Rockland High School - Cauldron Yearbook (Rockland, ME)

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10 THE CAULDRON KNOWLEDGE IS POWER There are men continually hghting and dying on the blood-stained deserts of North Africa, in the insect-infested jungles of the Pacihc islands, and in the debris-filled cities of France. Are these men dying in vain? ls a mere temporary period of peace to follow, or a permanent disarmament of the more aggressive nations? Are we, the younger generation of America, going to let these men down, or are we going to uphold the cause they are fighting for? Every young high school graduate must realize the problems he will have to face when he takes his place in a disturbed world. I-ligh ranking officials are endeavoring to establish a successful post-war program in order that the sons of today's fighting men will not have to Fight another war because of the lack of international law and government. In order that the young people of today will be able to face these problems successfully, they must be properly educated and suited for their respective vocations. Therefore, the future keepers of the peace of this country are not to be found amid the stench and bloodstains of a battlefield, but in the classrooms of our schools and colleges. Here many are working to the limit of their mental capacity to obtain a diploma, while others breeze through on a minimum of work and study. If the people who take delight in Hbreezing througlii' school could realize that the future of our democracy depends on them and their knowledge of world affairs, they would settle down and obtain the benefits of a high school education. I-low many times have you heard the boys overseas say they wish they had studied harder in high school? Are we going to be like these? Our own destiny depends upon us and the power of our knowledge. Our work will begin when victory is won and we march into those nations set free from the shackles of dictatorship, to help establish law and order. VVe must learn to understand people and gain their confidence, for it is our skill in negotia- tions that will determine our place in a world of peace. VVe must strive to build ourselves into better Americans through the power of knowledge, and prepare ourselves to fulfill later the requirements of a democratic life. WENDELL VVEBBIQR PROPAGANDA The weapons of the propagandist are varied and subtle. As the chief means of disseminating his imaginative and ITlCl1Cl2l,ClOUS works, the propagandist uses the newspaper, magazine, booklet, leaflet and similar published material. But, there is some indecision. Is propaganda of any use or is it all evil and worthless? Propaganda can be used successfully to educate the general public to recognize the advantages of a worthwhile project. For example, months before the lend-lease act was passed, much was publicized that would create a favorable opinion toward the act when it finally would be produced. There were many stories of the hardships of England and France, of the ghastly atrocities of the Germans. The question was debated in every forum, in every newspaper, in every class room. Those in favor believed that we should help England who was weak with the struggle, and who would soon fall beneath the Nazi blitz. lsolationist opponents of this school of thought said that we need not become involved in another war just to save England.

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TI-IE CAULDRON 9 Editorials AMERICAN EDUCATION The American Educational System is a highly efficient and modernized plan. The ideas set forth are of extreme importance in the lives of its future citizens. These ideas are found, for example, in the history of the United States and in a knowledge of the Constitution and the principles of Democracy. Then, too, American children are taught the difference between right and wrong. Equality among men and brotherly love are established principles in the American way of life, as exemplified in Philadelphia, the city of Brotherly Love. This ideal way of living may be defined as Americanism. Let us compare this word 'fAmericanism , and all it stands for, with Nazi-ism, the German version of a perfect world. By methods which were concealed at first by German propaganda, the German children have been educated to a Nazi way of life. If one should undertake even a small amount of research into the Nazi Educational System, he would find that racial prejudice, hatred, and uncivilized practices are being taught to the future citizens or militarists of Germany, who will tenaciously endeavor to eliminate all obstacles which stand in the way of their objectives. The Allied Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Finance Corporation is faced with the great problem of re- educating these fanatics. The idea of converting the mind of someone who has been educated to such fanatical ideas as killing, starving, and other barbaristic acts of the Nazi HRegime, will prove not only interesting to the World in general but also to the world of Science. The knowledge which will be obtained from this experiment in human nature will be of such vast importance that the world may never again be subjected to the sufferings which have been brought about by this conflict. Had the Germans been educated to a non-militaristic idea, they might have advanced so far in industry and other productive activities that they would have become one of the leading nations of the world. Had such inventions as the buzz bomb or robot bomb and rocket-firing planes been put to a more altruistic use, the prospect of going to Mars might 11Ot be such an improbability. But because these German resources were not used properly, their country will never be looked upon as a respected and highly educated nation. Today, because of our productive capacity, our unlimited resources, and our respect for the rights of others, the United States is the foremost power of the world. The responsibility which has been placed upon the American people during this time of great need-that of supplying the Allies with food and equipment- has been accomplished in such a way that we are envied by all other nations of the world. This feat might not have been accomplished had we not educated ourselves to higher standards of learning than have ever been attained before. Yes, we have the most honored and highly respected position among the nations of the worldg and we will hold this position because, through American Education, we have been and always will be a free and peace-loving nation, with Democracy the guardian of our salvation. ALBERT HAVENER

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THE CAULDRON 11 The discussion continued, pro and con, until, by March 1941, nearly everyone was convinced, by what he had read or heard, of the necessity of our aiding Britain to help ourselves. Congress realized that the majority of the American people favored lend-lease, and the bill was passed Ma1'ch II, 1941. This is an example of the beneficial use of propaganda, a use that is vital to the welfare of a democratic country. The people rule in a democracy. Thus the elected ofhcials are influenced by what they hear and read and see-all excellent channels for issuing propaganda. There are many instances to illustrate the propagandisfs ability to pervert to his own use any occasion that presents itself. For example, in 1927 there was a serious anti-foreign outbreak at Nanking. Chinese troops began to kill and plunder in the foreign residential district. In order to prevent a general mas- sacre, British and American warships laid down a barrage around the building where the foreigners had taken refuge. The Soviet press represented this as an unprovoked slaughter of helpless Chinese by bloodthirsty foreign imperialists. Thus the Chinese received a contorted picture of the American role played in this episode. ' By these examples it is seen that the difference between useful and evil propaganda is not easily discerned. The propagandist has devious ways of twisting the truthg by a subtle inflection or doubtful insinuation he can arouse a slight suspicion that develops gradually into open distrust. How can one recognize evil propaganda when it is presented in a reasonable 'mannerf To perceive propaganda one must be very familiar with a subject before he can recognize propaganda relative to that subject. 'l'hrough a liberal education whereby a knowledge of many studies is gained, one can become familiar with varied subjects. It is the duty of the high school and college to train its citizens in these studies in order that they may be able to analyze the claims of propagandists and distinguish the good from the bad, rejecting the infiuence of corrupt or selfish groups. JOAN Amaorr SCHOOL SPIRIT VVhat is school spirit? Oh yes, you'll say, I know what school spirit is. Tl1at's the spirit that is shown when your school is playing its toughest and hardest battle, and when the student body is cheering and backing up its team, win or lose. Yes, you are right. But there's more than that. Let me tell you. Can you and the players take it on the chin when the team loses? When you are on the winning team, do you rub it inn? If you are a good Wilmer as well as a loser, and if you are playing dearly, not for you and you alone, but for the team as a whole and for the glory of your school, that's school spirit. School spirit also stands for the way you treat your school building. If you're the student who hacks away on the chairs with a knife or pencil, the one who uses reckless talk about your school clubs, or the one who thinks the girls' basketball team is just a big laugh, than you haven't any school spirit. Politeness is also school spirit. WVhen your school is good enough to show you moving pictures, special assemblies, and many other tlnngs worth While, do you