Classical High School - Blue and White Yearbook (Springfield, MA)

Page 9 text:

Ti Lit Til it Wit Ui Rights of Hree Penple Pursuit of Learning INTRODUCTION “We the People...” ADMINISTRATION . Freedom of Choght STUDENTS Freedom of Press PUBLICATIONS . Right tr Assemble ACTIVITIES Right tr Conprete GIRLS’ SPORTS . Right tr Fair Play BOYS’ SPORTS . Right to Free Enterprise ADVERTISEMENTS . 33 85 - 115 - 146 - - 76

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Foreword Alfred E. Smith, a distinguished American legislator and political leader, once said, “What is liberty? Liberty is an elusive thing. It isn’t a thing that you can lock up in the safe, turn the key and go away, and expect to find there when you come back. Eternal vigilance alone is the price that you pay ...” Since we are all faced with a world of uncertainty in which many forces outside our own nation play an important part in molding our future, the Blue and White has taken this opportunity to illustrate a few of the many rights which free people can enjoy. Although we are very apt to take them for granted now, our fore-fathers did not. They paid for their independ- ence from England with precious blood. Therefore, after the Constitution of the United States was ratified in 1788, some men felt that the rights of the people and of the states should be more efficiently guarded for the future. They did not want to take them for granted. And so the Bill of Rights, written for the most part by James Madison, was adopted in 1791, one hundred and eighty-four years after the first settlement in America, at Jamestown, Virginia. Yet these first ten amendments to the Constitution, which may be found on Page 146, do not contain all the rights of free people. Many rights are actually stated in other national as well as state documents. In this yearbook we have shown a few of our symbols and rights which play an important part in our lives here in Springfield, Massachusetts. The eagle on our cover, our national emblem, signifies the great strength and power of our free country. The inside cover, while depicting the rights to worship, to settle in other parts, and to learn through the help of museums and libraries, gives a concise picture of Springfield. The right to pursue learning is very important, not only to a nation which is strengthened by educated people, but also to each individual who gains resources that endure as long as life endures. The bell shown on Page 2 came down during the fire in the old City Hall January 5, 1905. It was used not only to “proclaim liberty throughout all the land and to a ll the inhabit- ants thereof,” just as the Liberty Bell in Independence Hall in Philadelphia was used, but also to announce fires and the time of day. Our City Hall is a symbol of local government through which every citizen may express his opinions. One of the main reasons that men originally came to America was to exercise freedom of thought. And so the Holy Bible is a reminder of the great heritage left by our forefathers. Our free nation could not exist without free- dom of the press to inform us fully on public matters. A dictator fears a watchful press which can reveal injustice and abuse of power, because an informed public can act to protect its liberties. All of our citizens can gather together and make decisions. Each one is free to speak and vote for or against an issue. Americans are given equal chances to compete with others, not only in recreational and business fields, but also in social and educational fields. These rights are living principles of freedom, the heritage of every American. They are reminders of the blessings we enjoy. Let us not forget Somerset Maugham’s warning: “If a nation values anything more than freedom, it will lose its freedom; and the irony of it is that if it is comfort or money that it values more, it will lose that too.” 4 wu 30 1970

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MARION CRANE Miss Hewitt taught by her actions and example that wisdom, perhaps the rarest possession, can be gained only by the constant use of knowledge. Anyone who has ever known her will never forget Mrs. Crane’s kindly good nature and readiness to assist any student willing to try. Harriet Hewitr