Agawam High School - Sachem Yearbook (Agawam, MA)

Page 27 text:

SACHEM 1940 page twenty-one THE JUNIOR CLASS

Page 26 text:

SACHEM . 1940 Class Song — 1940 Upon the threshold now we stand And pause to bid adieu; Our voices raise to pledge in song Our loyalty to you. CHORUS Ag’wam, fair Ag’wam, ever faithful and true, Our hearts however far we roam are always with you; The passing years cannot dim the name we honor today; Your colors bright will be a light to guide us on our way. Although we leave these friendly halls, In spirit we remain, Down through the years fond memories Will bring us home again. Music: Norma Blackburn Words: Norma Blackburn Anna Wylie President’s Address of Welcome As the representative of the Class of 1940, I wish to extend to you, our relatives and friends, a hearty welcome to our Class Night exercises. It is tbe wish of the class that I thank the faculty, school committee, and the citizens of Agawam for the wonderful educational and social opportunities they have placed at our disposal. In our program tonight it gives us pleasure to present some of our talented mem- bers, and to give you a humorous view of the Past, Present, and Future of the Class of 1940. We hope you will enjoy this evening with us. —Elroy Roland Benjamin. The Oration Few people in the United States question the fact that education is valuable; the real purpose of education, however, is open to debate. Some consider education as a wedge by which to enter a chosen field of work; others believe its chief value is to make one better understand, appreciate, and utilize his surroundings. The flaming headlines of the last few weeks, however, have brought home to us its most valuable purpose in a warring world. That purpose is to mould young boys and girls into loyal citizens worthy of their country’s benefits; to serve as a paved and lighted highway which leads them to any worthy citizen’s duty—active participation in his government. He need not run for office necessarily, but he must assume an air of responsibility concerning his power to vote, rather than an attitude of indifference toward his vital part in the government. This attitude of complacency toward voting is especially evident in the less exciting, less publicized local elections. It is here, however, that one vote means far more in the final tabulation and brings about policies which will more intimately affect the voter. It is the results of these local elections that serve as the foundation for a national gov- ernment. Even in national elections, our voters shamefully neglect their duty. In 1936, about 70% of our voters voted in the national election. This is not an average figure, it is our high figure. In other words, 30% of our voters failed to go to the polls and page twenty

Page 28 text:

SACHEM 1940 vote for men and measures that would eventually affect them. In France, Switzerland, and England, an average of 82% or 83% vote in the national elections; our high mark does not compare with this, and our average is something of which to be ashamed. To remedy this situation, to know where to begin and how to continue intelligently our part in the government, we must turn to education. This, together with what we learn from experience and the daily headlines of our newspapers, will provide us with an incentive to vote for measures and leaders conducive to the continuation of our present government and the consequent denunciation of any other form of government. But indifference will accomplish nothing. It is indifference toward one’s government, the willingness of a people to let someone else run their government for them that leads to a government of the few or of one for the benefit of the state at the cost of the citizen. In a democratic system, education is the tool for training the citizen in his respon- sibilities regarding his part in the government. If we are to heed the warnings that the headlines of the daily papers bring us, if we are to act in defense of our democratic ideals, we must do it through our schools. Now, as at no other time, this is a respon- sibility of our educational system. The problem of complacency toward one’s govern- ment at the present time and in the future will require a more systematic, thorough training in civic responsibility than has been adequate in the past. Education can and must instill into young boys and girls that which is more valuable than a knowledge of militarism—the right to vote. This right should be closely guarded, for, once lost, it is not easily regained. Education is the only way to make this privilege a greater force— too big to be lost, too precious to be neglected, too powerful to be denied. Few are the countries that now enjoy this privilege. The number must not decrease further. Some country must keep self-government from becoming obsolete. Perhaps it will be a long time before it happens, but someday, after the present day mistakes have been for- gotten, self-government will become the law of the world—not just the law of this land. The Class of 1040 will leave Agawam High School this month to become a loosely organized group of alumni pursuing their respective courses in life. We will take many beliefs with us, some old, some new. We will enlarge upon some, restrict others as time goes on. It is safe to say that one of the most treasured beliefs that we will take is that America is still as the Constitutional Fathers planned, a nation in which to find life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Let us always be resolved that these ideals will remain safe in at least one country and that if only one country is to be so blessed, it must be the United States. Edward Shea Class History Time: 1950 Scene: Living room in Janet’s house Jack: Have you any idea what we can do tonight? I haven’t made any special plans. Janet: No—no, I can’t think of any place I want to go. Jack: Well, . . . Say, what’s that book you’re carrying? Janet: This? Oh, it’s just my scrapbook. It’s full of pictures and clippings about our high school days. I know, we can look at it. It’ll be just like going through high school all over again. Want to? Jack: Not me! I don’t want to go through my high school days all over again. Once is enough for me! Janet: Oh come on. We haven’t anything else to do. It’s fun really. Some of the pictures are ones you took yourself. Jack: Yeah? Let’s see. (Both sit on divan and look at book) Janet: These first pictures are of our Freshman class. Jack: I can hardly recognize some of my friends, they look so different. Janet: See Paul Tatro with his pineapple clip, and who is that tall thin boy? page tu enty-two