Ipswich High School - Tiger Yearbook (Ipswich, MA)

Page 26 text:

time it is a campaign to provide a ba- sic minimum of education to all the peoples of the world. For example-- the peoples of China and East Africa are perhaps the most illiterate and isolated. Unesco plans to make pilot projects' in which they will take the A. B. C.'s directly to these people and in turn bring back a valuable experi- ence in their habits and customs. Preparations are in progress to launch a fourth such project in India next year. Another project which seemed to me most interestingwas the challenge to harness the wealth of the Amazon Valley. Doyou realize that the people of the Amazon are still in the Stone Age ? If we could educate those people and bring the valley into food produc- tion, think what results we would gain in increased amounts. of oil, rubber, and sugar. I am glad to say that Unesco has accepted that challenge and within the next century the people of the Amazon may catch up with wes- tern civilization in education and pro- duction. The third main Unesco project-- Education for International Under- standing--perhaps most nearly fits the sole purpose of Unesco and the U. N. as a whole, which is to contrib- ute to peace. The goal of the project is to harmonize international relations and strengthen goodwill among the peoples through the medium of educa- tion. Unesco works in conjunction with many organizations to increase the flow of education and culture to all peoples. I will try to mention a few ways in which Unesco is trying to ac- complish world understanding. To 2 promote the exchange of ideas, teach- ers are sent to foreign countries for one year but are remunerated by their own Boards of Education. The foreign Board of Education finds living quar- ters and acts as their hosts. The teachers take new ideas to the foreign country and bring back new experi- ences to their own country. ' It is equally important that chil- dren understand each other and ac- cept thefact that they must live, work, and learn together. Thus a second method is the exchange of students wherein potential leaders of foreign countries are brought into better un- derstanding of American ways, and vice versa, through daily associa- tion in study and play with students of other countries. Wherever it can be accomplished it is desired that these students visit in an average home. The foreigner's knowledge of America, for instance, is too often based on the sumptuous movie homes or the lowly slums. They do not realize that a very comfortable middle class exists here. Someof our schools are also pro- moting the exchange of correspond- ence among the students of different countries. Aside from the romance this provides for the average teen- ager, it is an excellent opportunity for the youth of today, who will be the adult of tomorrow, to imderstand his neighbors. Unesco also promotes adoption of war orphans. By such adoption I do not mean that the adopted child is brought into the home of the foster parent. The foster parent provides the money and Unesco makes provi- sions for the child's welfare and edu-

Page 25 text:

GRADUATION ESSAYS PEACE THROUGH UNDERSTANDING By Mary Felsing The world has just emerged from sixyears ofbrutal war in which many lives were snuffed out just as they reached adulthood. This terrible loss of life has caused adeep longing in all peoples everywhere for a chance to live out their lives, free from war and fear of war. But how was this to be accomplished? Before the fighting had really ceased a plan for unity throughout the nations was conceived at Dumbarton Oaks. When the United Nations charter was first drawn up it did not contain any reference to educational co-oper- ation among the nations but through the efforts of the group of consultants later at San Franciscodefinite provi- sions for international co-operation in education were finally incorporated in the United Nations Charter. Unesco was the result which means the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. It is this branch that I wish to discuss this eve- ning. At the London Conference it was decided that Unesco should be dedi- cated to just one purpose-- to con- tribute to peace and security by pro- moting collaboration among the na- tions through education, science, and culture in order to further universal respect for justice, for the rule of law, and for the human rights and fundamental freedoms which are af- firmed for the peoples of the world, without distinction of race, sex, lan- guage or religion, by the charter of the United Nations. A year later the organization of thirty nations was born in Paris--the site of its present head- quarters. At present Unesco is working in three main areas which are known as the Unesco-wide projects. The proj- ects deal with Reconstruction and Re- habilitation, Flmdamental Education, and Education for International Un- derstanding. The most impelling task of Unesco is to help the critical situation in the war-devastated regions of Em'ope and Asia. Since thousands of schools are completely destroyed, reconstruction activities are being undertaken by all Unesco sections and have been given top priority. A campaign with the set goal of S100,000,000 has been begun for rebuilding and refurnishing ruined schools, libraries, museums, and lab- oratories and equipping these build- ings with everythingfrom pencils and paper to intricate laboratory instru- ments. The second main Unesco under- taking--the campaign for fundamental education has been described as the biggest thing since the abolition of slavery' by one of the delegates at the first general conference. This work is really twofold. It is first the task of teaching the illiterate of the world--who number more than one half of the entire population of the globe--to read andwrlte. At the same 1

Page 27 text:

cation through the use of this mon- ey. Many schools also sponsor a .Tun- ior Red Cross wherein the students give money or gifts to be made into gift kits, which are sent to foreign chil- dren. Such kits contain useful articles carefully selected by a committee. Unesco is non-political. It has been called into existence to serve all people without distinction or race or nationality. It is non-sectarian. The fact that Doctor Huxley, Director General of Unesco, is an atheist has caused criticism. Unesco's funda- mental principle, however, is educa- tion a.nd surely an atheist needs educa- tion. Military experts tell us that there is no military defense against the weapons of modern war. If that is true, then we must find a greater de- fense. Where better can we look than at the Preamble to the Constitution of Unesco where we find these stirring words: Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be con- structed.' It is for us the youth of today to help construct these defenses. We must strive to lift human thinking to planes where understanding, mutual sympathy, andfriendliness abide. Un- less we of this generation realize our responsibility to the human race there will be no next generation. We must either exchange ideas or bullets. Thus in conclusion may we quote from Milton S. Eisenhower, Chairman of the United States Commission for Unesco: 'It is essential for each citi- zen to constitute himself a one -person committee on Unesco, and by reading, reflection, and discussion develop a deep understanding of cultures, peo- ples, and problems--for such under- standing is the platform on which the kindly people of the world who want peace must take their stand. 7! PEACETIME POTENTIALITIES OF ATOMIC ENERGY By Winthrop Wade Since the dropping of the second atomic bomb and the end of the war, the United States government and the world have been ever watchful of the fut1u'e of atomic energy. Every na- tion in the world realizes its power and therefore, the control of the atom and atom bomb has been hotly de- bated in the chambers of the United Nations, and naturally the United States has taken a firm stand on its control and is itself making great progress in the harnessing of atomic energy for peacetime use. The United States government has allocated S7 5,000,000 for atomic re- search. It has established three na- tional laboratories to work on peace- time atomic energy: the Brookhaven Laboratory, on Long Island, the Ar- gonne Laboratory outside Chicago, and the Clinton Laboratories at Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Affiliated with these three national laboratories are fifty-two colleges and universities which use these laboratories to carry on experi- ments for the government. Although these laboratories have their own staffs and workers, the colleges play a large part in marming them. Under the present program, the 375,000,000 will be expended for equipment and 3