers were willing to sacrifice so much that we might have our chance, that there must be more to a high school education than a pleasing experience to be soon forgotten. And certainly, if we have an atom of gratefulness in us, we must expect to give something in return. A high school education has a threefold aim—to train our minds, to train our bodies, and to train us morally. Our minds are trained for clear thinking, concentration, and idealism. We must keep our minds clear and constantly active or they will become stagnant and inefficacious. The value of practicality is unforgetably impress- ed upon us. In high school our minds are trained to be constantly on the alert. Concentration on a thing until we have mastered it is thoroughly instilled into our minds. Once we have learned this lesson, time and effort involved are reduced to a minumum. Above all, our minds are trained for idealism. The glorious and inspirational ideals that we make our own during our high school career merely open the door into an enchanting world which we are most anxious to enter. We know that we shall be better fitted to cope with life’s duties, if we do not allow our ideals and ambitions to sink into oblivion. Next, a high school education trains our bodies. The fact that our minds cannot function properly unless our bodies are in good condition is taught us from kindergarten up. In some cases, hard and constant training has been necessary to attain physical wellbeing. Our baseball and basketball work has been an enjoyable, as well as an efficient, means toward this end. Here we are taught that only the fittest survive, not only in athletic contests, but in all the contests that we are brought face to face with every day. Just as a race-horse must have physical training if he does not wish to be left behind on the race track, so we must have physical training if we do not wish to be left behind on the great race track of life. And so we find our high school education not lacking in this respect—we are taught to train our bodies as well as to train our minds. The third and last aim of a high school education is to train us morally. In the class room, the value of honesty is impressed upon us. We learn that the pupil who is honest, even though his marks may be lower, has gained a great deal for he has added honesty to his character. Our duties to our country and to humanity are demonstrated to us in school. On the basketball court, we are forced to cooperate with those whom we are associated with. Sportsmanship, that intangible something everyone admires, is taught us. The team that has the best sportsmanship, the greatest spirit of cooperation among

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2 THE CLIFTONIAN MARJORIE L. ROTH “MARJ” “We know she’ll win out A general favorite whose middle name is pluck.’’ Salutatorian (4); Vice-President of Senior Class (4); Vice-President of Student Association (4); President of Junior Class (3); Associate Editor of Cliftonian (4); Cliftonian Staff (3); Editor of School News (4); Junior Play (3); Business Staff of Senior Play (4); Public Speaking Contest (3, 4); Second Prize Public Speaking Contest (3); Senior Debate (4); Dramatic Club (2); Glee Club (1, 2, 3, 4); Basketball (1, 2, 3, 4); Wearer of C (1, 2, 3, 4). Cornell University. DOROTHY B. CORNELL “DOT” “A little girl who will be a big success.” Treasurer of Class (3, 4); Senior Play (3, 4); Glee Club (1, 2, 3, 4); Public Speaking Contest (3, 4); Dramatic Club (2); Senior Debate (4); Wearer of Sportsmanship Button. Geneseo Normal. MARIAN SWEENEY “PEG” “I can’t study For when I study I have to think And when I think too much I’m too tired to study.” Glee Club (1, 2, 3, 4); Dramatic Club (2); Junior Play (3); Senior Play (4), Debate (4); Editor of School News (4). M. INGER NEWLAND “IKE” “A friend of us all. Ike can put anything over in a ‘big’ way.” President of Senior Class (4); Manager of Basketball Team (4); Editor of School News (4); Junior Play (3); Business Staff of Senior Play (4); Public Speaking Contest (4); Second Prize Public Speaking Contest (4); Secretary Junior Class (3); Dramatic Club (2); Senior Debate (4); Glee Club (1, 2, 3, 4); Wearer of Sportsmanship Button. Russell Sage College. SALUTATORY-OUR PLEDGE In behalf of my classmates, I wish to welcome all of you to our graduation, the most important event of our lives so far. Your presence here assures me that you are deeply interested in our progress and achievements. And because we feel and appreciate this kindly interest in us, we wish to extend our welcome to you from the bottoms of our hearts. To our mothers and fathers, who have made countless sacrifices for us, we say welcome. Our graduation wouldn’t seem complete if you were not here, silently congratulating us and telling us you are proud of us. And our teachers, we extend our welcome