English High School - Blue and Blue / Record Yearbook (Boston, MA)

Page 19 text:

Class Essay (Awarded the John Bouve Clapp Prize for Profic ' .ency in English) By SIDNEY SHIFFMAN, ' 48 To attempt to define the strife and miseries of the world, to essay to declare a code of redeeming morals, to try to point out a path leading to universal happiness is for beyond my power. I have pondered much, however, on the widespread enigma of human suffering, and the following are some of my thoughts: The condition of the world today is a direct reflection on the moral insufficiency and pusillanimity of mankind, a mankind that has been nurtured on the odious, pernicious fruits of hatred, selfishness, and mental slothfulness. In almost every noble aim of life, preceding generations have failed to assume the responsibilities of mankind. They have failed because of their indifference, fear, and inability to make reason dominate their bestial passions. It is for our generation to decide whether this shameful practice will continue. If it does, we shall run the risk of invoking upon ourselves the eternal curse of our descendants. If, on the other hand, we are stouthearted enough to say that it will not continue, we must then care- fully make a choice as to which of two methods shall be used to end it. We may blindly provoke a world shattering conflict in which rocket-guided missiles, charged with atomic bombs or loathsome bacteria, will painfully end all human contentions, dreams, and ambitions. In this manner, mass suicide will forever terminate the infamous history of man ' s failure to understand man. As the other alternative, we may take complete possession of the intellect which God has given us, and exercising it to the utmost, construct a new and better civilization. But, you may ask, with what shall we build our Utopia? Other civilizations, based upon prin- ciples of time-proven soundness, have crumpled away or have become dilapidated! The answer itself is extremely simple, but its application is herculean. Throughout the ages, philosophers, writers, and statesmen hove added to the immense stock of feasible plans for the sensible, benevolent governing of the earth. From the Bible to Mohondis Ghandi, from Homer to Edgar Guest, from Plato to Karl Marx we may glean a myriad of ideas capable of being put into practical use. Our only task is to have the patience, the perseverance, and the wisdom to unearth and select from this abundant stock- pile those precepts and philosophies which will furnish the millenium that humanity is crying Yet, we must remember that the excellence of bricks will not insure the durability of a wall; an excellent cement is also needed. Thus our new civilization must be held together by the cement of love — not a banal brotherly love, but an affection that will approach the intensity of self-love. for.

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Graduation Address As delivered at Tremont Temple TUESDAY EVENING, JUNE 1, 1948 by our Class President Dr. Downey, Mr. School Committeeman, Ladies end Gentlemen: We of the Class of ' 48 welcome you to our graduation exercises. We welcome especi- ally our parents, who have sacrificed so much that we might acquire a good education. We hope to prove by our future actions that we are worthy of the sacrifices they have made. At this point, we of the Class of ' 48 wish to thank the people of the City of Boston for the education that they have mode possible, thus giving us the opportunity to attend a higher institution of learning. We also wish to thank our hard-working headmaster. Dr. Walter F. Downey, and the members of the faculty for their untiring efforts on our behalf. Now that we are graduat- ing, we can look back upon the past school year with an open mind, and admire the patience and hard work of our instructors. Graduation will not put an end to our association with English High. No other high school in the country con boast of the loyalty which the alumni of our school have shown toward their clmo mater. I am sure that we of the Class of 1948 will follow in the foot- steps of the many classes that hove gone before since far bock in 1821. Although the long hard year has ended, and the day of graduation for us Seniors has at last orrived, we of the Class of ' 48 feel a sense of loss, for we have spent the happiest days of our lives ot English High. The friendships we have made in the past few years will never be forgotten, ond will be renewed at each class reunion. I want to thank you, my classmotes, for electing me your President. It ' s the greatest honor you could confer upon me, and I hope that I ' ve proved myself worthy of your trust, because I think you ' re the finest group of fellows I ' ve ever known. In conclusion, I wish every one of you of the Class of ' 48 success in the future which you are planning. Always be mindful of the fact that you are English High men, and re- member the motto of your school, Be Clean, Be Courteous, Be Square. Until our first reunion, goodby, and good luck to all. PETER S. CAPERNAROS, President of the Class of 1948

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CLASS OFFICERS Seated are President, Peter S. Capernaros, and Vice-President George H. Koulouriotis Standing are Thomas A. Chisholm, Executive Committee member Treasurer; and Nashan Tii i|ian, Executive Committee Member ; John R. Ferris, Secretary- COMMITTEE Sitting ore Chairman John R. Hardv and Charles Kasparian Standing are Patrick A. Coggio, Robert E. Francis, Perry A. Constas, Gerald F. Holland, Edward A. Sweeney and William L. Lombardo