Saratoga Springs High School - Recorder Yearbook (Saratoga Springs, NY)

Page 8 text:

6 THE HIGH SCHOOL RECORDER policy was most desirable, basing our decision not on one wildly par- tisan speech but rather on the views presented at a sensible discussion, with all sides represented. We feel that learning this one fact, the fact that important de- cisions should be made only after careful consideration of all the ques- tions involved, makes the time spent in high school well worth while. N. W. An important development of this year was the introduction into the school of a guidance department under the direction of Miss Ruth Wells. Through individual consultations Miss Wells has been able to make a study of the needs, abilities and interests of individual pupils. Although we Seniors have had but one year to come in contact with the guidance work, we have realized the value of such a depart- ment. Through the fund of information available we have learned much of vocational possibilities, requirements and trends. The tile of college catalogs and other idvanced training courses, with letters from college deans, from hospita superintendents, and from employers have been of assistance to us in choosing our further courses. Another valuable aid has been the information and advice on scholarships. ' This data has made college possible for some of us who didntt know that there was a school offering the courses we wanted at the prices fitted to our incomes. The value of the guidance department does not stop, however, .when we leave high school. Instead, it will keep on offering advice and cooperation when we find need of counsel in later years. If anyone wishes immediate or part-time work, he is invited to register with the department. We are requested by Miss Wells to keep the school informed of our progress and problems. By keeping in touch with the department we have the feeling that we are not severing connections at the end of our four years, but that we are still a part of Saratoga High School, responsible for some of its progress. J. MCA.

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T HE HIGH SCHOOL RECORDER 5 EDITORIALS m We have at last consummated our four years of scholastic efforts and are ready for graduation. Although we eagerly anticipate the exercises on the twenty-eighth, it is not without some reluctance that we leave behind us a period of our lives described by many as the most joyous and carefree of all. We should, however, consider our graduation as marking more than the end to a series of pleasant social contacts, since it also ter- minates an integral part of our intellectual development. For the past four years we have been exposed to knowledge in many varied forms, some of us absorbing much, others just enough to ttget byH with a minimum of effort. Everything from Virgilts Aeneid to Gres- hamis law, from artistic composition to abstract mathematics has been pounded into our skulls. Many times, when pondering some particularly abstract subject, we have asked ourselves of what possible benefit all these theories and rules can be when we shall probably never even think of them again after the Regents. The answer is obvious. T0 the student whose ideas are limited by the covers of a textbook, theoretical principles will have little future value. To others of us, however, such abstractions will be of immeasurable benefit, not because of what they explain but be- cause of how they explain it. Through them we should train our minds to arrive at decisions in the most direct and logical manner. We learn the value of methodical thought as opposed to hit-or-miss guessing. As our background is developed, so should our mental horizons broaden and thus help us to analyze problems more accurately for what they are. It seems to us that the l. R. C. convention at Poultney, Vermont, was a step in the right direction. Representatives from various coun- tries, including two German Nazis representing the axis powers, a Frenchwoman representing the democracies, and a Swiss representing nations desiring neutrality, were present and gave their views on the European crisis. From their talks we learned that there were three sides to the question and we were allowed to decide for ourselves which

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THE HIGH SCHOOL RECORDER mm CLASS HISTORY In September, 1935, another class of eager freshmen, three hun- dred and fifty in number, crossed the threshold of S. H. 8. Now in June, 1939, that same class, a bit smaller to be sure, is preparing to say goodbye to its beloved Alma Mater and to daily association with many of the staunch friends made within its walls. Nevertheless, each member will cherish fond recollections of these last four memorable years. As freshmen we were quite awed at the impressive bearing of the seniors and yearned mightily to show how much we could do in con- tributing to the fame of the school. This worthy desire was fulfilled by the active participation of various classmates in athletics and dra- matics. We were not allowed to organize but were content to choose Anne Grippin and Karl Rissland to report our class activities for the school paper. 4, At last, in our sophomore year, we bigan to assume a distinct personality. We took advantage of the privilege of organization to elect John Cummings, president; Elizabeth Ashton, secretary; and Rob- ert Meeker, treasurer. We were ably represented on the Student Coun- cil by Frances Caperonis and Granville Rouillard. Jean Kindig and Newman Wait were given the honor of keeping note of the class ac- tivities for the Recorder. Again our athletic and dramatic perform- ances were outstanding. Then came our Junior year. We were upper classmen at last, with all the indignities sulfered as freshmen and sophomores complete- ly obliterated from our minds. As president for this year we elected Newman Wait, with Charlotte deMauriac as vice-president, and Walter Butler as secretary-treasurer. We placed Granville Rouillard, Haskell lngmire and Bernard Serotta on the Student Council; while Elizabeth Ashton and Robert Crannell were given the task of reporters for the tiRecorderW We were prominent in almost every extra-curricular ac- tivity. This year also marked the beginning of our social life. We proudly united with the seniors in making the Christmas Tea Dance a huge success. In the spring we did not hold the customary Junior Prom but joined with the seniors in a gala aliair. We created a tropical setting, which was a fitting background for the tthon music of Jackie Jackson and his Cotton Pickers.