Houlton High School - North Star Yearbook (Houlton, ME)

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major city was having racial difficulties. Some sections even had to mobilize their state guards to quell the outbreaks. We have intolerance in governments, unions, and managementg but above all, we have it in ourselves. It is easy for us to place the blame for this lack of toler ance on larger groups, but we do not real- ize that we are the cause of intolerance in the larger groups. We must have toler- ance if we are to maintain the peace and security of the world, but intolerance will continue so long as it remains in the in- dividual. H. Baulch DESIGN FOR LIVING The immediate future cannot help but be an intensive period in the history of Olll' intricate world. As the events of yester- day are studied and compared by those who are alive today, so will the present events be pondered over by our descend- ents. Thus the far-reaching effects of our successes and failures upon the future will only be known in their true perspective by those who come after us. Our world can only be what we our- selves make it. Whether our country re- mains the strongest in the world, or wheth- er another country rises to claim the title we have lost is not important. Many na- tions have risen and fallen in the past, and the future, we may be certain, will prove the same. What really matters is the spirit in which we, as peoples of the world, meet the problems which confront us, and the wisdom with which our leaders solve our difficulties. If we are discontented and unsure of ourselves, such is human nature that we will listen to the unwise counsel of those who wish to use us and our coun- try for selfish and often wicked ends. As time goes on, new leaders will arise among us. It is up to us to understand exactly what these leaders plan and to give care- ful thought to all decisions. Only those with high ideals and ambi- tions should be allowed to guide us, for we have seen what destruction can be caused by misdirected energy and ambition. To each of us life is distinctly individ- ualized. Fate has taken us, as separate personalities, and placed each in a seem- ingly insignificant position. Separately, it is true, we are insignificant, for no man, however intelligent or powerful, can solve the problem of life alone. It is people col- lectively who make the world and have the power to control their destiny. We should have no fear of the straight, but often unpaved road that stretches end- ENGLISH CLUB

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HONOR SOCIETY A FLEA FOR TOLERANCE The United States public today worries about taxes, national and international politics, housing, food, and atomic energy. Yet we. who almost control atomic power and international finances, who have a major part in world politics and food prob- lems. do not have a fraction of the worries of European countries. Most Europeans and Asiatics, but especially the Greeks and people of India are starving. Many Ger- mans can't find a house, much less one in which to live. The Balkans and Near East are being threatened by Russia, and Russia thinks that she is being threatened by the Anglo-Americans with the atomic bomb. One thing that we Americans must turn our thoughts to and worry about is toler- ance. for a lack of religious, cultural, racial, social, and political tolerance play- ed a part in shaping up this past conflict. Wherever it is-present, intolerance creates dissention, a bad thing to have in any country or community. One of the first thingsthat Hitler did after coming into power was to enforce his intolerance of everything that might inter- fere with National Socialism. In his cam- paign of political intolerance he destroyed the opposition. parties, having already overthrown the Weimar Republic. He burn- ed the libraries in order to do away with the teachings of their books, hoping that through this cultural intolerance he could set up a new Nazi culture. Concerning re- ligious and racial intolerance, we all know how the churches were closed, public meetings forbidden, and Jews persecuted. You say This concerns only one half of the warg the Japanese didn't practice in- tolerance. Didn't they use racial intolerance to try to stir up the Filipinos against us with their Asia for Asiatics ? Were not the people of Japan compelled to have a Shinto shrine in their homes, be they Buddhist, Shintoist, or Confuscianist? The Zaibat- sun, the handful of industrial or business magnates who almost controlled Japan's actions, is a good example of social intoler- ance. Under political intolerance there was the Black Dragon Society which was looking for those who disagreed with the government policies. These examples have shown what in- tolerance can do to a country if practiced whole-heartedly, but even on a minor scale this evil has a very bad effect. The mid-western race riots last year ranked among the most shameful exhibi- tions in American history. Within days after the first riot, it seemed that every

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lessly before us. Everyone of us, in the past, has been challenged by seemingly un- surmountable difficulties, which, having been conquered, have made us the stronger and given us a clearer insight into the meaning of life. We should believe that there are no problems too great for those who have learned to master previous ones with confidence. VVith thoughts like these we may ap- proach tomorrow with the greatest expec- tation that by using our talents to the best of our ability we shall safeguard tomor- row for all who follow us. Patricia Clarke Student Government The General Organization of Houlton High School was formed in June of 1945 when the student body ratified the consti- tution presented by a committee of stu- dents from all classes. The first student council, which has served faithfully and well this school year of 1945-46, was im- mediately elected. The officers Were: president, Roger Jackinsg vice-president, Richard Hatch: secretary, Clara Gartleyg junior members, Mary Skehan and Paul Millerg sophomore members, Cleo Boutil- ier and William Holdeng freshmen, Har- riet Bamford and Frank Totmang faculty advisers, Mrs. Fairley and Mr. Sharp. It is the duty of the council to promote closer cooperation between students and teachers, to carry out the demands and wishes of the student body to the best of its ability, and to do anything in its power to benefit the school. During the first year of its existence the council has undertaken a variety of activi- ties. The assembly committee with Cleo Boutilier as chairman arranged the sched- ule of assemblies for the year. The social committee with Mary Skehan as chairman planned the social events as well as direct- ly sponsoring two evening dances, two sun- light dances, and the dancing at recess to the juke box. The staff of reporters with Henry Baulch as chief sent news to the Pioneer Times each week. A committee with Billy Holden as chair- man has worked out a point system of awards so that those who serve the school in ways other than musical or athletics may receive recognition. A committee of Junior Boys, Richard Stanton and Melvin Hovey, has taken charge of the bulletin boards for the year. tContinued on Next Pagej l STUDENT COUNCIL