Longmeadow High School - Masacksic Yearbook (Longmeadow, MA)

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1 , , 5 316 HS an one s enure talents a stage 5 The past preparing for us 6

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X WITH GRATITUDE AND APPRE- CIATION, we the Class of 1960, acknowl- edge the willing aid and understanding guidance of William A. Dexter. All the world's a stage and all the men and women merely players. This is an apt phrase forthe theme of the 1960 Yearbook, quoted from the works of a great scholar. Players you will be on the stage of life. Some of you will take the leading parts. Many of you will be the technicians behind the scenes who, by your technology and knowledge of sound and lighting effects, will add realism to the performance. There will be some of you who, by your talent and genius, will create the play, produce and direct the production. Others will have a small bit to play and possibly will not be noticed by the audience, nor make headlines. For the past twelve years you have been rehearsing your parts and improving your skills, but for most of you the opening night and even the dress rehearsal lie four years or-more beyond. The final days of rehearsal will be more arduous than the first, but if you have learned your parts wel1,yours will be the satisfaction of a smash hit and a very successful season. To you who will soon be- come players on the great world's stage, I offer the words of Iames Russell Lowell's Inspiration for Living : Life is a leaf of paper white Whereon each one of us may write His word or two, and then comes night, ' Greatly begin! Tho' thou hast time fl But for a line, be that sublime! y S Not failure, but low aim, is crime. WILLIAM A. DEXTE Director of Guidance l 5

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MR. HBRRSCHAFT, OUR SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, is now retiring after many years of devoted service. His plans and decisions have always been guided by his sincere interest in education and young people. HOWARD G. HERRSCHAFT Superintendent of Schools All the world's' a stage. Here is a theme for your year book that challenges the imagination! Each of us has thoughts peculiarly ours and, in this regard, I am no excep- tion. May I suggest that, as you read these words of mine and other material in this publication, you consider more than one aspect of your chosen theme. VVhile you consider your theme as developed by your editorial stall and by the mem- bers of tl1e Administration to whom you have granted the privilege of adding their con- tributions, may I ask you to pause long enough to reflect that if you mistakenly let this theme lead you to consider life 'only as a play to be acted, you will do yourselves an injustice. How true are many of the implications of this idea! We appear but briefly in the continuing flow of human activity. At times our individual contributions seem so unim- portant that we can easily consider ourselves cast in minor roles. This judgment lends emphasis to the point that I am trying to make: One is cast in a part in this play and only within well defined limits can one make much of a contribution. How much more does life hold? It is important to realize that while we are not necessarily wholly subject to the whims of forces outside of our control, we may, to a large degree, determine by ambition and wisdom what we may become. Insofar as we are self-determinant does life have meaning for us. The discontent so frequently seen among us probably is due to the fact that we have failed to assume our natural place in human activity that can in a real' sense be fully satisfying to us. May I make a special comment to the members of the class of 1960? You, and I, too, will be severing our connection with this Longmeadow School Department at about the same time. I trust that, as you leave, you will have many fond memories as I shall have. I trust that all of us many continue to look back at the work we have done here with satisfaction. If, through my efforts to do my work well, I have helped you to achieve richer and fuller lives, I shall be content. May God's rich blessing go with you as you go your individual ways. 7