Mechanic Falls High School - Pilot Yearbook (Mechanic Falls, ME)

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M. F. H. S. lead in educational circles but one won- ders if the importance of education in this particular instance has not been over- stressed. We must look to the future, far be- yond those times when prosperity is at a low ebb, and see the requirements that will be presented, so that we may change our school schedules to agree in training for future demands. On the basis of past history, life will be much more in- volved and competitive in the times to come than the present, which makes it appear that the part of the schools of America, and among them those of Maine. will ever grow in importance. Let us see to it that those who come after us shall be able to carry on, driving loath- some Ignorance with the silver sword of Knowledge to the farthermost corners of the earth, leaving it a better world for humanity. HUGH RIDEOUT, '34 A VOICE FROM OUTSIDE Ohl Let me come inside of the lofty walls, called a soft little voice outside the school house. A hushed silence came the noisy students on the inside. Who could it be that wanted to come into the Brain Shop, as they referred to school, for they only looked upon OVCI' their it as a place of meeting and having fun with the different ones there. T hey worked only when they really had to and then just enough to get by. Let me in, again called the little voice. I wonder who it is, said Mary. Shall we let whoever is outside enter? asked Betty. fSure, they all chimed together, If they want to come into this place let them in. . PILOT 27 Tom opened the door and said, Come in, my friend, but no one could be seen. All the others began to laugh saying, The joke is on you, Tom. When the door was closed the same little voice said, Thank you, very much for letting me in. I have tried for a long time to gain admittance but no one would let me enter. The students looked around but no one could be seen. Mary said in a timid voice, who are you and why do you hide P Oh! l am the unseen spirit here to renew your interest in education and to help you in your future life and I know I am welcome here for you all want to be well known in the future. Am I not right? spoke the little voice from the outside. You are welcome within these walls. Unseen Spirit, since the Education of America must go on. D. FRENCH, '34 WHAT IS A HOME WITHOUT A CHILD? A young boy of sixteen years walked slowly down the alley with his dog. Thoughts of his mother who had long since departed for another world rushed through his mind. Visions of her and his father rose in vivid pictures before his unseeing eyes. The boy was on the verge of starva- tion but he kept walking wearily on try- ing to find some place to rest. Suddenly a group of boys ran past him and one dropped a bag. Rex stared at the boys and at the bag. He then stooped, picked up the bag and started to cry out to the boys to stop and get it, but at that mom- ent a policeman's hand grabbed him by the arm and a grutf voice said, I've got you, you little rascal. Don't think you

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26 M. F. H. S. PILOT education with them, firm in the belief of its ultimate necessity and strongly set in giving their children that which might have been denied to them personally. The educated man was respected. How dif- ferent from the earlier English idea that he who possessed knowledge was a direct emissary of the Devil and a dealer in the Black Arts! With the rise of national wealth the high school rose in importance and at- tendance. The three R's idea of edu- cation was found to be wanting as meas- ured against the requirements of the day, and new ideas became inculcated into the curriculum, and, enriching it, became per- manent, such as some of the experiments carried on at Gary, Indiana. Changes at Hrst were made slowly, for popular thought ran in but one deep rut, and it was the men of vision who were forced to cope with the problems which were arising. As new theories were proven, others came forward, until the modern high school can offer a student in four years that which was once considered a college education. Modern education can prepare a student for college or certain lines of business, science, or mechanics. Today, when competition is so fast and furious. in this, a business world, the jack-of-all-trades has no place. To attain a stable and lasting success one must specialize upon a chosen line and follow it. The basis of specialization is educa- tion,-education of a high order. That is what a high school in this country must give, along with the elementary schools. which mould and make smooth the way. An industrial and commercial nation in these times must be educated to survive the fierce financial tempest and weather poor business conditions. An educated nation is a machine which automatically repairs itself. When a country presents a citizen with an education it is making an investment, the returns of which out- grow the actual principal. Educated peo- ple work out and understand intelligent laws. progress is more rapid, inventions increase, disease and sickness are con- quered, and nation-wide understanding is accomplished. An educated nation wars against that evil genius of mankind,- war. In this alone learning earns its pur- chase price. The individual benehts from contact with other enlightening people, who understand and appreciate the higher and liner things of life, a raised standard of living, and a higher morality. There is no question of these advantagesg they are self-evident, and the past history of this country wil bear this assertion out. It is readily admitted, however, that there are weak points in the structure of the present school system. For one thing, books could be passed upon by a com- mittee, not only state, but nation-wide, and a uniform schedule of school books he arranged. l believe a bureau should be established which would direct edu- cation in this country in a more united manner. At present there are no two schools of really equal standards to be found for the reason that there are dif- ferent sets of rules in each school and different books used. The schools of Maine compare favor- ably with the schools of any other State. and the expense of Maine schools com- pared with those of the rest of the Union is much less. This may be carried to extremes, however. just as Massachu- setts has gone to the further extreme in paying twenty-three out of every twenty- live on public schools. It cannot be denied that some of the Massachusetts schools

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28 M. F. H. can steal and get away with it. I see you have got the bag too. That's good luck for me. Rex was then promptly escorted to the police station and thrust into jail. His explanation was of no avail. The police- man would not and did not believe his story. Another policeman, seeing that the boy was hungry, brought him some food and he immediately fell into a deep slumber. King had followed his master to the police station and was admitted to the boy's cell. One of the policemen who liked dogs brought King a bone to eat. The next morning Rex was brought before judge Gray to tell his story. The young boy was feeling better after hav- ing eaten and having slept soundly on the hard cot of the jail. The judge asked the boy his name and when Rex replied, Reginald Gray, he gave a start and grew pale as he slowly stood up. The crowd and the policemen in the court room wondered what was troubling the judge for tears were stream- ing down his face unheeded. XVhen the judge spoke again his voice was rough with emotion. He asked Rex his mother's and father's names and where they lived. Rex told him that he didn't know where his father was because he had gone to war and hadn't come back and his mother had been dead about six months. Upon hearing this news the judge cried, Rex, is this a picture of your mother F He then opened his watchcase and showed Rex a picture of a woman. ls that your mother? he asked again. Rex nodded a replyg the judge said hoarsely, She was my wife and you are my son. The next moment Rex was in his father's arms weeping out his tale of suffering and poverty. He told what S. PILOT misery his mother had gone through for five years. After living in one house for three years they had had to move. He told how they had left a letter for his father with the people who owned the house they used to live in. His mother had worked hard to support him and keep him in school. After five years of hard work, poverty, and grief she had died of a broken heart believing her husband dead. With his dog he had wandered from place to place, begging for food and shelter when he could not get work. Fewer and fewer people gave him shelter and food, until at last, nobody helped him. He said that the First food he and the dog had eaten in two days was the food given to them at the police station. The people in that crowded courtroom will never forget the scene nor will they ever forget judge Gray and his son Reginald Gray. That night a happy man watched his son sleeping peacefully on a soft bed. judge Gray smiled happily at the dog lying on a rug beside the bed of his son. As he patted the dog who had been his son's companion he thought of a saying that he had often heard. VVhat is a home without a child P UNA MARSHALL, '35 THE WOMAN IN THE ROW BEHIND EXPLAINS THE MOVIE XVell, john, this is a good seat. VVe're just in time. I dropped my glove. Look for it, john, before the show begins. You can't find it, well look again. I'll tell you what happens. There is a beautiful girl with curls, sheis adorable. Oh she is going to go to her great aunt's to live. Have you found the glove?