Oneida High School - Oneidan Yearbook (Oneida, NY)

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Page Six THE ONEIDAN To the Class of 1936 Rene' Descartes, a French scientist of the early seven- teenth century, refused to accept the accumulated beliefs and superstitions of his time but accepted only the truths which could be proved. The fundamental fact which proved to him his own existence as a human being was expressed by him as follows: Cogito, ergo sum. I think, therefore, I am. That statement might well be taken as a test of education. Do you think? What do you think? What should you think? We know to how great an extent in our times thinking is being done for us. The newspaper syndicates, newsreel and news commentators, and organized political and economic progress by dissemination of certain ideas make us believe tvhat they want us to believe unless we are continually look- ing behind the news to find whence it comes and whether it is propaganda or truth. Freedom of thought is being attacked all over the world by censorship. Even in our own country some of the states are passing loyalty oath laws requiring teachers and students to take oaths of allegiance to state and federal constitutions, and in our national capital it has been against the law dur- ing the past year for a teacher even to mention communism. Such legislation seems hardly consistent with American prin- ciples of freedom of speech and press. Education should en- courage thinking and not suppress it. There has never been a time in our history when think- ing citizens have been more needed to understand and help solve the thorny problems of domestic and international affairs. To be sure, we cannot add one cubit to our stature by taking thought, but we can add many cubits to our mental stature. Let the proof of the fact that we have lived be the ability to say as did Descartes, Cogito, ergo sum. -ZORAIDA E. WEEKS, Class Adviser. Education , Education and learning are often referred to as synony- mous terms, when in reality they may be entirely different from one another. There are many learned people who are far from being educated. Because an individual is able to read Greek and Latin, or perhaps, memorize the logarithm table to seven decimal places, is no sign that he is educated. He may even be able to recite all the important events in modern history and quote Shakespeare by the hour and still not be educated. On the other ha.nd, there are men who have never crossed the threshold of a college door, men who have no concrete knowledge of what we term the essentials, who are truly educated. They are educated because they are able to successfully live with their fellow man in a complex environ- ment. They are educated because they have a breadth of vision which enables them to view all situations with a proper perspective to see the problem as a whole, and not become annoyed and fretful about the insignificant, petty trifles which lurk about every project of real magnitude. They are educated because they have cultivated a poise and stability of character which gives them a calmness similar to that of a lake of great depth or a massive mountain peak which towers toward the sky unchanged by storm, or calm. These are the people we seek out in times of trouble because their strength gives us courage and hcpe. Their well-balanced personalities afford a shelter to those of us who are easily disturbed about insignificant, imaginary, self- inducted problems. It is so easy to be small, to deal in petty personalities, to revel in biting sarcasm, to stoop to underhanded, unscrupulous methods of gain, to dabble with untruth all for a purpose. Even in the presence of learning, it is a mark of the un- educated. If our schools are to be the source from which our youth are to acquire strength of character and poise of personality, it is the duty of all in positions of authority to see to it that beyond the mere subject matter used as a means to an end, there must be kept in view as the ultimate objective ac- quisition of wisdom which means Education. -HOWARD F. KNAPP, Principal.

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! DAN AGNE. For thirty-one years Dan Agne has been connected with Oneicla's public schools. ln August, l905, he was appointed janitor of Elizabeth Street School and then was transferred to the Senior High School on Main Street in l9l4. ln the spring of I928, when the new Senior High School on Elizabeth Street was opened, Mr. Agne became head janitor. Oneida High School students have thought of Dan as their friend for many years. Without him, Oneida High will not be quite the same. The Class of l936 wishes to express for the student body their sincere appreciation and the hope that Dan will enjoy his new leisure. 5 ' , iw,-.X 3 ,V ' ,

