East High School - Orient Yearbook (Rochester, NY)

Page 24 text:

Putting Ideals Into Practice . . . MR. WOLGAST Many people like to give teen-agers advice on how to improve their behavior, but these people seldom set a good example by their own actions. Because Mr. Wolgast is a man of action and not just words, and because he pursues what he be- lieves in, we dedicate this book to him. For thirty-five years Mr. Wolgast has served the school first as social studies teacher and later as principal. But in that time, he has been much more to us than merely an administrator. The humanity and interest he has shown in both stu- dents and faculty have made him invaluable to East High. Mr. Wolgast has an ideal for the educational system, an ideal which is not only theoretical but one which he has put into operation. For he be- lieves that real democracy should be exercised in the schools, and it is this practice which has bene- fited us here at East. In our Student Government Association, for example, we, as students exercise more real author- ity and more genuine freedom of action than many other high school students. This is largely due to the confidence Mr. Wolgast has in us and in our ability to make sound decisions and to manage affairs for ourselves. But the democracy Mr. Wolgast advocates for the school is also a personal matter with him, for he has a high regard for the practice of fair play. He is willing to recognize ana examine both sides of a question, and he invariably chooses what he feels will serve our best interests. The fact that he follows and applies what he believes in sets a good example for the rest of us. With the respect of all, this modest, friendly man, whose name has been virtually synonymous with East High School, is ending his career this year. As Mr. Wolgast leaves us, we all join in expressing our appreciation for what he has taught us by the example he has set for us. And we extend our sincerest hope for his continued happiness in the future. A genuine interest in his students . . . 20

Page 23 text:

Practical Arts for Tomorrow ' s Citizens . . . Working with our hands and minds. Mr. Alberti’s Shop Class Even lady drivers are safe drivers here. Mr. Connelly’s Driving Class Today’s students; tomorrow’s designers. Mr. McRae’s Mechanical Drawing Class i. 19

Page 25 text:

Taking a New Road . . . On the journey of life, we sometimes find it necessary to change our course and take a new road. Three of our teachers, Mr. Ellis S. Smith, Miss L. Stoneburg, and Mr. A. Whitaker, have decided to embark upon the road of retirement this year. As they leave, we extend our appreciation to them for having had the privilege of knowing and working with them. We will long remember their contributions to our lives. Few teachers have been as able to penetrate the wall that students often build around themselves as has Mr. Smith. In his thirty-five years as Eng- lish teacher, his eagerness to help, his generosity, his friend- liness, and his expectation of each pupil’s best have kept him in the student’s realm of life. In his thirty-two years as English teacher, Mr. Whitaker has always emphasized schol- arship in his effort to help his pupils better themselves. An amiable instructor, his teaching has also helped lay a technical foundation of Eng- lish which has benefited his stu- dents throughout high school, college, and professional life. Our traditional carnival, the Roman State, and Vox Civitatis, the Latin newspaper, have become an integral part of East High through the efforts of Miss Stoneburg. During her fifty years here, these and her many other interests have broadened and enriched the lives of all whom she has taught. 21