Bourne High School - Canal Currents Yearbook (Bourne, MA)

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Canal Currents, Bourne High School Patriotism In The Schools In these uncertain times it is heartening to note that Bourne High School has passed an unvoiced law providing that the student body learn about the deep meaning of Patriotism. In accordance with this, each morning the American flag is raised to the stirring notes of a trumpet, while every student stands alert and at attention until the ceremony is over. It would be a fine thing if every one realized the real meaning of patriot- ism. Some students may ask just why should we be patriotic. Well, in the first place, take America as a whole. Isn’t it a wonderful nation? — no es- tablished religion; freedom of religious worship, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, no right of search of a man’s home with- out warrant from a court of law, when accused of a crime the right to a speedy, public, and impartial trial, coupled with the right to confront wit- nesses for the defense. That alone should cause us to respect and revere America. In the sec- ond place, just think of everything the dictators have taken away and that Americans prize, — liberty, peace, and individual freedom. If every school in the United States would stress this idea in its curri- culum just as Bourne High is doing, for at least a year, I am sure that every boy and girl in the nation would realize how great a country America really is. Youth has been apt to take too much for granted and not appreciate fully w ' hat it has. A good way to go about this instructive training is to make it as pleasant as possible. The Junior Class Advisers of Bourne High School are doing this by having the Junior class members construct their annual magazine, Ca ial Currents, along the theme of American Patriotism. Cora Gay, ’42 Pause For Prayer As I was walking home from choir practice, a most unusual window display caught my eye. It wasn’t exactly an advertisement, but it had to do with the w ar that is being fought abroad. It showed a miniature setting of the destruction; small houses, tall build- ings. streets — all were badly ruined. Somewhere, hidden under these build- ings. chemicals were used to show clouds of smoke here and there, making it the most life-like scene I have ever observed. Tiny mechanical people were scrambling about, seeking refuge in the make-believe bomb shelters. From the outside it was rather faint, but if you listened carefully, you could almost hear the screeching of the bombs as they fell from a flat compartment overhead. At the very top of the window, there were images of terrified children’.s faces grouped around a sign w hich read, We need your help, America.” This made a very queer impression on my mind — for I noticed, instead of people talking, or exclaiming loudly to their companions to look at the display, there was no real excitement, but only a hushed silence, as we all watched the miniature war. Page Eleven Celeste Vercellone, ’4l

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Canal Currents, Bourne High School Patriotism Never-dying spark enshrined in the human heart, which keeps alive the love, devotion, and ardor for those things which we are taught to be just. To what specific things it pertains is immaterial. The same fervor applies to friend, family, country, and Creator, aroused to varying degrees of intensity. Mr. Stahura The Spirit Of Peace There she is now coming across the field. The sun streaming through her hair Turns it into golden threads. As we get closer we see her eyes. Ah, yes, they are like deep pools of fairy tears. Her lips are like sparkling rubies. When she walks, it is with the grace of a swan. When she speaks, her voice is like the murmur of a mountain stream. Now she is disappearing into the darkness. But the image of her still lingers in our memories. I would travel to the end of the world, I would forfeit my wealth. And give the best years of my life For a glimpse of the beautiful creature. Robert Lindquist, ’43 Youth In The World Today We often hear the statement that some organization or nation puts its faith in its youth. Youth is looked to for inspiration, new ideas, action. The youth of today is faced with many difficult problems. How many times they have been told this by teachers, speakers, ministers, parents, — all telling them that the problems of today are far greater than any that have ever faced any generation before. Finally, they take the attitude that everything must be as hard as they have been told and therefore every effort is useless. Of course, they should realize that life’s problems are hard. They always have been and will continue to be, but they should also realize that nothing is im- possible for those who really want to succeed. Past gener ations, too, have been told of the impossible problems, but they managed to solve them. Many times it is not that a task is so hard but simply the attitude toward the task that makes it appear hard. The youth of the world today realize the graveness of present conditions. For example, surely do the brave English children who are leaving their homes for a strange, new land, but ever with the determination to return after the war to rebuild England again. Everywhere youth organizations are listening, learning, discussing world and national situations so that they may more wisely carry on the work of the world in the future. We can still put our faith in the youth of today! Claire Healy, ’42 Page Ten

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Canal Currents, Bourne High School T ribute America! — the land where the pilgrims roamed, the land of the brave and the strong, the land I call home — I pay tribute to you. Oh, land of the free, you gave us libeny! Here, we live in a democracy never before sur- passed, where we may live in happiness and prosperity. Over there reigns dictatorship, the most despised of governments. Over there are the bleak, desolate, war-torn countries of horror and continuous fear. Let us bow our heads in prayer, that we may be able to keep our country thus. Pray that we may be able to protect our spacious fields, our great farm- lands, our prosperous cities, our magnificent bridges, but most of all, pray that we may be able to keep our country free from dictatorship; that we may retain our freedom, and our democracy. What matter our great cities or our expansive west, if we cannot be free? What is the good of schools or institutions if we must learn only things con- cerned with warfare? What good is a country, if we cannot worship and speak as we please? Oh, America, land of justice, I salute you and I pray to God that you shall thus remain forever; that our government shall continue to be for the people, by the people, and of the people”! Cora Gay, ’42 Up, up into the darkness Go the silver beams of the huge searchlights. Like translucent needles. Trying to pierce the velvet cloak of eternity. They move lightly over the blackness. Pointing out the choice jewels that adorn it. Suddenly one diamond, brighter than the rest. Starts skimming across the infinite spaces. Gropingly the great white fingers search for it. While it ducks and doubles back. Trying to elude its silvery pursuers. But finally these clever hunters find their prey And gloatingly close in around it. In the pool of light that they make We see the diamond is an airplane, not a floating star; In the deep silence we hear the drone of its motor. I turn to you and say, How beautiful it is!” But suddenly I remember that this is practice for war, Practice in order that killing will be easier. And then I hate the icy shafts Pointing up into the cold sky; They search my heart. For they may some day point at you. Dorothy Dixon, ’43 Page Twelve