Plymouth High School - Pilgrim Yearbook (Plymouth, MA)

Page 33 text:

THE PILGRIM 31 DO YOU BELIEVE IN SIGNS? D0 you drive a car? If not, you prob- ably will do so eventually. When that time comes, you will find it desirable, yes, necessary-to conform to a great many regulations and rules of the road if you wish to escape inconvenience and possible disaster. Assuming that most operators wish to drive safely and real- izing that the others must be con- strained to do so, lights and signs have been placed at strategic points to serve as guides and warnings which must be obeyed in the interest of safety. I think the best example of self-discipline I have ever o-bserved is the way and man- ner in which the majority of drivers stop at a red light, even late at night when no other car is in sight, and wait until it becomes green. Perhaps the chance that an ofiicer may be hiding be- hind a tree may act as a deterrent, but I think most operators just accept the situation and act accordingly. All of' this leads me to a consideration of the connotations of some of the signs we frequently o-bserve. 'Take, for example, the sign Go Right. Obedience to this injunction is comparatively easy of accomplishment. So it is with Keep Right . But when one is giving direction to his own life, which is of far greater consequence than drving a car, th-e execution becomes more diflicult. This is because right takes on a different meaning and is construed to imply distinction from wrong or improper. Here is where we find ourselves at times up against a real problem, for has it not been said that what is one man's meat, is an- other man's poison ? Don't we ask our- selves. What is right. anyhow? Per- haps I can help you find the answer. It is obvious that certain thoughts, words. and deeds can be definitely cata- lfwued as right and wrong , but it is likewise true that others cannot be so readily classified. Standards are chang- ing. Practices are now accepted as proper which would have caused many people to throw up their hands in horror when I was your age. The result is that we are constantly called upon to ap- praise our standards and, if need be, revise some of our pre-conceived ideas. In so doing we are certain to have doubts and possibly some qualms of con- science. In my own experience I have found it helpful, when I am confronted with the question, Is this contemplated action right or wrong? , to test it out with three counter-questions. The first of these three questions is, How will this affect me personally? Will it benefit me in any way? Will it contribute to my physical well-being, add to my store of knowledge, and lead to a better understanding and appre- ciation of the spiritual values of life? Are the returns worth the time and ef'- fort involved? Can I do it and keep my self-respect, even if nobody knows about it? In other words, will the results be constructive and helpful and enrich my life and experience? If the answer is Yes, then I conclude that the proposed line of action is right and I accept itg if No , then I reject it forthwith. The second question is, How is this going to affect others-my family, friends, and associates ? Will it weaken or strengthen my influence for good? Will it enhance or lessen -their respect for me? If any are disposed to follow my example, in which direction am I leading them? How will it affect the welfare and happiness of my family? You s-ee, very often the question of right or wrong concerns not only the individ- ual but also his associates, and becomes thereby a social question. It is quite possible that an action which would be entirely harmless to me as an individ- ual might be misunderstood, with the result that some one might inadvert- entlv be misled. I feel that the answers to this second question deserve careful consideration. The third question is, What would happen if everybody did it ? As a mem- ber of society every last one of us is bound to consider this aspect of the problem. It involves not only what we do but what we do not do. Suppose everybody w-ere slelflish, inconsideratfe pf' the welfare of others, careless, lazy, or dishonest? What would be the conse- auences if everybody gambled or drank intoxicating liquor to excess? What would happen to our cherished democ- racy if everybody neglected to perform his full civic duty? Imagine living in a community in which nobody attended church or supported religious, charit- able, and philanthropic organizations. When we remember that society is no better than the individuals who com- pose it, you will understand, I am sure, whv I stress this third qquestion. I could, if space permitted, give you any number o-f illustrations and ex- amples to strengthen the validity of what I have stated in somewhat general pi ,Sterms But I leave it to you to exercise

Page 32 text:

