John Adams High School - Clipper Yearbook (Ozone Park, NY)

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W P A MESSAGE FROM THE SKIPPER

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r its? im, 1- Q E , ,, - Q ,ld iff? 1 Lai? - 1.-ik I k 5 I las E L li'l .. Q 'i x up?-gf' -MIIB' I I , I f lx yN Jai : 1' 'lrlfm - l I t be E- , 3 S' ff-iff -' . Q is lil . 9 ' ,tg I Fiu j IL, ,Ill EI' fll'l SHIPS CREW EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Esta-Ann Htilhreieh ASSOCIATE EDITOR Ruth German CO-COMPOSING EDITORS ludith Feinstein tlritqueline Gray ASSOCIATE COMPOSING EDITOR P.1trit-iii Hurley BUSINESS MANAC ER Ixpin Kein ASSOCIATE BUSINESS MANAGER Rielmrd T.iddeo EXCHANGE EDITOR litithleen O'Brien STAFF Gregory Shultz SERVICE Doris Bishop Bl.ineh Carr B.II'l7.1l'J. Goldhltitt -loyte Humphrey Ann Marie O'Connor Chester PJLISIQLI Harriet Xwoodxon Phyllis Zimbitii TYPISTS Roienmry Cossentino Theresa Rum ART EDITOR Henry Azzato STAFF Rdymond Costa P.iul Di Fililnpi lNIith.iel Firpo Esta-Ann Halbreieh Thomeis Ievolelli Mirgtiret ,l.1xtrzemh5lc.t Andrey Prevelig Melvin Rogers Anit.i Zefferer PHOTOGRAPHY STAFF Howard Allweiss Miehael Brofman Thomas Crimpson joseph Castelli Robert DiMarro Ruth Korclon Gary Smith Joyce Sievers FACULTY ADVISORS LITERARY AND BUSINESS Margaret Connolly Edward Clarke ART Robert Steed PHOTOGRAPHY Richard Blazej

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,hxg 13.5. THE FORUM continues to promote the study of current topics among us. We are reg- ularly reminded of its three-fold objective of information, discussion, and fuller knowl- edge through further inquiry. But the very variety of subjects and freedom of expres- sion of conflicting views tend to create a sense of bewilderment. The listener is almost overwhelmed by the confusion of testimony and of counsels that assail him. In his apparently hopeless plight he looks about eagerly for help and the greater his intelli- gence and honesty of purpose, the greater is his diHiculty. As he resolutely tries to keep an open mind and to suspend judgment, he begins to resemble a perplexed Hamlet standing at the crossroads, unable to reach a decision as to which road to follow. If all his study and reasoning merely lead to such an atti- tude of frozen indecision, his last state is worse than his first. Happily there is no need of his casting himself for so futile a role. He is illustrating the unfortunate extreme to which even good qualities without balance may bring us. He needs to be reminded that a decision, even though arrived at with some doubt or misgivings, is essential in the world of everyday living. For there are answers, albeit in some instances tentative solutions whose imperfect and temporary nature should be recognized, much as the true experimental scientist never loses sight of the limits of his current working theory. Such answers, honestly estab- lished, fearlessly faced, and rigorously tested, will give a proper touch of decisiveness to our Hamlet. Thus they will not encourage him to abdicate the leadership we properly expect from one of his gifts, his training and his sincerity. But for these answers he will need basic principles, similar to the axioms of math- ematics, accepted truths that will serve as a frame of reference in determining what to approve and what to reject from among the proposals presented to him. There will be some inevitable differences among individuals in the detailed application of these basic principles, but they will offer in broad outlines and in fundamental points vast areas of agreement among all men of good will. For these basic principles form part of the heritage of moral capital and political experience bequeathed to us by our fathers from many lands to make up the most preci- ous elements of our civilization. These time-tested standards of true and false, right and wrong can well serve as norms of conduct not only among men, but among nations as well. They have been impressed upon us all in a variety of ways within and without the school. In the area of government, these fundamental truths have found no more eloquent expression anywhere than in those immortal documents so highly praised by all Amer- icans, the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights and the Gettysburg Address. We can never know too well these concise statements of democratic principles and national policy. We shall find nothing more helpful in guiding us through the maze of our current problems than a thorough knowledge of these dynamic truths and a pro- found faith in their value. Similarly, in the realm of conduct, whether as individuals or as members of a community, we can know no safer guide than the Golden Rule which would have us act toward others as we would have them act toward us, Let those who remain in school resolve to know ever better and to use faithfully these basic principles in testing the proposals advanced not only at forum sessions, but in all discussions. Let us hope that our latest group of graduates have profited by forum procedures to an extent that will help them in meeting and solving wisely the many problems that will inevitably confront them. Let us hope that they will carry with them on their life journey a deep knowledge of the documents and principles that form so rich a part of our spiritual patrimony as heirs of all the ages . Therein lies sure hope of happiness for themselves, for our country, and for all mankind. 5