Maynard High School - Screech Owl Yearbook (Maynard, MA)

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Editorials Make It Count You get out of school only what you put into it,” is an expression that you may have heard repeated many times by your teachers and parents. If you are one who sits back and lets the other person do all the work, then school is going to be a long distasteful four years. Yes, it may sound strange to hear that work can be enjoyable, but those students who are taking part in sports, helping out on dance commit- tees, and writing for the school magazine are doing things that they will remember for many years to come. They’ll tell you how fast that football season comes and goes when you’re out there practicing every afternoon, or how much more exciting that Prom is when you can look around and say, I helped with decorations and ticket sales,” or how proud you feel when the Screech Owl comes out and you find your name and graduating year under one of the articles or stories. High school doesn’t have to be the difficult place that so many make it, but can be turned into a won- derful institution of knowledge and enjoyment. Take the attitude that these four years are to be the best of your life, for no matter where you go after grad- uation you never have the opportunities for so many pleasures as you have now. Your high school days are ones that you should look back on with both pride and pleasure. Make them that by getting into the swing and doing your part. Start now! Go out for that team, join and work for one of the school’s clubs and organizations, help sell tickets or make decorations, or sit down and write something for the school paper. Don’t be left out. Make your school years your best years. Frank Sotrines, ’51 Education in the World of Today The education that is being received by the boys and girls in school today will determine the world of tomorrow. But just what is an education?” may be the question asked. Webster defines it as a discipline of the mind or character through study or instruction. The ultimate purpose of an education is to give the student a better understanding of the world in which he is living and of his fellow men. Social influences are strongly revealed in many high schools, colleges, and universities. There is a decided trend among many students to regard the social attraction of a col- lege or university as of more importance than the op- portunity it presents for acquiring scholarship. Study is often an obligation undertaken only as a condition precedent to their being able to participate in recrea- tional activities and other diversions. The morale in many colleges and universities is dominated by the senior class rather than by the faculty. This group of students determines the standards that inspire competition. It seems that scholarship does not in itself command high esteem, but must be joined with social prominence or per- sonal popularity, with the important addition of active participation in athletics and other undergraduate pur- suits. Very few students become distinguished both in scholarship and in sports. But, in spite of this, while students do not gen- eraly count scholastic distinction as the chief end of a high school, college or university career, their influ- ence on one another in their social activities is an im- portant factor in character development. This may be considered as compensation for their lack of interest in learning for itself. Since the ultimate goal of our modern schools is not scholarship alone, but a better understanding of one’s fellow men, our education is giving us this character background. Can you think of a better way of learning than through seeing? Bonnie-Lee Smith, ’52 How Does Communism Affect Us? Often when we think of communism, we think of Russia. There are communists in this country, too, and they affect us. Our country is dangerously infil- trated with communists. These people aren’t just a peaceful political party with different ideals ; they are people who wish to upset our government. One reason why communists are a menace is their precept of using force if necessary to overthrow a government. Many may disavow this purpose, but it is written clearly in some of the prominent writings ( 20 )

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CLASS OFFICERS 1 . Class officers : Seniors — T. Cocco, President; B. Manchester, Vice-President; W. Howes, Treasurer; Mrs. Clair, Adviser. 2. Juniors: W. Freeman, President; C. Higgins, Vice-President; Mrs. Clair, Adviser. V Sophomores: A. Alexanian, President; M. Sweeney, Secretary; E. Cuddy, Treasurer; G. Hatch, Secretary; Miss Leadbetter, Adviser. 4. Freshmen : L. Massarelli, President; F. Zanelli, Treasurer; P. Aho, Secretary; M. Sweeney, Vice-President; Miss Shine, Adviser. ( 19 )

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of communist Russia. These writings are the founda- tion for communism and are studied by communists everywhere. The principles of communism, as ex- plained in them, cover the way the communists gov- ernment should work and the use of force to gain control of other government. But,” many say, how do these apply to American communists. Aren’t they peace-loving American citizens?” No, for the most part these people are in sympathy with the Russian ideals and government, and will sabotage our defense to help that government. American communists have many plans for doing us harm from the inside. They may become especially dangerous if they receive a secret government job. American communists work hard. They control many organizations, not by being a majority, but by being present at every meeting and always voting. They try hard to persuade other people to their view- point. Some of these people wish to back out after they have learned how communism works, but they are caught in the web Communists of Russia threaten us with war. As the situation stands now, there is little chance of any- thing but war with Russia. No matter how black things look, however, nothing is hopeless. This sit- uation is very similar to checkers. One side seems to have lost the game. All is dark on the horizon, but one false move of the opponent who didn’t clearly see a full picture of the circumstance, and the former side is winning. The communists in Russia are few compared with the non-communists. All the poor people are anti- communistic because they have seen what communism has done to them, — ground them into the dirt. So, although it looks as if w r e must have a w-ar with Rus- sia, we can say that we have allies in many countries, including possibly, the anti-communists of Russia, if they have a chance to revolt. One way to defeat the communists is by an active support of our government. Work as hard as the communists do, and you are almost sure of victory, because people prefer the freedom we offer to the slavery of communism. Do You Have It? A friendly manner, a cheerful smile, the ability to make friends easily, good sportsmanship, all of these make up the foundation of that one word that means so much to everyone, personality. Every boy and girl of high school age wants to have a good personality. Why is it, you ask, that this one word means so much to so many teen-agers? Well, here is your answer. Good personality leads to the one thing we all dream about and that is being popular with the gang.” That’s about all every boy and girl w ' ants at this particular age. But personality is really doing more for you than just making you popular. It is building the foundation of your future no matter what it may be. You may be looking forward to nothing more than a happy married life. If this be your choice of a future, personality will help you to make more friends and to enjoy yourself more with them. Many more of you will be just ordinary clerks or will work in factories. Personality will enable you to get along better w ' ith the people you work w ' ith as well as your customers. You will have more of a chance to better yourselves as, more than likely, you will be the person who w ' ill increase sales, create a friendlier feeling between the employees and create better understanding between the employer and em- ployees. And then there are the chosen few who will really make good in this world. They will be our doctors, our lawyers, our teachers. They will be mingling with people at all times. Just think of what would hap- pen to these people if they didn’t have a good per- sonality. Would you like to go to a doctor who never smiled? Would you like to have a teacher who was always angry? No, of course you wouldn’t; and neither would anyone else. You should be able to see by these few points what personality means to each of us. So try to be friendly, cheerful, and a good sport and see how much hap- pier you can be. (21 ) Patricia Meister, ’52 Pat Wehkoja, ’52