Ipswich High School - Tiger Yearbook (Ipswich, MA)

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defeats its purpose of recreating body and mind. projecting oneself outward to others. A spirit of People also get pleasure from cultural pursuits. mutual helpfulness is much more productive of Music, literature, and other forms of art are in- happiness than any amount of self-seeking. How dulged in by some people just for social prestige. much more happiness one gains in helping others Others, the ones who truly get pleasure from the forget their disappointments than in dwelling on masterpieces, usually do not make such a glorious one’s own and becoming entangled in self-pity, approach to the arts but get more satisfaction in the Happiness, therefore, can be attained only if end. Those who truly appreciate art try to get the man aims above happiness to a higher goal, taking idea which the artist was attempting to portray the bitter with the sweet in his stride, and making when he created the piece. There is a pleasure in this earth a better place on which to live. How seeing and feeling the true meaning of another could we even recognize happiness were it not for man’s work, for in this way one is teaming up with sorrow and disappointment? True happiness is him and striving to attain a goal of mutual one of the most desirable possessions in life, and it understanding. is well worth the sacrifice of some of the mock True happiness, though not so daring as some pleasures which border too precariously on disas- of the false notions, is much more permanent and ter. True happiness can never lead to disaster, for satisfying. True pleasure cannot be found by look- it is based on forgetfulness of oneself and a desire ing into oneself or even by seeking it as a goal. to leave the world a little better because one has It comes rather as a by-product and is found by lived in it. College By WILLIAM MARKOS College athletics are sick, and just as a sickness spreads over the body of a human being, so have commercialism and professionalism spread to each limb of college athletics. First football was afflicted, then basketball, and now, before the illness spreads all over the body, it must be checked and cured! Many reasons have been offered to explain the plight of the athletic systems. The most important reason, as in so many other causes for trouble, is the almighty dollar. Educators have lost sight of their goal and are caught in a vicious circle. Coaches and alumni groups worry because their alma mater is taking her beatings. They put on the pressure and go about recruiting athletes with attractive scholarships and “on the side’’ payments. The ath- lete’s marks are altered, and he quickly finds out that even college presidents can compromise. Is it any wonder that with practice taking so much of his time and with this deceitful beginning he has to cram and finally cheat on hi s exams? He also is given such tough courses as interior decorating and American folk-dancing. Finally a good team is developed and the cycle begins. Crowds pour in, the sacred pile gets higher and higher, a new stadium is built, to fill it a better team is bought, and soon the play approaches tech- nical perfection. The players are almost like pro- fessionals; in fact, a year or so ago the college all-stars trounced professional football’s world champions in a post-season game. Do not think, however, that only football is in- volved. Colleges that can’t afford a football team buy basketball teams. This sports bubble has ex- panded and expanded, and now it is about to burst. Let us diagnose the patient and see if we can get to the root of the trouble. We ask, “Should athletes be given special privileges?’’ One school of thought immediately exclaims “Yes, why not?’’ After all, athletic talent, like any other, should be rewarded. Besides, the scholarships en- able poor boys to go to college, and these athletes are often training for a coaching or physical educa- tion career. Furthermore, big time football builds up school spirit and keeps alumni interested as well as supporting minor sports. The other school of thought answers with a loud “No!’’ The first job of a college is giving an educa- tion and scholarships should be given for scholastic ability. They say that the proper aim of sports is group participation, not just the build-up of a few specially trained experts. Another argument of- thletics fered is that overemphasis is hurting the game and lowering moral standards. We now have encountered a new question. Should athletes be paid legally ? Recently a court ruled that the University of Denver must pay one of its injured players thirteen dollars weekly as unemploy- ment pay. What if all these semi-professional and professional college players should organize and demand adequate wages? Just think w’hat a good union could get for them. It would throw the rest of the world in an uproar, and it isn’t as impossible as it sounds. It can be done! If universities would accept the morality of the just wage, students would probably adopt the doctrine of honest work for fair pay. I would like to illustrate by a few case histories just what is happening in some of the extreme cases. Take that of Allen Jackson, a star guard at the University of Michigan. There, Jackson says, there are two mottoes — “If Michigan loses, some- one has to pay,’’ and “Move the ball or move the body.’’ The latter applies to a situation when a poor scrub is lying unconscious on the practice field. Jackson also says that injuries do not excuse a player from a game, and that studies definitely come second. In fact, in his four years, Jackson spent 810 hours in classes and 1351 hours on the football field. Another interesting case is that of Alvin Beale. Kansas State bought Beale after seeing him perform in a junior college game. Kansas State College paid the $800 balance on his car and sent him to summer school. He also received $200 monthly and a $90 a month apartment. Beale then turned and enrolled at Texas University. The case was kept quiet until irate Texans screamed that Beale had left to join the Navy. His coach maintained he was a good boy but a victim of commercialized sports with a market value. On the other hand there ai ' e stars, like Johnny Bright of Drake University, who have benefited from commercialized sports. Bright says, “Foot- ball has been good to me; I never would have re- ceived a college education without it.” We all heard about the scandals at West Point and William and Mary College. West Point just found it hard to take care of its semi-pros because it had no snap courses. At William and Mary just the opposite was true. The college lowered its ad- mission requirements, gave athletic scholarships, and offered easy courses. The situation became so bad that the athletes received hardly any education at all. Finally the scandal broke, and the head coach, “Rube” McCray, and President Pomfret re- 21

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necessary ingredients that must be skillfully blend ed to produce this strength within us. In the first place, a sound character and a trained mind are indispensable. They have value in any time, place, or situation. These necessary ingredi- ents can be developed not only by formal education, but by experience and self-discipline as well. With the feeling of self confidence that results from the possession of these traits, we cannot help but gain an inner security. Then we must consider freedom, a spiritual free- dom, which means not doing what we like, but rather knowing and wanting to do what is right. A free man is one who has severed from his heart the bonds of ignorance, cowardice, intemperance, stupidity, and selfishness. He is prepared to face any threat that comes, for he feels secure from worldly evil. In the words of Robert M. Hutchins, “A man has personal freedom if he wills the good and knows the truth.” Another important element in real security is faith — a faith that strengthens our belief in God, for we must remember it is He who has placed us in a land where rights are respected. It is He who gave us the glorious heritage that is ours. This country was founded by God-fearing men upon the Christian principles of right, justice, and moral- ity, and o.ilv as material aims are subordinated to moral principles can we as a people and as indi- viduals expect to prosper and remain truly secure. But along with this faith in God we must have confidence in ourselves as individuals. There is untold satisfaction in doing things independently with the knowledge that we are correct in our judge- ments. Who could better illustrate this type of spirit than the pioneers who struggled to open up an unknown land? We would do well to follow their example and believe in ourselves and in the destiny of mankind. If we believe that we need not depend on government to solve our problems. What ds By GEORGE BOUCHARD Whenever anybody talks with me about my future as a high school or college graduate, he always adds the warning, “Be sure to like your job or you will never be happy.” Usually the argument for happiness assumes great importance in the conver- sation — so much so that I began to wonder. What to me is happiness and how can I attain it? How worthy a goal is it? Can anybody be fooled by a wu’ong idea of happiness ? Happiness means to me a lasting contented feeling which could come from security or from being at peace wdth oneself and the rest of the world. It is the feeling, not the word used to des- cribe it, which is important to me. In wrong doing many people get a sensation which they mistake for pleasure. It may be the thrill of stealing for the first time in defiance of one’s superiors or it may be the feeling sensed in reve ige for some true or imaginary wrong done to them. Some people, but very few, may have an almost rational reason for committing a crime. If a person is starving or freezing, as a few were during the last depression, he may steal out of necessity, but he gets no sensation except disgust from his act. People who drift into crime usually start out with a false idea of pleasure and try to gain it by committing