James Whitcomb Riley High School - Hoosier Poet Yearbook (South Bend, IN)

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THAT the schools of America were to feel the impact of war was a foregone conclusion once our country became actively engaged in the conflict. Colleges and universities were the first to be ad- versely affected, as was to be expected. But with the lowering of the draft age to include eighteen and nineteen year olds, the high schools are also drawn directly into this greatest of all world con- flicts. The pages of this book, the 1943 Hoosier Poet, reveal in part the numerous ways in which our school is attempting to gear its program to the war effort-by organizing for the sale of bonds and stamps, by Red Cross activities, by collecting scrap, and by raising funds for war relief. Perhaps a more important indication of the effect of the war is the changing curriculum especially for older students, the purpose of which is to better prepare our young men and women for participation in the war effort. In the organization and administration of our school and in the instruction in the classrooms, we are trying to do our part in win- ning the war. But we also have tried to be mindful of the need for maintaining the general education , and the necessity of educa- ting for life after the war is over. We are trying somewhat des- perately in these days of uncertainty to help our pupils to work and plan and dream for a just and durable peace, and to give them a faith for tomorrow such as that expressed by the young English soldier in these two stanzas of the poem Soldier, Young Soldier . I'd like to feel when the job has been done We'll all have a hand in the peace we have Wong That all of us strong by the pattern of war May build for the future as never before. l'd like me to know that all over the world A just Hag of freedom was fiying unfurled. That none of the nightmare was really in vain, That none of the nightmare need happen again. GLENN KROPF, Principal

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GLENN S. KROPF Principal

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Through the doors of Riley come hundreds of stu- dents each day where a modern curriculum awaits them-f-a curriculum designed to prepare them for their place in the great struggle now at hand, as well as for Citizenship in a great democracy. In addition to the great many classes that make up RILEY GEARS FOR WAR the broad program of studies regularly taught in this school, a number of special VVa1' Classes have been added. All juniors and Seniors are taking at least two of these classes. Riley has been gear- ed to the war effort. In these pages we try to show you how this has been done.