Red Jacket Central High School - Sagoyewatha Yearbook (Shortsville, NY)

Page 9 text:

Red Jacket was born at Canoga, near Cay- uga Lake, around 1750. Part of his boyhood was spent at Heuka Lake, near Branchport. As a boy he was impressed by the matchless oratory of the famous Mingo orator, Logan. He was determined to be another Logan. At home his mother would miss him from their cabin and when she asked him where he had been he would answer: Out in the woods, playing Logan. Red Jacket liked to match his wits with Washington's representative, Timothy Pick- ering, and at Tioga and Canandaigua he held his own. He often tried to make Pick- ering lose his temper and make some un- guarded statement, and sometimes he suc- ceeded. When he heard that Pickering had been made Secretary of War, Red .Iacket said: We began our public careers about the same time. He knew how to read and write. I did not and he got ahead of me. But if I had known how to read and write, I would have surpassed him. Modesty was not one of Red Jacket's traits. Had I know how to read and write . . let us consider the importance of these words, not in terms of Red .Iacket's experi- ence, but as they apply in the present-day world. To be sure, in the crudest sense of the word, the great majority of Americans-can read and write . . that is, they are literate. There are still many, far too many, however, who have only the most elementary ac- quaintance with these two skills. The great- est challenge which the school has to meet today still lies in these basic abilities. It must train young citizens to read with com- prehension and thoughtfulness, it must train them to write in such a way that their ideas and opinions may be passed on to others with clarity and accuracy. Intelligence, emanating from these fundamentals, can be the most effective instrument in attaining and maintaining World Peace and Har- mony.

Page 8 text:

: THEME : Just as in the case of the birth of a human being . . so too, when a new organization arises out of the minds and desires of the people known as its sponsors . . the immed- iate need for a name presents itself. As soon as the people of the villages of Shortsville and Manchester, together with the inhabitants of the outlying rural dist- ricts, voted to incorporate the benefits of centralization into the educational system of this area, their representatives . . known as the members of the Board of Education . . were confronted with the problem of giving this new school a means of indentification, a name by which the school with its student body of nearly 700 and its 35 faculty mem- bers might be distinguished from similar institutions of its kind. Many suggestions were submitted and the one finally chosen was that of Red Jacket Central School, in honor of the memory of a famous Seneca Indian Chief. It seemed a likely choice for many rea- sons . . first, because it was perfectly neutral, second, because it was less commonplace than many which were considered, third, because it was in keeping with the historic- al background and tradition of this commun- ity, and fourth, because it was hoped that it held possibilities of furnishing a colorful theme for many activities in which the school might wish to participate. No choice could have been made which would com- pletely eliminate opposition . . so true to expectations, :many voiced opinions in dis- approval of the new name. It appears, how- ever, that most of the opposition arose out of a lack of knowledge, and the fact that we human beings are apt to like only those things with which we are most familiar. A reading acquaintance with our patron saint, so to speak, should indeed add to the significance of the name by which this school wil be known for years to come. What's in a Name? We believe ours has quite a heritage and that we must do it credit by maintaining the highest possible standards of educational progress. Arch Merrill says: Ask any man on the street or any school child to name a famous Seneca and the odds are 16 to 1 the answer will be Red Jacket ! Although there were scores of warriors greater than he, and he was only a minor chief, his name has lived in history while those of the mighty warriors and chiefs have long been forgotten. For Red Jacket was a great orator. He has even been called the greatest of all Indian ora- tors. He could hold his own as a shrewd and logical debator at the council fire or in the court room against any White man. He did this regardless of the fact that he could neither read nor write. Red Jacket was as picturesque as his name. The white man called him Red Jac- ket because of the richly-embroidered scar- let coat he always wore. A British officer gave him his first red jacket for his fleetness as a messenger. After the first coat wore out, Red Jacket replaced it with another, and wore a red coat as long as he lived. Every settlement recognized the distinctive figure of this Indian. He was an erect man of med- ium build, always proudly wearing his red jacket and the medal that Washington had given him.

Page 10 text:

Board of Education . . . Seated CFrom lefty-A. I-Lowland, G. Glover, C, Durant, B. Crowell, A. Crowley. Standing--M. Morris, J. Loveless, A. Doody, J 1' Crowther, Our congratulations to our Board of Educatiorilon the splendid they have done since Centralization. We are not unmindful of problems that have confronted these men since last July. Their complishments in a limited time show, beyond a doubt, that they job the ac- are a capable and progressive group with the best interests of the students at heart. Their aim is to give Red Jacket Central thenbest eduoatio program they can and strive to make our school one of the best in State. The Board of Education is comprised of the following: R. Browning Crowell, President Albert Crowley, Vice-president Dr. John A. Crowther Arthur F. Doody Charles I.. Durant George B. Glover 'Alvin L. Howland Max G. Morris, Clerk 8 nal the