Ipswich High School - Tiger Yearbook (Ipswich, MA)

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“ Tis time this fallen world should rise ; Let Youth the sacred work begin! What nobler task, What fairer prize Than earth to save and heaven to win?” CLASS DAY PARTS CLASS HISTORY By Frank Machaj In September of the year 1927 the graduates of the Junior High Schools of Ipswich and Rowley started on their career in Manning to obtain a high school diploma. The first few days were character- ized by much uncertainty. We were given programs to fill out about which we knew very little, espe- cially the locations of the various rooms, but with the help of the fac- ulty we found our rooms satisfac- torily, if late. The freshmen felt very dignified because the faculty placed “Miss” before the girls’ names and called the boys by their last names. As we ha d not a few beauties in our class from Rowley, it was customary to see a few up- perclassmen in the so-called “attic” during every recess. After a few weeks we became accustomed to our classmates and new surround- ings, and everything went along smoothly. Before we had been in school very long, the class decided that it was absolutely essential to elect of- ficers to direct our activities during our first year. The class elected Gladys Durham, President; Robert Mansfield, Vice President; Norman Ewing, Secretary, and Harris Shea, Treasurer, for the class officers. The daily grind of the freshmen year consisted in climbing three flights of stairs to the top floor where the freshmen class was lo- cated. The only event ef impor- tance during the year was a social at which the freshmen were given an opportunity to show the upper- classmen their dancing ability. We sailed along the rough sea to the sophomore class which was sit- uated across the hall from the sen- ior class. It was an honor to be on the same floor with the noble sen- iors and a relief to climb only one flight of stairs daily. Before very long we held a class meeting and elected for our class officers Gladys Durham, President; Harris Shea, Vice President; Norman Ewing, Secretary, and Marion Ford, Treas- urer. We began the sophomore year very systematically, lording it ovei; the freshmen and enjoying their discomfiture in strange surround- ings. The event which gave the class as sophomores a figure in the eyes of the whole school was the assem- bly play of Room V. This was a pretentious tableau of Ipswich in several scenes. The first was danc- ing at a country festival on which the Puritans looked with much dis- favor. Then there was a town meeting followed by a service in church and a parley with the In- dians. The most interesting part was when the Pilgrim army marched across the stage armed with wooden guns and waving flags. Kent was a great success as Miles Standish, waving his sword above his head and giving orders. After sailing along smoothly for a year, those that were fortunate enough to obtain the reouired num- ber of points were admitted to the junior class. Upon first entering the junior year the majority of us were just getting down to business and think- 29

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to find the way through present- day depression. Thus it is all over the world. And yet when we turn to our eld- ers for guidance and advice, we find them comparing us with youth in the good old days — the days when a school master ruled supreme in his little red school house and shuddered at finding individuality and creativeness in youth. Sir Arthur Eddington is quoted as saying, “It may be that the human race is no better than it was two thousand years ago, but it is differ- ent and that in itself is a good thing.” Life in this so-called ma- chine age is different. A rapid de- velopment is shown in the schools. A greater freedom is found in the schoolroom and youth is allowed to nuench its thirst for knowledge. Teachers find it advisable to des- cend to the level of their pupils and to find .glory in training them for participation in life as a social be- ing. Oft in the chronicles of history one finds that the policy of great rulers in governing their people has been to suppress and to keep them in blissful ignorance. But in so do- ing discovery, invention, and crea- tion have been suppressed as well as revolt. Youth has its dreams, its visions, and its ambitions which cannot be put down. We seek through education to understand our present-day civilization and the part which each person plays in the world. Moreover, present-day youth is still at heart religious. However, a great deal of truth and wisdom lies in the words of Doctor Alfred Stearns, beloved principal of Phil- lips-Andover Academy and a noted champion of youth, who has writ- ten, “We must bear in mind that there is a distinct difference be- tween active religious interest and being still at heart religious. The latter is the natural endowment with which we are all blessed by our Creator. For the former we ourselves are chiefly responsible ; and if the youth of the present day has lost its religious interest, it is because of the conditions and influ- ences by which it has been sur- rounded, and for these we of an older generation must bear the blame.” If youth seems pleasure-mad, restless, and strange in its mode of living, you, our elders, must take into consideration the conditions which youth did not create but which it nevertheless must over- come. Always mankind condemns that which it does not understand. Youth is sending forth a challenge for sympathy, understanding, and above all — confidence. Confidence such as Giovanni Gentile, the dis- tinguished educator and philoso- pher, showed in an address given in Italy some years ago. He pleaded with his countrymen for higher moral standards and nobler living. His pleas having been met with much doubt and cynicism, he cried with great intensity of feeling, “I am not speaking to the older gen- eration. The mind of the older generation has broken down. I make mv appeal to youth, and youth will hear and answer me.” He was right. Youth has not failed him. Youth is ever seeking the bright and pure side of life even if it cloaks its feelings. And so, as the years go on, may we walk the straight and narrow path with- out becoming narrow minded. For the present let us the remember the words of a modern poet — 28

