Canandaigua Academy - Academian Yearbook (Canandaigua, NY)

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THE ACADEMIAN P FIRST PRIZE Phelps 699 Gorham Speaking Contest An ancient writer once said, No man liveth unto himself, we are all members one of another? Men have always lived together, and as long as they have lived together they have had governments. From this they have developed two types, one where the government is the servant of the people and the other where the people are servants of the government. The former type is th-e democracy, a gov- ernment in which the supreme power rests with the citizens. A standard definition is self-government either di- rectly or through representatives with delegated authority subject to periodi- cal renewal. We call it government of the people, by the people and for themselves. Since very large groups of people cannot govern themselves di- rectly by assembling and deliberating on every matter of common interest, the common form. representative dem- ocracy, is developed. The foundation of such a government is the idea that the state exists for the sake of the in- dividuals who compose its population, and that they are a free source of its authority. Such a government and only such a government is found in the United States and in the United States alone. It is true that some of the dic- tatorships do listen somewhat to public opinion, but they try desperately to shape it by shutting off freedom of speech and press. so that their version will be heard and read. Political freedom, economic freedom, social freedom-these we have pre- served for the individual, through all the changes that modern life has brought, and through modern condi- tions that could never have been fore- seen by our ancestors who established this federal republic. We have grown from a loosely bound group of little states along the Atlantic coast in which people followed an ancient, simple, slow-changing way of life, to the lead- ing nation in a new, fast-changing civ- ilization. Yet we have never lost that devotion to the unalienable human rights that was voiced in the Declara- tion of Independence and has been echoed in every decade of our national existence. There are two general types of hu- man rightsg the economic and the polit- ical. The economic rights are in the form of an unwritten law and are not recognized in other countries. The freedom of an individual to work in an occupation where he can do something worth while, to accumulate something from its proceeds, and to enjoy the fruits of his accomplishments are es- sential to the common welfare and to human progress. Second, the political rights. They are fundamental rights without which we can have no real freedom of any kind. These rights should be in the mind of every United States citizen as he performs his daily duties, because they give the individual such a wide range of freedom to im- prove his social and economic condition by his own agencies, and a broad pro- tection against oppression by either a majority or an organized minority holding political power. He has also many safeguards against exploitations by others, in the laws that his repre- sentatives in Congress and in his state legislatures are empowered to enact, in administrative agencies, set up to en- fonce these laws, and in the courts which are everywhere open to petition and to judicial settlement of disputes. We in the United States are accus- tomed to respect these rights but we also depend on the government to pro- tect them. In democratic countries the individ- ual rights considered essential are pro- tected either by definite constitutional provisions or by long established cus- toms, or by both. In the United States they are set forth in a national consti- tution as well as in the constitutions of the several states. Not only do the people have freedom of religion, speech, press, but they have the combination of all of these free- doms, the freedom of opportunity. Our

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THE ACADEMIAN FIRST PRIZE P. T A. Speaking Contest My family is big. I have four sisters and four brothers. We were all born in America, but my mother an-d father came from Europe. They wer-e born in Southern Italy. Their par-ents were very poor but respected in their tiny villages. Ev-en in the quiet, sunny fields, young Italian children heard stories about America. My mother's father had been to America, and many times he led the stori-es. While they were children, my parents learned to love and respect this great land. They have been in America for many years and their respect has increased. My parents can really appreciate this coun- try because they have lived under dif- ferent condltions. Many times my mother tells us that we young Ameri- cans do not appreciate our country enough. Lately I've had cause to do a little more thinking, and I've decided that she is right: for there are many reasons why I should appreciate my country. To me my real appreciation comes because I can say that I love America. When I say that, I am very happy be- cause my love is not blind. My coun- try breeds love by teaching its people. It is a country which believes in intel- ligence, not ignorance. Our govern- ment ls truly a government for the people. Laws are passed, but we know all about them. The Conscription Law, which was passed recently. could have caused much bitterness. In a land of intelligence like ours, the people have been shown both sides. They have seen the need for such a law and wanted it passed. I have a brother who has been conscripted. He was glad to go. and we wanted him to go, happy to think that he can help his country. The Declaration of Independence says that all men are created equal. Our country has lived up to this phrase. Here in the United States people from all lands live on the same street and are the best of friends. There are very few other places in the world where this would be possible. My parents have proved that all men are created equal is true in the United States. They have worked themselves up from poor immi- grants to respected citizens. Can you name any other country where this would be possible? If I didn't appreci- ate my country after this, all the privi- leges I receive in my daily American life w-ould be wasted in me. All nine of us childnen have gone to school. We have had a good education for very little money. If my parents had to pay very much, they obviously could not have afforded it. In school we have been the equals of all other students regardless of wealth or na- tionality. I love school and enjoy my work. Could I say the same of a pupil in another country? Dr. Solomon, a German refugee, tells us that German children sit up late into th-e night groaning over their difficult lessons. These poor unfortunates evidently do not enjoy their school work. They are afraid of their teachers. German chil- dren do not go to bed at night anxious for morning to come so that they can be off for a happy day in school. How can I express my true gratitude for having been born an American? We Americans read whatever we like. Can you imagine German citizens read- ing anything that they like? Even our common, daily newspapers are great things. They print all the news. It is cur business to decide what we want to believe. No cooked-up rules or ideas are crammed down our throats. We do not receive printed pamphlets which contain rules for our daily living. Our lives are our own. We do with them what we please. Our country is a free country. We are our own bosses. We have a great Constitution which insures us our freedom. In this docu- ment which all true Americans love and respect is our Bill of Rights which promises us our civil liberties. As long as our land exists, the.se liberties will be preserved. Among our civil liberties are freedom of speech and religion. I have chosen these two because they have recently been forbidden to so many European people. In America We enjoy our privileges to the point of abuse. To me my ooimtry stands for all that is clean, beautiful, and decent. I love its national anthem and flag. When I salute the star spangled banner, I can do it with a light h-eartg for my country deserves all the love and respect that I can give it. . . . Lucy Polimeni

