Plainville High School - Plainsman Yearbook (Mariemont, OH)

Page 19 text:

EARLE R. SEIDNER. Principal In answer to the question, What do you wish the principal to write to you in your annuai? students have made the following replies: It makes little difference, few students will read it anyhow. Don't tell us that now the world is our oyster, and all we need to do is crack it. , Don't tell us to go out into the world and do great deeds. Be simple and sincere, and you won't miss. All of these replies are candid and honest; certainty they merit consideration as advice and counsel. Though you are leaving Plainvilte High School, you still remain a part of it and it remains a part of you. You have had some successes and some failures While you have been here. In either case, the things you have done are now a part of the history of this school. Some of them are good; some, bad. They represent the part of you that remains with the school. What part of the school are you taking with you? Knowledge and ideas that you may use some day? The respect of your teachers? The friendship and esteem of other stu- dents? Ambitions and ideals to guide you? Sympathy and understanding for those of your group who have succeeded less otten than you? An awareness of the many things you have yet to learn? These things your school has tried to give you. Have you been successful while you were here in school? That depends upon what you have left here. It the school is better because you were here, you have undoubtedly been successful. Will you be successful in the life you 1iVe after you have been graduated? That ques- tion cannot be answered by how much money you make, by how big a job you tilt, by how well-known you become. It will be answered by your contribution to the home you establish, the Church you attend. the community in Which you live. The measure of your success is the benefit that other people derive from your efforts. It you can keep this thought ever betore you, you cannotbeataiture. 15

Page 18 text:

c- ,, JOHN D. BLACKFORD. Superintendent Historians tell us that from about the time of the beginning of the Christian Era until one hundred years ago the population of the world remained practically the same. Peo- ples shifted as cultures decayed, but warfare! disease, starvation, and the elements contrived to keep the world population relatively constant. We are also told that during the last one hundred years the population of the world has doubled. During this same one hundred years, science, mechanics, industry, agriculture, and transportation have made more progress than in all previous history. We have advanced from the covered wagon to jet propelled transport planes; from muskets to atom bombs; from canal boats to streamlined trains; troma rural economy to an industrialeconomy. The impact of this progress on the minds and souls of a doubled population has re- sulted in two World Warsuand a present state Of delicately balanced armistice. The direct and indirect casualties of World War II are estimated at 296 of the world population. Only in a few favored nations is there enough to eat, enough to wear, enough housing. Malnutrition and starvation are wide-Spread. Disease and pestilence are at a modern high. Man knows how to avoid or combat all these things. He also knows how to destroy himself and his civilization in a iew hours. Three possibilities are before us. We can release the atom bomb with the probable final result being the annihilation of Western civilization. We can continue as we are. in a condition where starvation, disease, and warfare bid fair to combine to stabilize the population for another 2,000 years. Perhaps, by devoting his best talents to human and social engineering for a generation, man may learn to live in peace and plenty in some sort of a world federation of states. Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be found. Your generation cannot escape the responsibility of making these decisions The as- signment is perhaps the most difficult ever to confront a single generation. The decision must be made Within the next twenty years. The nature of the decision will determine the course of all human history from this point on. 14

Page 20 text:

l K n0 WQECQCgf. BEULAH BARNES This is Mrs. Barnes' titth appearance in the Plainsman. Although she came to teach at Plainville in 1942, she still thoroughly enjoys it, and still finds time for a friendly smile for everyone. Mr. and Mrs. Barnes own a farm in New Richmond, but live in the Ripley Apartments dur- ing the school monthsl Incidentally, Mr. and Mrs. Barnes make a handsome couple at the school dances, and many people will re- member the celebration of their silver wedding anniversary at the 1947 Iunior-Senior Prom. Mrs. Barnes is demanded in the library most of her busy day, and many students have come to appreciate her infinite knowledge of just where to find anything. However, it you ask her what she likes to teach most, she Will tell you her favorite subjects are history and English, The Y-Teens were proud to have Mrs. Barnes as their sponsor this year. She went out of her way to aid the group, and they enjoyed her leadership very much. WILLIAM DETRICK Mr. William Detrick is the man in charge of all the noises that burst forth from the music room every eighth bell. By that we mean the person Who has to put up with the band every day, and he has done much to raise the standard of that organization's playing and march- inq ability. He is also in charge of the entire musical, vocal, and instrumental sections of the High School, and is doing a very com- mendable job in each department. He has staged an Operetta, furth- ered the continuance of the Triple-Trio and the Glee Club, and has also instituted an instrumental instruction program. Mr. Detrick came to Plainville from Manchester College, No. Manchester, Indiana, after having served three years in the Army Air Force. He still manages to squeeze in approximately four hours of flying each month to meet the requirements of the Air Force Reserve. FLORENCE BIRKS Miss Birks is that lady whom you can always find busily and happily occupied in the home economics rooms. Miss Birks not only teaches the girls at Plainville how to be good homemakers in the future, but also how to add to their home life right now. Miss Birks was born in Illinois, attended James Millikin University and transferred to the Uni- versity of Illinois where she received her B. S. Degree. Since then, she has taken special courses at Indiana University and the Univers- ity of Cincinnati. She acquired an M. S. at the University of Wisconsin and most recently spent a summer at Columbia. In previous years she has taught history and business law, but now devotes her talents to home economics. One of Miss Birks hobbies is travel and she is especially interested in collecting such native crafts as pottery, glass. wood carving and hand woven fabrics. She enjoys sharing with her classes the things she has collected from several European Countries. DOUGLAS ERNSTING Mr. Ernstinq, better known as Ernie by his boys, was welcomed to Plainville in the fall of '46. Ever since then we have kept him very busy. He is our baseball coach and assistant football coach, and also aids in the intramural basketball program. Besides all this he very capably handles the Industrial Arts Department and teaches inter- esting classes in Mechanical Drawing. Ernie graduated from one of our rival schoolskAnderson-and attended Miami University. Upon graduation from Miami in 1942, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps. After serving three years there, flying anything from a primary trainer to a Liberator bomber, he made a three point landing at Plainville. Since his arrival we have all come to recognize his love of sports, not . - y only of the school variety, but also his unending enthusiasm for hunt- l' l inq and fishing. His quiCk-Witted sense of humor which he never t! Lseems to be without, has made him a welcome addition to the faculty. 13