Conshohocken High School - Echo Yearbook (Conshohocken, PA)

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THE BLUE AND G ) A) Page 'riiirtcen The father was responsible for the training of his sons, and he was cen- sored if his duty was not well per- formed. The education consisted of training in moral, civic, and religious duties. The mother was equally re- sponsible for training the girls in household duties and domestic virtues. It is interesting to know that in Rome woman was on a h gher plane than any other nation and her influence was correspondingly greater, while m Greece the education of women was confined to training in domestic du- ties. Perhaps it is from there that we received that well known sayin g. Woman’s Place is in the Home.’ Religious ideals and narrow mind- edness occupied Euporpc for a long time. Especially during the 16th and 17th centuries there were periods of intense religious strife. Let us now see what change has occurred with the dawning of democracy. According to Lincoln’s definition— Democracy is a government of the people, by the people, for the people, and is the form in which they either directly or thru representatives arc su- preme. Ever since the rise of popu- lar education in the last century and its development thereafter, the spread of democratic institutions has been significant. Democracy has furnished a new basis for universal education, although this change is not noticeable until the 19th century. Then it was that in the United States laws were passed which provided for the de- velopment of public elementary schools. And by this way, the poor man’s son was enabled to receive an education along with the son of financiers. Today we are celebrating the cen- tennial anniversary of the Society for the Promotion of Public Schools which was organized in 1S27. 'I his ‘ocietv maintained a vigorous educational campaign extending for a period of several years. Yearly it printed mem- orials to the legislature, setting forth the fact that thousands of children of school age were growing up in ignor- ance, but arguments for public schools for all children without distinction, were, as we might say, lost in ruins. The famous law in 193+ was passed which made wards, townships and boroughs as school districts and au- thorized them to levy local school tax- es. And so has our educational system progressed until the present day when we have our public schools, private schools, and colleges. Hut this could only be accomplished in a democracy because a democracy is more than a form of government; it is a primarily a mode of associated living, of con- joint communicated experience. A government resting upon popular suffrage cannot be successful unless those who elect and those who obey their governors are educated. And now I have attempted to out- line for you the enormous change or development that took place in ele- mentary education. Yet, this change looms even greater whan we consider that most of the actual changes took place during the 19th century, from fifteen to eighteen hundred the ele- mentary school changed very little. Its equipment was so meager, its teachers so poorly prepared and its methods so wasteful that students of good elementary schools of the pres- ent day coul learn in 2 or 'A years all that was accomplished in the IHth century in the entire elementary school course. And all this is flue to the ideal of democracy. For argument sake, let us contrast a country which has democracy in- fluencing its education with a sov- ereignty ruled over by a monarch. Contrast the pitiful condition in Russian school system with the ideal- istic. universal system of the United States, In Russia under a monarch1 rule, it was better for him to have his subjects uneducated so he could run his kingdom alone. In other words allow me to illustrate this point by President Coolidge’s words, If good men are overlooked by the people for office then, surely, bad men will fill their places.” In Russia the people are uneducated and therefore do not know enough to have their best men in office. But a condition like the above docs not exist in the United States because the majority of the people arc educated and realize what a burden ignorance is. Of course, there arc always exceptions to the general rule. In closing allow me to bring before you the recent tendencies in vocation- al civic, individual, and scientific education; first, the introduction into the elementary school of industrial and prevocational courses organized as definite preparat'on for specific vo-

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Page Twelve THE BLUE and inquired where I could buy some shells for a scatter-gun. Lew direct- ed me to a pawn shop farther down the street. Entering the hock-shop I glanced around and there sitting on a high chair and with a pair of horn- rimmed spectacles perched on his nose was Frank Ramsey. I greeted Yank and asked for mv shells. ank said he couldn't wait upon me because he had fallen arches. I hat was too bad so I went out with- out them. As I was going out I met Rebecca Zook who was going to pawn her jewelry to feed her seven hungry little ones. I inquired as to her health and her husband, the former she said was good and the latter no good and then she began to weep, that was when I left for I could never stand to see a woman cry, it reminded me too much of home. Continuing on my stroll down the street I encountered a small mob mull- ing around an ice wagon. I thought there must have been an accident but it wasn’t. It was Frances King de- livering ice to get in training for next year s basket ball season. Feeling fatigued I went into an ice cream parlor and drank a Hires. Who should be jerking sodas but Katherine Brack. I asked Katherine if she ever about any of our classmates. She said that Johannah Brown was still plug- ging along. “Plugging along, what do vou mean? Oh. she s a telephone operator,’’ said Katherine. Class DEMOCRACY AND EDUCATION Education is as old as the human race, for every tribe, however low irs state of civilization, trains its children and youth in the arts and occupations necessary to maintain existence. Nev- ertheless. in all the previous systems of education the individual tvpe was scarcely considered- The vouth wa fitted merely to fill his place in the social system. Our education system, now in use. has been evolved from the systems of Greece and Rome. Greece had two systems: one. a military system whose AND GOLD I then saw a bus and decided to go for a little ride. I got on and there was Louisa Campbell driving and Clara Marks taking tickets. I rode for a half-hour and alighted in the country for I wanted a glass of fresh buttermilk at one of the farms. I knocked at the door and walked in and there stood Sydney Finkelstein. “Hello Finks.” I said, “how's things?” “Oh. said Finks, “I can’t kick, all the chickens and ducks are still doing their duty.” “Sav. said Norman Lawless, the hired man, “Did you hear about Edward Hansell marrying every woman in town for over ten years?” I didn't believe that one till Norm explained that Ed became a minister. I drank my buttermilk and started to hike back to town and on the way I was hailed my Gladys Laverty, who had become a farmerette and was now driving a load of hav. She said I could ride with her if I didn’t mind sitting on top of the hay. I climbed up and was soon on my way to town. hile riding my mind became hazy and I soon felt myself being wafted into the air. I landed with a thump and found myself sitting alone in a large tent. The people had all gone and I was left to my own resources. My job was forgotten as I walked slowly home thinking of the strange events of the day which made this prophecy possible. Sam Kessler '27. Oration sole aim was to make soldiers; the other was known as the liberal svstem of Athens which combined music and literature with physical training; and at the same time, this svstem recog- mzed the inherent rights of the in- dividual and also trained him for citizenship. Now. as a result of the highest deve opment of the Athenian ideal of education, we have the philos- ophy or Aristotle and Plato whose in- fluence upon education and cultural tdeas has continued to the present flay’ During the early years of the re- public. tne Roman system of education was developed entirely in the family.

