Medina High School - Medinian Yearbook (Medina, OH)

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THE MEDINIAN mmm. Valedictory By Lawrence Prehn As the thought comes to us, that we, the Class of 1932, are now leaving our Medina High School to whom we have all become attached, we are apt to wonder at the significance of such an act, for only occasionally shall we be able to come again within its friendly atmosphere and then, only as visitors. There may be the thought that this is the end of our school days and, therefore, the end of our learning. It is true that we have finished our secondary school training, but it is also true that our education is far from being completed. Our life, thus far, has been a continual educational process, which has progressed through three distinct stages, and this, our Commencement Day, marks the conclusion of the third stage. Permit me to trace the outlines of these stages and their inception. The first had its beginning with our introduction into this world. Our task was to become acquainted with the world immediately about us, especially with those things which were most important to our welfare at that time. Becoming accustomed to our homes and every day adventuring forth into the new little worlds of our in ' fantile perception under the patient guidance of our parents found us, after five years, with our horizon of existence much larger than it was when we first became aware of our surroundings. The second stage of our life, or education, began when we entered school, where we came into contact with many more people whom we learned to know by name and appearance as well as by certain other characteristics. Advancing from grade to grade increased our activities. Our studies were fascinating. We were amazed to learn that the earth was saped like a ball and that it was spinning around and around, and that, although the sun appeared to be much smaller than the earth, it was, in reality, many times larger. New people were continually entering our lives and they, together with our study of other lands and their inhabitants, left their impression upon us. The horizon of our little world which had been expanding all the time began to widen out at a greatly increased rate, when we were promoted to high school. Here, we were accorded many new privileges and the consequent responsibilities challenged the more intensive use of our mental powers. Here, too, we began to realize that our progress no longer depended so much upon our parents and teachers, but more and more upon our own ability and our willingness to apply it. This realiza ' tion was further emphasized by our study of the languages and history of other men whose independence made them worthy of our attention. Unlimited fields, both con ' crete and abstract, were revealed in our study of mathematics, while chemistry and physics acquainted us with the complicated structures which constitute our planet. Although the development of independence is very important, our life is inter ' dependent in character, like that of a tree, for as a tree grows, it sends out new roots and branches, which, in turn, enable it to grow larger, and as we grow, when new things are acquired, they, in turn, furnish the foundation for our continued growth. By the time we have finished high school our outlook has so broadened that our past life is beheld from a newer more mature viewpoint and we are able to see, at least dimly, the trend of our future education or life. This new period will be, or at least should be, one of greater expansion than has ever been experienced before, and having acquired the basic foundation of our education we should now continue building Twenty-One

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THE MEDINIAN Class History By Dean Friesner Due to the fact that I was not present when our class marched up the steps of the Primary building to Kindergarten hack in 1919, I do not know the history for the first few years, hut I am told that we had a large group, which you can verify by pictures that were taken of the group at that time. Do you remember them? In 1920 we started our first year of elementary school, gradually learning our A, B, C’s until we mastered Arithmetic, Geography, History, Reading, Spelling, etc by 1928 we were ready for High School. so This Freshman year introduced a new kind of school work, with which we were not well (acquainted, and because of these things, time seemed to pass slowly. The number entering this year was increased by a large number of pupils from other town ' ships. The total number was sixty eight, all these waiting to be escorted to our first Freshman classrooms, 227 and 117. Here we found Mr. Taggert and Mr. Claggett in the respective rooms. Mr. Claggett was a new teacher, who soon became a true friend to the whole class. We were well acquainted with Mr. Taggert due to his helpfulness in the 8th grade. In our classrooms we met new teachers, Miss Watters, Miss Stewart, Miss Martin and Mr. Robeson, who were just beginning their first year of teaching in Medina High. They too, have done much to guide us through our school work and our activities. Even though time went slowly the year passed by without a flaw. While Freshmen we watched and respected with envious thoughts the prestige and importance of the Juniors and Seniors. Spanned between us and this rank of honor loomed our Sophomore year, to which we readily became accustomed, due to our previ ' ous year’s experience. During the first semester unforseen pleasures developed. The second semester was saddened by the death of our friend and teacher Miss B. Houston. As we entered our Junior year we assumed the responsibilities of “upper ' dass ' men,” such as editing the Annual and requiring respect from all “upper ' classmen.” We were very unfortunate in the untimely loss of our esteemed Class President, Dana L. Cole. Thus we became dignified Seniors, our last year of High School, in which we sponsored a successful class play, “Gangway,” due to the kind supervision of Miss Cooper, Mr. Conkle and the Faculty. Our thoughts now grew more serious as we realized the part we had to play in this creative world. We graduated in a group of sixty five, each fellow classman ready to go his way and keep the wheels of life rolling. . iirr iiiAuAmluAUif lunuAuAut luoiBngEBKfflflE Twenty

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THE MEDINIAN I I f - j s ! i il -» i I | I i 1 i 1 I 1 I 1 1 I - ij 5 3 S this broader life, for, according to that old adage: “It is never too late to learn,” our opportunity for development is unlimited. Proof of this is shown by the fact that some of our greatest thinkers have passed their three score and ten and are still pro ' gressing energetically. This statement also shows us the importance of maintaining good health, for without good health, we cannot work to our greatest ability. If we cannot work to our greatest ability at something which we like to do, our happiness will, certainly, not be at maximum. Furthermore, no career which any of the class of 1932 may choose to enter, can be efficiently carried on without specific training for the work which it entails. Our immediate task, therefore, is to obtain this training. In doing so, however, our sense of perspective must not be lost, for knowledge of vocations, other than our own, is not only desirable but, in many in ' stances, helpful. And so, as we separate tonight, each to obtain the additional training necessary for success in the vocation of his choice, let us remember that our horizon widens only when we climb, and that the climbing depends more and more upon our own power to move ourselves. Let us not forget to express our sincere gratitude to those w ho have been instru ' mental in widening our horizon to its present extent. In saying Farewell, we realize now, more than ever before, how much we really owe to our parents and teachers for their guidance to our present position. We can and will prove the truth of this statement by according to others the same degree of assistance for broadening their horizon that has been accorded to us. Salutatory By William Batchelder It is with great pleasure that we, the Class of 1932, welcome you, our friends and relatives, here tonight. Every member of our class realizes and appreciates to the fullest extent all that he owes to his parents, friends, members of the faculty and of the School Board, and all who have made possible the erection and maintenance of this fine school plant which affords such splendid educational facilities. This debt is one which we can never hope to repay in full, but it is our determination to strive to become respected members of society so that none of you will ever regret the labors and worries which you have expended on our behalf. Indeed, were it not for the constant encourage ' ment and neverTailing aid which you have so generously extended to us it would have been impossible for us to be here at all. Our four years of high school have been happy ones and we may certainly con ' sider them well spent. In fact, it might be said, that we have now learned enough to know that we really know nothing, which, after all, is the first prerequisite to an education. Under the present industrial and economic conditions, it is a well known fact that unless a person has a good, well balanced education he is hopelessly handicapped. It used to be that a man possessing superior scholastic training was the exception; and, as such, was entitled to an easy living. Today, the same type is the rule and, far from being handed a soft job for life, he must scratch as hard as anyone else for his bread and butter. An education was once a luxury; now it is a necessity. S3 iiiZ sm ml ml mlml ' ml ml mlml ml mT mlmr l mlml mlml mlml ail ml WWlullDllmZ Twenty-Two