Rogers Hall School - Splinters Yearbook (Lowell, MA)

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Editorial There are times when a person must be alone, times when his soul must wrestle with his intelligence. A child's decisions are made for him by his parents, but later a person is left on his own, and he realizes how much of a child he still is. When God created the earth, l-le made man sinless in l-lis own image, however, God gave man the right to make his own decisions, and this fact is what brought about man's down-fall. Ever since the beginning of time, man has been faced by decisions, both large and small. From the time a person wakes up in the morning and tries to decide what to wear, until evening, when he decides what to eat and when to go to bed, a person is faced with innumerable decisions. America exists only because there were people who believed in and wanted freedom so much that they decided to risk their lives to fight against England. lt is only because of great decisions such as this that the United States holds such a position in the chaotic world of today. However, one man's decision now may be enough to eliminate the planet Earth from the heavens. lt is not impossible for one man with a warped mind to cause the complete destruction of the world by making a decision to press one button. These are the times when a person needs to be alone, to evaluate himself, to determine for himself if what he decides will benefit not only himself, but also others.. ln such situations, the individual must also be aware of the fact that the end does not justify the means. L When, after careful deliberation, a person makes the decision that he believes is best for himself and all concerned, he must not waver in his actions until this decision is carried out. lf it is not a wrong decision that will cause the end of the world, it may well be indecision. JUDITH G. ANDERSON Editorial In our democratic world there are many different societies, but in each society some degree of rapport among its members must be maintained in order for that society to prosper and to progress. VVhen this voluntary harmony is not achieved, a society disintegrates into a lonely crowd wherein each individual loses his sense of identity and purpose. ln such circumstances, an individual often feels that the chain that links him with others is broken forever. This feeling is particularly acute when an individual believes that he is being denied the possibilty of harmony by other members of his society. A person who has the belief that he is being denied oppor- tunities for self-fulhllment, either as a result of his own doings or mistakes or those of others, frequently becomes apathetic. Dejection follows rejection, a stagnant inert mass replaces a once active individual. ln such a situation, what happens to the individual? More importantly, what happens to the society? ln any existing society there are various types of friction which must be elimi- nated in order that harmony may be achieved. Frequently, the situation requires a recognition and treatment of evil. Evil is a cancerous growth which cannot be easily arrested and can become distressingly harmful. Unchecked evil will contaminate all those whom it touches, but too frequently those who are aware of its threat become indifferent to its course and inevitably are consumed. The man who wishes harmony and achievement must register his discontent and undertake, judiciously, those measures which will produce the right climate for a life of dignity and meaning. The person who recognizes evil and does nothing about it is as guilty as the individual who does the evil. The health of every society, therefore, depends upon the alertness and courage of its members. An individual sense of responsibility for the common good will ensure the effectiveness of any organization whether it be a nation, a town, or a school. Louise BROOKS '64

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November The leafless trees like dark graceful fingers Are stark against the soft gray sky. Although a trace of autumn still lingers, The icy winds are blowing nigh. Each day earlier, the long blue shadows Lengthen over the silent land. Across the frosty-whitened meadows They glide, a reaching icy hand. The birds have long since made their southward flights, And now the snow falls mutely, Pinked by the purple twilight. Such is November's haunting beauty. LINDA SCANNELL '65 ff 3 as C XJT' A 5 SX xy ll QJL6-1 l , fn X T li l i trawl