Plymouth State University - Conning Tower Yearbook (Plymouth, NH)

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CLASS ODE pp fvr'c n hi w 1 w si - r -H — T d d J r 4 —p L: —j—: 4 7- =j = ibL ■» -1-M H-1 We sing to thee, Alma Mater, With hearts that are true and sincere, Thinking o’er the years together. The joys we hold so dear. How cherished arc the mem’ries Of friends and teachers true; How well we will remember How much to thee is due. We’re aiming toward our goal, And yearning to make it true. We will keep the pledge before us, As we tower toward the blue. Thy trust we’ll hold so high; Let others behold its light, And keep the torch ever burning For ever in thy sight. 5

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Luther John Pollard In appreciation of the many kindnesses which you have shown us during our attendance at Plymouth Normal School, our class of 1939 wishes to dedicate this Conning Tower to you, Mr. Pollard. 4

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The President's Message A decade is a long time in youth; it is a short time within an era of change. For ten years our world has been in stress and torment. Your instructors in high school and college have not been so sure of themselves in teaching service, especially in social and economic lines, as were teachers of earlier decades. Perhaps this has been good for you as well as for the teachers. You will go out from Plymouth, I hope, still questing, mindful of a great challenge to find Truth. Wisdom, sophistry, error, hatred and injustice are in high places struggling for mastery. The world is everywhere on the march; but whither? 1939 marches. We who teach have great responsibility especially in the democratic states. In totalitarian culture, indoctrination is easy; it need not involve truth. Indoctrination is easily backed by force; unthinking minds are easily made receptive by emotional propaganda. Even strong minds denied information by censorship and misrepresentation may logically draw conclusions from false premises. Hysteria of almost any kind can result from clever propaganda. Most of us are susceptible. Americans are not ready yet to surrender faith in our democratic institutions, but millions are so confused and so insecure in economic status as to be easily led by those who might advocate fundamental change holding promise of alleviation in some particular way, yet fraught with grave dangers to the fundamental principles of our American pattern. We must never forget that all our teaching aims to develop intelligent citizenship in the United States of America. We shall recognize that nature, the child, human society, and governmental institutions are not static; eternal change makes them all dynamic. Shall that change be progressive, errant or retrogressive? In a democracy everything depends upon the quality of thinking of the people. Which leaders shall be followed? On that following hangs destiny. Because we common people are free to follow, our majority choice must be sound. Out of the schools must come personalities of goodwill because a complex of hate builds undemocratic societies. To goodwill must be added intelligence in judging what is truth, half-truth or error. The wisdom of all the books you teach will be as nothing compared to the personalities you lead along paths of intelligent discovery, social participations, economic sanity and spiritual goodwill. Ernest L. Silver