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

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Canal Currents, Bourne High School Youth Youth, the springtime of our existence, is oftentimes the most happy part of our life. But the years of our youth are also a time of preparation, a time of development mentally, morally, and physically for the more serious aspects of living. It must be understood that there is a vast difference be- tween existing and living. If in our young days we have learned to live richly and successfully with others, we have gone far along the road to hap- piness. Like nations, no individual is self sufficient; one cannot isolate oneself from society and expect to reap the rewards of gregarious living. Many a victory is based on knowledge achieved in our growing-up years. Welling- ton’s statement explaining Waterloo is not amiss. Is it necessary to recall Lincoln before the fireplace, Edison as a newsboy, Franklin as a printer, to show that ideals, ideas, and virtues develop into character, philosophy, and ethics upon which is built the moral structure of a country. Intentionally or otherwise, nations or men have chosen not to see; per- haps that is the reason for the state of the world today — and America is part of the world caught in the whirl of adversity out of which will come ultimate victory but not without bloodshed, bitterness, remorse, and many a heartache. America does not propose to change either youth or America, but she does challenge all high school students to utilize to the utmost that which remains of their youth so that they may intelligently and unafraid take their places in the America of tomorrow, a better America because it is guided by those who know, by those who can see. With this in mind, as youth blends into manhood and womanhood, then to the autumn of our years — what joy there is in retrospect, what memories, what happiness, what a contribu- tion to future America. W. J. Stahura Vocations Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could tell when we enter school what vocation we want to aim for. It is a real tragedy not to know from the beginning of high school, at least. Many don’t know what they want even when they graduate from college and then go tumbling around trying to fit in somewhere. It is really necessary to have at least some inkling of what you want to do when you enter high school so that you won’t make the mistake of taking all the wrong courses and subjects. Perhaps one of the most im- portant reasons for it all is that parents do not bother with the oft repeated query, What am I going to do?” The problem might be altered for the better by placing more emphasis on vocational advising in the high schools. If the answer concerning future careers could only be found, it would enable young people to make the most of all their time. Catherine Handy, ’44 Page Sixteen

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EDITORIALS Canal Currents, Bourne High School Patriotism Patriotism. This is a subject that people have a tendency to degrade by describing people whose so-called patriotism” is only skin deep. It is a subject that is played up too much, for everyone is saying that he is doing this and that, or that everyone should do this and that because it is patriotic. Patriotism. It’s buying war bonds and stamps; it is making sacrifices willingly, no matter how large or how small; it’s smiling when the tears are ready to fall; it’s being uncomplaining in the face of trying incidents; it’s be- ing willing to be rationed on our luxuries or necessities; it’s being cheerful and ready to help everyone; it’s thinking of those who are dead and dying, and being silent when a word of rebuke is only too ready to spring from our lips; it’s believing in our government, and seeing that something good will come of all their rules and regulations even when they seem impractical; it’s helping to keep the morale up on the war front, the work front, the school front, and the home front. Patriotism. It’s all these things, and hundreds of other little things. It’s a word with many meanings already, but every true American is adding his own definition to the ever increasing list. Helen Murray, ’43 That Old School Spirit Friendship Instead of Fear” might well be our school motto. The feel- ing of friendship creeps into even the darkest and most remote corners of Bourne High School. The teachers go seventy-five per cent of the way to meet the pupils on a perfect basis of understanding. Every airplane needs a pilot who knows every part of it. This pilot must be progressive enough to profit by new ideas and inventions. He must have a balanced head, love in his heart for even the smallest part of his plane, and he must be able to take criticism. The ship would never be able to leave the ground if the pilot did not understand, help, and work along with the other members of the crew. Just such a man is our superintendent. We are indeed fortunate to have such a wonderful staff of teachers. The standards to which they make us live will enable us to climb higher and to fit more easily into the positions of our choice. In no other school of our size is there a wider variety of subjects. Music, art, and sports are so familiar to us that we forget that they are privileges. In spite of our privileges, there is something lacking, not with the teach- ers or the superintendent but with us. We are slackening and forgetting to push forward toward our goals. Let us get busy, and put some new fire into that old Bourne High School spirit. Catherine Handy, ’44 Page Fifteen

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Canal Currents, Bourne High School CLASS HISTORY FIRST GRADE— 1932-1933 BUZZARDS BAY SCHOOL On September 9, 1931, a small group of awed, frightened, yet excited little people entered the first grade. Miss Edna Rogers, a gentle, kindly lady, was our first teacher and soon had us feeling very experienced and worldly. She taught us our letters and numbers, a little reading, and how to know colors. BOURNE GRAMMAR SCHOOL Mrs. Grace Kendrick greeted the small fry on that stupendous September day. We were enchanted by her goldfish bowl and the sand table on which we later built Indian scenes. At first we were a little bit confused by all our teachers: Miss Bowman for music. Miss Handy for drawing, and Mr. Demers for exercises and games. Besides learning our letters, some reading, and writing, we put on little plays, among which was one in which the boys were farmers and the girls, milkmaids. Dorothy Dixon was in our class for two days, but because of her reading ability, was advanced to the second grade. Those were also the days when we had our teeth and fingernails checked. SAGAMORE GRAMMAR SCHOOL Twenty-one little folks reported to Mrs. Theresa Pope, whose patience and helpfulness we’ll always remember. She soon impressed upon us the need of keeping the playground in order, and proud little cleaner-uppers we were. In the course of our studies we learned to write our names, than which life could hold no greater thrill. Playing policeman with a signal post ap- propriately inscribed with stop,” go,” etc., was one of our favorite games, and New Shoes, Old Shoes,” our favorite song. Before the year was over, we all had our pictures taken. SECOND GRADE— 1933-1934 BUZZARDS BAY SCHOOL Experienced now in the wavs of school, we returned to the little school, expecting the guidance of Miss Rogers. She, however, soon became very ill and later died. Too young to realize the tragedy, we were comforted by our new teacher, Mrs. Lura Crump, who taught us such complicated things as adding and subtracting. A minor tragedy that we could all appreciate, how- ever, was Mary Masterson’s generously and unknowingly passing on the measles to all of us. On one occasion only three of the twenty-three of us came to school. As spring came on, we were anxiouslv waiting school-bus” days when we would be crossing the bridge to Bourne Grammar. BOURNE GRAMMAR SCHOOL To Mrs. Mryta Chadwick now fell the task of guiding our inquisitive minds. She taught us much more about numbers, especially telling time. We built a store in order to learn making change. On one occasion, certain boys (and girls, too) were guilty of throwing modeling clay at the ceiling. It was fun because only sometimes it stuck! During part of the year our seats were arranged in fours facing each other. In March, the following members Page Seventeen