Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts - Mohawk Yearbook (North Adams, MA)

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ADDRESS TC UNDERCLASSMEN Today I'm not going to tell you about life as a journey, life as a struggle, or life solemn with standards to maintain and lofty goals to achieve. I'm going to tell you about life as life. I'll not even pretend that this is the last time you are to see me. Consequently, if I make any broad sweeping statements now, next year you can see for yourself if I invalidate them. Perhaps you are wondering what the topic life as life means. It's really very simple, the aspect of it that I shall discuss today. It just covers your life up here at college. We all know that college life isn't a simple one, neither is it so very diflicult. We all have our ups and downs, times when things don't go along so smoothly as we would like to have them. However, sometimes we make mountains out of molehills, so to speak, and let little things get the best of us. Remember that it has been said, by Disraeli, that Little things affect little mindsf' Of course, this doesn't apply to you. Everyone knows what great minds teachers and students have. You never wail and moan about too much work to dog you never grumble and fret about trivial matters. Other students in other colleges do that, but not you. You like all your teachersg that is, to a certain extent. But certain- ly, you are not like some grammar school and high school children who think of teachers in the same category as policemen, jailors, or judges. You think of them as your friends, desiring to help you, to enrich your lives with knowledges they have acquired and which you as yet have not had a chance to assimilate. Your life up here need not be burdened and thwarted by petty argu- ments and jealousies. You can practice ahead for good citizenship by sup- porting wholeheartedly your club and class officers. Of course, you wouldn't dream of staying away from any social function, and you just beg for the honor of being on the clean-up committee after a dance. As for academic matters, you give credit where credit is due, and don't be- grudge your friend a higher mark than you. Is it not almost disconcertingly likely that the way we act up here .vill strongly influence the direction our characters will take when we are but of college? A degree is not going to work a miracle and make us over. Why not see to it that right now we free ourselves from the childish habits if small-mindedness, petty jealousies, silly quarrels, and unfair growling ind grumbling. In our life up here we have a mixture of duties and pleasures in con- iection with lessons and teacher-training, athletics, and social activities. Jet us try to take the bitter with the sweet and be what we think We are, nut usually aren't, broadminded. Catherine Shea '37 page twenty-ciglzt

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ADDRESS OF WELCOME President Eldridge, members of the faculty, parents, and friends: To this class day, the class of 1937 bids you welcome. The time that is given to us today for these exercises is much too short to express our many thanks. To you, President Eldridge and members of the faculty, we offer heartfelt gratitude. We entered this college with only a few ideas of what was meant by teaching. Through your guidance and leadership you have made us understand that to teach is more than to be present in a classroom telling children what to do. Now we know that being a teacher means that we are shaping the characters of the people who will form the next generation. We are especially grateful to the training school fac- ulty. The experiences that you have given us are invaluable. All the time that you have spent with us will be doubly appreciated when we come to conduct our own classes. In your demonstrations you have set a goal for us toward which to work. This goal is far ahead of us at present, but we know there is a possibility of reaching it if we teach with you as our models. Towards our parents we feel the deepest thankfulness. You are the ones who gave us the opportunity to gain the education which this college offers to the girls of Massachusetts. You started us in the public schools under the guidance of the teachers of your generation. Many of those teachers were graduates of this institution. You were so satisfied with the results of their work that you were willing for us to follow the same fine vocation. For three years we have been preparing for the teaching profession. This has meant great sacrifices to you, but we trust that you will be repaid in the work we do. To the friends of this college we are greatly indebted, for you were the ones who saw the necessity of keeping this institution open. It was you who worked for the cause of education in this part of the state, you who have ever stood ready to aid us in time of need. Each one of you has helped us in your own particular way. It is fitting that you should be the ones who are here today. We shall be students as long as we live, for to educate is to lead out-- --to guide from the known forward into the greater unknown. In changing times like these, times of which it might well be said that they are times that try men's souls , the future is indeed an un- known quantity to us. But whatever the developments of this rapidly ad- vancing age, our children will need to be intelligent and loyal citizens. Our mission as teachers is to develop their intelligence and enrich their loyalty. At the reunion of the alumnae of this college, Commissioner Reardon said, It is the end, the purpose of the school system of Massa- chusetts to train its children in a proper knowledge of and a true appre- ciation for their rights and their duties under the American system. It is toward this end that the schools of Massachusetts have been working for the past one hundred years, and it is toward this end that we shall devote our work. Helen Sfokey '37 page flvvnfy-Sc'1'0n

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ADDRESS TO THE UPPERCLASSMEN The advice to the underclassmen I'm sure is gratefully received. But may I remind you that the misunderstood sophomores are no longer underclassrnen? We are about to enter the sacred realm of the upper- classmen. Even the freshmen's rank has been moved up a peg. In short, we are not so insignificant as we were in September. Only by the light of your guiding lantern, dear upperclassmen, has our path been pointed out to us. Had it not been for these shining examples would the sophomores know exactly how clean the city keeps the nooks and crannies of the post- oflice steps? Would the freshmen know exactly how many inches long Main Street is? By the way, Little things affect little minds. Perhaps Disraeli should have added a P. S. saying that this excludes upperclassmen. This would help us a great deal next year. Yes, upperclassmen, the path of life at college is life as life . You know, -just one happy song. But you optimistic lassies with your degrees within a stone's throw forget the ruts in this royal road to learning. Why bother with pessimistic ideas on a festive occasion like this? As you have said, life is no longer compared tritely to the well-known journey, that struggle, that climb, but there are still roads to be traveled. Modern traf- fic is confused and confusing, and we of the well known younger genera- tion are learning to drive safely and skillfully. We do not carry a torch. but we are at the wheel, whether it be in a Model T or Rolls-Royce. Betty Ncylund '38 CLASS SONG Oh Alma Mater, grand and dear, We'll soon leave your halls. We've spent happy hours here And now as we pause, Fond mem'ries come drifting Like clouds thru the sky, Conquests, dream 4, and ambitions And joys gone by. Farewell, dear Alma Mater, Our glad voices sing. With praises unending These cherished halls ring: And, as we pass onward, These joy-tinted days Will not lessen our feeling 'Tho rosy the way. . U Dm nth, Dupcll pugc fu'r'nfy-Him'