Brockton High School - Brocktonia Yearbook (Brockton, MA)

Page 24 text:

C4165 OQIWI, aiffx 'FUR By ADELE C. GIUDICI Now homeward march the heavy hearts That tramped the battlefields, Our youth once more with tranquil souls Will grasp what Fate now yields. Ne'er more, must greed and hate cause War And summon from our schools, Young men deprived of studying, To shoulder war-like tools. What road to take? The paths are Wide! The one that climbs the hill Will fashion doctors, artists great, All blessed with fighting Will, And those who make America The queen of all the lands: The farmer, mason, engineer- With trained and skillful hands. What role, oh youth, do you now seek To satisfy your heart? Upon this vast and awesome stage, We each must play our part, lf distant vistas beckon you, Perchance you'll choose to roam: Or be content with household chores, A family life, a home. Whatever road we Choose to take, We all shall reminiscep Our happy, carefree, high-school days, The days of endless bliss! With hands rejoined and voices high, And eyes upturned to heav'n, We'll beg that God forever guide The Class of Forty-Sev'n! 20

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11545 Cf cle ana! Wade . A J rv is gy my 5 3 g is y e sllpfr, I BETTY MAI-ION IOANNE ROACH Class Ode Music We set our sails, with hope anew Our course is rough, our route k Prepare our journey vast We sail on endlessly Across the stormy sea of lite Our ship by tempest Winds is bl Upon which We are cast. But strong of faith are We. We pull the oars aqainst the tide Of strife and hate and tears Until we reach that sheltered port We've searched for through the yea Testlfl J-M1 iff? T-' 1' T Y' T I' T T -.L ai 'rt-'T' . a .r J 3 .r ,. Q .nfl f . 3 U V c f F f U Pdf J J 4' .P f f f f fi J f +C? 4 r 1- r T T Ji J J J- J- Ji I J rl fu j r c r U I c , I' t I' t r wr 19

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Cjfadd Orafion by FREDERICK IOSEPH BUMPUS EDUCATION-THE TASK OF A LIFETIME I feel that in being chosen to deliver the class oration, I have been entrusted with the responsibility of bringing before you, to the best of my ability, a message of real significance for all here today. A former New England president has summed up my theme briefly and well. In the words of Calvin Coolidge: The school is not the end but only the beginning of an education. Our education has just begun. As we, in many cases, end V our formal education, we should realize how completely true this statement is. Education is a process not of few years, but of a lifetime. If we, upon the completion of our formal education, are to throw away all pursuit of learning, our years of work and study have been in vain. The world, espe- cially in this age of research and progress, is a place of constant change. In ten years, many of the facts and crafts which we have learned will have been sup- planted. Only those who keep abreast with the constantly changing pattern of the world-political, scientific, and cultural-will be fit to do their part in guiding the destiny of our nation. With a firm foundation, the continuation of our studies is essential to a worthwhile contribution to world peace and harmony. Ii we wish to accept this responsibility, we must never adopt a smug know it all attitude. Such an attitude is a tremendous threat to all. The motivating force l.-ehind America's march to wealth, influence, and power has been a dissatis- faction, an insatiable desire for something better. With this realization that nothing is perfect-that everything can be improved upon-comes a feeling of humility and tolerance, mixed with the urge for constant progress. Our education has shown us the value of the finer thingsg it is for us now to follow the example of our own pioneers-through study, reading, observation, tolerance, under- standing, and a firm belief in God-striving for the ideal of universal peace and cooperation. Our English classes have aimed at the development of an interest in great literature-both classical and modern. A real appreciation and understanding of all types of literature is a great gift to any man. Not many of us will now be tempted-even when we are no longer obliged to study the works of really fine authors-to disregard this wealth of education and enjoyment and to content ourselves with a perusal of cheap scandal sheets and pulp magazines. We must not lose the value of the contribution to civilization found in great literature. Throughout history, one of the first harbingers of the downfall of the world's great empires has been a decline, not only in literature, but in all types of culture and enlightenment. A study of the rise and fall of educational accom- plishment reveals a remarkable parallel to the rise and fall of the fortunes of all mankind. If the present trend toward the cheap and vulgar in all types of reading continues, we shall face one of the greatest possible dangers to world progress -internal corrosion. We cannot allow this to happen. It is our duty to continue to cultivate the literary tastes so carefully instilled in us during the past few years. A headline in a recent magazine read: Are You Smart Enough to Be a Citizen? Our classes in social studies have equipped us to face the world and its prob- lems-economic, social, and political. Nothing is more important in this day and age when One World has become a household phrase. The day may soon come when we shall truly be citizens of the world. The expediency of the United Nations is being put to the test. The choice will someday be ours as to what type of world organization will best provide and preserve universal peace. Only those who are well-informed and who keep abreast with world affairs will be fit to judge in this crucial moment. As the atomic bomb-with its poten- 21