Damien High School - Spartiate Yearbook (La Verne, CA)

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DEDICATION: FATHER DAMIEN In keeping with our theme, this year ' s SPARTIATE is dedicated to Father Damien. Our school ' s new namesake, though of the nineteenth century, epitomizes the type of Christian love so extolled in our modern twentieth century Church. Father Damien, ultimately ravaged, though never defeated, by the dreadful dis- ease of leprosy which he so valiantly fought, set a high standard for Spartans who would dedicate themselves to his high ideals. - 4 FROM OLD... TO NEW It has been man ' s continual fault to be overly conservative or liberal. Too seldom does he realize that it is important to follow a middle course, neither to change things for the sake of change, nor to keep all to which he is accustomed. Man must be willing to retain what is best of the old, while at the same time experimenting with innovation. He must then find the courage to accept and implement that which is best of the new. This year ' s SPARTIATE theme is From Old to New. On the pages of this book we chronicle the rise of many new institutions and traditions built upon past experiences. As we said, improvement takes courage. We hope that this book will form part of the foundation for even brighter tomorrows.

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REVEREND JAMES MITCHELL, S.S., C.C. Dear Class of ' 68, It is of little wonderment to me that for many Americans this seems a time of continuing crises. Change in areas of personal import always begets fear and con- fusion in those who lack perception. But change can be good, and each generation has not only a right but a duty to dismiss the superfluous of the old and to expand those traditions that are fitting and worthy. I cannot accept that we are faced today with a series of crises to be surmounted ; rather, we are offered opportunities of expansion and growth which sometimes baffle us, which require delicacy in execution, but which ultimately offer great hope for all. Perhaps the spirit o f our age is best summed up by George Bernard Shaw. Other people, he said, see things and say: ' Why? ' . . . Rut I dream things that never were and I say: ' Why not? ' Father Damien, whom we honor by our school name, spent his life bringing about change for those whom he served. Today, many young Americans are strong supporters of the Peace Corps and Vista. Damien was a true precursor of these movements; in accepting perpetual isolation from the outside world he demon- strated a degree of self-giving which cannot hut serve as a beacon to those who follow. Let the class of 1968 carry with it his ideals, thus insuring that the changes you envision will be changes for good. Sineerelv in the Sacred Hearts, Reverend .lames Mitchell, S.S., C.C. Principal

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ADMINISTRATION AND FACULTY ■■■■■■ ■l BOOK GRADING 55-A