Acton Boxborough Regional High School - Torch Yearbook (Acton, MA)

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4 THE TORCH have no fists to clench, their eyes may be unseeing or their minds may be blank. This is what one man has done to another! Even the young do not escape the greed of the War God. In place of the happy times they would have had to remember, they have memories of the terrible incidents to which they were eye witnesses. Age we of this country to satiate the cupidity of a few with the lives of many. C. PRICE, '38. SCHOOL IS OVER I wonder if every Senior will feel the way I shall when graduation night comes. No more books, no more headaches worrying about studies and no more exams and late night studying. We shall be free to do anything we want for awhile. They say that when you leave school, the next thing is to look for a job. I don't think everyone's parents will make him start to work the day after gradu- ation. We shall have a few weeks of rest, when we can sleep mornings, and do anything that comes to mind. But there is something else that we must think of. Instead of just leaving books, we leave many happy hours, friends, and a period of our life that cannot be re- placed by anything else. No matter if we have fussed over lessons and about how the teachers have treated us, deep down in our hearts, we shall be sorry to leave Dear Old Acton High and all it stands for. So I think that on leaving Acton High, June 22, 1938, my heart will hold a bit of sadness as well as joy. F. HARRIMAN, '38, IS A HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION VALUABLE? The average youth of today has had at least a high school education. Is he any better prepared to face the future than a boy who left school at sixteen and now earns a moderate salary? Is the girl with a diploma any better off than the working girl or the one who was married at seventeen? Is four years of high school a waste of time? The minds of students are in a turmoil because of the uncertain future and the ever increasing number of unemployed. The future of a graduate is diffi- cult to comprehend. Five years from now may see him fighting in some foreign country, working on relief, standing in a bread line, or desperately trying to suc- ceed in business. Education is the basis of the earning power of any individual. The earning power in turn regulates the standard of living, which is the foundation of any civilized country. Regardless of political or social conditions, a high school educa- tion is unquestionably beneficial to any boy or girl. The standards of tomorrow depend upon the Youth of today. E. MacDOUGALL, '38, ARE THE SENIORS EASILY INFLUENCED? The Senior class had a loud discussion on the program for graduation in June. There were two main plans to select from, the old form with a speaker, or the panel-discussion idea, suggested by Mr. Greenman. In the panel-discussion there would be about seven or eight in a semi-circle on the stage, one of whom would act as the chairman. Each would give his views on a subject selected by them. It would be carried on almost like an informal debate. The chairman would an- nounce the ubject they were to discuss and call on one of the speakers. After the first speaker, another speaker might start right in with his ideas or his ar- guments against what the first speaker had said without waiting for the chair- man to call on him or, if nobody felt anxious to speak, the chairman would call on someone else. After all the speakers had spoken, the chairman would sum up what had been said and give his own ideas. At first the class seemed to favor this panel-discussion and the majority voted for it. Then we found that at least a two-thirds vote was necessary on such an important matter. After much voting a decision was reached against the panel- discussion. I It seems queer that the majority changed their votes to the other side so quickly. Were the pupils influenced by talk of the opposition? Were they afraid to accept the responsibility? Why was the Senior class so easily influenced after the majority had decided on the panel-discussion? These are the questions we are all asking ourselves and well we might! D. KELLEY, '38.

