Abington High School - Abhis Yearbook (Abington, MA)

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THEABHIS 5 On the part of the United States, the theory that Russia will not fight unless attacked is bound to bring disaster. If this war of the future is fought, its aim is to destroy every- thing and to leave the world in a condition which only a Communist would want to attempt to run. By using modern weapons and modern techniques Stalin would make this pay in peoples, raw materials, and indus- tries brought into his empire. Stalin holds his great power through the control of both the secret police and the army. Only in this way is Russia able to succeed in holding her own. Some people believe that the best way of combating the communist threat to the world would be to encourage the Russian people themselves, who are practically slaves to the Comintern, to revolt against their leaders. They are convinced that the Russian people who have experienced the utter misery that Communism brings to the common people, would be the first to fight it if they could be organized and armed. As the situation now stands, we appear to be losing the cold war all over the world, while Russia is winning with ideas, propa- ganda, and revolutions. I think we should give Russian leaders a dose of their own medicine. 'junrru TAYLOR, '54 JUVENILE DELINQUENCY Are the children of America really the wild monsters they are pictured as being? If so, how many are criminals and what are the causes? The answer to the first question is easy. Only 18.8 per cent of the crimes committed are committed by the people under the age of 21, less than one-fifth of all the crimes in the United States. During the past few years a decrease has appeared in the number of juvenile cases appearing before the courts and also a decrease in the number of commitments to reform schools and correctional institutions. In l950 the total decrease amounted to about 5 per cent. The cause of crime is harder to answer. There are many causes, some of which can be cured, and some which could be cured and yet will not be. Environment including city slums, poverty, and corrupt government are some of the causes of juvenile delinquency. If a child living in the slums section sees dirt and poverty all around him, his natural reaction is to get out of his surroundings in the quickest and easiest way possible. These chil- dren cannot be altogether to blame when, if tl1ey are offered a quick and criminal way, to get the things they have always wanted, they accept. Comics, radio, television, and movies now both give ideas to children and practically plan crime for them. In many of the movies on both screen and television the gangster, while usually caught in the end, their proving that crime does not pay, often elicits from many of the younger members of the audience pity and a hope that he will get away. The gang spirit, which does so much van- dalous damage, could be turned to good use instead of delinquency. If the instinct of gre- gariousness can be pllt to worth while ends, it can become of real value to the community. Since the creation of one boys' club, the juve- nile delinquency in that section has been Clll 75 per cent. The Yvickersham Commission appointed by President Hoover to make a study of crime declared: Despite the difference in character of these cities, their delinquency areas display similar characteristics - poor housing conditions, shifting and decreasing population, great poverty, and dependence, as marked absence of the homeowning class, a largely foreign population of inferior social status, unwhole- some types of recreation and inadequate open- air facilities. The problem of juvenile delinquency, its causes and its cure, is not only the problem of a few, but the problem of all. Everyone can help in some small way not only to discourage but to prevent juvenile delinquency. PATRICIA NTURPHY, '52 LET'S HAVE NO MORE HOMEWORK! The bell rings, school is out, there are no books to take home, and there's a free evening ahead to enjoy! This is a new topic being discussed by the progressive educational ex- perts. Some of the' experts believe that high schools should abolish homework by length- ening the school day: that all learning be done in the classroom under the proper super- vision of a teacher. This suggestion has led to several different arrangements regarding ways in which this improvement may be accomplished. Some reconnnend a study fol- lowing each regular class period. During this time the homework assigned in a particular subject would be done. Another proposal is general lengthened study periods held at inter- vening times during the day between the vari- ous classes. One long period of time given at

