Petersburg High School - Missile Yearbook (Petersburg, VA)

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16 The Missile are irrefutable : American rights on the seas have been trampled upon; international law, which we are honor bound to uphold, has been repeatedly violated ; and moreover, indus- trial crises have been caused by strikes instigated directly through foreign agents. There is, therefore, but one conclu- sion to be drawn : America must prepare ! Have we an efficient army? By no means! Have we a capable navy? Certainly not! Then the present exigency imperatively demands action — immediate action — that must , appeal to the interest of the entire nation! To go to the heart of the question, young Americans must realize their grave responsibility, for they are to mould the na- tion’s destinies of the next generation. We must go into the High Schools and tell the young men that it is their solemn duty to protect their native land with its glorious traditions. But here comes the “peace-at-any-price” man and shouts : “I didn’t raise my boy to be a soldier. Do you want us to be a war-mad people ? Are you going to turn America into a mili- tary camp?” It is this pernicious spirit, however, that threatens the welfare of the nation. It must be understood that military training in the High School is not to teach our boys to be efficient soldiers, war-maniacs, or militarists; but to give them the elementary principles of military life ; not to be offenders, but defenders. Military training as it is to be governed in the High School cannot possibly foster mili- tarism. Americans are essentially anti-militarists ; it is incon- ceivable that any other spirit could prevail. The advantage of this training, inasmuch as it gives the youth of the nation a higer sense of patriotism and a deeper realization of the principles of humanity which America must safeguard, are conspicuous in other branches of school life. That it promotes chivalry and manliness, discipline and obedi- ence should alone demand steps towards its establishment, and most especially since it develops physical efficiency and mental activity. Certainly if it is our duty to defend America, it is our duty to defend the essential principles of America — the

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The Missus 15 reported to it. A majority of the pupils signed a pledge, promising to support the Council by reporting to it any case of dishonesty coming under their notice, and granting to the whole school the right to question anything about them which did not seem strictly honorable. We trust that very, very soon a Council may be ap- pointed, for all of last year’s Coimcil are not back this year. And for the welfare of the school and the success of the System, we must understand how necessary it is to be care- ful whom we place in this responsible position of President of the Student Council. It is necessary to have a student who has made good, who is in earnest, in whom you have confidence, and with whom you are satisfied to leave the de- cision in matters very closely touching the honor of the school. He must be a student with some decision of character, yet one who is always impartial and open to suggestion; one with tact and discretion. Of the whole school, in the upper classes, who do you think has the most judgment and wisdom ? Think of this, and settle in your own mind whom you want, carefully weighing the qualifications of any you think fit, that when you are called upon to vote you may be fully pre- pared to select the student best fitted for this office of highest honor and gravest responsibility that the school can give. MILITARY TRAINING IN THE HIGH SCHOOL. It is our solemn duty as Americans, as inheritors of this land where our forefathers died in defence of the sacred rights of civil and political freedom, to defend these principles, however pressing be the conditions. To deny this is to deny allegiance to the Stars and Stripes. And whenever the time demands, that patriotic fervor and loyal passion which char- acterize true Americans must safeguard these immortal doctrines which are essentially the basic principles of our government. Unfortunately, it seems that that time is at hand. Whatever be the contenti ons of the alarmist or pacifist, the optimist or pessimist, these facts

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The MisshjE 17 inherent doctrines of our cmlization. That, primarily, is the aim of military training in the High School. There can be no nobler purpose. With belief that a greater interest in Petersburg would lead to beneficial results, the editors have decided to make the next issue of the Missile the Petersburg Number. The co-operation and support of the student body in contributing articles on important subjects relating to the city — historical, industrial, commercial and civic conditions — are earnestly solicited. Remember, it is our Missile, and let us make it the best num- ber yet.