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Page Fourteen the blue and gold cations; second, the endeavor to or- ganize effective moral and civic in- struction; third, the provision made for varying instructions so as to meet the varying needs of pupils that are due to individual differences in capacities, in economic status, and in plans for a career; fourth, the tendency to meas- ure accurately the results of instruc- tion by precise, objective, scientific methods as a means of testing its value, instead of relying on the vague and improved opinions of theories or of untrained observers. All of these factors have been topics actively discussed in the last decade and they will probably be effectively provided for in the ordinary element- ary schools in the next quarter of a century. These tendencies together with the new methods of study open for the school pupil a vast field of what I term “golden opportunities.” Are we able to grasp these opportunities and realize what we are doing? We, fellow classmates, have progressed so far in our educational pursuits. It is now that the turning point in our life takes place. All the things that de- mocracy has opened in our education- al system should guide us in making a wise decision. God grant that it be given us. Milton Jacobson ’27 Who's Who Most Brilliant ......... Alice Potts Most Popular Bov .. George Young Best Athlete (Girl') ... Ethel Heisler Best Athlete (Boy) Dave Traill Most Dignified ------ Harold Griffiths Most Ambitious ........... Tom Colli Best Joker ............. Sam Kessler Most Popular Girl .... Rose DeHaven Biggest Eater ..................... Syd Finkelstein Class Fiddler ........... Bill Jennings 1 allest ............... Lewis Sponar Smallest .............. Margaret Webb Class Flapper ------- Thelma Hallman Best Musician .......... Rachel Batty Best Singer ............. Mary Lee Best Natured Girl .. Louisa Camnbell Sweetest Boy ....... Charles Schimpl Least Known ........ Johannah Brown Quietest ........ Catherine Camnbell Greatest Talker ......... Bee Moore Prettiest Girl ......... Bcckv Zook Most Handsome Boy .. Joe Wallace Most Polite ........... Bill Dunlap Best Natured Boy ... Mutt Griffiths Greatest I raveler .. Dave Johnstone Class Actress ........ Edith Ferrier Best Bachelor ....... Edward Hansell Most Stylish ........ Betty Wallace Class Giggler ....... Gladvs I ..avert v Most Unconcerned ------- Dot Griffiths Busiest ................ Eva Pierson Most Childish ........ Frank Ramsav Best Orator ......... Milt Jacobson Most Conscientious ... Pollv DiPallo M« est .............. Dorothv Link Most Willing ----- Gladys MacMullen Most Agreeable --- Katherine Brack- Most Bashful Bov .. Kemery KUffet Shyest Girl ......... Clara Ma-k- Best all around j irl . .. Frances King Most Demure .......... Sarah Dougla- Most Unassuming . Norman Lawless Lewis Sponar '27. Personals RACHEL ELIZABETH BATTY “Rae” My Goodness” Basketball, (4); Oratorical contest. (4); Orchestra. (1. 2. 3, 4); Blue and Gold Staff. (1, 2). “Rae is an all-around sport and another of our jolly commercial stu- dents. You never see “Rae” around school except she has a smile for vou. Her music ability has probably helped to make her so. She is a very fine piano player and the orchestra will miss her when she leaves school. We wish her all the success possible for further advancement in music. KATHERINE IRENE BRACK “Kit” “I don’t care.” Glee Club, (3); Miniature Lady. (3); Science Club. (4). Katherine is quiet and dignified. She doesn t say much so we do not