McKinley High School - President Yearbook (Buffalo, NY)

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X i l l J. t. , . ' Allen Speck. Seniur Class lnstructur Checking Work Being Done by Roy Svenssin SELECTIONS FROM IF I XVERE 21 by ll m. Kimd-eu If I were twenty-one I would be a mechanic. I would try to get work in a machine shop. If that failed I would try for a job in a Hlling sta- tion, or .is an apprentice to an electrician or a plumber, or as a clerk behind a counter, or as an errand boy. I would try to get some work to do with my hands. Nowadays in America most youngsters want a college education. That is all right, I would probably want one, too. But I wouldn't, if I knew what I know now, let the college education inter- fere with my practical education as a mechanic. For that I have some good reasons. Last summer I talked a good deal with some young college seniors. They all seemed worried about how they would get their start in life. What shall we do? they asked. What shall we head for I suggested that they go out and try to get a job working with their hands: filling station, fac- tory, store, machine shop. They were puzzled. 7.. Forty-two MACHINE SHOP COURSE I NSTRUCTORS Mr Ervin Borth Mr. Allen Speck Mr. Chester Fissler Mr, Charles Kieb Mr. Robert Milius Mr. Carl Pundt They thought I was joking. Vlfhy, they were college men, Manual labor would involve fin some way I don't understandj a loss of standing, of prestige. Furthermore, these youngsters had never had any training in practical, mechanical skills. They wouldn't know how to start. Now, these were pretty good, average, decent, intelligent young Americans. The fact that they feared to go to work with their hands indicates there is something wrong with our system of training. That's not the true American tradition. George Wasliington was for years a hard-working sur- veyor: Thoinas jetferson was a gifted designer of useful appliances, Benjamin Franklin was a jour- neyman printer, an inventor, and the best elec- trician ol his ageg Abraham Lincoln split rails, kept a store, built and worked on flatboats. The fact that these men knew how to work with their hands undoubtedly contributed to their hard, practical sense. What to do about it? Well, I think all our schools should put more emphasis on training in manual skills, give more opportunity for young- sters to test the theories they learn in actual prac- tice, let them compete with one another in build- ing useful things. You can tell a boy what a pump isg but if he gets a pipe, and, by means of a cork on a string, draws water up through that pipe, he really rmdertlmzdr what a pump is. But there is nothing wrong with this country which American brains, energy, and good will cannot cure. As we readjust and get back into balance there are going to be greater opportunities than ever before. The boy who assumes otherwise, who is not ready for the opportunities as they come, is going to miss the boat. From my knowl- edge of American industry, it is my conviction that the development in this country is going to be greater in the next Hfty years than it was in the last Hfty years. If I were twenty-one, well-I would much rather be it than talk about it, but I would not, I believe, hestitate for a moment to try it over again on the same pattern.

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OUR PRINCIPAL REVIEWS THE PAST YEAR The Class of 1947 will al- ways be remembered as the largest in the history of Mc- Kinley. Because of the lack of room it is unlikely that this number will ever be ex- ceeded. The large size of this class is partly due to the great number of veterans, former students of McKinley, who are completing their high school work this year. There -are also several members of the senior class of last year I who have completed their re- - quirements in summer or eve- Ronrakr S. I-Ioous ning school. . Wie have been fortunate in having these veterans in attendance who, by exemplifying earnestness and determination in securing a diploma, have been an inspiration to teachers and students alike. The past year has taken toll of the lives of two of McKinley's finest teachers-I-Ienry Staubitz and Philip Ackley. These were, indeed, tragic blows, Mr. Hebert has been ill for the entire year. Mr. Notar was drafted to take charge of the Building Construction Course at the New York State Institute of Applied Arts and Sciences. Mr. Sutton, Mr. Lucchino and Mr.'Koch resigned for employment elsewhere. In the tield of sports, an unparalleled series of athletic victories has brought fame to McKinley. During the past live years the teams have won the Harvard Cup live times, the Yale Cup twice, and the Cornell Cup once. In addition, two Cross Country and three All-Vocational victories were added to McKinley's laurels. . . Much progress has been made at McKinley in developing complete courses of study in detail for all the shop work and related technical subjects. A greatly improved school paper, an attractive year book. an efficient Student Council and a well attended Open House have all contributed to a successful year. As a fitting climax to four years of work, the class will be addressed at commencement by our Super- intendent, Dr. Robert T. Bapst, who joins me in conveying our best wishes to the Class of 1947. Romzrxr S. Hoouz Forty-one

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BUILDING TRADES - counsrs INSTRUCTORS Mr Henry Rose ..... v... .......,................. B r icklaying Mr, William Massic .,..,.... ,..... P lastering Mr. Bart Darcangelo .......,, ,.,,... P lumbing Mr Ben Darcangelo ,....,.. ,.,.,,, P lumbing Mr Artie Doten ......,,,,, ..,,,,, C arpentry Mr. Raymond jones .,,... ., .,,,.., .Carpentry Mr. Bennett Hull vv... .,,..,,, S heetmctnl Mr Ray Schuler ,...,,., ........ Sheetmctal PLAN OF INSTRUCTION IN BUILDING TRADES During the first year of instruction in any of the building trades courses students are given a foundation training in Eve different shops. Eight weeks are spent in each of the following shops: Bricklaying, plastering, sheetmetal, carpentry and plumbing. Stu- dents must know by the end of their first year in which shop they wish to get addi- tional three years' training. The purpose of this first year general training is to acquaint the student with the problems of the trades- mfaftr-'SW f 'X I ,s.,s -,f -?1iZf?xs!2r:'?T5t'2tT'i . ' ig? I Artie Doten instructs Buh Denny .ind Frank Browning in model house construction, man in other building trades so that when the student graduates and starts work at his own trade he will appreciate the other work of the other mechanics and thus be able to cooperate better with them. -Pbolor from the Arti.mu Q I ' V I ' fm. . , ,, ,, ,M tv Plumbing Shop Plastering Shop Brick Laying Shop Forty-three