Pembroke Academy - Academian Yearbook (Pembroke, NH)

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Russran sehoolmg rs so gruelrng that a bowret medteal cornmrssron urgently recommends that as srgnments be cut down so as to preserve the students health I don t agree wrth the Russran methods teachmg any more than you do but we are forced to admrt that rt rs gettrng results perhaps not pleasant or good results but at least they are effectrve Wrth the wonderful country we have our schools surpass Russra s rn educatronal standards for the group as well as for the rndrvtdual Our classes rn socral scrence problems of democracy bustness, home economtes grammar and so forth attempt to teach us to become rndrvtduals able to stand on our own two feet But mam tunes wC fall short of our goal I beltexe thrs mrsfortune occurs because thmgs have been made so easy for us that me fall to reeogmze opportunrtx when tt knocks at our door made the most out of our hrgh school educatton'9 I am sure there are very few rn thrs class who can honestly say Yes I worked to mx fullest capacrty and learned all I could rn the past four years know I couldn t say so because I drdn t And I am not proud of that knowledge Not at all prou Too often hrgh school rs looked upon not as an tnstrtutron of learnrng but as an rnstrtutron of soctal funetrons xvhrch we attend rn an attempt to frnd enjoyment Some of us I am sorry to say eonsrder rt as a place to meet our frrends waste a few hours gossrp break rules plan dates and cut classes at every golden chance I feel the trme has come when parents should realrze that they have an Important part to play rn helprng youth face the future and become good crttzens rn the world of tomorrow We must work to gether to make the most of our opportuntttes ever mtndful that we as adults want freedom rndepend ence and the very best educatron that wrll be second to none rn thrs world jk 13 A , , ' , l - , , - 1 of How many of us--we, the graduating class of 1958, and you the alumni--can truthfully say we ' ' , - ' ' . . dr

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NANCY CA ROL BROWN What looks dark in the distance brightens as I draw near Everybody else 's troubles are Nancy's specialtyg she's the Court of Last Resort for many of us. Her mild manner has won admiration from students and faculty alike. Efficient in every way, there is no responsibility too great for her undertaking. Humble and generous, you'll never find a girl who is more praiseworthy. Nancy devotes her whole self to every project. This is especially true when applied to her position as Class Secretary. We elected one to serve us, and we certainly have in this girl much more than we bargained for. Thanks, Nancy, for a job well done5 and good luck-- you're competent enough to serve as any president's secretary. Salutatorian5 secretary 45 general chorus 3,45 senior play 45 student council 45 operetta 35 winter carnival 45 assemblies l,2,3,45 prom 3,45 memory prize speaking 25 D.A.R. 45 yearbook staff 45 original prize speaking 4. SALUTATORY Welcome, friends and relatives, to the graduation of the Class ofNineteen Hundred and Fifty-eight. We are pleased that so many of you could come and see us off into the world of tomorrow. Tonight, I and forty -seven other Seniors are graduating and leaving behind us four years of high school training. I do not know how the others feel, but I look into the future with a feeling of trepida- tion and doubt. Have I enough of the right kind of education to be a success--if only as an individual-- in life? Or am I to be a failure, as so many others--unnecessari1y--have failed? Sometimes I think I shall succeedg at other times. . .I wonder! Several recent magazines have pointed out that there is much concern among our educators today about the lead that Russian students have over the students in this and other democratic countries. As you know, American students are given an opportunity to develop to the fullest extent of their individual ability. In large schools, trained personnel guide students into the field for which each in- dividual is suited, as indicated by scientific aptitude tests. In the smaller schools, the teachers attempt to lead the individual into the proper field. Perhaps some are guided into fields which, at the time and to the individual, do not seem at all appropriate. Many times, however, experienced teachers can see deeper into the hidden recesses of the child than we like to admit. Thus, in our school system, the individual is the important factor. Now, this--we know--is not true of the Russian plan of education. Russia teaches the group, not the individual. If a person cannot keep up with the group, he is sent to the mines, or a farm, where education is unnecessary. They stress such subjects as science and mathematics, and not the molding of the individual character. Their hours of schooling are long, hard, and grueling. They go to school six days, instead of fiveg they have a total of 213 days a year of schooling, as compared to our 180 days. Each child must take 10 years of mathematics, 4 of chemistry, 5 of physics, and 6 of biology. By con- trast, only one-half of our schools have any physics and only 640111 have any chemistry. 12

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NEIL WEBSTER BRYANT ln doing what we ought we deserve no praise, because it is our duty Every institution has its foundation, and Neil has been our comerstone for four years. He's quiet and reserved at times, but even his silence has meaning and importance for which we'll be eternally grateful. This past year especially, we 've realized just how lucky we 've been to have him around. We knew our senior year would be difficult, but little did we dream that any one person could do so much to make the burden lighter. Responsible and dependable, Neil deserves much more credit than we could ever express our thanks for. Just keep on as you have been, Neil, and you've certain to reach your highest goal. Oration, vice-president 2, basketball 2,3,4g baseball 1,2,3,45 general chorus 1,35 student council 3,4 fPresidentl5 operetta 35 winter cami- val 3,45 assemblies l,2,3,4, prom 3,45 memory prize speaking 4, yearbook staff 4 fEditorl, graduation marshal 3, original prize speaking 4. ORATION When I learned that I had a speech to write, my ideas were varied, and I found it quite difficult to settle upon one topic until I finally asked myself, Why am l doing this? What really is graduation? What does graduation mean to me? Indeed simple questions, yet not such simple answers. After think- ing this matter over carefully, I finally came to the conclusion that graduation, while not a true term- inal point, is a point at which I can stop and look back over the things I have experienced, while at the same time I can look ahead and plan for the future. It is a point at which I can analyze my mistakes and successful undertakings, thus attempting to profit by the mistakes I have made and use to advantage the lessons I've learned from my successful experiences. After completing twelve years of education, I realize that the things upon which I have worked the hardest are the very things from which I have gained the most. I have seen people who have fortunately learned the same lesson, while lhave also seen many people stagger and fall along the way simply be- cause they couldn't learn the true value of hard work. We, the graduating class, have come to realize that too many people around us today expect everything for nothing. They expect everything to be handed them, while they sit back and do nothing. We have learned that success only comes to one through long hours of hard work and perseverance. Then, and only then, can one truly appreciate suc- cess. Teen-agers today are always looking for thrills, amusement in their lives must come first. What part does the parent play here? I-Ie goes along with the loose purse strings, giving the child all the freedom in the world with no restrictions. Instead of setting good examples he does the very things which he tries to keep his children from doing. How are we going to correct this? Boys and girls should be made to work, to do tasks for this money they wish to use. Parents must be willing to sacrifice some of their pleasures if they expect their children to be successful citizens of the future. We must get away from this lackadaisical attitude of everything for nothing. More parents should become really interested in America's youth. Parents should know at all times their boys' and girls' interests and should be willing to give a helping hand in leadership. They should impress the very young minds with the rewards that are to be gained through hard work. We graduates are going to be the parents of tomorrow. Do we want our country to continue as it is today, fullof teen-age thrill seekers? We must not have a complacent attitude about such matters! We must do all we can to solve this problem! We know, all too well, from histories of the past, the re- sults of such carefree thinking and living. As we graduate we face a future of responsibility. It is up to us to prove we have learned that only through hard work and perseverance can we measure up to this responsibility that is ours. In the words of the poet Each new day is a fresh beginning, Each new day is the world made new. Ye, who are tired and sorry of sinning, Here is a beautiful thought for you. A thought for me and a thought for you.