Polytechnic High School - Polytechnic Student Yearbook (Los Angeles, CA)

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The empire of the mind of the adolescent is the kingdom over which our high school education trains you to reign. You will be, forever, a good ruler if during your high school education you have learned to think, to think in terms of the depth, breadth, and variety of complexity which you will meet in every phase of American life today. You will be a strong ruler if in your heart and spirit are noble ideals ruling your head. Your reign over self will be con- tinuingly successful if your high school education has taught you to know and to enjoy the arts of life and of living. If your high school education has skilled you to know and respect some work in life, and if you are equipped to per- form that Work, you will be well on your way to success. If this experience in dear old Poly has inspired you to be kind in action, simple in want, noble in friendship, faithful in trust, and untiring in effort, then truly you are captain of your mind. Your spiri- tual, social, and personal life will contribute to our civilization. VIERLING KERSEY, S'08 California State Superintendent of Education

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ture, music, and art. Among well I known Polytechnic graduates are Mr. john Beck and Mr. Leonard Wilson, both with splendid rec- ords as attorneys, Miss Isabelle Smith, Ph.D., Dean of Women at Scripps College, Whose scholarly ideals and line character have in- spired many young women, Mr. Vierling Kersey, State Superin- tendent of Education, an ofhce which requires the highest type of public servant, Lynn Van Nor- man, one-time president of our Ionian Society, now president of the Los Angeles Board of Educa- tion in which position he is de- voting himself unreservedly to the welfare of the youth of this city. Howard Byram, County Treasurer, guards the public in- terests faithfully. Clement Reis, Sales Manager, Zellerbach Paper Company, is a line representative l -. of business integrity. In science are Raymond Stringfield, Ph.D., Chemistry, Leo Delsasso, Ph.D., Physics, at the University of California, and Donald Loughridge, PhQ D., Physics, Institute of Technology, have done outstanding work? Norman McPhail, one-time prominent in the Polytechnic Glec Clubs, is now well known in Los Angeles for his generous efforts in promoting music interests. These and others likewise earnest, loyal, and faith- ful in daily tasks, are promoting the welfare of the community. The supreme requirement from all is that they strive to measure up to the highest ideals of American citizenship-honesty, fearlessness, vision, self-respect, together with faith in God and man. The student body of Polytechnic appreciates the tangible evidences of the interest which binds the Alumni Association to the school. It is through the personal efforts of President Wirsching that it is now pos- sible for the Board of Education to close Twentieth Street and enlarge Dunn Field. It is also the Alumni Association that is presenting to the school the bust of Mr. john H. Francis, founder of Polytechnic. CARL B. WIRSCHING Preyident Alumni Arrociution '

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Integrity is defined by Webster as the quality of being honest, or , freedom from guile or fraud. It I adds the implication of high- mindedness, or a nice sense of al- legiance to one's standards. It denotes uprightness or incorrupti- bility in the execution of trusts. It is to be honorable, creditable, fair and straightforward in con- duct, and free from deception. Integrity is the foundation of every successful venture in a life which looks into the future for the perpetuation of its existence. Without that moral force doubt reigns, and failure is certain. The creation of corporate bodies is de- pendent on, first, the faith of the stockholders in the integrity of oflicers, directors, and the business management, and secondly, the soundness and probable success of the business or the business venture, Without the former, the latter will fail miserably. The requisites of men who are chosen for important positions by modern business executives are, first, integrity, and the ability and aggressiveness. Ability and aggressiveness may be substi- tuted, but there is no quality to replace integrity. Absence of this ele- ment can only bring unfavorable results. Integrity is that element in the mind of man which stabilizes every human endeavor, whether it be in governmental functions, business, or the home, Without it confidence vanishes and chaos ensues. J. L. VAN NORMAN, '99 President L01 Angela Board of Education