Ipswich High School - Tiger Yearbook (Ipswich, MA)

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ity to understand and to combat the pernicious instrumental forces behind the wrongs rampant in the present world. The young people of America must believe in their country, that it is a good country, worth working and fighting for; they must be loyal and hopeful and have faith in the future. In youth lies the power of future restoration of order, discipline, and productivity. Courage, hope, resolu- tion, and confidence must continue to come from youth who wish to preserve the democratic principles under which they have been reared. Youth must look beyond the depressing incidents of the day into the unknown future. We know that, among other things, we shall have a legacy of hate as a result of the war. This also we must prepare to combat spiritually. We must look a- head to the kind of world to follow the present chaos; we must have faith in a better one and a vision of a world where all men everywhere are free to live, to think, to work as their desires and abilities dictate, and where nations cooperate for peace. The times are in- deed challenging. Dark days are doubt- less facing us. Just as difficulties, ob- stacles, and sorrows may help to de- velop strength of character in an indi- vidual, however, so American youth as a whole may come out of the troubles of the present chastened and strengthen- ed with a determination that govern- ment “of the people, by the people, and for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” We trust that we may ac- cept this challenge of the future, what- ever it may hold, and vibrate to the confident ring in Emerson’s lines: “So nigh is grandeur to our dust, So near is God to man, When duty whispers low, ‘Thou must,’ The youth replies, ‘I can! ' 31

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War wreaks havoc in the battling countries and the effects are far-felt; all nations share the ill effects of war. Higher prices and taxes result in losses in business and unemployment. Living standards sink, poverty becomes ram- pant, and the hope of youth is stifled. Youth is likely to lose its head amid the turbulent conditions and become engulfed in the swirl of uncertainty paramount in America today. Youth’s first duty then is to remain sane and confident. It must not be uncertain! It must be surer than ever of itself. The future and happiness of the American democracy rest on today ' s youth. The way in which we respond to present conditions determines the destiny of the country. There are certain duties for today ' s American youth by which each one must prepare to meet the ever-ris- ing challenging conditions of the world, to defend his country and its principles in which he believes. It almost goes without saying that youth must be physically able to per- form the duties expected of it in carry- ing out the demands of national defense. In case of war it is vitally important that youth be physically strong and de- veloped; otherwise how would a coun- try be able to stand up against the for- eign powers that are so strongly empha- sizing and demanding the physical development of their youth today? Our army camps may be depended upon, in part, to develop our boys physically, but that training is not sufficient. To- talitarian powers make much of physi- cal fitness. American young people have got to exhibit the same willingness to sacrifice and practice the same self- denial if they are going to be able to compete with Nazi youth, who, how- ever much we may condemn them, are unselfish and fired with an almost re- ligious fanaticism toward the State. Mental training, on the other hand, is one field where we can secure the ad- vantage over totalitarian countries be- cause liberal education and training to think will in the long run prove super- ior to blind worship of a leader and obedience to him. Fatalism attendant upon war may make youth regard hu- man life as cheap and lead them to a “What’s the use?” attitude. Why study to develop our minds, they may question, just to the point where we might be useful to society and then have our activities cut short by death and destruction in war? This attitude should be overcome. We must not al- low ourselves to relax in our attempts to broaden our education and develop our minds to the utmost degree, whether it be in college or in the school of life, The world is going to need well-train- ed minds to cope with the problems a- rising out of the war and we can best meet these later demands by close appli- cation to study and education now. American youth can, however, con- tribute most valuably to this war-ridden world by furnishing spiritual impetus to the people. Youth must necessarily have a wider view-point, a clearer abil - 30

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CLASS DAY PARTS CLASS HISTORY By Betty Jerome W E of the Class of 1941 have come to an important milestone in our lives when, after spending four pleasant, eventful and profitable years together in this new Ipswich High School build- ing, we are forced to face the world of awaited opportunity. In the fall of the year 1937, we, as freshmen, timidly entered this strange new building with its long corridors, many rooms, and affable but deter- mined faces. As time went on, we became more accustomed to our once bewildering sur- roundings, discarded our timid awk- ward ways, and manifested a desire to participate in school activities. Accord- ingly, we held our first class meeting, choosing as our leaders Barbara Chap- man, president, who was and has con- tinued to be a most capable and efficient helper in all class activities; George Robertson, vice president; Rosamond Weiland, secretary; and John Hazen, treasurer. One of our most attractive girls, Rosamond Weiland, was chosen in Feb- ruary as the class candidate for Snow Queen. Although not being fortunate enough to win this coveted title in spite of a well fought fight, she came in a close second and made one of the Queen’s most pleasing attendants at the coronation. During the month of March, we ran a freshman party and thus embarked upon our social career. Miss Blodgett with her aversion to snakes furnished much of the evening’s entertainment. In the latter part of this month a trip of historical interest was made by the ancient history class and guests to the several Boston Art Museums. Ex- cept for the chagrin suffered by one group who got lost and inquired for Washington Street only to be told by a kind officer that they were on it, the trip proved to be interesting and educa- tional. Early in May another group enjoyed a most entertaining evening at a Pop Concert in Boston under the strict surveillance of the upper class- men and of our music instructor, Mr. Tozer. Needless to say, not all of the entertainment was furnished by the musicians. With the resumption of class activities in the fall, a new set of officers was elected: namely, John Hazen, president; Vernon Cooke, vice president; Ruth Perley, secretary; and Irma Orsini, treasurer. Our athletic feats during this year were amazing. We discovered as the football season progressed that our team boasted a hero, Jo-Jo Robishaw, who by his swift decisive runs scored many a touchdown, enabling Ipswich to win the football championship in class “D” for the year 1938. The basketball and