Quincy High School - Goldenrod Yearbook (Quincy, MA)

Page 3 text:

The GOliDLN-R00. QUINCY, MASS., APRIL, 1902. Ox Golden-Rod. PUBLISHED IN THE INTEREST OF THE QUINCY HIGH SCHOOL SINGLE COPIES, TEN CENTS. For Sale at W. C. Hartwell’s, Quincy, and Shunk’s News Agency, Wollaston. EDITORS AND BUSINESS MANAGERS: Robert S. Pinkham, 1901. R. Garfield Wright, 1901. TREASURER: Mr. A. F. Campbell. Entered at the Quincy (Mass.) Post Office as Second Class Mail Matter. EDITORIALS. THE WoCIAL SIDE OF SCIIOOL LIFE. The entertaining gatherings which form the pleasures of a school course might at first thought appear unnecessary and a waste of time. Such is not the case. In the early lives of many pupils the receptions and socials held at the school are the only chances that arc offered them for mingling with their friends in a social way where the restrictions and rules of the class are for a time laid aside. Then they can associate freely and talk with one another and with their teachers on terms of equality. It is there and there alone perhaps that they have the chance of acquiring that polish, that ability to appear and speak easily in company which marks a true lady, the true gentleman. In this way teachers see their pupils in an entirely new light. They become better acquainted with them and discover new traits of character in them which have never before appeared under the influence of the class-room. In the same way pupils see their teachers I ue'xrhother point of view. They do not appear to them as censors and beings of dictatorial power, but as friends, pleasant to be with, pleasant to talk with. Thus from the social life of the school there arises an intimacy .nd friendship between teachers and pupils which cannot easily •e attained in any other way. r. s. p. ’01 SCIIOOL a HOUNDS. “ Beauty was lent to nature as the type Of heaven’s unspeakable and holy joy, Where all perfection makes the sum of bliss.” A person passing through a country judges a place by its outward appearaucc which may be beautiful or unsightly accord- ing to the amount of care taken to make the whole appear to its best advantage. In order to make an object look well each part must be made as perfect as possible and in harmony with the others. If our school is to appear what we all aim to have it become, the best High school in the state, we must make its exterior effect that of an artistic and well planned unit. To accomplish this, two things are necessary ; the city must realize our purpose and further it by appropriating enough money to grade that portion of our schoool yard which has never been graded and must lay out convenient paths and driveways. When this is done we will all unite in a sincere endeavor to keep the paths for passage ways only and to assist our janitor, if need be, in keeping the grass clean from papers and the edges untrodden. “ We are born to do benefits,—O, what a precious comfort ’tis to have so many like brothers, commanding one another’s fortunes.” k. o. w. '01. J THE AIM OF OUR SCHOOL. What does the High school do for the individual ? This is a question that can receive a full answer only at that day, when life’s task completed, we present our work to the Master for His examination and reward. However, if we change this question to what does the High school attempt to do for the individual, the answer becomes as easy as it was before difficult. First, by careful investigation, it strives to find out what is the physical, moral and intellectual capacity of each pupil who enters ; second, it offers an elective course of study so that each, from personal interest, under the careful guidance of the parent and the thoughtful direction of the teacher, may choose an amount and kind of work consistent with his powers; third, it classifies and regrades the pupils from time to time as their progress or lack of progress demands; fourth, it assigns each pupil to a division suited to his ability and of which he can do the work by faith- ful, conscientious school and home study; fifth, it provides a large study hall, in charge of excellent teachers, in which every- thing is conducive to hard, self-reliant application and study ; sixth, it surrounds the pupils with reference books, maps and apparatus which will develop breadth of view and sound judg- ment ; seventh, it makes a vigorous effort to ascertain the wish of each home and to oo-operate with the parents in developing high moral characters; eighth, it studies the needs of the city and strives to fit each boy or girl to assume the duties of citizen- ship and to carry on the progressive work of the city, until Quincy shall become second to none,—the leader among cities.