Lacon High School - Tickler Yearbook (Lacon, IL)

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L CODE OF MORALS The following Code of Morals for Young Men and VYomen was prepared by Prof. XYilliam Hutchins, of Oberlin College. in coau- petition for a prize of :li5,ll0ll provided by an anonymous donor, offered through the National lnstitutiun for Moral lnstruction. W'ashingtou, D. C. Professor Hutchins won the prize. Surely the code is an inspiring one for bacon young' people and we trust some good will be accomplished through its publication. 'l'li li IZDITURS. The Code for Young Men and Women Good Americans strive to become strong and serviceable citizens of America, that America in turn may make her noblest contribution to thc welfare of the world. lloys and girls, who seek strong' and serviceable cit- izenship to become good Americans, bind themselves to obey the following laws of life. I The Law of Self-Mastery The Good American Controls Himself Une must master himself before he can serve success- fully his country and his country's cause. 1. l will therefore control my tongue and will not allow it to use mean. indecent, or profane language. 2. l will control my temper and will not lose it when people or circum- stances displease me. 1 J. l will control my impulses and appetites and will not permit them to defeat my purposes and highest interests. ll The Law of Self-Reliance The Good American is Self-Reliant Sell'-conceit is silly: self-reliance is essential to strength and service. l. XYhile eager to get the advice of those older and wiser than myself, l will do my own thinking, make my own choices, bear my own burdens. l will not be afraid of ridicule. nor will I be afraid to do right, though l have to stand alone. 2

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L THE STORY OF LACON SCHOOLS Our boys and girls have not always had the palatial structure they now enjoy. But a few years after the first white settler, john Strawn, built his log cabin the proprietors of the little town turned their attention to educa- tion, and in 1836 the l.acon Academy was organized and one thousanzl dollars pledged to its support. A building was put up in that year capablc of holding sixty to seventy students, and for many years this afforded all the educational privileges needed. The Lacon Academy was undoubtedly mod- eled after the famous New England academies of that time. The first acad- emy built in Lacon was used for church purposes, town meetings, elections. lyceums, and all public purposes. It later became a private dwelling and eventually was moved and became the store which XVilliam Fisher occu- pied in 1880. Jane M. Kilgore was the first teacher. The second school built in Lacon also became a private dwelling, but in 1856 a fine building was constructed at a cost of 38.000, which for many years served its purposc. Before the present building was constructed, within the memory uf many Lacon residents, three scattering wooden buildings served for school purposes. At one time, we are told, for a considerable period many high school children left school because that part of the building where their seats were located was considered unsafe. ln our imagination we can draw a picture of those far-gone days of early Lacon, when boys and girls daily expected. perhaps hoped, to be without a school building. Teachers in the early nineties received from thirty to fifty dollars a month, but in 1805 Professor Frost, superintendent of the Lacon schools, received a salary of 551,500 a year, a princely sum in those days. In 1902 the public-spirited citizens of Lacon constructed the present school building and, although nineteen summers and winters have passed, Lacon has still a beautiful school structure. There is still plenty of room in the building and the assembly hall provides a place of meeting for various purposes. One seldom sees a building constructed: as our building is' and many are those who remark of its beauty. L. G. H.

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L l 2 3 -I I .4 III The Law of Self-Improvement The Good American Makes the Most of Himself Those who make the most of themselves can do most for their country and their country's cause. I will therefore avoid those habits which would injure me, and I will form and never break those habits by which I can make the most of myself. I will keep my hody and mind clean and my person sacred. Ily proper food. sleep and exercise, I will try to gain and keep perfect health. I will get the luest possible education, learning all I can from those who have made thc most of themselves and have done most for their country and her cause. IX' The Law of Reliability The Good American' is Reliable .Xu imrelialmlc man injures his fellow citizens, his country and her C2llISC. Our country's strength. and her service to the world, depend upon the mutual conlidenee of her citi- 20115. 'llierefoye neither by word nor deed will I lie, nor will I withhold the truth from those who have a right to it. I will not do wrong' in the hope of concealment. I cannot hide the wrong' from myself and can seldom hide it permanently from others. I will not take without permission what does not belong to me. Neither pleasure nor comfort nor convenience shall prevent me from ful- filling my obligations. lf by mistake I have made a wrong' promise. I will seek immediately to confess my mistake and I will try to make good any harm which my mistake may have caused. I will so speak and act that all whom I influence will find it easier to trust each other. X7 The Law of Good Sportsmanship The Good American is a Good Sportsman Clean play strengthens and disciplines one. and thus pre- pares him to serv e his country and her cause. I will play hard and fair. If I should cheat. or play for keeps or for money, the loser would lose the fun of the game. the winner would lose his self-respect, and the game would become a mean and often cruel business.