Pennell Institute - Whirlpool Yearbook (Gray, ME)

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6 THE WHIRLPOOL training 1s the best solution to the problems of preparing oneself for work. The boy or girl who leaves school is condemning himself to work only with his hands and feet for the rest of his life. The result of an inves- tigation by the Federal Гоага of Vocational Education shows clearly the kind of work which young people, who do not complete their high school course, will enter into. The majority have to start as delivery boys or girls. office boys or girls, bell-hops, maids, ete. Even in these professions the ones with the high school education are given preference. The overcrowd- ing of every American University also shows that even college education pays. Today, in a high school, there are departments for art, domestic sci- ence, music and sportsmanship: thus one learns many essential facts other than studies. Who can feel at ease in a large group discussing some subject of interest except those who have received a high school education ? As we study into the value of education we can see that the rewards for going to school are not only in dollars and cents. Hundreds of men and women are dving mentally for lack of education and because of this misfortune their minds could not become interested in world wide facts and naturally were filled with gossip and the false, low, malignant side of life. Perhaps the best answer for the real value of a high school education is found in these lines: “Culture. like other New Testament graces, cannot be bought and sold, but must be lived through. The big danger of leaving school too early is the danger of personal littleness: of stagnation in a mental tread-mill: of the vulgarious death in life. Let us endeavor in the future to prepare our younger generation to carry on our government and make this world a better place in which to live by profiting from a high school education. V. W., 33. SMOKING Smoking in my mind is one of the problems facing our schools today and should be discussed frequently. It is a matter which is seldom con- sidered, but it undoubtedly affects our lives to a greater extent than we ascertain, especially at our stage in life. I have called smoking a problem, for I believe it is. It is not a question of being modern,“ for the age of smoking began among white people about two centuries ago in the day of

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VALUE OF A HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION The value of education, especially of high school education, from every standpoint has been a topic for much discussion and consideration. First it is necessary to get a clear understanding and meaning of the term education. This term is derived from the Latin word educare, meaning to develop or draw out powers which the individual possesses. A high school education should help the individual to discover his interests and powers by enabling him to sample the realms of knowledge. Everyone should agree that government would not have been so civilized but for education, and education still plays an important part in the carrying on of the government. Years ago, a high school education was not considered so necessary as it is today to carry on some life work. To prepare the girls for their future position as housewives and the boys for work on the farms seemed more necessary. This idea was instilled into people's minds until a law was passed providing for compulsory education. 'This law was not brought about until later years and then through the influence of the educated and far-sighted people education was brought to where it is at the present time. The question has often been asked by narrow-minded people, “Why go to school? The most logical answer is that it pays in dollars and cents to go as far as one can in the right sort of school. Somehow, somewhere, today, everybody who intends to amount to something in this world must get ready for some position, and school

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THE WHIRLPOOL 7 Sir Walter Raleigh. It is not a question of being distinguished, for today men, women and children have adopted this “habit.” It has spread over the country as has the cross-word and jig-saw puzzle craze, Newspaper advertisements and highway billboards have attracted our attention to an even greater degree, and what has been the result? This questi on may be answered by simply using our eyes, any- where. any time, any day in the усаг. But why talk about this? After all, it is a matter which will be decided by us, ourselves, individually. The majority of us probably know its effects: however, despite this, believe that it is too late to “reform.” Мау I make this proposition to those in our school and to everyone of high school age or under who smokes? Try this test: Stop smoking for three or four weeks and see how much better you feel physically and economically. If you are not able to work better. think more clearly and feel better, give yourself a longer test. Remember. that where there's a will there's a way. W. S. C., '84. WHY STUDY LATIN? The arguments for Latin are its help in the use and understanding of English, the culture from close acauaintance with fine literature, and the relatively good results from indifferent teaching. The arguments against Latin are that equal time spent on English would bring more results for English: that the real appreciation of Latin literature comes only after so many years of study that the results are not worth the expenditure: and that it is the duty of school authorities to provide teachers who can handle well the subjects we really need to know and use. The first two years of Latin are especially useful in English. 1f English grammar has been badly taught, Latin grammar will insure an idea of sentence structure. Time on the first two years of Latin is undoubtedly well spent. Beyond these vears there is a period of rather neutral value in the study of Latin before the real mastery of the language begins to bring delight. Therefore, I recommend two years of Latin for everyhody who hopes to make some- thing of himself mentally, and then either no more or at least four years more. Cab. aay