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4 THE ABHIS WORLD AFFAIRS r At any time the Third World VVar may erupt. Of all wars Qin respect to the number of participantsj it will probably be the long- est, most mobilized, and largest of all wars. Many things are hindering the attempt of nations to establish World peace. Two things are outstanding: they are the Suez Canal trouble and the Iranian oil dispute. The Suez, first interoceanic canal, is a con- necting point between the Mediterranean and the Red Sea. In 1859 a French company began building this great waterway. After ten years of hard work the canal was completed. Seven years after completion, the British bought a controlling one hundred seventy-six thousand shares of the total four hundred thousand shares. A number of years later, the canal was enlarged. After its enlargment there were more than six hundred thousand shares of which more than two hundred sixty thousand belonged to Great Britain. During World YVar II the total income of this great water- way was more than one billion francs. Be- cause of this income the British are trying to keep control of this land. Because the Suez is on Egyptian land it is not rightfully on the land of Great Britain. During the time in which this country was a great power, it de- cided to protect the canal zone. Recently, however, Britain has become a Great Britain that is no longer great. During its decline in power, Egypt's power has been rising steadily. The British are therefore faced with an imme- diate crisis from which it is possible that the Third World Xvar may erupt. The Iranian situation is one of far more importance than the Suez Canal trouble. In it are involved both the Iranians and the British. The cause of the difficulties is that Iran wants to gain complete control of its oil fields. At present the British are controlling this vast area of oil land. This land brings in a considerable amount of income for the British government. Annually this country's oil fields yield almost all of the oil used in Britain, Mfithout this oil many thousands of British oil workers would be jobbers. Also, the British would have to pay for oil many thousands dollars more per year than they would if they owned it themselves. Because of the oil cost the British have ample reason for trying to hold these resources. They know, too, that, possibly, if they lose this land, the dreaded enemy of peace, communism, may once again benefit by conquering the Iranians, who are still considerably weaker than the British. I firmly. believe that the British will do everything in their power to stop this great catastrophe. CARLETON LUKE, '54 WHAT IS AN AMERICAN? just what is an American? Is he the young businessman who is hurrying down a busy New York avenue or is he the older farmer in the small western town? I-Ie is bothg in fact, he is every citizen in the United States. His ancestors were the forefathers of our country: it was they who built the foundation of America. By fighting for freedom and justice they helped build America. Every person who is interested in the laws, the freedom, the people who run our govern- ment, and the person who fights for our coun- try is truly an American. He may be black or white, rich or poor, doctor or lawyer, farmer or merchant, school teacher or steel worker, minister or priest: regardless of the work he does, he is still one of the iron pillars that support our country. The people who take an active part in our government and help to make new and better laws, the people who are sincerely interested in America are Americans. An American is free to live, to speak, to work, to write, or to worship as he wishes. Aren't you glad you are an American? CHARLOTTE BLAKE, WORLD WAR III It is believed by many that a third world war has been going on for five years during which time Russia has been winning and the United States, losing. The real beginning of this war was on March 12, 1947 when Presi- dent Truman proclaimed the plan to stop the spread of Communism. Joseph Stalin accepted this as a declaration of Mforld War III anti formed his plans accordingly. Russia then took Czechoslovakia and Poland and strength- ened her hold on Rumania and Bulgaria. Now in China it has proved profitable for her in that she has lost no lives but has succeeded in bringing China into the Communist em- pire. In Indo-China and Malaya Communist- inspired guerilla wars are being fought. The preferred Russian procedures are by means of propaganda, for the purpose of gaining control of other countries by changing the people's ideas, and wherever it is necessary inciting them to fight their shooting wars for them. Their propaganda is working in nearly every country in the world.

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6 THE ABHIS the end of the day to accomplish all the assign- ments together is the third popular suggestion. This new plan has many disadvantages that affect the teacher directly and the student indirectly. Under the strain of a longer school day and the need of administering more discipline, the teachers 'would be at a loss. Their enjoy- ment of free time would be limited. Because of the supervision needed in the study rooms the teachers would be unable to correct papers during the school time. In some cases these situations would tend to depress, then weaken their teaching ability. Under these strenuous conditions a teacher would not be as valuable to the educational standing of the school as he is in the present system. Because of an inadequate supply ol' books in school libraries there would be limitations on research work. This would mean either added expense or lack of necessary material. Many of the teenagers now work after school. Because of the added hours in the school day there would not be sufhcient time for work. In many cases this extra spending money is badly needed. Acting as apprentice- ship these various jobs prepare some students for work after graduation. The students planning on going to prep school or college after graduation would not, in one respect, benefit from this system. They would be accustomed to completely supervised study, therefore, because of sudden indepen- dency they would find the methods used by these schools diliicult. On the other hand, if this plan were to be nation-wide and all the high schools were to adopt it, all the students entering higher schools after graduation would be in the same predicament, consequently. these schools would alter their methods of assigning preparatory work and lessen the strain of this new environment. The predominant disadvantage is that sense of responsibility, the necessary resource of dependability, would be decreased. Other social events and entertainments would not be sacrificed for hotnework. Therefore, after graduation the students entering the compli- cated world would not be as capable of carry- ing the heavy burdens of life's responsibilities as they would be if they had previous training for this period of self-dependence. ,In spite of all the disadvantages there are many advantages to be derived from this in- crease in the value of a high school education and greatly benefit the student. Students would have increased free time to enjoy and participate in outside activities. Without the burden of worry because of lack of time, the opportunities open to youth would become widened and therefore prove advantageous to high school students. Because of a time limit in accomplishing assignments the rate of speed in reading, writing and comprehension would be con- siderably increased. There would be available no excuse for incomplete and unaccomplished assignments. If the first plan previously mentioned were to be employed the teachers of the particular subjects would be present during the time of studying of their subjects to help with the work. This would eliminate unnecessary as- signment borrowing among students and thus augment their self-reliance. At home there are many distracting annoy- ances, such as conversation, radio, and tele- vision, that hinder concentration. At school the teacher's supervision would create the quiet atmosphere needed for proper studying. Although the advantages of this proposed plan are fewer in number than the disadvan- tages, they bear more weight on the scale ol' opportunities and America is the support of this balance. Let's give it a try and see if its provisions will not benefit our country. If it proves to be unsuccessful we can then return to the old plan that has educated America since her earliest days. RUTH SYVAN, '52 WHO SAID THAT? l. You're lighting us! 2. Faites-Attention! Fl. Theoretically speaking. 4. Ra-a-a-lph! jasonl ti. Sickcning! 7. The Guards should carry the ball. 8. Holy Cross NVonl El. Hi-i-i-, Dave! Ill. I say now. I l. Mitty l2. O-o-oh this locker! 13. I'd like to, but I'm going the other way. 14. YVhat do we have to do that for? 15. Wicked embargo! 16. I'd rather stay home andread a sports magazine. . Bill Bailey . There's field-hockey tonight! l9. Operation formaldehyde! 20. Can I have a bite of your apple, soph? JOANNE REYNOLDS, '52 17 18