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Page 5 text:
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’THE PAXTON HIGH SCHOOL REFLECTOR |Volume VII. JANUARY. 1911 Number 4 An Interesting Letter From Mr. V. E. Dudman, Principal of P. H. S. 1909-10. Evanston, 111. To the Paxton High School: My Dear Friends: At the request of those in charge of the Sophomore number of the Reflector, I am send- ing you this hurried contribution What the Sophomores would have me contribute is not quite clear to me, so I have decided merely to write a let- ter as I would to a friend, for I enjoy thinking of the students of the High School as having that relationship to me. One who is truly a friend to an- other has more than a passing inter- est in his welfare and success, and has more than a passing regret at hearing of his misfortune or failure. If this is one of the constituents of friendship I am convinced that I am truly a friend of the students of the High School at Paxton, for I shall al- ways be interested in learning of suc- cess on their part. I rather think that I can be more closely in sympathy than ever before, with the experiences of you high school people, since I am now back again into student life; and, consid- ering myself as a student speaking to students, I shall be glad to talk to you. Since I have been here in school this year, I have often thought that I would give much if I might be able to aid any of my friends to prepare for some of the things they are to meet in their later student life, and thus avoid many of the hardships that will accrue if they are not effectively equipped with respect to the basic principles. I have no desire to tire by an ex- hortation of any great length, but I am wondering how many of the present students of the High School have faced themselves squarely this year, and have put to themselves the question, “How much am I devlopin? from my high schol work this year? Am I making good with myself? Am I commanding the confidence of friends by achieving efficient results? When one sees the general lack of competent preparation on the part of so many graduates of our best high schools and colleges, he feels like lending some influence that will aid those who still have the opportunity, to get clear on the fundamentals. The high school, or the undergraduate col- lege student, has before him weil- planned courses of study, a well se- lected corps of instructors, and, in fact, everything conducive to effective work, and yet a very small per cent succeed in retaining the salient poims and conceptions. It seems to me that one great rea- son for this inadequacy is the lack of a definite purpose, to stimulate tow- ard real work. Such an inventory as would be occasioned by asking one’s self the above questions might possi- bly lead to a healthy dissatisfaction. There are probably many of you who have sufficient regard for the obliga- tion one owes to himself to take full advantage of opportunities, but with the great mass of us, it is true that we cannot have too many forces impel- ling us to great effort And it is a splendid influence for a fellow to know that friends are loking to him for re- sults, and to know that he is the pos- sessor of such sterling quality, that he is too true to the principles of
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Page 6 text:
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2 THE FAX I CS HIGH SCHOOL REFLECTOR friendship, to disgrace his friends by only half-developing. The impression is too general that ideals are being realized if one merely refrains from doing anything that can be censured. That may be sufficient for those who choose to lead a negative existence, but the world is asking at present for men who are willing to sacrifice su- perficial and temporary pleasures for the deeper pleasure of making good, and contributing to the world some- thing worth while. There never was a more urgent demand for people who are strong and capable. There is noth- ing of which I can think, relative to my associations with the Paxton High School, that would afford me higher gratification than to know that my friendship toward some fellow is of sufficient influence to cause him to feel that he owes it to me, as one of his friends, to exert every power tow- ard attaining a full and- well-rounded development. Sincerely your friend, V. E. DUDMAN. A BROKEN RESOLUTION When school started this year, I re- solved that I would not laugh at, or in any way ridicule, the Freshmen; but, that good resolution was broken at the very beginning of school. The first time I broke it was the second day of school when I saw the Fresh- ies coming from Physiology, hugging their books as though they were the only friends they had on earth. The wee little freshmen girls scattered about the assembly room; and, when they found their seats, they acted very much like mice that are always glad to find their nests. I suppose the girls knew that they were not be- ing closely observed by their friends (?) higher classmates (?) admirers (?) or enemies. As the boys entered, they were all grinning like boys always have dono and always will do. They had th» right spirit, however, for they seem- ed to think that if any one was going to try to make a joke out of them they would enjoy it with the rest. My resolution was broken another time when Mr. Turner caught the tin- iest and best behaved (?) one in the bunch passing a note. The poor little fellow had my sympathy then for ae was so badly scared that he replied “Yes ma’am”. That little boy is now removed from all temptations, for he sits in the front seat during the flr3t period in the afternoon. Again, I was greatly amused wher. 1 noticed that one of the girls had recovered from her timidity so far that she actually talked to one of the Sophomores on her fingers. I could not help but think of the difference between her actions then and during the first wreek of school. I was amused another time when' I heard Jimmy asking a girl to call on her that night; and, when she re- fused to answer him, he said “Silence gives consent”. Sounds rather witty for a Freshman doesn't it? Of course, I know it was entirely original for he would not think of copying or doing anything that was not perfectly all right and absolutely satisfatcory to the teachers. The last time I broke my resolution was when I saw the new style of hair dressing in row four, seat two, and heard one of the boys confidentially tell another that be could make his “hair lay good” if he would use Pol- moline soap on it. A Sophomore. Willie in his quest for gore, Nailed the baby to the door; Mo her cried in accents faint, Willie don t, you'll muss the pain .
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