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

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THE GOBBLER-1947 JOHNSON HIGH SCHOOL world, it is up to us how we will use it. This is youth’s greatest opportunity. Shall we simply let it go by or shall we do something about it? What is to be our answer? Barbara E. Campbell CLASS ORATION “Tonight We Launch; Where Shall We Anchor?” PI IE LAUNCH tonight onto the dark sea of life, in which are hidden mysteries j I and problems as yet unfamiliar to our inexperienced minds. We set forth UU physically from our high school, and mentally from our adolescent manner¬ isms. No longer are we able to do childish and foolish pranks if we expect to gain the admiration and respect of those around us. We have with us now physical training acquired in gym classes, on the base¬ ball diamond, basketball floor, and football field. Although we may seldom play our games as such in later life, we shall always have the valuable lessons taught on the playing field. The mental and moral training will always be of value to us. The respect for authority, the need of promptness (one quality I could not seem to master), learning cleanliness and neatness, and the incalculable mental training are inalienable bits of knowledge that will remain with us always, and in coming years will ripen into wisdom. We launch tonight, but God alone knows where we shall anchor. However, we must have a goal if we expect to accomplish anything in life.. Perhaps one of the most important goals for which to strive is that of being a good citizen. A good citizen, by the common consent of all history, has three loyalties; loyalty to his God, which he doubtless shows every day; loyalty to his country, which he demonstrates by paying his taxes, by electing competent local, state, and federal officials, and by defending his country in time of crisis; and loyalty to his neighbor. The phrase “his neighbor’’ does not necessarily mean the person who lives next door: it also means the neighboring countries. A good citizen should have a world v iewpoint. However, he does not necessarily have to be “a citizen of the world,” but rather a citizen of the United States who accepts his share of respon¬ sibilities in creating and maintaining world peace and order. We can no longer afford to slip into isolationism. We must protect ourselves and our country from domestic and foreign evils. We have this mental and physical training at our disposal, but what we do with it depends entirely upon us. No longer will we have someone to cater to us and look after us; we are on our own now. Whether we are left by the side of the road with the very lowly, to be stepped on and scoffed at by others; whether we follow in the wake of the great, unthinking, regimented horde, to have no minds of our own and to bend our backs to the whips of others; or whether we go against the current, to be classified as intelligent and outstanding in our own particular fields, is solely up to us. It is fearfully true, “Tonight We Launch,” but “Where Shall We Anchor?” Harold R. Vincent 20

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THE GOBBLER-1947 JOHNSON HI GH SCHOOL CLASS ESSAY Youth’s Opportunity MlE HEAR and read so much today about the confused world we live in—a I world with little or no hope of survival—a world with a short, uncertain future. Yet I believe that this so-called confused old world of ours offers to us a great challenge and an opportunity, .unlimited and boundless, for a great service, however long or short that future may be. You are all familiar with the parable of the talents. One man received his talent, kept it to himself and sheltered it. Therefore he contributed nothing to the world he lived in. The other two had foresight enough to use and develop theirs, and were commended for their stewardship. Each of us has been endowed with some particular talent. To those of us who have talents along political lines—what opportunities are before us! The recent war is over, but most of the treaties are not yet agreed upon, and our world is not as secure and peaceful as we were assured it was going to be. Peace is still a word found only in a dictionary, not in the hearts of many of our inter¬ national leaders. In these days the chief function of right government is to promote the interests of all. Any citizen who fails to give his best to support his government in days following a war is no less to be despised than the slacker in the time of war. Good citizenship demands that one shall be unselfishly serving society. Others of us may find our interests along social lines. What a field of service there is here! To name a few, better housing and living conditions in all areas of our country, agencies for the curbing of crime and juvenile delinquency, racial tolerance, and scientific research. Today, more than ever, there is a field of service for those who have talents in the line of education. More students are finishing high school and seeking a higher education in colleges, and in technical and trade schools. Those who have such an education are able to procure better jobs with higher salaries, and have more chance for advancement. It is becoming more necessary in these times to have the equivalent of a college education because good jobs are becom¬ ing scarcer, now that the war is over. Religious work offers a tremendous challenge to the young people of today in this post-war world. Many who have this great talent, are needed in foreign fields to heal the sick, teach the illiterate, feed the hungry, uplift the down¬ trodden, and spread the word of God. Here at home, in America, Christian workers are needed to teach our people the meaning of Brotherhood. Christian¬ ity has never failed where it has been tried. Wars of greed and selfishness are born in the minds of ungodly men. We each have some talent. It may be hidden right now, but sooner or later it will come to light. Shall we choose to be like the man who used his talent for the betterment of the world, or shall we only shelter our great gift? We have all been given the talent of understanding, and in this confused and muddled 19

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THE GOBBLER-1947 JOHNSON HIGH SCHOOL CLASS HISTORY O UR scholastic ability up to par, the spring of 1943 proudly bestowed upon us, the Class of ’47, the unique title of freshman. With two months in which to prepare ourselves, we vowed never to listen to the infallible seniors who would certainly lead us astray. Early in September many awkward, high tensioned freshmen were seen sauntering into the Assembly Hall for their first glimpse of high school activity. Mr. Hayes, our new principal, gave us many helpful instructions. Then for two weeks we were constantly amid confusion between the room changes and the totally different system of bells. We had our first class meeting the last of September and Herbert Wild was elected class president, an honor which he has held for four years. Harold Vin¬ cent and Mary Frechette were elected vice-president and secretary-treasurer respectively. Early in November, we had our first social function, the senior-freshman dance. The walls were well supported by you know whom, but after a few duty- bound and fun-loving seniors made their gala entrance we immediately changed from outcasts to high-brow socialites. Since we were in the middle of a great war, many students helped in the collection of tin and paper. The proceeds were used for the purchase of a service flag for the high school. Later, a special Journal including a service directory, was sent to all former students who were now in the service. We were very glad to do our bit to help this worthy cause. Keeping in step with tradition, the freshmen held their annual dance for the seniors. Indeed, we were both happy and proud at the opportunity to present Rita Farrell, who entertained with several popular selections, and Fred Torrisi, our own Gene Krupa on the drums. This year’s production, “Best Foot Forward,’’ was a great success. Bill Dushame represented the freshman class. The next year we were more experienced about school activities and laughed merrily at the blundering freshmen. We again elected Herby Wild as president and Harold Vincent vice-presi¬ dent. Our new secretary-treasurer was George Stewart. In view of the fact that we were sophomores, dances and sports began to be¬ come popular among the members of our class. This year we welcomed Miss Virginia Bascom, a new member of the faculty at Johnson. “Girl Shy,” a three-act comedy, was presented early in April including several students from the sophomore class. May 8, 1945, brought the official news of victory in Europe. All students and members of the faculty assembled in the hall. There Mr. Hayes talked to us as grown-ups, and gave us the rest of the day off. After completing our studies and activities, we happily adjourned for two months. 21