THE PILGRIM .-A-A-A-Av.-,,-A-A-A-Av.-A-A-.vAvAvAvAvAv.v.v.v,v.',J,-A-,-,-A-,-,-,-,-A-A-Av-'Av-Y-',',-AvAvAv-v-wAvA-A-Av,v,v,h w THEY AIN'T WHI-TT THEY USED T0 BE ! ,-..-...u.. .m....., ..-1.-.- ...... , . I ......-.u----v i ,,- ir. 'W , KST X- X f Nw s N - 441 ' 4:1:l 1Il,I W ll Row 3: Miss Humphrey, Mr. Shipman, Mrs. Raymond, Miss Rafter 1:4:l 114 ::::::::::::t::::3231:132313:32:23:3:323:3:32:2:tl:31:1::E:E:E:f:E:E:fiE:E:323232323222Izfzfitftftfzfzggfffffy H 4'1' 1 IP Til, 1.5, III' I4 IH' H 11 'Ili N Row 1: Miss Locklin, Miss Lang, Miss Johnson, Miss Kelly UI Row 2: Mr. Garland, Miss Jacques, Mrs. Garvin N: 'n'+ W HI

Page 34 text:

32 THE PILGRIM your judgment, to consider all the factors and possible consequences whenever you face the many problems which must arise in your experience. I am, however, inclined strongly to the belief that, if you will apply the tests I have sug- gested, you will not make any serious mistakes, and for the most part you will not only Go Right , but also Keep Right . WAYNE M. SHIPMAN, Principal Tribute to Our Best Citizen THE Class of '39 has honored Brooks Barn-es by bestowing on her the title of its best citizen. The requirements for this distinction are four in number: de- pendability, service, leadership, and patriotism. Through her four years in high school Brooks has served her class in such a way as to assure her election on these bases. Her first year she played basketball, baseball, and hockey and was a member of the Stud-ent Activities Society Exec- utive Board, representing her class. As a sophomore she continued her service on the Executive Board and was elected secretary of her class. Last year she made the Hrst team in hockey. She became Girls' Sports Editor and also served her apprenticeship as assistant-business manager on the Pil- grim staf, displaying a versatility that we had more than once surmised. And now in her s-enior year Brooks has culminated her high school achieve- ments by being elected President of the S. A. S. and business manager of the school year book, the first girl to hold this responsible position. Brooks has been a member of many dance committees and school projects, doing her part to insure their success with a cfheerfulness that has won her many friends. The Class of '39 believes it has chosen wis-elv because,to substantiat-e its choice. Brooks has recently been announced a member ofthe Honor Group and been re- el-ected to membership in the National Honor Society. FRANCES BROWN. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN If Gerald Ziegengeist lost his cheery smile. If Virginia Weston were not pursuing a diierent boy. If Ita Murphy were really Scotch. If John Dupuis bought a brand new car. If Brooks Barnes couldn't ind Miss Carey or Miss Jacques at recess. If Virginia Vinton lost her worn-out Southern drawl. If Betty Coleman lost her interest in un- derclassmen. If Harrison Longhi grew as tall as John Brewer. If Claire Ottino stopped making faces and grew up. If Richard Tubbsbecame a French pro- fessor. If Emily McEwen were early for any- thing. lf John Canducci ever thought with his mouth closed. If Paul Douglas were caught belittling the Scotch. If Angelo Brigida went into the meat- packing business. If Joseph Farina didn't have an alibi. If Nahum Morse became a famous opera singer. If Rob-ert Lowry received a Latin schol- arship. If James Caramello had a Harvard clip. CLASS SUPERLATIVES Girl who has done the most for '39 -Brooks Barnes Boy who has done the most for '39 -Nahum Morse Most dignified girl-Madeline Baker Most dignified boy-Robert Raymond Most studious girl-Edith DeCost Most studious boy-Philip O'Connell Best-natured girl-Mildred Govoni Best-natured boy-Gilbert Freeman Best girl athlete-Tillie Bussolari Best boy athlete-Beverly James Class actor-John Canducci Class actress-Shirley Goldsmith Class musician-Richard Silva Class artist-Linda Longinotti Class poet-Ella Vitti Class wit-Richard Tubbs Best girl dancer-Margaret Kaiser Best boy dancer-James Iodice Class baby-Claire Ottino Class giant-Alfred Darsch Class flirt-Virginia Weston Class sheik-Vernon Hogan Class orator-Gerald Ziegengiest Most r-etiring girl-Doris Caswell Most courteous girl-Ita Murphy Most courteous boy-Paul Douglas Most talkative-Richard Lanman Class girl singer-Julia Pina Class boy singer-William Goodwin Best-dressed girl-Alice Govi Best-dressed boy-Robert Lowry Early bird of '39-Dolores Bernardo Late bird of '39-Johnny Dupuis Best personality-Jane Holmes Best personality-Thomas Prentice