Brockton High School - Brocktonia Yearbook (Brockton, MA)

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PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS I ellen Amazed Gallia? By FRANCIS MecDoNALD I As president of the senior class of the Brockton High School, it is my pleasure today to welcome you, our friends and hon- ored guests, to our graduation exercises. Today climaxes twelve years of school spent in study, recreation, and friendship-making. lt is only fitting that the parents of this graduating class should be here to see their children, now , young men and women, receive their diplomas. Had it not been for the guidance and loving care of these mothers and fathers, many of us would probably not be here at this time. Tonight we have reached the end of our high school road of education, and we see before us another-a longer and steeper road-full of problems that we, as the Americans of tomorrow, must face and solve. Tonight let us discuss for a few moments how our school education has prepared us to meet these difi- culties and to cope with them. Most important among the problems now troubling educators and law enforce- ment bodies is that of juvenile delinquency. lf the youths of this city have no interest to take up their spare time, there is danger of their becoming offenders of the law. Realizing this fact, our schools stress sports, clubs, and other organ- izations as a means of keeping our leisure hours occupied. Baseball addicts, football enthusiasts, basketball players, and hockey devotees will not have time to get into mischief. There will be few idle hours for the boy who gets enjoyment in playing with an orchestra, or for the girl who has become inter- ested in dramatics. We have been made to realize that we must help organize and participate in worthwhile activities if we are to be happy, useful citizens. In our history classes we have learned that democracy is a government of the people, by the people, and for the people regardless of race, color, or creed. Our schools have helped us understand this fundamental law of democ- racy by fostering scholastic sports and clubs in which young men and women of every lineage and faith work and play side by side without discrimination. Such collaboration should help us think and act wisely in our adult life. How to improve the corrupt political practices of our country is another problem our teachers have had in mind throughout our years of schooling. A thorough study of the Constitution and the difficulties confronting successful government has made us realize our responsibility to think through national, state, and civic problems carefully from all angles, and to vote wisely for the best laws and candidates. The most important problem of all confronting our educators, however, has been the instilling within us of conceptions of personal responsibility and high ideals. How have Brockton schools attempted to give us worthy standards of 25

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1943, some senior hams factors and actresses to youl revived Private Secre- tary as the dramatic chapter in the year's parade of events. Working together, the whole school produced a Christmas program for the student body. Mosts and Bests elections, the opening of the basketball season, and senior boys' swimming tests finished the old year and pointed forward to the long awaited day. Do l Peel a Draft? .... That is a question answered by the local draft board. Too frequently it seemed to be yes Off to the wars went eighteen-year-old seniors, and the rest enlisted in reserve programs. Success crowned the attempt to promote a second lunior-Senior Prom as the initial event of l944. Hockey took the spot- light, and so did the Bruins of the B. H. S. hockey loop. In connection with Fourth War Loan drive three authors, Christopher LaFarge, S. I. Perelman, and Margaret Culkin Banning, spoke at a special school assembly. More elections found Mary Louise Cotter elected to orate: decided the selec- tion of Historians and Prophetsp Ruth Spear, odistg William MacGowan, poet. 24

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conduct to guide us through life? ln the first place, we have studied literature which presents characters with noble aspirations. Through vicarious experi- ence we have honored the high ideals of King Arthur and the unselfish altruism of Maggie Tulliver, and have vowed to be as fine and courageous as they. Secondly, we have learned how to take responsibility through our participation in class elections and class activities. As a result we should know how to assume our duties in civic affairs. Lastly, we have heard, in our assemblies, sincere, inspiring speakers who have made us Want to make valuable contri- butions to the success of society-to make the world a better place because we have been in it. And so today, as we hear America calling, we know that the best way to show our appreciation for the help of our parents, friends, and teachers is to take advantage of the knowledge we have acquired and to face the world problems confronting us with the determination to be aroused and to appreciate the priceless value of truth and right. 'They Did Something About lt -Robert M. Bartlett. 26