Agawam High School - Sachem Yearbook (Agawam, MA)

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The only logical explanation for the existence of this high school is to train the younger generations so that they may be better able to serve the community, nation and the world. The truthfulness of this explanation for the existence of a high school becomes clearer when we understand the reason for the existence of the business world for which it trains us. Business exists to serve society- its customer. It was not many years ago when the business world thought that it existed to exploit the customer and the employee while making huge profits for the owners. Today we witness one good result of this depression it has sped the belief in the law of the survival of the most serviceable. Big business tried this basic law as a last resort, and it brought such good results that today, banks, insurance companies, transportation companies, and other institutions advertise the services rendered at no additional cost to the customer. It seems that business institutions have started on a race to see which one is capable of rendering the most and best service to the public. Another good result of the depression has been that the managers of businesses have learned that the group having incomes less than five thousand dollars annually, which buys five-sixths of all goods produced in the country, cannot continue to buy at an ever increasing rate and at the same time carry increasing tax burdens without a corresponding increase in earnings. Capital is beginning to realize that it is good business to consider the employee as well as the customer. Each wishes to win happiness, whether consciously and scientifically striving for it, or ignor- antly and unconsciously groping after it. The kind of happiness which includes love of fellow men and conscience as well as material wealth. There is but one path to all three and that is service, for he profits most in material gain as well as in spiritual values, who renders the best service to those with whom he deals. The reason why we today have suffered economic and social disruption is that the world has been trying to reverse the basic law of human relationships. Yc have been trying to reap large profits without first rendering a service, and service precedes profit just as certainly as the sowing of the seeds precedes the harvest. Calvin Coolidge said, “No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he'gave.” With returning confidence stimulated by the “New Deal’' and this truer philosophy of service it seems we can not be far from material and spiritual prosperity. The Principle of Service is nothing new. It has been practised by all truly successful men for centuries. The reason that there are such a great number of unsuccessful people today is that they have not found and put this basic natural law to work. The number of unsuccessful people would be materially reduced by teaching in the public schools the Principle of Service and the natural laws related to it. Some high schools have already adopted the idea. The teaching of the Principle of Service would provide the pupils with a logical reason for attending school and suggest a goal to strive for. 'This in turn would increase the appreciation of the students for the society in which they live. The voice of selfishness is loud, the disease of indifference to duty is widespread. Both arc the result of ignorance of natural laws. The cure rests in eliminating such ignorance by teaching the natural laws of human relationships. You, the citizens of the town have done your part by establishing and maintaining one of the finest of schools, and in electing a school committee which, with Mr. Phelps, has selected so wisely the principal and teachers of this school. That the principal and teachers have conscientiously co-operated is shown by the quality of the academic side of the school life and also in the success of the extra-curricula activities. The teachers also deserve warm praise for having successfully dealt with their larger classes. This is a severe test for the most efficient and patient administration. I et neither the students nor the citizens impair the schools rapid progress, l et us, rather, insure its permanency with this truer philosophy to guide us through the years yet to come The Philosophy of Service. ROBERT JOHNSTON Page Nineteen

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ADDRESS OF WELCOME (« Fathers, Mothers, and Friends of the class of 1933, we bid you welcome to the tenth commence- ment exercises of the Agawam High School. Through your help and co-operation, we have been able to complete four years of high school work, and have received the training which will make us better able to face the problems of the future. We thank you for your loyal support to our plays, athletics, and our social activities. Mere words cannot express our appreciation to Mr. Phelps, Mr. Williams, and the faculty for their untiring efforts in helping us to become better citizens of the community in which we live. For us this is a very illustrious occasion, but it is a sad one. We must leave the place where we have spent four years of happy school life, where we have had many friends, and many happy experiences together. Friends, every member of this class expresses with me his sincere thanks for what you have done for us. We bid you a hearty welcome, and hope you will enjoy our class day program. CLARK JONES. KNIGHTED Once we passed the threshold o’er From pagehood to a squire’s door. We learned to serve, be wise and kind. To better always our young minds. We’ve polished weapons, clear and bright, To cam the honored name of knight. As knights we now must take our stand Over a wild tempestuous land. Battles ’gainst want, hunger, pain, Will test our strength, and zeal amain. Our foes arc on land, in sea, in sky, But their only victors, arc you and 1. For the fortress of all high castles Charged by many a worthy vassal Hides success, the jewel of dreams. 1 ife, love, beauty, send their beams To guide the knights in reverie To clutch the gem eternally. EDNA RUST. THE ORATION 1 believe that the average person would give as the reasons for the existence of a high school the following — to educate the youth, so that they can get better jobs - to learn the Game of Grab — how to get while the getting is good. How foolish an answer! That attitude explains why ninety-five out of every hundred persons ultimately fail in life. It will take them nowhere except into trouble. Page Eighteen

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CLASS HISTORY Setting: A garden in the Jackson home. Scene: hour children playing in garden. Date: 1950. Characters Arthur Blaine Robert Jackson Patricia Jackson Alice Green Mrs. Jackson Mr. Jackson {Four children are seen playing in the garden.) Bob. Aw, come on, Art, let’s play a boy’s game. Them girls don’t know anything about playing ball. Pat. You think we don’t. We’ll show you, won’t we, Alice? We’ll go and play school. Alice. All right, I’ll be the teacher, though. Don’t you boys want to play, too? Art. Aw, no, we don’t want to play school. That’s a girl’s game. Anyhow, we have to go to school in two weeks. Pat. {To Alice). Oh, that’s right! I almost forgot about school. We’ll have some fun this year. We’ll be way in the sixth grade. Bob. Gee, that’ll be let me see. {Stops to figure on fingers.) If I’m smart 'nough and skip that special grade they have up there, it’ll make only three more years before we’re in High School. Art. Me, too. Gee! It must be fun in High School, with all their football games, and baseball and everything else. I’m going to be the captain of the baseball team. You wait and see. Boy! I just can’t wait. Bob. Yeah, Daddy was talking about what swell times they had. He was on all the teams in the school. And was he smart, or was lie smart! I’ll bet he was captain on almost all the teams. Alice. How could be be? My daddy was just as good as that and better, too. I Ic was captian of the football team, the baseball team and everything. Pat. All right, I’ll see who’s right. I’ll get Mother and she’ll tell us all about it. {Exit.) {Children resume playing.) {Mrs. Jackson and Patricia come out hand in hand.) Pat. Well, here she is. See who’s right now. Mrs. Jackson. Well, well, what’s all the arguing about? Pat tells me that you want to know all that happened at Agawam High School when 1 went there. {Sits dozen on reed chair and lays dozen books that she has. Children sit around at her feet.) I'll start it for you, and when Daddy comes, he might be able to help us. I’ll tell you all that I remember. I’ve brought some of the books that I saved. {Lays books on grass beside her.) Bob. {Puzzled.) I never saw those books before, Mother. Mrs. Jackson. No, I’ve had these put away. I don’t believe I’ve looked at them since I finished school, either. {Looks thoughtful, as if remembering the happy times she had during school career.) We did have some wonderful times in High School. Now,I’ll tell you some of the things we used to do when we went to school. {Picks up one of the books.) I.et me see, what’s this? Well, it seems that everything is coming right in order. Here arc the class officers for 1929. I'll read them to you. {Reads.) President, Charles Ardizoni; Vice-President, Ida Ricci; Secretary, Eunice Bitgood; Treas- urer, Francis O’Connor. We had a Student Council, also. Dorothy Geoffrion and Robert I Icnncsscy were elected. Page Tzeenty