Abington High School - Oracle Yearbook (Abington, PA)

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THE ORACLE dlmmtaltam in Sitgl) rlinnl An Address Delivered by Walter R. Sassaman at Commencement Exercises THE importance of journalism in our modern social system is beyond es- timate. The influence wielded by our two penny sheets over the daily lives of their millions of readers is so great that when this control is misused the results are alarming. A foreign correspondent often has more power than the representative of our government in that country. The editor of a big city paper is as influential as a dozen city fathers. He who determines the policy of the press of a country controls that country’s destiny. Unfortunately, the daily paper constitutes the only reading matter of most families of the poorly educated classes in the United States. Our domestic tranquility and prosperity depends to a great extent on the character of our journals, for they are the only means of educating and elevating these people to the point where they are no longer a danger to our American institutions. To those whose financial or geographical position makes an education of a specialized nature impossible, trade journals may render invaluable service. As an opportunity to serve mankind, journalism has few equals. Journalists of the right calibre can only be supplied by the high schools and colleges of the country. Work on the school paper offers an excellent elementary training in journalism. Besides this it offers the only practical schooling in business, and in a larger sense in life that can be gained in most schools. Only by the actual handling of money is any real idea of its value gained. The students on the staff of a high school paper must rely on their own initiative to supply the money needed. They must see that it is expended wisely and that an accurate account is kept of all finances. Salesmanship and all that it implies in tact, courtesy, alertness, willingness to work and serve, and persistency must be learned by the energetic high school journalist. The combination of clear-headedness, decision, foresight, diplomacy and earnestness constituting executive ability is as essential to the successful high school editor as it is to the head of any business. The opportunity as a training ground and experimental station offered by the school periodical to literary and art students is becoming more and more apparent every year. As the newer methods of teaching gain ground, the school paper daily becomes more important. The fascination of journalism is such that given two things, the high school paper is certain to thrive. These are opportunity and appreciation—that is, the time, equipment, and aid necessary to produce a worthwhile publication, and the publicity and reward for faithful services needed to attract and retain those in whom the call of the pen has not been aroused. Add to the length of the school-day, the time required for outside study, and the time for other necessary work, and it will be seen that the few hours between the close of school and dinner is the only time at the disposal of the high school journalist. No one will dispute the statement that for the growing boy and girl Page Twenty-eight

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JUNE ISSUE methods and requirements connected with their departments and then tell them to get to work. Thus the literary candidates write stories, the athletic write sporting news, the advertising obtain advertisements, and in general do some of the work that the present staff does. The candidates would always be under the control of the chief and would be assigned duties by him. Third; At the end of the year new assistants could be appointed by the faculty, the selections being based on the work done and the spirit in which it was done. Fourth; Pins, keys, or rings might be awarded to members of the staff as a token of appreciation for the work done. The principle of competition should be carried into the dramatic clubs. Athletics are already run on a competitive basis. However, student managers should obtain their positions through competition. There should be a senior manager and a junior assistant manager and then some sophomores trying for the positions. At the end of the season the Athletic Association could then elect the new managers intelligently. I do not advocate the sudden adoption of these plans but rather their gradual adoption, taking one department at a time and insuring the success of the system in that place. Competition in these various organizations and activities should be encouraged by hearty, wholesome enthusiasm on the part of faculty and board of education for the further introduction of competition in Abington High School will be a big step forward in the improvement of the school and in the creation of a stronger school spirit. 1-------—9----------2--------1 Alma ittatrr Rise up one and stand ye all, For our dear old Abington, Fail not ye, but heed the call To the White and Crimson. We will ever cherish thee, Victory or defeat it be, Staunch and true our schoolmates all, To our dear old Abington. Many days may come and go, To thee, dear old Abington, Storms may rise, and winds may blow, Firm and true our Crimson. Let not memories faded be, As we go o’er land and sea, Alma Mater, hail to thee, To our dear old Abington. Page Twenty-seven

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JUNK ISSUE these hours should be devoted to exercise. The student whose school spirit is so strong that he feels that his school must have a creditable paper must sacrifice either his studies, his exercise, or his sleep in order to find the time in which to produce that paper. This condition need not exist. A very large part of the work can be done in the class-room, during school hours, without crowding out anything of importance. Whenever and wherever this plan has been put into operation, and yet the actual management of the paper allowed to remain in the hands of the students, it has met with unqualified success. When the true value and importance of high school journalism becomes evident, prejudice against this scheme will vanish. No one, if the truth were admitted, will work without reward. The members of the staff of a school paper, who, after having worked hours indoors writing, correcting, proof-reading, and pasting dummies, while cl.ssmates outside were engaged in some sport, naturally feel discouraged when they see those same classmates publicly rewarded for athletic services to the school, while their own efforts received scarcely a word of recognition. Present conditions produce three types of graduates: those who have sacrificed journalism for athletics, those who have sacrificed athletics for journalism, and, sad to say, those who have taken an interest in neither. Since journalism is the best method of gaining a practical education in high school, and since athletics is the best means of securing sound and lasting health, none of these types is desirable, though they cannot be avoided under present conditions. If the purpose of a high school is to produce healthy, intelligent citizens, with an elementary training in business and in life, let us place the school paper, one of the best methods of training such citizens, in the position which it deserves to occupy. Page Twenty-nine