North Andover High School - Knight Yearbook (North Andover, MA)

Page 30 text:

THE GOBBLER - 1943 CLASS HISTORY LjlHE doors reluctantly swung open, the stairs groaned sorrowfully, and even J U the teachers were a little downhearted. They shuddered to think of the noisy, ill-mannered freshmen disrupting the now quiet rooms. There was no getting away from it, it had to be faced. The clock could not turn back the time, the doors could not lock them out, and the faculty had to accept, at least momentarily, the abuse forthcoming. The noisy, bubbling freshmen of 1939 were quickly taken in hand, lectured and cautioned by teachers and upper classmen. To say we settled down would raise the anger of the shaken building, but we did start off on the right track. We held elections (here I question the use of that word), and chose Leo Lafond for president, Jimmy Allen for vice-president and Betty Kreusel as our secre¬ tary-treasurer. Clubs were renewed and for days the old school chuckled at the sight of pigtails with odd-colored ribbons, and large bows bedecking heads of members. The aprons worn were as amusing as the dolls carried about in loving arms. Leo performed his first official act at the freshmen debut by thanking the seniors for a wonderful dance and a warm welcome. The rally dance came next. Spirits and hopes were high but to no avail. The Thanksgiving game ended in a win for Punchard. 1940 rolled around, but we were still the foolish, note-passing freshmen. Contests were started to sell tickets for the annual play. The return Fresh¬ man-Senior dance was enjoyed. The prom came and went, affecting but few of the freshmen girls. Then our worshipped seniors left, and now we were sophomores. The fall of ’40 we came back because we felt it our duty to help the faculty tame the freshmen. Yes, we were now supposedly subdued sophomores. Leo held his presidency and the next two offices went to John Farrell and Barbara Earl. America in miniature was seen at the polls of the mock election, in which every student took part. We, too, chose President Roosevelt. John¬ son’s undefeated football team of 1940 was something to marvel at. Soon after Thanksgiving, students and players alike trudged the icy miles to Ando¬ ver to ask in unison that Punchard reconsider their refusal to play us and carry out the scheduled plans. Unfortunately, this was to no avail. Our hall was filled to the nth degree at the presentation of the play “What a Life.” The prom indirectly announced the end of a year of fun and then the seniors took the spotlight as they prepared for graduation. The summer of ’41 gave us a well-deserved rest. The inadequate summer holiday didn’t quite heal our scarred and overworked minds, but nevertheless, we went back to work gracefully. Slacks boldly appeared and aroused a great deal of discussion. They won the right to be worn to school, but not the boys’ approval. The memorable happening of our junior year was the defeat of Punchard by a score of 8 to 7. The first in twenty-eight years! The Victory dance was a carry-over from this 26

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JOHNSON HIGH SCHOOL VALEDICTORY HONOR Seldom do two pupils attain identical ranks at the conclusion of a high school course. At the close of the first semester this year Kenneth Carvell and Claire Lambert, our valedictorian, had the same average. At that time Kenneth left Johnson to enroll at Harvard University. All at Johnson regret that he cannot speak at graduation. In appreciation of his scholarship the Gobbler is printing a brief essay which he submitted to the Journal during the first semester. Changes Needed in Our Course of Study H HE teachers don’t understand it. The principal doesn’t understand it. William’s parents don’t understand it at all. William has failed in his [||l Latin and French again this term. The teachers know he tries as much as, or even more than, any other pupil in his class, and give him extra credit for his obvious effort, yet he is still far below the passing grade. The one, however, who feels worst of all over it is William, for he was the one who put countless hours into these subjects, trying to memorize long vocabularies and translate hard passages. Finally he has to drop the subjects and lose a year’s work. This situation should not have existed. William is not a linguist, but is without doubt skilled in other lines. He is skillful in the use of his hands. More handicraft subjects should be introduced into our school curriculum, such as woodworking, welding, printing, and metal work. The pupil’s adviser should look up his previous record, and suggest subjects that would suit the student’s talents. In this manner we should find fewer failures in our school system. Handicraft classes should be taught as regular subjects with a well planned year’s work under an experienced teacher. In this way handicraft students could fit themselves for the future, for although the languages would be for¬ gotten quickly, the student’s handicraft experience would remain firmly in his mind for years. Here high school might give the pupil the practical knowledge which would earn his living for him after he graduated. A change in the curriculum of this kind would have a great effect on the standards of the school. The number of failures would have been considerably reduced. Electricity classes could do valuable service in the school by correct¬ ing improper lighting. Woodworking classes could fix desks, resurface tables, and build book cases. Printing classes could print programs for activities of the school and the town. As time goes on I feel that handicraft subjects will become a necessary part of every high school course. Kenneth L. Carvell 25

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JOHNSON HIGH SCHOOL wonderful event. There was a record-breaking attendance of over four hun¬ dred. The players were taken to a hockey game in Boston by the cheer leaders. December 7, 1941, is a date which will never be forgotten. We were at¬ tacked by Japan while her ambassadors were here on a peace mission. Every student sat in awed silence as the radio transmitted President Roosevelt’s speech to Congress, in which he asked for a declaration of war. Our courses were rightly upset and the faculty did a wonderful job in preparing Johnson students to face this situation confidently. Balloon rhymes with June and the first week of that month held nothing but balloons for many of the juniors and seniors. Tommy Sousa’s band played for the prom and the balloons were used as souvenirs. September 9, 1942, meant the start of a new and final year. The same dances and usual affairs were kept, but many new things had been added. The seniors upset the usual procedure by having a barn dance before the Senior-Freshman dance. It was a huge success with loud shirts, dungarees and square dancing. Campaigning began soon after for a victory dance. The dance was held, but the victory, at least in points, was enjoyed by Punchard. The Johnson eleven was undefeated with the unfortunate exception of one game. The football players were once more entertained at a party by the cheer leaders. The announcement that we were to graduate June 4 brought tears to eyes of the faculty, and extreme joy to the seniors. We voted for a class supper and plans for it and graduation outshone everything else. Some day, somewhere, each one of us will look back over the four years spent here and wish we were back. Little by little, the teachings, warnings and predictions of our teachers will become real, and will, inevitably, pave the road to a better life. And so, small in number, but mighty in memories, we will go our separate ways. There are things, however, that will keep us to¬ gether, no matter how far apart. We leave, with a prayer for peace, everlasting peace, and a hope for happi¬ ness. Virginia Aponovich CLASS WILL r the denouncing of the “Emancipation Proclamation’’ by the Johnson High School faculty for the past four years, do hereby make our last attempt to bestow on the deserving juniors our magnetic, overpowering charms, our bril¬ liant minds and our great leadership in this last will and testament. Francis Driscoll conscientiously bequeaths his famous football tactics and his “precise” senior social science notebook, to John Cyr and Alan Armstrong. Marcella Lyon leaves her Boxford accent and quick speech to Wanda Stefanowich, who probably will thank Marcella for giving to her such a gift. Charlie McCarthy gets Jackie Stewart’s technique on “How to handle women as cheaply as possible”—the lucky fellow! 27