Leominster High School - Magnet Yearbook (Leominster, MA)

Page 13 text:

THE MAGNET 7 group picture will answer the purpose as well and not cost one-half as much? The cost of the graduation invitations seems absurd to some. Much might be saved if the pupils would consent to econ- omize and have small announcement cards. In connection with the reception the great bunches of flowers, which often cause many sacrifices, might be dispensed with entirely, for of what especial value or significance are they! And so on, in many instances, by the giving up of a few unnecessary customs, the cost at graduations can be considerably decreased. As to the dress on such occasions, not much need be said. Simplicity for both girls and boys should be the leading character- istic. Now, Class of r1gro, as this is your last year in our High School, think seriously of this matter of reducing graduation expenses, and endeavor to make a start in the right direction. Last year the debating club among the boys of the school could not be called a great success, for there were not enough boys inter- ested in it to keep it up to a high standard. Now is the time to start it up again, and it is the duty of some boy inthe higher classes to call a meeting and get the officers elect- ed for the coming season, Then pick out some good subjects for strong debating, some that have not been pumped to death, some- thing new, something exciting and interesting. Announce your debates and get a crowd out. Hold your meetings in the Assembly Hall and put some life into them. Get the girls interested. If they cannot debate, make them patronize your debates by showing them what fine work you can do in the art of arguing. This course in debating is very valuable to the boys, and stren- uous effort should be made to keep up these meetings. Every boy and girl should feel it his or her duty to promote interest and en- thusiasm in this branch of school life. Go to work in the right spirit and you can make this season a memorable one for the “Paton Debating Club.” DorotHy WHITTIER, ‘10.

Page 12 text:

6 THE MAGNET As this is the beginning of a new school year, we wish to wel- come the large enteringclass. We sincerely hope that it will make evident its quality as well as its quantity. We need its earnest support in athletics, in the Macnet, and in the other branches of our school life. May the pupils now realize their duties as mem- bers of our High School and work hard for the honor of the blue and white, in spite of the difficulties and temptations with which their path will be strewn. With you, “Class of 1913,” rests the re- sponsibility of proving that thirteen, although by many people con- sidered unlucky, is a prosperous, successful number, at least as far as i. Fi. 9. is: concerned: The following is a letter from one of our citizens who is inter- ested in the welfare of our school: LEOMINSTER, Mass., September 29, 1900. To the Editor of THE MAGNET: The enclosed editorial from. the Boston Daily Advertiser of September 29, 1909, affords food for thought for prospective graduates of our High School. I hope the time is not far distant when a determined effort will be made by the scholars themselves to reduce the expenses of graduation, so no parents will feel it a heavy burden to allow their children the pleas- ure and advantage of a full course in the Leominster High School. The attempt in Somerville to effect a simplification of public school graduation ex- ercises is a move in the right direction and will meet with approval in the minds of those who have thought seriously of the matter. Public school graduations should remain seri- ous ceremonies, and should have as much dignity about them as is to be obtained, but superfluous “ flummery ” and dress at considerable cost to the parents of the graduating pupils might wisely be eliminated. Dignity and seriousness are not enhanced by prepara- tions which cost on an average of $50 each to the pupils’ family; rather do these unneces- sary and burdensome expenses detract from the real significance of the occasion. Let public school graduations be marked by fitting solemnity and seriousness, filled with dig- nity that will be remembered by those taking part, but let them be free from an i that is often an intolerable burden. Let them be democratic. Very truly, | F. J. LoTHRop. | Certainly it seems that the time is fast approaching when the expenses of High School graduations will be lessened. The pupils themselves can do a great deal toward lowering the cost at such times, if they will only do away with the “little” personal pleasures which count up so fast in the expenses. Why spend eight or ten dollars on photographs to exchange with classmates, when a good

Page 14 text:

8 THE MAGNET HE exhibition of rowdyism following the football game at Fitchburg on October 2, should impress upon every member of our school the disgrace into which a school, as a whole, falls when any of its members indulge in such exhibitions. To be sure, all the blame does not fall upon our school. But the willingness of many to join in the flag-snatching and the dis- turbance that followed shows that Leominster is falling into the class of schools that we look down upon for that very reason. There are a few towns which our team plays each year, from which we always expect such treatment. But certainly Leominster does not want to lose her reputation and become one of that class. The members of the upper classes of our school should take it Those from the lower classes follow the example of those before them. If they saw that their actions were not approved by the rest of the school, they would very soon make an end of them. upon themselves to restrain the underclassmen. We hope that in the future in the games with the teams playing at Leominster we will show more courtesy to the players and fol- lowers of the team than has been before shown either to us or by us in the past. ’ Raymonp B. Lapoo, ’I1o. The Storm All day long the angry waters tossed and And when over the earth the dark night raged, As in mortal combat the furies were engaged. Down in torrents poured the beating rain, Swelling the already overflowing bosom of the main. Prey of mountainous waves, the boat rolled from side to side, As if in fear of being swallowed by the hungry tide. descended, The storm roared on, with the black dark- ness blended. But hush! As from the crow’s-nest the bell chimes, | Suddenly the rain ceases and, through clouds, the moon shines. Thus in the storms of life, if we are patient on the darkest night, The moon will break forth, flooding the inky waters with its silvery light. PAULINE P, PATON, ‘Io.