Lawrence High School - Diary Yearbook (Fairfield, ME)

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LAWRENCE DIARY P A TREATISE ON LESSER ASSIGNMENTS It seems that nowadays seniors are superhuman. They are now able to work twenty-eight hours each day. They can digest in one evening: three chapters of ch-emistry, ten diiiicult problems in trigonometry, a story and thirteen questions in English, a chapter of history, and a chronicle or two of events in American History. These seniors exist only in the teacher's mind. It is a shame that seniors, real ones, cannot do such an assignment. But, of course, this is just little stuff now, for the teachers cry, Wait until we actually get into the book, then we'll really have to work. Wait until we get into atomic structure. Wait until we hit the Norden bombsitef' Wait until we reach the politi- cal side of history. Wait until We read Shakespeare. These are the cries of the blue and gray tyrants. Then th-e teachers say woefully, I can't understand this incredible situ- ation-my seniors are not doing their assignments. Just look at this paper which says, 'Prince Henry, the navigator, taught people how to fly? Then the teacher says, I know exactly what the matter is, I'll bet a sugar cookie that I am not giving those lazy good-for-nothings enough homework to do! That's just it, but watch me lay it on now! And so, friends, we thus proceed merrily on our way, learning little, car- ing less. Why should we worry, anyway? We'll soon be in the Army!!! ORVILLE RANGER, 12L. -i,-.-...ii..1. THIS IS WORTH FIGHTING FOR What is worth fighting for? The answer is, The American Way of Life, our precious h-eritage, to preserve for ourselves and to safeguard for our prosterityf' , But we use those words, The American Way of Life, so often that we are forgetting what they really mean to every American. The American Way of Life means that we all have the same opportu- nity for success and the same right to happiness g that men like Lincoln, now as always, can rise from a humble log cabin to the highest office in the land. The American Way of Life stands for all the things our great fore- 7

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LAWRENCE DIARY we possibly can? Should we join the armed forces, or should we secure employment in some essential war industry? Young America has two responsibilities to face: to win the war wow, and to provide the leaders of tomorrow. We are not complainingg we are not quittingg we are glad we are Americans, and we are willing to sacrifice everything for our country. All we ask is, What will serve her best? There is much to be said for either choice. The younger boys, unless the war ends soon, will not -be able to com- plete their college course even though they enter college. Wouldn't it be advantageous for these Hboys to j oin the Army or Navy or to get into some vital defense industry? On the other hand, is it not the duty of each boy to lit himself, as adequately as possible, for the future leadership of our victorious and powerful nation? The girls, intensely eager to do their part, can serve in various capac- ities: Army and Navy Nurses, host-esses, or by replacing a man in an air- craft factory. Weigh these possibilities against secretarial school or col- lege. How shall we choose? These questions can not be answered en masse. The individual must think the problem through, and the answer must be based on one's ability, inclination, and training together with on-e's physical, social, mental, and emotional qualities. Only we ourselves can decide how we can best help to keep America, now and forever, The land of the brave. RACHEL ELLIS, 12L. GRADUATION The month of June will bring a day which comes only once in a lifetime, a chapter that we will always hold dear in our book of memories. We are looking forward to that day with great anticipation. Yes, I am referring to Graduation Day, owr graduation, the class of 1943. How proud we will be as we stand among the evergreens representing our school! But graduation is only the first milestone on the long and difficult road of Life. Have we prepared ourselves to the best of our ability? Have we learned the many rules which later we will be obliged to put into practice? Dio we understand the meaning of co-operation and dependability? Are we physically and mentally capable to take our share of responsibility in this chaotic world? We will be the future citizens, therefore, the future peace, as well as the responsibility of a better world, depends on us. So on that evening in June, may every senior in the class of '43 as he steps forward for his diploma, remember the significance and true meaning of the word g'f'l.ld'2.lfl1f'Ii0'l'b. NELLIE TYLER, 12L. 10

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LAWRENCE DIARY fathers fought for and put into a Constitution which has been successful for one hundred and fifty years, through peac-e and war, prosperity and depression. The ideals these men put into that Constitution gave us our Four great Freedoms: Religion, Speech, Press and Assembly. These stand for America and her Way of Life. In our land, children can play and go to school unafraid of bombs and destruction that have put fear into the hearts of every child in occupied Europe. Men and women are able to work where they wish and at a fair wageg they are not compelled to attend any Church, but they can attend the one of their choice, they can join the clubs and organizations of their choice-a privilege no other people have. This is not all America means, or all that we prize so dearly. America means our big cities with sky-scrapers miles highg the steady stream of noisy traffic, the hurry and excit-ement of people rushing from place to placeg the sound of mills and factories, places of emtertainmentg and everything else that makes our cities the greatest in the world. America means our small towns with our main streetg a little white church where you meet your neighbors every Sunday morning and listen to the heart-felt sermon of the ministerg the same weather-beat-en school house that your parents and their parents before them attendedg the town hall, the general store, h-omes where families and friends gather to help and enjoy one another, the small town where one is for all, and all for one. Surely the churches, schools, homes, big cities, small towns, the Four Freedoms, the Statue of Liberty, and Old Glory, which fiies so freely over all, symbolize America and the American Way of Life . Certainly no one doubts that This is Worth Fighting For. MAB-EL Orrs, 12L. .-l,- -. --- CHILDREN AND THE MOVIES Many people say, Today children grow up in the theaters. There is a great deal of truth in this statement. Until a few years ago, people had n-ever heard of moving pictures. To- day, however, if you ask a child ten years of age how he spends his Satur- day afternoons, he is very likely to reply that he attends the movies. If this same child is asked about the type of pictur-e the answer would probably be, It was a cowboy picture with lots of shooting, or, It was a picture about criminals and gangsters. I sincerely believe that it is a picture of this kind that encourages young boys and girls to steal, to run away from home, and to commit other misdemeanors. Children see others perform these acts of misconduct and escape punishment, therefore, isn't it logical to b-elieve that these children who are inherently interested in imitation will be anxious to per- petrate similar behaivor? 8