New Haven High School - Elm Tree Yearbook (New Haven, CT)

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v f Adj f' N ' 'Ox fm. fg :tg 455' . . Wy -.. C lass of Nineteen F orty-Seven: Mr. I. Edgar Hoover, director of the FBI, in trying to account for the crimes in our country, and to check them, has concluded that there has been a parental and national educational neglect in the spiritual education of our boys and girls under twenty-one. A magazine, in an article along the same lines, gave the following statistics of two large families who once lived in the State of New York. One family, Mr. and Mrs. M. J., was strictly materialistic, with no faith in the church or the unseen spiritual forces of life. From a study made of over a thousand descendants of this family, three hundred died prematurely, one hundred were sent to the penitentiary, over a hundred were convicted of vice, and one hundred were drunkards. The other family was that of jonathan Edwards and his wife, both of whom believed in religious training. A study of over seven hundred of their descendants showed sixty-five college professors, thirteen university presidents, three hundred preachers, six authors of worthy books, three U. S. Congressmen, and one Vice- President of the United States. Mr. Hoover would probably say, -- What this all sums up to is that we, human beings, develop much according to right training - with spiritual leader- shipf, A well planned garden for instance, if neglected, will develop only Weeds, crowding out all flowers or other useful products. Likewise, whatever our age, we require restraints and guidance, otherwise, bad habits creep into our lives, leaving no room for developing worthy characters and useful living. Again, religion resembles a road map, a guide which, if followed, aids one in discovering and traveling a safer, surer, and happier life. Our country, therefore, counts on all of us to carry on this principle, which has made America what it is. Your fine school record assures us that you will try to do your part. We all wish you success and happiness. Cordially yours, CHARLES L. KIRSCHNER, N.H.H.S. ,88 Principal Emeritus 17

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if M X - it X QQ AX1, .... - .... To flat' Class of 1947: The frailties and foibles, not only of individuals but also of society, con- stantly reported in the newspapers and on the radio cause many people to be deeply disturbed and patently pessimistic. Such reports are especially prevalent at the present time because of the turbulent conditions which always follow in the wake of a devastating war. This apparent social bankruptcy emanates funda- mentally from the failure of men and Women to heed the moral law and from the failure of social groups to understand and to respect one another. Education is more than mere book learning or the development of mechan- ical skill. It should stimulate the growth of right attitudes toward life and the acquisition of an adequate understanding of other people. ' But more than this is necessary if the present problem of social insolvency is to be solved. There must be an abiding faith and an optimistic belief that in the end righteousness, justice, and the will of God must and will prevail. M ay I leave with you the memorable words of the Apostle Paul, who said: 'And now abideth faith, hope, love, these three, but the greatest of these is love.' With the best of wishes for a happy and prosperous career, I am Cordially yours, IRVING N. COUNTRYIWAN, '01 Principal 16

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'YZ X? :IQ If W i f wil l ,,,, s,-,-,-e.,,,,,,, c XX 1 To the Class of 1947: As another commencement season approaches and the members of another graduating class prepare to leave our school, I presume with the usual mixed emotions of joy and sorrow, it is my sincere Wish that the friendships you have formed, the habits you have developed, and the lessons you have learned will help to make your lives a bit more pleasant, a bit more useful than they might otherwise have been. You began your high school career during one of the darkest periods in the worldis history, and you have lived to see the cause of right and decency prevail. Though learned at an appalling cost in human lives and material, the importance of developing the moral courage to carry on, during those moments of despair, which all must sooner or later experience, is a lesson which forever should remain with us. With most of the peoples of the earth looking longingly in the direction of the United States for a solution to their problems, the need for the development of outstanding leaders and an intelligent, unselfish citizenry becomes immediately apparent. Never before have we been called upon to assume such an important role in World affairs. I am certain that during the past three years at New Haven High School you have made a splendid start toward the development of the necessary qualities to meet successfully this great challenge. Cordially yours, ENILIONS I. BOWEN, Assistant Principal N. H. H. S., 1915 18 I