Agawam High School - Sachem Yearbook (Agawam, MA)

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All over the United States millions of young men arc offering one year of their lives to the defense of their country. The schools, too, arc in the front line of defense; they, however, give not one but twelve years of training. In the schools the impressionable clay of American youth is fashioned. Here are instilled the earliest teachings in patriotism and democracy. The stability of our faith in our democracy rests upon this earliest of foundations. The futility of a gun in the hands of a man who does not have complete faith in the government which he is defending is illustrated by the wretched plight of France. If the tragedy of France is not to be repeated here, it will be because school, aided by the home, develops responsible American patriots. By an American patriot I mean a self-reliant, intelligent, well-educated individual who is a responsible cog in the great wheel of our democracy and who is ready to fight for his country because by his own thoughts he concludes that in spite of its faults, democ- racy is the freest and most civilized form of government in the world. Such a man is immune to the most deadly saboteur at work in the U. S. today, the dread that democracy’s day i over, that whether we like it or not the world of tomorrow will be totalitarian. He realizes that a more tragic fallacy could not be found : that there is nothing inevitable about a dictatorship; that it comes about only when the free man neglects his responsibility, grows soft, distrusts himself, and in his fear turns to a leader to solve his problem. In Germany the schools, warped by the sickness of Nazism, have produced the goosestepping, emotional. leader-loyal Hitlerite. Every subject is taught with the idea of glorifying Hitler and instilling in the pupils by constant repetition the idea that their first duty is always to the leader, that he comes before themselves, their families, and their God. The German schools forge the chain of dumb obedience that is fastened about every Nazi neck. The free American schools provided by townspeople like yourselves grant every person the right to his opinion. Every subject is taught with the idea of giving the student a background upon which to form intelligent opinions. We learn tolerance of all races and creeds. We learn manual training instead of the manual of arms. The aim of our educational facilities is to enable us to live intelligent, varied, and happy lives. But more than that, today in this era of tottering democracies the schools are faced with the additional task of arousing every citizen to his responsibility to his government. To quote Commissioner of Education John W. Studebakcr: “An educa- tional program for the common defense must sharpen our wits and deepen our under- standings of ways in which to bring about the more rapid solution of the social and economic problems of the machine age. For we can lose democracy in either of two ways—by pressure from the outside, or by collapse from within.” Difficult though the next few years will inevitably be, in spite of the sacrifices they may demand, we of the Class of '41 believe that our educational training will enable us to face resolutely these trying years. Through the public schools and your efforts, we shall be soldiers of democracy in heart as well as in uniform. — Robert Healy [2. ]

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THE SENIOR CLASS

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Time: June 20, 1941. Place: The home of any member of the Class of ’41. (On the right, in front of the curtain is a comfortable chair, a reading lamp, and a table. A senior enters, picks up a paper from the table, settles himself in the chair, and starts to read. His mother enters.) Mother: It’s time you went to bed, son. School days are over, now. Tomorrow you go to work. Senior: I hate to think school is over. We had such a swell time those four years at Agawam High. I’d like to live them over. Mother: Good-night. I’ll call you tomorrow at six. Senior: CJosh, I’m sleepy. (She exits.) ( He puts newspaper down, stretches and yawns, settles back comfortably in the chair, and falls asleep.) (Curtain slowly parts, showing a huge calendar which dominates the stage. The top leaf of the calendar has September. 1937. written on it in large letters. From behind the pages of the calendar step Barbara Chapin and Barbara Risley with ballots in their hands.) Barbara C.: Didn’t our first class meeting go off nicely? Barbam R.: Even if we are Freshmen, we had a most successful meeting. Barbara C.: We must count these ballots. (They walk over to a table on the left and start counting ballots.) Barbara R.: Well, Raymond Raschi is our class President and Myrtle Maillard is Vice-President. Barbara C.: I’ve finished with these ballots, too. Albina Shea is Secretary, and John Caldon is Treasurer. (They pick up ballots and exit to the left.) (The curtains are drawn and when they open again, the calendar shows the date September, 1938. From behind the page of the calendar step Albina Shea and Mary Gravel.) Albina: We must call the newspapers right away. I’m sure they are waiting for the report of the elections. Mary: You call them. You’re the school reporter. Albina: (Steps to the phone and dials a number.) Springfield Union? — The Soph- omore class has just elected its new officers ... Yes ... 1 knew you would want the report. Raymond Raschi is President; Myrtle Maillard, Vice-President; Alma Lodi, Secretary; John Caldon, Treasurer . . . That’s all . . . Good-bye. (She hangs up and the two girls exit.) (The calendar shows date April, 1938. Then Marianne Brady and Barbara Chapin enter.) Barbara: Isn’t it a lovely party? I’ve looked forward to this Sophomore party for two years! Marianne: Bobby Fcnn certainly did a good job as general chairman. Barbara: Yes, aren’t the balloons and streamers the best-looking decorations? Marianne: Let’s go back to the party. We don’t want to miss Thelma Wheeler’s song. Barbara: She’s just starting to sing now. (They step aside and Thelma appears from behind the calendar. She sings “My Hero,” then they exit.) [22]