small crimes for the thrill. Then as their consciences become hardened, they graduate to larger misdeeds to get their so-called “fun.” Finally w’hen they do realize how wrong our security in such troubled times as these would immeasurably increase. Finally let me present the idea of independent living as an aid to my kind of security. I realize that today there are many obstacles which prevent us from getting as much out of life as we would like. If we could only put aside for a time the television set, the movie screen, the radio, and the local gathering place, all innocuous enough in themselves and even educational tools when dis- criminately used, we would see how much time is consumed in inferior pursuits, and we would have more time to improve ourselves with reading, with study of the arts, or with a closer relationship with Nature. The ability thus to entertain our- selves and to enrich our lives through our own efforts without be.iefit of outside agency would fur- ther develop the independence that would make us more secure. Perhaps the best example of inde- pendent living is that of Henry David Thoreau. The years he spent living alone in the peaceful woods of Walden showed him the beauties of a simple life, free from the struggles of possession and loss. Though he tried this life only as an ex- periment, he returned to his village life wiser, happier, and more secure in his possession of the indestructible things in life. In addition to these prominent factors, we can increase our spiritual strength by expanding our powers; that is, by increasing our moral courage, overcoming difficulties, being tolerant, sympathetic, and understanding. To a world in such a state as ours spiritual se- curity is not only desirable; it is essential, for only by feeling content and secure will the people of the w ' orld reject the power that is threatening universal peace. We stand challenged by an aggressor that must be fought with mind and heart as well as with bombs. It is time that we raised our spiritual security to the heights we enjoy materially. It is up to us to bring spiritual as well as material leadership to a waiting and troubled world. happiness? they have been, it is too late. Thus it is with drug addicts and drunkards, for it is evident they did not deliberately plan to become this type of person. Some people derive a pleasure from thinking only of themselves. They usually develop into such self-centered individuals because of outside influ- ences in their youth which have made them feel important. Soon they begin to believe that they are always right and retreat into a shell of smug satis- faction. They think they are happy and never enter into other people’s affairs unless it is to deride the other person’s efforts and ideas. They do not realize that they are living in a bubble of their imagination until somebody breaks this bubble for them. Then they are lost. They do not even have a purpose for living and all their fun has been taken from them. So it is with all false happiness. There are many harmless pleasures which, al- though they have no serious purpose, are necessary to balance one’s life. These pleasures are harmless only when care is exercised in their use. While most practical jokes are harmless, for instance, there are many instances where they have caused bodily harm and even death. These jokes were not maliciously planned but were intended for good fun. Sports and recreation, if allowed to monopolize one’s life, would fall into this category. When a person loses his sense of proportion and participates in sports more for the sake of beating the other fel- low than for the enjoyment derived from a sense of achievement and from team work, the activity 20

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signed. The College is now back on its feet and is pursuing a sane athletic program. Let us now look at some of the scholarships and breaks given to athletes by some of our universities. Ohio State gives 150 jobs paying up to $100 monthly for fifteen hours of work per week. Southern Methodist gives 154 straight athletic scholarships and 140 academic scholarships. Bradley star ath- letes get credits for very weird subjects — handball, social and square dancing, first aid, and elernentary swimming, to mention a few. At the University of Pennsylvania, state legislators, with eyes for athletes, make 675 scholarship nominations yearly. However, we must realize that these cases are the exceptions, not the rule. Most colleges pursue good healthy athletic programs. New England colleges especially have fine athletic systems. Princeton has proved that good football can be played without overemphasis. In fact, Dick Kazmaier, the great all-American, lost his $300 scholarship because his marks fell off .2 of a point. Princeton, Harvard and Yale do not give athletic scholarships, and practice is limited; studies must come first, and more boys get a chance to play. Another good system is that of Boston College where practice is only seven to nine hours weekly and spring practice is limited to four weeks, though