Ipswich High School - Tiger Yearbook (Ipswich, MA)

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of to-day and the citizens of tomor- row of educational opportunities un- less such deprivation is absolutely neccessary. In that case the trim- ming must be done slowly, wisely, and regretfully with the idea con- stantly in mind that with a better day Massachusetts must once more go ahead providing generous educa- tional opportunities as an invest- I ment in her future. Class Day Parts Class History By Sylvia Todd I T was a beautiful day in Septem- ber when we, the class of 1933, first entered the doors of Manning High School. Our first impression was one of awe and wonder as we tiptoed through the long hall and timidly ascended the stairs. On the second floor we were greeted by a group of haughty seniors who gazed at us with an icy stare. However, with the help of Mrs. Lord we passed this frigid zone and made our way to the hall. Here, under the supervision of Miss Ventres and Mr. Whipple, we found our respec- tive places and then bravely at- tempted to adjust ourselves to our new surroundings. Before the first week was over every “freshie” (es- pecially Hayes) knew where Room 10 was located, much to his discom- fort. After a few weeks had passed and we had become accustomed to our new surroundings we had our first class meeting. Our officers for the year were as follows : Peter Re- tales, president; Robert Clogston, vice president; Margaret Hamm, secretary; and James Austin, treas- urer. I must confess that our dis- cipline was not what it should have been during class meetings because Cuik’s acrobatic stunts and Ma- guire’s jokes kept the entire class in an uproar while our capable yet harassed President shouted in vain for order. Cuik and Maguire still entertain but now they have the competition of Hayes, Anzuoni, Austin, and a few other comedians. After a brief but pleasant sum- mer vacation we returned to school and began our sophomore year. The proper thing to do, now that we were sophomores, was to begin to do some real studying, but although our intentions were good, the re- sults were somewhat disappointing. At our annual class meeting we elected for our class officers Peter Retales, president; James Austin, vice president; Margaret Hamm, secretary; and Sylvia Todd, treas- urer. It was this year that Mr. Conary beo-an to see excellent football ma- terial in the class. It included Bud- Hanowski (our Clark Gable), Tony Cvnkus (our sheik). Bialek (our blusher), and many others too num- erous to mention. “Not Quite Such a Goose’’ was the play given by the sophomore class before the entire school. Ann Adamowicz played the part of the twenty-year old sister who thought herself to be quite sophisticated while Murray Adams played the part of the s ' w.a.Ped “kid brother ” Barbara Arthur and James Austin also were important characters in the cast. The cast forgot their parts 25

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tures. Compare the percentage of increase in school costs with the percentage of increase in cost of other local departments over a peri- od of years and you usually see that school costs have not increased out of proportion to costs of other de- partments of local government. Massachusetts schools are giving a dollar’s Worth of service for |each dollar they cost. A favorite line of attack by those who wish to slash educational offer- ings and appropriations is to direct attention to the great increase in the cost of free public education, disre- garding the conditions which ex- plain this increase. Schools cost more to-day for many reasons. First, there has been a nation-wide increase in the number of students in school. Second, children are stay- ing in school longer than ever be- fore. Third, more teachers are need- ed today. Fourth, the subject taught in school to-day are greater in va- rietv. The people of Massachusetts expect more of their government in general and of their school depart- ments in particular and must expect to pay the increased cost. Increas- ing cost must in ordinary times be accepted as inevitable and must be considered always in relation to re- sults. As in many enterprises in school work the amount paid for wages is the major factor in expenditure. There can be no doubt that the im- portant element in the school en- vironment is the teacher, for with- out her the school is merely a pile of bricks. What the state of Massa- chusetts needs is good teachers. Good teachers never have been and probably never will be overpaid. If possible, every community should in times like these adopt the wjisest form of economy, which meants em- ploying the best available teachers at usual salaries rather than reduc- ing salaries and thereby tending to eliminate superior teachers. It is economy to pay the salaries which good teachers earn. The fundamental laws relating to public schools are state laws. By state law every community must provide schooling for boys and girls between the ages of seven and fif- teen inclusive and must elect a school committee which sha ll have general charge of all the public schools. In brief, communities must furnish free education, must see that children attend the schools provid- ed, and must elect a committee with a broad power of general manage- ment. Surelv the child has the in- alienable right to demand of society that it shall provide the conditions and environments which will enable him to have a fair and adequate start toward making the most of himself. School is one of the most important factors in the child’s life. The free public school is the one place where all children get the same environment, the same guid- ance, the same opportunity to un- fold. the same stimulation to suc- ceed, and the same chance to ex- perience and experiment. The slashings of school appropriations involve not only dollars and cents but also the rights and the futures of boys and girls. Therefore all friends of free pub- lic education should oppose de- mands which will deprive the youth 24

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several times, but that was a small matter and the play was declared a success. It was during this year that the first operetta “Peggy and the Pi- rate” was held, and although our parts were only minor ones, our bosoms swelled with pride at the thoughts of our first public appear- ance. Thus the happy days of our soph- omore year passed, and in the fall of 1931 we were juniors — upper- classmen. A few of the more serious began to settle down, do some real studying, and think more seriously about the future. We were proud of our new posi- tion and elected for our class offi- cers: Ervin Langmaid, president; Tony Budzianowski, vice president; Margaret Hamm, secretary ; and Sylvia Todd, treasurer. Our junior social activities are ones long to be remembered. The first of these was the junior-senior social at which, for the first time in many years, there were no wall flowers. In December we presented a short Christmas play entitled “Here Lies the Child.” “Tad” Davis made an excellent elderly lady while Helen Kozeneska and Jane Bokron ap- peared as two angels. We all admit that Helen looked like an angel, but most of us are still a bit dubi- ous about Jane. Soon after the Christmas assem- bly committees were elected and preparations for the Prom were be- gun. The preparations were going smoothly enough when some of our bashful boys refused to be in the grand march, but they only wanted to be coaxed a little by the girls. At last the night of nights arrived ! The hall was prettily decorated with class colors — blue and white — and the decoration committee under the supervision of Miss Blodgett de- serves much credit for its work. The Prom was a success. In February we received our class rings and displayed them far and near. “The Belle of Bagdad,” the op- eretta, was presented April 8, at the Town Hall. It was at this time that many of us displayed our mu- sical talents in a surprising manner. Eleanor Mitchell at “Jewel” the daughter of the Caliph, Margaret Hamm, and many others deserve much credit for their fine work. The colorful scenes depicting the Orien- tal land and the many colored lights contributed greatly to the success. Junior- Senior Day in May proved to be very humorous. The baseball game was the chief amusement of the afternoon. The terms consist- ed of five beys and four girls from the two classes. “Bea” Austin, “Tad” Davis, “Margie” McLeod, and “Patchie” were the outstanding feminine baseball players from our class. We all anree, however, that “Margie” and “Bea” who rdaved in the field were the champions who missed every ball. Nevertheless they were good sports and we ad- mire their courage. The seniors won of course. In the evening a so- cial was heM. The whole dav proved to be an enjovable one for everybody and provided a good send off for the Class of 1932. With the arrival of our senior year we began to realize that our 26