Harley School - Comet Yearbook (Rochester, NY)

Page 8 text:

MR. UTTER Director Dear Class of 1949 Joyce Kilmer once wrote a poem called Trees, It was very beautiful but rather too bad Because so many people read it, and liked it, and talked about it That some people are now self-conscious And just won't talk about their love of trees. John Dewey and other great educators have written about children They wrote good books. The world has benefited. But yet it's sometimes too bad that so many people read them Because then they think they really know children. And so they talk too much about them. They don't love them the more - for all their talk. So let's you and I tell our love for trees. About fifteen years ago and by coincidence, That's when you would have entered nursery school, Our beloved Harley became interested in planting trees. We started a nursery out in a vacant field, Thinking the trees would grow and prosper And we could transplant them when they were larger. The sun would shine and the rain would fall, And the trees would grow big and strongg Somewhat like the Montessori system, you see. It was really a good idea, and sometimes it works well. Unfortunately we had a grass lite. 4

Page 7 text:

We, the Glass of 1949, . . . . would like to say Thank you. For making us work and making us hinkg for making us do our best mentally ,nd athleticallyg for making us laugh, and aughing with us, for being such a fine coach, dvisor, and friend, for being the spark of our :artiesg for being Boomer and Lanny, but nost of all for being just yourself and a person ve're proud to know, we say Thanks! and vith our gratitude, sincere appreciation, and ondest affection, we dedicate this, our Comet, to you. MR. MCDOWELL Englzkb, Coach

Page 9 text:

We planted a row of poplars over by the railroad tracks. We dug the holes, and carried water, and iirmed the ground, But we did go off and leave them after the first start. If you look out the windows of Harley, You will see many line poplars along the railroad tracks, But there are some distressing gaps where only the rank weeds grow. We paid much money for the great elm in our front yard. Forty dollars it was, and it was four inches through. We, who remember, have more affection for the cut-leaf maple. We set that out the same day we set the elm. Someone gave it to us, and I could carry it between my thumb and forefinger. Occasionally we remembered to water it and it settled in quickly. Every day someone looked to see how it was growing. Maybe he patted it and picked oE a dead leaf And shared his joy in being out of doors with the tree. The conditions seemed ideal - the tree grew and grew. And now it is larger and stronger than the elm. We planted some Scotch pines. Some were lost because, in our ignorance, We left the bare roots too long exposed to the air. But there are on the nursery playground three vigorous, dark green trees In which the three year olds climb. There are on our grounds several other trees. Some have had the bark knocked oil' And at various times have suffered broken limbs And started to grow in strange directions because, you see, children climb in them And the storms come, and the carelessness of men do them injury. Their hearts are strong, however, and they thrive on our attention. Several times each year an old friend of the school Comes to look at our trees. He loves trees, too, and children. He takes his saw and his pruning knives, He squints a bit, and furrows his brow, and takes a limb off here and there - Either because the branch is weak or throws the tree out of balance. Sometimes he calls me out to ask me what I think, But really so he and I together can stand and look at the tree And love and admire it. We like to share our joys. We have beautiful trees at Harley and beautiful children. Their hearts are strong, They have experienced the winters and the storms, They bear the scars of usefulness, Their heads are high with conscious pride Of continuing growth and accomplishment. They are more beautiful because we love them, of course. They will, come the seasons, bear their leaves and fruit, Furnish shade or store up energy. They will live long and bring us many joys, They are truly beautiful. 5