East Lansing High School - Ceniad Yearbook (East Lansing, MI)

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Class Oration Our Noble Inheritance When The Great Navigator sailed westward from Spain to reach the Indian Isles, little did the people dream there t were two large continents on the other side of the globe. After the discovery of South America men realized that a new world had been found. Each nation was anxious to obtain a share. Ever eager to increase her domain England sent out explorers. Through them she claimed the greater part of central North America. Companies were formed which l Wa sent over colonists to settle the newly acquired territory and establish trading posts. Their aim was purely commercial. They had no thought of making this their home. Another class of settlers desiring to make homes for themselves and children came also. They did not think when making their settle- ments that they were laying the foundation for our grand and noble country. They had serious trouble with the French along the Mississ- ippi and also with the Indians who were excited by French inliuence. During this trouble the colonists received help from the mother country. The French were Hnally driven out of America. England now changed her tactics toward the colonists for she saw in them a chance to increase her revenue. She passed laws prohibiting them from trading with any country save herself. All the goods they received were taxed. During this time the condition of mankind was greatly changed. The common people began to think more for themselves. They realized that All

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parents with the teacher assists in bringing about better results for the child. He has made a careful research in the subject of child study, and has given many lectures and talks upon that most interesting subject In every Way Mr. Laird compares favorably with the foremost edu- cators of the state, and THE cJRr-XCLE wishes and sees for him a successful future. N! '54 il ' KSN- n , I

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men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights among which are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. England had become more and more oppressive until her actions were unbearable. Protests against her treatment secured no redress. They determined to have their liberty. Death was the only alternative. It was a glorious determination and one which should stir our hearts to unceasing action. We can well understand their feelings by the words of Patrick Henry: Give me liberty or give me death. But why did they object to the oppressions of the King? Because he obstructed the administration of justice, because he cut off their trade with all parts of the worldg because he imposed taxes upon them without their consent, because he deprived them, in many cases, of the benefits of trial by jury. Stirred by such oppressions our fore- fathers determined to be free from England. After a long and severe war they gained their independence. Who can estimate the amount of suffering they endured and the danger in which they lived during these trying times? Although they realized the suffering that was before them they did not shrink from it. They pressed forward with a deter- mination that assured them of victory. They were not thinking entirely of themselves. They were thinking of the people who would follow them. They were fighting to establish on this continent for themselves and their posterity a republican form of government. This independence which is ours, the civil liberty which we enjoy, we owe to our forefathers of the Revolution. This is a part of that noble inherit- ance which we have received. One of the first things the colonists did after building their homes and providing for their defense was to establish schools in which to educate their children. These schools were not very cheerful. But though they had none of the comforts with which the schools of today are blessed, this might be said in their favor, they were all on the first floor. Often they served for two purposes, as schoolhouse and church. The opportunities for education were not very great. Little was studied save reading, writing, and arithmetic. Even today there are people not far from Lansing who think those studies all that are neces- sary. They do not stop to consider how things have changed since that time. Positions then held by men with little training now demand men who have secured the best education. The progress which our forefathers made in education is of very great importance to us, for the