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

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eighty voices has pleased audiences on campus, in the community, in the state, and indeed, in New England. By so doing, this choir has gained considerable recognition for our college. No mention is made of the adoption of the two-year liberal arts program in 1946, which is still in existence, nor have we recorded herein the inclusion into the curriculum of foreign languages, which came as a direct result of the request of a few of our class members. Thus, it is clearly evident that our college was suffering from a severe case of “growing pains” during our professional training. We, the class of 1950, have just begun to climb the ladder of professional and personal achievement. To stop here would be unthinkable! Our individual records are by no means complete. We have acquired the professional requisites with which to begin our work; now comes the real test. We go forward then, with confidence and optimism. Paul O’Neil President, Class of 1950 22

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Dr Ernest L. Silver, president emeritus, indeed set the pace for our new president, having devoted his entire life to education and its perpetuation in American democracy In those early days in September, 1946, veterans were establishing beach heads on hundreds of college campuses throughout our country, and indeed Plymouth was a typical example of this sudden demand for a higher education. Our class was large. Necessary changes in campus facilities were quickly instigated. Hall Dormitory was given over to house the male college students, Russell House became the headquarters for the men students pursuing courses to finish their high school education, cut short because of their adherence to the call to duty Because classes at Rounds Hall were indicative of expansion, some were held in the Little Theatre, Livermore Hall, and some in the rooms adjacent to the college book store. A most significant development brought about by the class of 1950 was the beginning of the inter-collegiate sports program. So ambitious was our desire to start basketball that one of our classmates, William Wood, of Berlin, donated his services as student-coach, piloting the team until the beginning of the second semester when the college was fortunate enough to acquire the services of our most able coach and physical education director, John Foley A men’s baseball team was started the following spring of 1947, to further answer the demands of students seeking a well-developed college education. The outstanding records of our basketball and baseball teams during their early stages of growth through to the present day speak for themselves—a record of which we are all proud. Intramural sports gained considerable momentum during our latter two years of college, culminating in an organized whole in 1949-50, directed by students engaged in the duties of a new course in Community Recreation. When our class reached that all-important phase of its professional training—student teaching—the college met its needs by deviating from the regular procedure. No longer did secondary trainees go to Orford solely, but high schools as far south as Goffstown and northward to Berlin accommodated our student teachers. Superintendents and headmasters throughout the state were eager to engage these future teachers in their schools and to guide them through their first direct teaching experiences. Another equally significant development the college underwent, while the class of ’50 progressed, was the inclusion of the early childhood education program. Some of our able classmates showed their interest and ability in working with youth at the kindergarten level. During 1949-50 Plymouth Teachers College aided in an acute shortage of elementary school teachers by introducing a conversion program, whereby secondary trainees could concentrate their efforts toward the elementary curriculum to alleviate somewhat this crucial situation. In conjunction with the State Board of Education, the college set up a special curriculum emphasizing elementary education in the senior year, at the conclusion of which a certificate (in addition to the secondary standing already earned) was awarded showing their qualification to teach in the elementary school. We boast of having several class members who enrolled in this special program. Space does not permit us to be all-inclusive in this class history; for instance, we have not mentioned the fact that during our four years at Plymouth, there developed a musical group known as the A Cappella Choir This choir, now consisting of some 21

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Secondary Education Curriculum “The primary concern of American education today is not the development of the appreciation of the ‘good life’ in young gentlemen born to the purple. Our purpose is to cultivate in the largest number of our future citizens an appreciation both of the responsibilities and the benefits which come to them because they are American and free” —James B. Conant The preparation that high school students make to carry on the business of living is of utmost importance. We must strive to fit them well for the tasks that lay before them. Too often in the past only a mediocre job was done in this respect. We, the secondary graduates of the class of 1950, expect to improve the record. We have the necessary tools. If we apply them wisely and energetically there can be no doubt that our function in society will be fulfilled. Four years ago the intricacies and problems of education were all unknown to us. Since that time we have slowly wound our way up the difficult path that leads to our first goal, a professional degree. Little did we realize that we were to enter upon such an important undertaking as that which controls the hidden potential of youth and ultimately illuminates the destiny of the world. Indeed, the responsibility which we are about to assume would stagger any of lesser stature though they be giants in their own way The future of youth rests in our hands, just as is depicted by the design on the cover of this book. Three courses are left open to us in this respect: we can crush them, we can drop them into the oblivion of their own short-sighted ways; or we can lift them to even greater heights. The latter course is the only one open to those of us who would enjoy nights of peaceful slumber Andrew Cushing 23