Wakefield High School - Oracle Yearbook (Wakefield, MA)

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THE W. H. S. DEBATER Published by STUDENTS OF THE SENIOR CLASS WAKEFIELD HIGH SCHOOL WAKEFIELD, MASS. June, Nineteen Twenty-Two DEBATER STAFF Editor-in-Chief William J. Ingerton Assistant Editors Vera M. Moulton, Daniel F. Talbot, Mark Ireland Business and Advertising Manager Thomas W. Jazukawiz Assistant Business and Advertising Manager Fred S. Grant, Jr. Exchange Editor Breta Ileurliu Subscription Editors Helen Willey, Alan Sweetser Alumni Editor Frank O. Corcoran Social Editors Selena M. Kalalicr, Muriel Kingston Athletic Editors George W. Hall, Jolm D. Marouey, Irving J. Patterson Battalion Editor Maj. Eobert Batten Joke Editors Margaret L. Corbet, Irving J. Patterson Staff Artist Fannie L. Greene Junior Editor Katheryn Carney Sophomore Editor Helen Haekett Freshman Editor Helen Eamsdell

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EDITORIALS o5v i FIFTY YEARS A fiftieth Mimiversary is au imxiortaut milestone in the history of an individual or an institution. To have completed half a century of honest work whether or not that work culminates in some noteworthy achieve- ment gives dignity to the struggle of life. There is a unity, a beginning and an end, as it were, in fifty years of effort. The span of human life is short at best, and the plan of it often seems kaleidoscopic, but in look- ing back over fifty years we become con- scious of a perspective in life. It is a happy coincidence, therefore, that the change from the old High School to the new building will take place soon after the fiftieth anniversary of the dedication of the old building. For fifty years sunshine and shadow have fallen on the old school walls. For fifty years the boys and girls of Wake- field have gone in and out of the old school, have laughed and talked and studied and caught visions of the things that shall be. Teachers have come and had their day and gone, and others have appeared in their places, but the work of character building has gone steadily on. Who can estimate the influence that our high schools exert upon the life of the com- munity and the state? They are like great beacon lights throwing out rays of thought and faith into the dark places of ignorance and vulgarity. To stimulate young minds to high think- ing; to teach that there is truth and beauty in the world and that they are more to be desired than the Almighty dollar ; to in- spire in young people a respect for law; and to train them to honor those in authority and to be loyal to their friendships is a work of no small importance. It is this work that the Wakefield High School has been trying to do for the last fifty years. Let us have faith that the good work will go on for another fifty years. CO-OPERATION How many of the boys and girls in high school put the good of the school before tJieir own pleasures? If the question were answered honestly, I fear the number would be small. The desire for pleasure has such a hold upon people that few stop to ask whether a thing is right or wrong; but they have always time to ask, How much fun is there in it? Arc we fair to the teachers? Do we give them enough courtesy and respect for their trouble to stuff knowledge into our heads? Tlie answer again is no . We try to have all the fun we can during the school session. We make it harder for the teachers instead of uniting with them and learning all they are willing to teach us. Do we give the school enough support? Again the answer remains in the negative. It is seldom that all or even most of the pupils get together at track meets, baseball games, football games, and other school ac- tivities. At class meetings we think the nuitters discussed too dry to listen to and we do not stay.. When our new high school is completed there will ))e more opportunity for pupils and teachers to come together and compare views and to suggest different ways of im- proving the work of the school. Let us hope that in the future teachers and pupils will unite with the citizens of the town to make the Wakefield High School the best high school in the State.