Saugus High School - Tontoquonian Yearbook (Saugus, MA)

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SAUGUS PUBLIC SCHOOLS SAUGUS, MASSACHUSETTS 01906 MAURICE F. SMITH, SUPERINTENDENT ANNA V. JACOBS, Administrative Assistant To the Members of the Class of 1968: The recent visit of two Russian teachers to the Public Schools of Saugus provided an opportunity for several educators in Saugus to share experiences with their counterparts from a foreign country. Although this visit was much too brief, it seems to me that those of us who had the opportunity to question these Russians and to listen to their comments on education and youth, in a sense, were having an opportunity to peer behind a curtain (supposedly made of iron) and were finally viewing a Russian as a human being. Even in such brief contact one was impressed, not by the differences in thinking between the Russian and American educators (although such differences were apparent), but by the similarities in common problems and experiences found to be occurring in the pedagogical life of both countries. Political differences were forgotten, for the moment, at least, as both Russian and American teachers lost their personal identities and concentrated upon a common interest and concern — the education of youth ! Van Cliburn experienced this same phenomenon in music when he participated in the International Tchaikovsky Competi- tion in Moscow. After this moving experience he wrote: There are no political barriers to music. The same blood running through Americans also runs through the Soviet people and compels us to enjoy the same art. What thrills me so much is the spirit of musical unity achieved at the Tchaikovsky Competition by the people of the World whose governments are at political loggerheads. Whether the common interest be education, music, art, science, business or some other field of endeavor, if allowed to be freely expressed, this interest becomes the focal point and varying nationality becomes meaningless. From such experiences one learns to respect a person as an individual regardless of political or religious beliefs, race or color. There will always be differences in political thinking among the various peoples of the world. If such differences are not to lead to violence and war, the people of the world must consciously strive to find these common focal points of interest and by pursuing them together learn to live with these differences. It seems to me that the young people of today, with their honest approach to life, their respect for uniqueness, and their regard for the individual person are better equipped than previous generations to break down the artificial barriers of nation- ality, color or religious prejudice. It is my sincere h ope that the members of the Saugus High School Class of 1968, as they proceed to further schooling or to immediately face life ' s problems, will exemplify such an attitude and each person with whom they come in contact will be respected for his contribution in life as a person. In this way prejudice, fear, and misunderstanding of other peoples will become words without meaning and the world will be a better place in which to live. Sincerely, 3f. Superintendent of Schools

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MAURICE F. SMITH— Superintendent of Schools