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

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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

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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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Literary And Then Goodbye I guess I’d known him all my life, or at least as far back as I can remember. It wasn ' t one of those boy next door situations, although we had gone to the same school together. I can remember him in the first grade with half of his teeth missing, covered with freckles, and as fresh as could be. Not exactly fresh, daring was more the word. Even then, all the fellows used to swarm around him and look to him for leadership because of his bold courage, and that ' s how it remained. He was always the most popular boy, the best athlete, and the boys followed him around as if he were some sort of a god. As for the girls, any girl would give her right arm to go out with him just once, including me. He didn’t bother much with girls though. He was too interested in sports and keeping his grades up to passing level . . . until Martha came along. She came to our school in our senior year. It’s hard to describe Martha. She certainly wasn ' t the cute type, but she had a beauty that always seemed to re- mind me of a Grecian goddess: flawless skin, spark- ling green eyes, and features molded to perfection. Her hair was the color of a shiny new copper penny. She was like something out of a dream, one of those dreams where you never want to wake up. Right from the beginning he looked at her as I’d often wished he looked at me. It wasn’t long before Martha had him wrapped around her little finger and tied in a bow. She was supposed to be going steady with him but every once in a w’hile she’d get sick of him and start going out with someone new. He’d mope around like a lost dog, but she always came back to him after a week or a month and he’d be there waiting. Then we had our Christmas vacation. Two weeks of fun for most, but to me it was just two long weeks when I wouldn’t see him. But one night I met him on my way home from the drug store. He walked me home and told me how Martha was away visiting relatives over the holiday. He didn’t have to tell me she was away. I could tell just by looking at him. He had that sad, wistful look in his eyes and didn’t look anything like the happy-go-lucky boy he once used to be. I asked him in for hot chocolate that night but he said he had to go home and write a letter. And I knew that letter was to a beautiful girl who had hurt him more than once. Isn’t it odd that you can beat a dog, but if the dog loves you enough, all you have to do is speak a kind word or give him a friendly pat and he’ll come back for more. Time went by and school started in again. Every- one came back with renewed interest and all the stories of what they had done over the holidays; and Martha came back with an engagement ring that she had been given by some Romeo she had met. Have you ever had a tooth filled? The dentist keeps grinding and grinding with that needle. It hurts, but you don ' t say anything, you keep it in, until he hits the nerve, and then you holler. Martha had been drilling for a long time now, and she finally hit the nerve. He didn’t finish school, a boy with a good future, certainly college material, but instead he joined the navy. I saw him once before he left when he came over to say goodbye to the family. I walked outside with him that night when he left. I wanted so much to tell him all the things I had crowded up inside me but all I did was wish him luck. And then he was gone, and a part of my heart went with him. He turned around and waved when he got down by the street light but I wondered if he was waving to me, or to a girl with flawless skin, sparkling green eyes, perfect features, and hair the color of a copper penny, the kind of a girl you dream about until sleep overtakes you, like fog creeping over a city. . Barbara Thumith, ’52. Arise and Shine The time: 7:00 — any day of the week. Oh no! So soon? I just got to bed ! Still there’s that ringing noise in my head. Darn clock ! It’ll never break down, Though it’s the oldest contraption in town. I remember Miss Barre’s talk the day before, Concerning our last minute rush for the door, So I decided to arise and try my best, To make my appearance at eight with the rest. (22 )