Saline High School - Salinian Yearbook (Saline, MI)

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TONIGHT WE LAUNCH, WHERE SHALL WE ANCHOR? As young people we go forward filled with optimism and constant strive to do new and better things. Do we want to the footsteps of someone else? No, we want to be original, ly impossible. The prayer in my heart as I come here today Egyptian scribe two thousand years before Christa 'Would I enthusiasm in our merely follow in to do the apparent- was recorded by an had phrases that are not known, utterances that are strange, a new language that hath not been used, free from repetition, not an utterance which hath grown stale, which men of old have spoken.' - Tonight marks the lau ching of our respective careers. Now we will have to decide what place we will fill in life, or, in other words where we shall anchor. This decision will be of the utmost importance to all of us. However, even though this decision may seem important, it is not as important as the way in which we carry out the chosen career. The true worth of every person is judged not by the field in which he works, but by the quantity and quality of work he does in that field. The educational opportunities which we have been privileged to enjoy are superior to those which any other generation in history ever even dreamed of. Many persons have made it possible for us to receive a thorough school training, and we are deeply indebted to them. At this time we wish to thank our parents for the many sacrifices they have made so that we might have a good education. Also, we wish to thank our teachers who have constantly instructed and guided us. Other persons or groups of persons who have aided us in every way possible are the school board and the community at large. To all of these we realize that we owe much, and we shall ever strive to repay them in the form of good citizenship. Today we are beset on all sides by hostile factions both within and with- out our country. Whether our country continues to thrive as a free and inde- pendent state, depends on the youth of today. For it is a well-known fact that out of our youth of today will come our leaders of tomorrow. To make sure that we will have competent and able leaders who will be able to suppress these hostile factions, the youth of today and tomorrow must be educated at all possi- ble cost. Over a hundred years ago our forefathers proved that they realized the necessity of education when they wrote in the Northwest Ordinance, the follow- ing sentences 'Religion, morality, and education being necessary to good gov- ernment and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged.' Today an education is even more necessary than it was then. It is almost impossible to find decent employment without having at least a high school ed- ucation. If I were a king or, to be more modern, a dictator, I would issue an Edict that would compel all young people to attend high school. I would also make it possible for any person, who wished to do so, to attend college. Another argument in behalf of education is that it is the only effective means of combating propaganda. Now, while wars are being fought all around us, the masses can easily be swayed by the use of propaganda. In totalitarian states, where education is suppressed, propaganda is the backbone of the coun- try. The dictator can, either through the press or by violent speeches given by himself persuade the people to adhere to his every wish. Do we want this to happen in the United States? If not, then we will have to continue and even enlarge our present educational set-up. Tonight as we launch in the hope of soon finding our life's occupation and then anchoring there, we must not lose sight of the importance of religion in the lives of every American. It is claimed by many statisticians that the moral character of Americans is sadly lacking in our present day and age.

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Ralph Bowen 'I stand on the brink of a great career--will someone push me off?' Football, '39 Glee Club, '38 Carol Uphaus 'Ambition hath no rest.' Glee Club, '38,'39,'4O,'4l Library, 4O,'4l Student Council, '39 Alton Bredernitz 'It isn't what you do, 1t's what you get away with.' Basketball, '39 '40 '41 Baseball, 38,'59,'4l Tennis, 40 Varsity Club, '4O,'4l Marjorie Weed 'Be not simply good but good for something.' Glee Club, '38,'39,'4O,'4l Library, 40,'41 Home Ec. '41 Band, '4O,'41 Milton Buss 'School does so intrude in one's social activities.' Basketball, '38,'39 Baseball, 39 Jr, Play Sr. Play Ju ior Claes Vice Pres. Fresh. Class Treasurer Student Cou cil Pres. 4Ei,gs, 1, , -fs . wif E 'Q' 1 faM.,iF' Q E i ag. 1 f:,,v-E'-.. . -J3,,' .if ,w?, Frank Chlystek 'Come what will tomorrow, 2 gaze lived today.' Howard Cooper 'He can say such foolish things in such a serious way. Varsity Fbotball '39,'40,'4l Basketball, '40 Baseball, 39 Track, '4O,'4l Soph. Class Vice Pres. Paul Davis 'Long he labored, hard and well.' Fbotball '39 '40 '41 Basketball, '58,'59,'4O,'4l Baseball 39 varsity Club, '40,'4l Banu, '41 Kenneth Dechert 'I am not in the role of common men.' Hockey '39 Baseball, '38,'39,'40 Dramatics Jr. Play Student Council Pres. '39

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Valedictory Speech Con't. When we hear and read such statements we should take warning lest we be conquer ed like France. For it is a knows fact that the downfall of France was caused by the low moral character of French officials in both the army and in the gov- ernment. How can we, who are graduating from high school with the thought of doing everything possible to improve ourselves and our community, raise the moral standards of ourselves and our fellow citizens? The answer is to attend church regularly and also encourage our fellow men to do likewise. For it has long been known that religion and high moral standards go hand in hand. We, as graduates, are tonight lau ching upon our life careers. Whether we are successful or not depends entirely upon us. Although, we are not at pre- sent sure of complete success, we are sure that if education and religion are encouraged by all our democratic government will have nothing to fear from with in or from without. And as long as free, democratic government thrives in the United States the success of each and everyone of us will be assured. ------by Warren Rentschler