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

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THE CLIFTONIAN 5 We find, by actual figures, that in our high school of 99 pupils, an average of about 84 per cent, has been maintained, this year, as opposed to an average of about 78 or 79 per cent., last year. What has caused this gratifying increase? I feel that school spirit has played a large part, for one must enjoy his work and find his surroundings comfortable and agreeable if he is to put forth his best efforts. Last year, many left school during the first semester. This year, the number has decreased greatly. School spirit and enthusiasm have helped to keep al1 the students interested in their work. The word “sportsmanship” can and should be included in the phrase “school spirit.” In defining school spirit as it refers to athletics, I feel that it means not only willingness and ability to participate in school sports, but also loyalty to the teams and players whether they win or lose. It also includes consideration for the efforts of opposing teams, and courtesy to them and to their schools. A new, and, let us hope, an everlasting friendship has been cemented, this year, in a nearby town. For two generations there has existed traditional ill-will and antagonism. Our teams have found that it is more interesting and, certainly, pleasanter to play baseball and basketball with friends instead of with enemies. Because of this true form of school spirit as displayed by members of our Boys’ Basketball Team and their loyal supporters, our school is the proud recipient of the Sportsmanship Trophy. In addition, due to the ability of the team, we are the possessors of the Championship Cup offered to the winner of B League in the Finger Lakes Section. Athletics is a glorious extra-curricular activity and sportsmanship plays a vital part, but doesn’t sportsmanship extend further than that? This term is certainly applicable to the one who takes the hard knocks ana disappointments without flinching, and the one who is fair and honest in bis daily work. The one who doesn’t play the game squarely may produce apparently satisfactory results, but he has really cheated himself. Sportsmanship also means being faithful in doing each task assigned to us, and trying to derive the most benefit from each lesson. We should also give freely to our teachers and associates of whatever especial ability we may have that will make school a happier and more interesting experience. We can’t all be athletes, we can’t all be on the honor rolls, nor can we all be leaders, but notice the student who is an all-around good sport and you’ll find him the one who makes the one hundred per cent, fellow in later life. So, we find that school spirit in some of its various forms should appear in every worthwhile high school student, if he is to derive benefit from his course of study and his extra-curricular activities. Juniors! We salute you! You have made this year happier for us than it would otherwise have been. We know to what pleasures you are approaching, in your Senior year. Your duties will be increased and your responsibilities will be heavy. But, nevertheless, it should be the best year of your lives, and I feel confident that I am expressing the sentiments of my classmates when I say “Bon Voyage. May you be happy and successful in all your endeavors.” It is impossible to express our gratitude to the Faculty and Board of Education who have assisted in making our years in C. S. H. S. so pleasant and beneficial. My classmates—may you be successful and happy in whatever field of service you enter. Our associations have been pleasant and it is hard to part, but we have many memories to which we may refer. We have helped each other in work and in play. Let us not forget these valuable friendships. So, let us all continue our school work, wherever it may be, for, after all, is not life daily work in the finest of schools?

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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.

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6 THE CLIFTONIAN May I leave you with a thought from the greatest book of all—“So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” ALICE T. COST President’s Address “VOULOIR C’EST POUVOIR” “Vouloir c’est pouvoir” — “where there’s a will there’s a way.” This has been our motto and in all endeavors we have tried to have determination, thus making a way to complete the endeavor successfully. Some years ago a Frenchman named Do Lesseps was assigned a great task— that task was to cut a ditch 72 feet wide across Panama to unite the two great oceans. It was a big order and altho’ De Lesseps had the resources of a great republic back of him, he failed. Twenty-two years later the United States started that same task. General Goethals was sent to Panama and he put it though. With unlimited financial power, the latest discoveries of science and invention, skill and an ample supply of labor, coupled with faith in the plan and an unconquerable spirit, the man cut through the isthmus, two oceans came together, and the world’s commerce passed back and forth in an endless stream. It was a big order, nobly executed. He had a will and by it made a path to success. Our part is to proceed, and trust to good fortune that we will succeed. Away back in the mountains of Western North Carolina, far up on the mountainside, at the head of a cove, there lived a fifteen year old boy. He had sisters and brothers and parents, but they dwelt in a little tumble-down shack and were wretchedly poor. Jake was the oldest of the children, and he had to work hard in the little patch of corn on the steep mountainside, which barely yielded a crop. Down the path a mile or so there was a little log schoolhouse where a lady teacher gave some of the children lessons in readin’, ritin’ and ’rithmetic. Jake had passed and repassed that schoolhouse many times, and wished that he might “go thar and larn,” but Jake was too important a hand on the farm to waste any time at such, thought his parents. One day when the crop was pretty v ell “laid by” Jake came to the shack and throwing his hoe into the corner said: “Paw, I wanta be somebody!” Tnen Jake went on to say that he had been thinking that now the corn was in shape to go ahead and make what it would, he could spend some time every day at the schoolhouse learning to read and write. “But y’ ain’t got nothin’ to buy books” was suggested. “I’ll see ’bout that,” said Jake. Next morning when the teacher arrived Jake was waiting at the school-house door. “Teacher”, he said, “I ain’t got no money to buy books, but I kin git up the wood ev’y day for the stove ’n kin sweep out the schoolhouse ’n keep it clean—cain’t ye loan me a book and let me come and larn?” Jake’s terms were accepted. No boy wa.', ever prouder of a university scholarship than Jake was of that chance to “larn” in the little mountain schoolhouse. That mountain boy had the will and he kept on going until he received a wonderful position in an electrical plant. It takes five figures to name his salary. That mountain boy has realized his wish—he is Somebody. And why? It goes right back to that motto—“where there’s a will there’s a way.” The fellow that gets the good job, the fellow that suddenly finds himself in a position of power and privileged service to his world about him, is the fellow who is found faithful to the smaller work and opportunity that lies next his hand, and proceeds with a will. We have tried to assume this attitude in all our efforts and feel that we have been amply rewarded. For a few years the Class Day has been forgotten as a part of the Com-