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ing more seriously of our futures. At our fir t class meeting the class elected Harry Munro, President; Fabian Ciolek, Vice President; Norman Ewing, Secretary, and Gor- don Player, Treasurer. It being a custom for the junior class to buy class rings, our first duty was to select a suitable ring for the class. Some of us, inspired by “The Oregon Trail” or by the course in American history, man- aged to sway the minds of the rest of the class members to the choice of an elaborate ring depicting the covered wagon. Our next event was a play entitled “The Life of the Christmas Party.” Harry Munro as Audrey Pierson proved himself a man of unusual strength and cour- age by subduing a burglar (Frank Cook) in his attempt to burglarize the guests of the party. Harriette Goodhue and Joseph Ross acted as Gladys and James Caswood, the hostess and her brother. Our next and most important duty was engi- neering the annual Junior Prome- nade. The promenade was very successful due to the efficient com- mittees which were elected to run it. We then sailed along smoothly to the senior yea r, at last realizing that we were approaching the port for which we had set out. The of- ficers elected to guide us through our final year were Fabian Ciolek, President: Ralph Ladd, Vice Presi- dent; Frank Machaj, Secretary, and Atherton Howe. Treasurer. The first appearance of the class as seniors was at a school assembly in November. “They Just Won’t Talk” was the name of the sketch, and again our hero, Harry Munro. took the leading part of Uncle George, a returned soldier. Johnny Patch, as the little boy, was of course cute as usual, especially when he was picked up by his Uncle George and lifted to the ceiling ( ?). The first real event of importance, however, was the senior play en- titled “Adam and Eva,” which was coached by Mr. Sumner Nichols. The majority of the class actors were in exile in Room X, and so many of us, heretofore unknown as dramatic possibilities, after much hard work, were converted into act- ors. Helen Callahan as the younger daughter of a millionaire, Phillip Blaisdell, acted as a flapper with much ability. Except for the bash- fulness of Vinson Sheppard, he acted the role of a hero very suc- cessfully. Blaisdell made a good papa in spite of his red hair. Nor- ma Tozer as the elder daughter of the millionaire, knowing the tech- nique of love, acted her part very well also. John Patch as Uncle Horace kept the audience laughing during the whole play by his wise remarks, and Grace Heard very ably impersonated Aunt Abby. The next duty of the class was to have our pictures taken, after which many of us were surprised at the beauty of our classmates. Another event of interest was the Junior- Senior Day. The juniors challenged the seniors to an athletic meet. As usual the seniors won the day which wasn’t surprising to many because the class as a whole is in- clined toward athletics. In the evening the juniors invited the sen- iors to a farewell social and dance, thus furnishing one more happy memory of high school days. Be- fore closing I should like to call your attention to some of our class celebrities. I fear they are a little bashful or I should ask them to stand and receive an ovation from the crowd. There is Ruth Beals, 30