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national Presidents, Senators, Repre- sentatives, and Justices of the Supreme Court, as well as governors and all pub- llc office holders, are drawn from all classes Such men as Edison, Mc- Cormick, Singer and a galaxy of suc- cessful inventors w-ere sons of poor men. Carnegie, Ford, Chrysler, and thousands of other manufacturers rose from the ranks of wage workers. This is our tradition: that the door of oppor- tunity is always open. The pressure of men accepting their opportunities, con- stantly and continually revitalizes all economic activities-keeps our economic life from becoming static and stale. The automobile replaces the cart and the carriage: gasoline replaces the horseg wire nails replace wooden pegsg and thousands of commodities replace thousands of others as industry evolv- ing constantly improves old products and creates new ones. This process of change is brought about by the inven- tive and ingenious among us, and through developing these opportunities we create new opportunities. The irresponsible and unrestricted rule of the people by graded classes of feudal lords, or by a party, whether it be called Nazi or Fascist or Communist, or by a small group, or an organized dictator-government, by absolute au- thority, means loss of freedom by the individuals living under it. It is only as the powers delegated by the people to their governments are limited and a wide range of rights and privileges is retained for exercise by the individual citizens that any large measures of in- dividual llberty may be assured. And this assurance is found only in the United States of America. . . . William E. Benham - Assembly Survey Lesta, the magician, and his wife, gave a demonstration of magic on Ma.rch twenty-sixth. If anyone has Hgured out how he got those invisible cards into Jack Wilsea's hand, let me in on the secret. The April second assembly opened with a comedy reading by Cornelia VanDeusen, Sponsored by a Coffin Manufacturer. A one-act play, The Very Naked Boy, directed by Mr. Foster, was pre- sented by Carolyn Frarey, Warren Er- nisse and 'Ilom Erdman. In closing, a talk, The Citizen, His Rights and Privileges Under the Con- stitution, was given by Charles Rice. THE ACADEMIAN On April thirtieth Mr. Evans read one of the largest honor rolls in the history of C. A. Mr. Lomber closed the assembly by wishing the band well on its coming trip to Atlantic City. Of course, we all know that the band has returned to us again as National Champions. On May seven-th the girls' public speaking contest, sponsored by the Par- ent Teacher Assoclation and the Board of Education, was held. The girls who participated were: Shirley Otteman, Mabel Joseph, Helen Kennedy, Cornelia VanDeusen, Wilma Salnave, Marlon Davis, Margaret Pritchard, and Lucy Polimeni. Mr. Richard Herendeen, vice-principal of Shortsville High School, acted as judge and picked Lucy Polimeni as the winner and Mabel Joseph as second prize winner. Mrs. Joseph D. Martin, president of the Cen- tral Council of the Parent Teacher As- sociation, awarded a prize of twenty dollars to Lucy and a prize of ten dol- lars to Mabel. On May fourteenth the Phelps and Gorham boys' speaking contest was held. Those who spoke were: David Elliot, Richard VanGelder, Charles Adams, William Benham, John May, Max Cohen and Charles Rice. Mem- bers of the Board of Education and the local clergy acted as Judges. William Benham was given the first prize of twenty dollars and John May the sec- ond prize of ten dollars. In an effort to make future assembly programs meet with the approval of the students, your reporter asked the opin- ions of v-arious members of the dlHer- ent classes. In response to the ques- tions, What assembly did you enjoy most during the year? and Have you any suggestions about future pro- grams? the following information was forthcoming: Marion Davis: Mr. Jonesg assem- blies should include more students. Bob Moore: The French Club Pro- gram because I couldn't understand what they were saying, plays by public speaking classes. Rita Thornhill: Mr. Jones: more science. Donnie Smith: The Christmas play, more plays. Dot Hutton: Mr. Jones: more like Mr. Jones and Lesta. Harvey Lomber: Lestag more magi- cians. Marge VanVooren: Jacobs Trio: more musical programs. Howie Meath: Christmas playg there ought to be a junior play.