Barre High School - Barretone Yearbook (Barre, MA)

Page 28 text:

EDITORIALS ON THE THRESHOLD This phrase has been used many thousands of times before, and will, in all probability be used many times in the future, but each time it appears, it always conveys a new meaning, different from its meaning last year or the year before. Each year, under this heading, are to be found these words. Never before had a graduating class faced as unique and challenging a future as we do, yet next year the class of 47 will say the same thing, and it will hold just as true for them. By that time, many of the pro- blems which confronted us today will have been solved, but newer ones will have come up to take their places. The next year will not see the eradication of the selfish Nationalism, which, if not remedied, will engulf us in another world con- flict; yet before too many years pass, it must and will be solved. The same applies to all the other problems and difficulties which con- front us today. At this rate, one would think that Utopia must soori be attained. The fact remains, however, that these difficulties are yet to be surmounted, and that it is up to our generation to conquer them. The quality of the job we do will determine the kind of world we ' ll hand to the next generation. Good or bad; peace or war; order or chaos; the choice is ours; it ' s up to us. INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION The search for the basis of a just and durable peace inevitably brings one to looking for the; least common denominators of life. Before work can be begun on a superstructure of international cooperation a foundation must be laid in agreement by all peoples on certain principles But what are these principles to be? What is so common among men as to be the key to universal con- cord? What are the things which exist upon which all men can agree? At present there are none l Today, on every side we find men have warped conceptions of religion, education, justice and benevolence. Therefore, it appears that the one main obstacle to world peace is the lack of a uniform sys- tem of educating the people of the world in the principles of democracy Mankind must be educated by a well- conceived uniform method of educa- tion in the idea that the people and not their leader are supreme. It must be understood however, that government will not be the only subject taught in this internation- al school. The curriculum should include trade, industry, and all subjects and sciences germane to the general welfare and advancement of civilization. The men and women who govern this great educational system should be experts who have a prac- tical, experienced understanding of the methods and requirements necessary to mold this great human- itarian device into perfection. The funds would be supplied by the governments of the world by apportioned taxation. If this system, which has taken its first step in the American occupation of Japan, is put into effect, not only will it serve as a sturdy foundation for world peace, but it will revolutionize the ap- parent obscurity towards the fields of modern development that exist in many countries today.