to you. It is you who have guided and encouraged our faltering footsteps over the path leading to this climax, our graduation. As incentives to do and to dare, your kindly words of advice shall ever ring in our ears, sending us on to do great things. Fel- low-students, to whom we shall soon bid farewell, we welcome you. You are struggling bravely along the rugged path, sometimes falling, yes. but in the end you will succeed, for you are made of the stuff that does succeed. And while you have the chance, make one last effort to strain everything in you, so that in later years you can meet life with a smile on your face and something to hit back with in your arm. Our friends, too, we welcome. You have been interested on-lookers, offering sympathy and advice whenever it has been needed. Soon we shall be coworkers along with you in this great drama of life and, as school boys and girls who are about to enter manhood and womanhood, we welcome you. Classmates, we have looked forward a long time to graduation. And now that this momentous occasion has arrived, we find that we have catches in our

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4 THE CLIFTONIAN its members, and the most complete training is the team which wins. And so it is throughout our entire high school course that we are taught to develop those admirable traits of character, which assure us of success. The next question, What is expected of us? is rather difficult to answer. However, if we put ourselves in your places, we can make a fairly accurate estimate of why you are willing to make sacrifices for us and what you wish us to do in return. Our heritage is a living, vital challenge to continue in the steady, but steep footpath leading to success, in which you have given us more than a fair start. You have given us complete equipment and have delayed the time when we must depart from your sheltering guidance as long as you can. And now that we are to try our wings for the first time, a feeling of gratitude compels us to seek VALEDICTORY- Members of the Board of Education, Principal and Teachers, Friends and Classmates, we, the Class of ’30, pause a moment in this great adventure called Life to say good-bye. Never has a class enjoyed its High School course more than this one. In fact, we realize it only too forcibly when we find ourselves on the point of leaving. We .feel that our fourth year has been best, a great deal of our happiness being due to our new school building and you who have made it possible. This beautiful new building has affected the students of Clifton Springs High School more than you may have realized. We, who were fortunate enough to have our Senior year be the first year of occupancy, have noticed and deeply appreciated the change in school spirit. By school spirit, I refer not only to the loyalty shown to our basketball and baseball teams, but also to the general feeling among the students and between students and teachers. Last year and during the preceding years, the majority of students came some way of showing you that we appreciate what you have given us. It seems that the best way to do this would be to persevere in those things which you have taught us—to continue to train our minds, to train our bodies, and to train ourselves morally. This is how we have interpreted your wishes for us—we know you would have us always remember the fundamental principles taught us by the high school education you have given us. Friends, we hereby accept the unspoken challenge, which you are unconsciously flinging at us. We shall continue in the good and glorious path you have pointed out to us. And as we fail into the harness beside you in our daily toil, we shall ever aid you in keeping high above every other banner, the white banner of all that is good and true and Godlike in life. M. ROTH -SCHOOL SPIRIT rather listlessly to school, studied just enough to pass tests, often failed to cooperate with their teachers, and, finally, finished the school year feeling rather dissatisfied with themselves and their mediocre accomplishments. On the contrary, this year, they have come, for the most part, enthusiastically to school in the morning, studied vigorously during the day, cooperated with teachers and classmates, and have gone home feeling happy and quite satisfied. Then, on basketball nights, they have returned, by the dozen to cheer their team on to victory, whereas, last year, a few very loyal students went to the Y. M. C. A. to cheer rather weakly. What a change! And is there anyone here who can honestly say that such a change is not for the best? I think not, and I certainly hope not. This spirit of co-operation is felt by teachers, students, and I hope, by the townspeople. The enthusiasm, courtesy, and cheerful attitude which have prevailed in the school, have added much to our school life, this year.