Connellsville High School - Coker Yearbook (Connellsville, PA)

Page 10 text:

MRfW.G.DAVTS To the Class of 1949: The most important objective in the educational program of the public schools is the improvement of the quality of American Citizenship. Good Citizenship and Democracy are interdepend- ent. The ideal citizen will, of course, have mastered the abilities which are a requisite for a basic education. Not all the highly trained inhabitants of a state or nation make a contribution to the further development of our country. On the contrary, some are caught up in the whirlpool of idealogies to such a degree that they cannot differentiate between what is right and what is wrong. They soon drift into a state of indifference which in- hibits them in the performance of their political responsibilities. Selfishness, envy, exploitation, and dishonesty are not com- ponent parts of the good citizen. Neither can Democracy thrive where these negative qualities persist. For young people must be alerted to the urgency of the understanding of our country's present plight. Education should help you in making proper de cisions and in carrying them through. General Omar Bradley recently wrote Until the American people shake themselves out of this appalling lethargy and make their schools-together with the selection, the welfare, and rewards of their teachers-a mat- ter of their personal and intimate concern, we shall go forth to do battle psychologically with the aggressive legions of stateism woefully trained and poorly equipped, handicapped from the outset. MB.WfE.DOLDE As graduates you want the opportunity to enioy a measure of economic security-the opportunity to work and the oppor- tunity to own and use property. As a part of our American tra- dition, you have a right to a iob-not a right to any and every job but one suited to your abilities. lt is a right which exists, however, only when it is matched by your efforts to be econom- ically independent. If you do less than your talents make pos- sible, you will be neither fair to yourself nor to your community. lf you do nothing or perform your tasks inadequately because you cannot get a job beyond your abilities, you will be fooling yourself and be unfair to others. As graduates you ask to what extent does the opportunity to work and to own property exist today? lt is harder to get a start now than it used to be? Can there be future opportunities -opportunities not for all to be leaders, but for each to do the best iob for which he is fitted? The answer can only be that it was never easy to get a start or to succeed. The appeal of economic opportunity in America was not to the soft and to the lazy. It was not gifts or charity or a dole that induced men and women to come from the Old World to America. lt was a chance that they sought-an oppor- tunity to exercise their talents and to reap the just rewards of their efforts. Yes, the difficulty of getting started existed then and has continued to exist, varying only in degree. Some suc- ceeded and some failed. You go into a world which still pro- vides the opportunity for both success and failure. You will need to have confidence in your ability and find that individual self- reliance upofr which success depends. The challenge of success often comes because of the possibility of failure. 6

Page 9 text:

5-su. rn ULTU Editor Assistont 5 Sue Swcney Corinne Bryson

Page 11 text:

MISS MILDRED REITER The predominating thought in the minds of youth each year as they graduate from high school is the future. The plans and ideals that you have and a determined effort to carry them out are very important for your happiness in the years to come, but the most important determining factors in your future are the things you do today. The kindly smile, the pleasant word, the thoughtful deed, the helping hand, and the constant consideration for others are the habits of today that will make for you a success- ful future. Greatness does not depend upon your future knowl- edge but how well you use your abilities with humility, kindliness, and service today. Money, position, fame, family and honors will never make you successful. The only successful people are those who have learned how to live happily for others. People who have their interests centered on things, their own families, a few friends and themselves will never radiate brotherhood or a better way of life for humanity. Never in the history of man- kind has it been so necessary that young Americans live unself- ishly today for all the world. Tomorrow may be too late to keep the peace and save the best from this civilization. MR. HARGLD SWANK Congratulations to the members of the class of 1949. You have demonstrated during your four years in school that you are entitled to a diploma from Connellsville High School. You are now to enter fields of useful employment or to continue your education at some other institution of higher learning. Your diploma from this school or from some other does not guarantee immediate success. There is half a century ahead of you on Graduation Day-and half a century would be a tire- some time to learn nothing and achieve nothing if you found immediate success waiting for you. You must realize that suc- cess must be earned. There are not many important positions at the top, these posts go to the fittest, and one does not acquire fitness in a moment, or a year, or four years. lf one did, most of life would be static. You must continue to work, to stick faith- fully to your task, and to learn. Opportunity knocks every day, but you've got to be ready when you open the door. Above all don't be in too great a hurry. The records are full of instances of men and women who waited for success. One such person gives this advice: Learn to walk before you run. The world wasn't made in a minute, nor the people who keep it moving. The worst ignorance is in not knowing how much there is to know. 7