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THE ONEIDAN ...vynqggxyg-fgggggvvv-vrly,-3 V ,-nf 'rg'-my Page Seven History of the Class of 1936 Forsan et haec olin meminisse iuvabit, as Virgil once said, and for the benefit of the lesser intelligentsia, let us say this means that posterity will remember us by what we have done. The history of the class of 1936 is not unlike the parable of the sower of the seeds as it is related in the Bible. The members of the class are but seeds, carefully, painstakingly cared for by a scholarly faculty who trust that we are pre- pared to meet the respective fates life will bring. It was in June, 1933, that we were graduated from Oneida Junior High School, thrilled, of course, but most happy in the voyage that awaited us after boarding the ship of learning most sought, namely, High School. And so in September, 1933, we were admitted to Senior High School as unsophisticated Sophomores, thoroughly happy tho somewhat bewildered. Here we were a disor- ganized array, yet see what changes time has wrought and what accomplishments. As the school year went on we quickly accustomed ourselves to the ways of the high school students: the cornerstone of unity was laid: we built founda- tions on which we hope later to build enduringly. Devoting most of our time and energy to our studies and extra.-curricular activities, we passed by few unoccupied hours, though the school year was happily punctuated with several outstanding events-class elections, the Sophomore Party and various athletic events. The class election was carried off with no little hostility, but fortunately no blood was shed and the politicians triumphed. Bob Natoli became- our leader. Under his guidance, and with the able assistance of the other class officers, the class of 1936 made rapid progress. Before we knew it June exams were bearing down upon us-a hectic week of exams-vacation-and so ends the chapter of our first year. Junior year began! No longer did we gaze with awe upon the Seniors, in fact we even shared the coveted third Door with them. Of course, we discarded the green cloak of Sophomore mannerisms. Although we had not lost our enthusiahm for elections we were so pleased with Bob Natoli's administration that we again elected him president, and he and his co-workers again guided us through another notable year. The outstanding social event of the year. of course, was the Junior Prom. Committees were appointed for decora- tions and refreshments. Charming Betty Coons was elected queen. The various committees by hard work and effort succeeded in making the Prom a pleasant memory to us. The year fairly flew, and again came final exams. This time we tackled them with the air of veterans and bowled them over successfully. Seniors at last-we certainly were proud. Everyone felt better as Seniors, you know Senior privileges, etc. Again we elected Capable Bob Natoli as our class president. We shall always be most grateful for his devotion to our class organization. Betty Coons and Billy Rice were elected vice- president and secretary respectively. Rena Abbott, who was elected president of the Students' Association, is the first girl to hold this position in a number of years. We have found in her a most capable leader. We elected as our Council representative, Eddie Rice. We approached our studies carefully and with zeal know- ing that graduation depended upon our efforts. We planned an Amateur Show. It was well received and a great success. Then came the Senior Party, which, need- less to say, was carefully planned and the fruit of our labor was fun for all of us. Before the school year and our High School days came to an end we planned to put on a Senior Play entitled i'The Importance of Being Earnest, by Oscar Wilde. The participants devoted themselves diligently and we feel certain it was a success. The cast included: Marion Covell, Patricia Garvin, Ahlene Staudt, Minerva Wason, Don Baird, George Cary, Enoch Jones, Francis Lomery and William Nixdorf. Robert Natoli is president of the Dramatic Club. Many of the musically inclined members of the class have rendered their services to the school by being members of the Orches- tra. Those members of the class who are interested in ath- letics have, by their participation on the school teams, helped to maintain this source of pleasure for the school. Also in reviewing the history of the class it is most fitting to pay honor to the scholastic backbone of our class. We are proud, therefore, to inscribe herein the names of those honorary students of our class who have consistently earned and re- ceived Scholastic Awards every semester since they entered high school. Those students are: Virginia Conroy, Marion Covell, June Dygert, Shirley Knapp, Evelyn Morgan, Thelma Mowry, Ahlene Staudt, Jean Tibbitts, Veronica Viliano and Kenneth Kreps. Now a word to you underclassmen and future seniors- in anticipation of commencement that is so nearly upon us- It is worth all the hard work you give to your studies. Commencement exercises will be held June 24, followed by the Senior Ball. Shirley Knapp is Valedictorian and Eve- lyn Morgan is Salutatorian. We have selected for our class colors, old rose and silver. Our class motto is Carpe diem or Seize the opportunity, and with this motto before us we shall bid our last farewell to Oneida High School and may I add that though the spoken voice dies away, written records and achievements remain a monument for all eternity. -ISABELLE ANGELINO Class Historian