many say that spring prac- tice should be abolished completely. As I stated before, most colleges pursue sane and healthv programs, but since one rotten apple must be removed because it will gradually spoil a bushel of good ones, the harmful programs must be checked. Individual colleges have begun to check their own systems and many organizations are passing rules to check and kill this unhealthy growth. Kentucky has announced that it will stop all out of state recruiting of football players and instead will look for Kentucky high school players. This may not solve the problem, but it is a step in the right direction. The American Council on Education has proposed banning all postseason bowl games, barr- ing freshmen from the varsity, and eliminating all athletic scholarships. The National Collegiate Ath- letic Association voted to allow bowl games for another year but limited out-of-season practice to thirty days and voted to continue to limit the tele- vising of games. Ihis latter move will cost Notre Dame and Pennsylvania one half million dollars. The Pacific Coast Conference adopted an honor system for policing subsidization — the men put on their honor were the college presidents. The Big Seven Conference voted to ban bowl games as did the Southern Conference, which suspended Mary- land and Clemson for accepting bowl bids. The only trouble with this is that if we get too many black sheep, then the rules are worthless. We must also remember that problems of subsidizing exist in conferences that never play postseason games. An- other setback came when Southeast Conference officials told the college presidents to stick to their educational knitting. Every reform movement, however, meets obstacles. It will just take a little time to overcome them. The reform will take place; we must give it time. I am not sanguine enough to believe athletics will ever be cleaned up com- pletely; things seldom are. But there will be im- provement that will lift this sick athletic program to its feet and mend its wounds. We know that a broken leg will not become absolutely perfect, but it can become strong and healthy again, just as we hope our college athletics will become strong and healthy once more and take their proper place in the educational program. CtdSS HlSTOKy By MARY CHADBOURNE Our high school life began one early morning in September, 1948. As eighth-graders, we had learned the schedules and had accustomed ourselves to the Study Hall seats, and had learned to stay away fj’om Mrs. Lord’s diligent eye. Now we faced the pros- pect of being freshmen — those lowly under-grad- uates. However, our year was brightened an d our numbers increased by many Rowley students and also by some from the parochial school. “Slugger” Burke was a decidedly attractive ad- dition, and most of the girls had a crush on him at one time or another. We settled down to more serious business at our first class meeting when we voted Bill Markos, presi- dent; “Choot”, vice-president; Marilyn Gunn, treas- urer; and myself, secretary. It was during this year that we discovered that parties were fun, and practically every week either Muriel or Sally gave one. And many boys woke up to the fact that girls were fun too. Bill Markos and “Choot” heading the list. We eagerly participated in the many school ac- tivities — football games, plays, and dances. Early in the fall, the coach recognized the athletic possi- bilities of several of our boys, among them Gordie MacIntyre, Paul Jean, Bill Markos, “Choot”, and George Bouchard . These boys later greatly helped our football team during their stay at school and fulfilled their early promise. At last came the day of the freshman dance — a St. Patrick’s Dance. Irene Smolenski’s artistic talent came to our rescue in the form of attractive posters, while Pat Sullivan displayed her versatility in cutting out decorations. Our dance was enjoyed by everyone, especially after we persuaded the bashful boys to dance, which isn’t as easy as it sounds. During June we began looking forward to our sophomore year, second year Latin, and geometry. A few of our classmates had left us during the year — Andrew Pappamahiel, petite Mary Ann Emerson, and vivacious Anne Peabody among them. During our busy sophomore year our officers were Bill Markos, president; “Choot”, vice-president; Elaine Eliopoulos, treasurer; I, secretary. This year we decided to put on for an assembly program, a one-act play called “The Teeth of the Gift Horse”. Oh, the plot and acting were fine; to the audience, however, it was like watching an old-fashioned moving-picture — no sound. Anyway, it was fun putting it on. One thing we positively learned — Bill Markos didn’t live in a house, but in Grand Central Station, or so his English compositions stated. And we also learned that Gage’s talent for writing was very clever and witty. A Latin Club was formed and with Mrs. Lord as its adviser, we found that Latin could be fun, but also dangerous when we raced up and down the corridor in stocking feet with two legs tied to- gether. Gage Whittier was an invaluable member 22