Abington High School - Abhis Yearbook (Abington, MA)

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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

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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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THE ABHIS 7 LITERARY THE JOURNEY . I 21:1 '. .I 9, ' ' ' C : ' . 'yi v:'. ' -S' ' .:gls:?qu,Q.,vu- : 'x 4 , . are . . TNQ. Al o 71.92 9, ' if.. ' 'H S. Q It was late one foggy winter afternoon. A lone Figure, walking down a narrow path, came to a halt and gazed about in wonderment at the gorgeous scene stretching before him. Every blade of grass was a tiny knight sheathed in glittering iceg the once ugly weeds, now transfigured into exquisite glass trees, proudly took their places in this strange new worldg even the rough path covered with a glimmering crust, looked like a magic carpet twisting and turning into eternity: the tops of the domi- neering trees, lost far up in the fog, peered down through their shiny branches at the transformed earth. As if overwhelmed by this magnificence, the figure moved on with bowed head and aimless step. Suddenly, he slipped and fell. After lying still for a while, he clambered to his feet, staggered on, then, regaining confi- dence, hastened forward. VVhen he sighted a fallen tree looming in the path ahead, he became discouraged and almost gave up. Some instinct, however, seemed to guide him and to help to surmount this barrier. Following his ordeal he sat down on a stump to rest, but suddenly realized that he was caught between the tides of day and night. He glanced fur- tively down the path, stretching far behind him, but the fog had covered his passing: he looked ahead, only to see that the future was also obscured by the fog. The traveler hurried onward, until he came to a fork in the path. VVhile he paused pensive and uncertain, night won the battle, and his form was no longer enclosed in dusk but blanketed by darkness. Guided by the same instinct'that had previously helped him, he chose the right way. Then, when it seemed that he must drop from complete exhaustion, he saw a warm and welcoming light ahead. The figure showed no more uncertainty, fatigue, or fear but proceeded with exhilarated step. As he approached the end of the path, a large gold door swung open and a blinding light poured forth. INhen this brilliance touched the air, the fog disappeared and, with the stars and moon, the earth was bright and clear. The traveler stumbled joyously into the embrace of the one he loved most. The journey was overg he had reached home. -IOANNE WRIGHT, '53 A DAY'S SPORT IN NOVA SCOTIA I raised a weary arm and groped blindly through the darkness for the button that would shut from my ears the shrill blast of the alarm. Then, in the silence that followed, I forced myself reluctantly from the warmth and secu- rity of bed, dressed in a hasty, haphazard fashion, and tiptoed downstairs. After con- suming a hearty breakfast, and donning a heavy hunting jacket, I quietly slipped from the house into the nipping air of an early Cape Breton morning. For some curious reason my uncle, sword- hshing in waters off Glace Bay, had estab- lished his home on the tip of a secluded stretch of wooded land which jutted into St. Peter's Bay, at the entrance to the beautiful Bras d'Or Lakes. The residence of his nearest neighbor lay at least a mile to the west, the intervening distance being occupied by a sylvan stretch of firs and hemlocks, the lumber of which sup- plied him with one of many means of liveli- hood. I lumbered down through the cow pastures to the shore, clumsily scaling a series of wooden rail fences, being impeded in this by the con- stant interference of my bulky hip rubber boots and the enveloping darkness of an early morning hour. The only noise penetrating the tranquil stillness of before dawn were the methodical clomp of the boots on the beach gravel and the frightened screeching of gulls, curlews, and yellowlegs as they scurried from the direction of my approach. Because of the fog which had rolled in and the obscurity of the hour, only the misty outline of the opposite side of the bay was discernible, which in the brilliant radiance of the midday sun presents a striking illustration of the vivid beauty for which Cape Breton is noted, the landscape being charac- terized bv the symmetrical checkered pattern of multi-hued fields, the seemingly infinite stretches of verdant woodland, the uniform layout of typical country villages and farms, and the shapely contour of rolling hills in every direction. Suddenly, from a small cove in a natural inlet some distance to my right resounded the