Ionia High School - Ionian Yearbook (Ionia, MI)

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1932 Salutatory THE IONIAN FRIENDS: It is my privilege today to greet you on behalf of the Class of 1932 of the Ionia High School. I hope that I shall succeed in making you sense our deep appreciation of your presence here. Today is a day that we Seniors, as well as many of you in the audience, shall never forget. We shall remember it primarily because it is summarizing the first act of the play of our lives. It is bringing this act to a conclusion and preparing for a change in setting. Furthermore, it is pulling the curtain not only on the scene, but also on the characters with whom we have become so familiar. This is sufficient cause for remembrance, but there is a second reason. The day, and what it symbolizes, is unique. Other experiences may occur time and again, but there is only one graduation from high school and only one Class Day. Thus, its memory will necessarily linger as one of the sweeter moments in what we hope and trust will be a happy life for all of us. Fancy has its way with us as we drink in every moment of almost the last meeting with fellow Seniors. One train of thought centers about our parents, or whoever may have directed and prompted us in this first act of the play of life. In many cases, great sacrifices have been made that we, who are to be our own directors in the next act, should be better fitted for it. In all cases love, anxiety, and sympathy have been lavishly expended by these directors. Many of you in the audience fill that place, and we tender to you a special welcome. It is natural that the next line of thought should concern the other very important factor in this scene which is closing—the faculty. In classrooms, day by day, we may sometimes have lost sight of the purpose of these teachers. We may even have thought of them as unfair, unfeeling, and unthinking. Now, however, there remains only understanding of them and of their fundamental motive—that of preparing us for life. We see how patient they have been. We see what great benefits we have derived from contact with them: how they have enabled us to develop a philosophy of life; how they have made difficult lessons easy; how they have given us valuable interpretations in various studies, and also of timely problems, and been eager for ours. All this enters our minds, and we wish you who have been our teachers to know how sincerely we welcome you. At last, thought turns inevitably to friends. Included under this term are lower-classmen, relatives, and other friends aside from classmates. Gazing back over this first act—the scenes of which have been composed of school-days, school functions, and the like—it is evident that we have depended on them to probably a greater degree than we have realized. These years may prove to have constituted the happiest, and undoubtedly the most carefree, period of our lives. As these friends have helped to make it so, it is with sincere pleasure that we greet every one of you. These thoughts course through our minds, and one huge “Welcome” radiates from the faces of the graduating class before you. Perhaps words are unnecessary, nevertheless, may I extend this welcome to every parent, guardian, teacher, and friend present today. Doris Kendig [23]

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THE IONIAN Valedictory 1932 FRIENDS: It is with mingled feelings that we gather on this high school campus for the last time. We come with a deeper appreciation for those who have made our high school life possible; we come with a certain feeling of satisfaction in having successfully completed one chapter of our life’s work; we realize also a feeling of regret at breaking association with those classmates and teachers whom we have learned to love and respect. We come with a more serious sense of the responsibilities that are ours in starting out into life, each in his own way, with his own duties to perform. Life has been likened to a game of chess. The board is the Universe; our opponent, a fair, exacting, unseen player. The chessmen are our opportunities, our chances of gain in life. To play successfully, we must know the rules of the game, and knowing these, use them to the best advantage in our plays. Huxley said, “Education is learning the rules of this mighty game of life.” Through education, then, we learn to play, we acquire the ability to live. It has been said that “ability involves responsibility”; and that, “power to its last particle is duty.” So we find that having learned the rules, we are expected to play a better game; having acquired the ability to live, it is then our duty to use this power in living successful lives. Living successfully involves two great responsibilities. First—the responsibility to and for ourselves; second—the responsibility to and for others. Each must live with himself, so it behooves us to make ourselves as fit companions as possible. We all owe certain things to that companion —Self. We must be self-respecting and self-confident, with enough self-reliance to live according to our own convictions. We must do all that we are capable of doing, being diligent in all things. Myself will respect me more, and think me to be a more desirable companion if I use my time to good advantage; if I achieve and gain. I must keep myself in good working order. My mental self has to be kept as clean and powerful as my physical self. My mind must be cool and logical. I have to be able to “spin the gossamers as well as forge the anchors of the mind.” I must grasp opportunities. In so doing, we do not mean to be selfish, but we must be moderately aggressive in looking after our own interests. Indeed, we have many services to perform for ourselves. Our responsibilities do not cease, however, in fulfilling our duties to Self, for we owe much to others. “Are you not your brother’s keeper?” Then, surely you are responsible to and for him. Since we, through our education, are learning to live, it is our duty to teach that art to others. We must be good examples, radiating truth, friendliness, and humility. We should respect customs and conventionalities of society, being, at the same time, open-minded and receptive to new ideas. We must, above all else, serve others, co-operating whole-heartedly with them. Although these responsibilities are numerous, they might find their total in the Golden Rule. With a serious sense of these duties, both to Self and to others, in our hearts, we are almost bewildered as we look out and see our lives stretching before us into the unknown. How can we hope to measure up? Even as we question, we think Emerson’s thoughts and with him agree: “So nigh is grandeur to our dust, So near is God to man, When Duty whispers low, ‘Thou must’; The youth replies, 7 can’.” [22] Katherine Benedict