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iiwyv ,yi 9 THE TORCH 3 EDITORIALS WHAT NEXT ? During the past year I have talked with a number of seniors concerning their near future. In general they are hopeful, confident that a way will open for them to accomplish what they wish. Those seeking a college education are impressed with the bulletin board announcements of scholarships and visiting days at various New England institutions.. A number of commercial course Seniors write on their future plan blanks their intention to take further business training. A few students mention commercial art, nursing, religion, or other occupations, and many are undecided In following up the written intention of Seniors by personal interviews, I find that they are still quite general in their plans. Only a few really see a way which they are sure is right for them. The majority, when asked exactly how they expect to carry out their plans, cannot think of the first step. Those who have not a distant goal are especially unfortunate, because they do not even know in what direction to take a step. This in itself is not bad, since it is sometimes better to wait before making a decision. The danger lies in waiting too long. One admires the spirit of ambition, the determination to be a success in an interesting line of work, but this spirit of ambition appears to be, in many cases, only a spirit. Carefree students, however, who today face the problem of getting a job next year, may still be the first to succeed if they possess one human quality, the ability to get along with people. It can be argued that students in high school are not experienced enough to select a life goal, and that, because of their youth, they do not know how to reach it. Why ask them to think out the next step? Why not ask the teachers, parents, and friends to do that? In real life most important personal decisions are made by yourself. True enough, others may furnish you with facts on which to base your decisions, they may an wer your questions or point out errors in your thinging, but certainly they cannot force you to do with your life what you do not wish. I make a plea to all students to get in the habit of thinking about their dis- tant life goal, and, at the same time, to decide on the next best step that will lead them in the right direction. The Seniors who have vague notions about the distant future appear now to be the most confident. I fear they will be rudely awakened. The few who have centered their thoughts on a definite future may not today seem so confident, but they are taking definite steps to solve their problem. As soon as they tart they will find help in abundance. Good luck to you all. RICHARD B. GREENMAN. - i....... TODAY! TOMORROW? Over the radio into millions of homes in the United States flashed the start- ling news! Airplanes over Madrid had showered death, destruction and painful in-g jury on the unsuspecting city! At the last report it had been estimated that over 400 were dead and countless unfortunate souls wounded. This is how men, living in a supposedly democratic world, are now occupying themselves. Killing their own countrymen! This so-called civilized world is certainly constructed in a very peculiar way. Any who will kill innocent men, women and children because a certain few have the lust for power, are lacking in will power and courage. You say that those who refu e to execute the orders given will be shot or placed in prison for an unlimited time. But I say, What can half a dozen determined men do against thousands of people-just as determined-but determined in a constructive sort of way? Today, over every country in the world loom dark, glowering war clouds. Mars constantly keeps his sword sharpened and shield prepared for use. As the sound of many disturbances reach his ears, he smiles. He thrives on wholesale slaughter and Ianguishes unless he is able to see the sufferings of war. Will the nations please him and slaughter or maim for life the young and old? It is despicable to wander through the corridors of the hospitals that care for the living dead. The inmates here do not have to speak to express their views on conflict. Look at the stoop of their shoulders, the clenching of fists, and the smouldering glow in the depths of their unhappy eyes. Then, again, perhaps they

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.uf I THE TORCH GRADUATION PROGRAM WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 1938 Acton High School 8.00 P. M. ENTRANCE MARCH OF SENIORS March Militaire ,.........,........4.........,............................ HIGH SCHOOL ORCHESTRA INVOCATION THE REVEREND GLENN W. DOUGLASS SALUTATORY AND ESSAY Is the Constitution Practical? VINCENT J. SHEEHAN THE AMERICA I WANT RALPH E, SPINNEY GIRLS' GLEE CLUB Kentucky Babe ....,.. MIXED CHORUS Mastery .. ....,.., .. Estudiantina ....,.......,......,......................,......... .,. DOES PROPAGANDA CONTROL PUBLIC OPINION? Q LEONARD A. GODFREY, Jr. BLEEDING DEMOCRACIES ROBERT J. MONTAGUE MIXED CHORUS Fair Cuba .,..,............,...,.... To Thee, O Country .....,.. ESSAY AND VALEDICTORY . The Prevention and Care of Pneumonia CYNTHIA L. PRICE CLASS SONG Tune: Gold Mine in the Sky XVOrds: AUDREY GRALA, Class of 1938 PRESENTATION OF AWARDS AND DIPLOMAS FINALE MARCH HIGH SCHOOL ORCHESTRA RECEPTION IN SCIENCE ROOM 5 , Shubert ,. .. Geibel . . Verdi Waldteufel Fuentis , ..., Eichberg