Elmira District Secondary School - Oracle Yearbook (Elmira, Ontario Canada)

Page 8 text:

E. M. CRUICKSHANK, B.A. K. B. MACVICAR, B.A. ' ' ,, y. I 'N C. MCDONAGH, B.A. ELMIRA HIGH SCHOOL STAFF C. F. HARDY, B.A. G. L. MCINTYRE, B.A. E. W. KENDALL, B.S.A

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J. KLINCK, Secretary W. W. MARTINSON G. HOLLINGER ELMIRA HIGH SCHOOL BOARD A. H. VICE, Chairman 1. ,. A E. M. ARNOLD T. SCOTT R. H. CARBERT

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THE PRINCIPAL SPEAKS w v w HE second edition of the E. H. S. Oracle is about to go to the Press. It represents a culmina- tion of the efforts of practically the whole student body, working co- operatively in association with and guided by the very generous assist- ance of the staff members. The sacrifice of both time and effort in planning the various phases of this Volume, in which all have worked together without thought of credit, and in which applause and approval are forgotten, is characteristic of the democratic way of life. This way calls for three funda- mental qualities, namely, co-opera- tion, compromise, and tolerance. When we work together without any thought of rewardg when each is willing to submerge some indi- vidual desire in order to get along with the group, and when we re- cognize that people differ and have a perfect right to differences of opinion so long as they do not try . to force these on others, we are building a sound foundation for G- E- CURRIE- 13-A- good citizenship. The ultimate purpose of education should be the creation of the best citizen possible. In so far as a school exalts these three qualities, to that extent will it produce good citizens. Students are not separate, self-contained units, from the time they draw their first breath they are social beings, members of a community, enjoying the benefits and sharing the obligations of community life. When we pause to consider that a nation is a collection of communities, we realize something of the far-reaching effects of citizenship training. The home, the school and the church are said to be the bulwarks of a nation. When these community units work at variance within themselves or with one another the influence is projected into the town, into the province, and eventually into the nation, ultimately leading to dictatorship, the very antithesis of democracy. There is a delicate balance between our rights and our duties , If we are helping to make our school, our community and our country a better place in which to live, only then can we be truly proud of them. We should accept the broad responsibilities of citizenship realizing that the rights which we enjoy cannot be enjoyed apart from the community, and that they are not our creations but a gift, purchased by the communities of our ancestors with the price of great sacrifices and handed down freely for our protection. At present our Empire is engaged in the most terrific conflict the World has ever witnessed in the defence of human liberty and democracy. Sacrifices beyond 'human comprehension are being freely made so that freedom of thought and of action may not perish. The opportunities for service are tremendous, Let us all play a truly great part in this heroic sacrifice and so be prepared to give leader- ship to that new world which will emerge on the morrow of this great struggle. ' G. E. CURRIE, B.A., i Principal.