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THE IONIAN 1932 History The making of all histox-y involves a certain period of time. Thus, the revelation of our high school history began when we started as Freshmen four years ago. At that time, this day seemed an interminable age away. Now, in our reminiscence, it seems but a short time since our high school days began. However, in each of the four years of our high school experience, there have been certain “highlights.” In our Freshman year all classes were divided into three groups, and the year passed rather uneventfully. However, much enjoyment was derived (by those who participated) from the Junior High Dramatic Club, which is very prominent among the extra-curricular activities of the Junior High School. The class as a whole brought the school year to a close with a picnic at Woodard Lake. Our entrance, the following September, into the Senior High School was accompanied by the same confusion that greets all Sophomores—no one knowing what to do nor when to do it. Finally, out of this chaos, a class was organized and we elected Maxine Callow as our President; Luther Lawrence, Vice-President; Doris Kendig, Secretary; Raymond Cuttle, Treasurer. Our Sophomore year finished with the usual picnic, this time at Baldwin Lake. After a seemingly short summer, we resumed our work as Juniors. Then the much-coveted title of “dignified Seniox s” was really within our scope. During the first few weeks we selected our officers: Pitt Galloway, President; Kathex-ine Bensinger, Vice-Px-esident; Roberta Zibbell, Secretary, succeeded the second semester by Katherine Benedict; Eax'l Dunnett, Treasux-er. From this time on, every effort was concentx-ated on raising money for the ex-owning achievement of the yeax-—the Junior-Hop. Before we knew it the pax-ty was over and we were receiving many compliments fx-om those Seniors wlxose positions we so much desix-ed to hold. Last September we returned to the Ionia High School as Seniors. Immediately we elected our class officers, for there were many things to be accomplished. We chose as President, James Barkdull; Vice-President, Kathex-ine Benedict; Secretary, Earl Dunnett; Treasurer, Kathex-ine Bensinger. Early in the second semester, work was conscientiously begun on the 1932 Annual. Through the unceasing effox-ts of the students and teaclxers, our Annual proved to be a success. Also, about this time, the class honors wex-e awarded. Katherine Benedict was Valedictorian and Doris Kendig was Salutatorian. The next big undei’taking was the presentation of the Senior Play, “The Nut Fax-m,” under the direction of Mr. Smith, Miss Bui’ke, and Mr. Harx-is. Like all preceding Senior Plays of the Ionia High School, it was very successful. The outstanding event of every Junior class, the J-Hop, proved itself this year to be a most delightful pax-ty for the Seniors, and it was thoroughly appreciated and enjoyed. Now as these activities are becoming only memories and our high school life draws to a close, we are thinking of our fax-ewell Senior party and our last class picnic. Our class has been well represented in many activities of the High School—athletics, debating, oratory, and music. Our ox-ator, Luther Lawrence, won first place in the local and sub-district contests. Thus reads our past. For the futux-e we must turn for enlightenment to our Class Prophecy. [24] Maxine Hutchins