Scituate High School - Chimes Yearbook (Scituate, MA)

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25 EDITORIALS SPIRIT Alette Dolan, ' 48 U A MERICANS are slipping! a friend told l us the other day. We simply shrugged off the remark with the nonchalance of all teen-agers who are told to what horrible ends this younger generation is plummeting. No. our friend went on, it ' s not just you young folks who have lost the right spirit. Everyone seems too concerned with petty, selfish interests today to think about the world situation, his country, or his commun- ity. The greatest initiative anyone seems to take in current affairs lately is to grumble about them. It is doubtful that this idea is entirely true, but it does deserve some thought, especially from us teen-agers. There isn ' t one among us anywhere who is so absorbed in jive, dates, or the new look, that he doesn ' t realize the dark threat that over- shadows our whole democratic form of govern- ment. There is not a rational person in America who is unaware of the dark clouds of communism gathering on the horizon. Some young people don ' t realize, however, that we are the first line of defense against this dread foe. We are the ones who must build a mighty and unassailable bulwark to protect America against this menace — a bulwark of united, determined spirit! The most important lesson school teaches us is the power of spirit or determination. History cites instance after instance. Salient is the exam- ple of the American Revolution. No historian can attribute our victory to anything but spirit — the united resolute spirit of the colonists, pioneers in democracy. Social studies are not unique in demonstrating this power of spirit. The sciences deal entirely with discoveries made through a patient, yet ever-persevering spirit of inquiry. These are lessons we forget too easily, as complacent citizens of this rich and powerful country. Nevertheless, wealth, influence, material goods are inconsequential straws floating in the momentous tidal wave of human spirit. Is our spirit today a surging flood? Or is it a stagnant pool? During the war the thundering waves of American spirit rolled from coast to coast, crashed and foamed high as the heavens. The Star Spangled Banner was sung with lustier voices. With greater fervor we saluted our flag. Churches were crowded with worshipers praying for their loved ones, praying for their country, praying for worldwide democracy and Christianity. Now the cannons are silent, the dead buried, the tears turned to smiles, the heroes returned, but what has become of our spirit? We are woefully near ebb water. We cannot let the tide turn.

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24 Play (one-act) BAB GOES DRAMATIC IJab Preston Louise Redely Mrs. Preston Joanne MacDonald Lou Preston Lois Merrill Janet Preston Fannie Whorf Jinisey Preston John Davis Abicula Spinkum Laura Cerilli Mrs. Crewe Eunice Clapp Olivia Crewe Barbara Robischeau Polly Dorothy McPherson Vivian Verdella Goddard Ruddy John Goodnow Patsy Charniaine Wilt Bill Sexton Charles Harney Directed by Miss Eleanor Gile Production Staff Scenery Miss Rowel! and memi)ers of the An Deparlmeiit Prompter Barbara Best Properties Nancy Gilley. Mary Lou Corrigan, Dama Sherman Lighting and Sound Effects James Robinson, Bruce Wyman Construction Mr. Benson and the boys in the Shop Department Costumes Miss Kingsbury, Dolores Parker Programs Miss Hawkes, Mary Noble, Jane Keyes, Carol Stearns Ushers Miss Harrington, Mary Lou Cor- rigan, Joan Kettell, Jane Nord, Penelope Rich, Carol Stearns, Donna Vickery What ' s What About the Senior Play Friday Evening April 16, 1948 The Senior Class Presented Big-Hearted Herbert Directed by Miss Eleanor Gile Cast In order of appearance Herbert Kalness Earl Merrill Roberta Kalness Verdella Goddard Elizabeth Kalness Jean Prouty Herbert Kalness, Junior Jon Flynn Alice Kalness Louise Reddy Andrew Goodrich Leland Towle Amy Lawrence Joanne MacDonald Jim Lawrence Ronald Fallon Mr. Goodrich William Green Mrs. Goodrich Elizabeth Fleming Mr. Havens Robert Dunphy Mrs. Havens Martha Peirce Time — the present Scene — the apartnienl of ihe Kalness family, in a small midcaslern city Production Staff Scenery Miss Rowell and Senior members of the Art Department Prompters Janet Allen, Marjorie Macy Construction Mr. Benson assisted by Senior Boys Programs Miss Hawkes, Marjorie Macy, Eleanor Noble, Eunice Clapp This year a completely new cast took the stage to present Big-Hearted Herbert, the annual Senior Play. There were laughs and smiles at the antics of big-hearted Earl Merritt, and many people wondered how Jeanie Prouty remained so calm and serene until the last act. The tender romance and the wisecracks of Roberta helped make the Class of 1948 put forth its best effort in the field of dramatics.

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26 It is not necessary to hate an enemy to rally spirit. We need only to open our eyes to the great miracle of our citizenship in the United States of America. We are free men. Each of us must take his place in the bulwark protecting the earth from communism. And the mighty roar we hear echoing from the distant future — it is not the fall of another defenseless nation: it is the irrepressible, world-engulfing sea of united, determined spirit. How Can We Increase Understanding Among Peoples? Leland Towle, ' 48 There was never a time, even in the midst of war, when it ivas so necessary to replace prejudice with truth, distortion with balance, and suspicion with understanding. James R. Byrnes Secretary of State 1945-1947 THE problem of replacing prejudice with truth, distortion with balance, and suspicion with understanding throughout the world is a grave one. It probably means the difference be- tween war and peace. War thrives on misunder- standing and suspicion; peace depends on substi- tuting understanding and trust among peoples. The world is building a political framework for peace through the L nited Nations General Assembly and Security Council. It is building an economic framework through several specialized organizations, such as the Food and Agricul- ture Organization. These require a third frame- work for their completion — world cultural coop- eration. Unless men ' s minds are brought to- gether, they cannot cooperate either politically or economically. Our era has given peoples great influence on foreign affairs and has enabled them to speak directly to each other, by radio, travel, press, and films. The present need to bring men ' s minds together is matched by opportunity. If the powers of communication are used rightly, people will become more familiar with each other, and the United Nations will become as indissoluble as the United States. The United Nations Educational. Scientific, and Cultural Organization is the world agency which is concerned with advancing understanding among peoples. This organization is backed by years of experience, reaching as far back as the League of Nations. The purpose of UNESCO is to promote mutual understanding and education for world citizenship based on respect for law and human rights. UNESCO will recommend international agreements to permit the free move- ment of ideas. It will encourage mass communi- cation to further mutual understanding. It will induce popular education, advocating equality of educational opportunity. UNESCO will in- crease and spread knowledge by conserving forms of culture, by encouraging intellectual cooperation, and by making the publications of every country accessible to all. It will keep in touch with and use all other agencies that are in sympathy with its problems. Its purpose is to persuade, not to regulate. It will organize world conferences and may promote international universities. UNESCO is brought into relation with the United Nations through the Economic and Social Council. A Commission on Human Rights has also been set up. which will try to make the four freedoms and the freedom of information international. The United States is taking part in world affairs as never before. For this reason people all over the globe are eager to know more about us. However, our policies and actions will fail if they are misunderstood. People, if not given the real facts, will believe the distorted facts which are given to them by uncooperative countries. Their hopes and fears make them ready victims of false accusations unless they are told the truth. Government agencies are showing the peoples of the world what the United States and its people really are. through press and publications, broad- casting, motion pictures, exchange of persons and libraries and institutes. Understanding can be increased by adding to our knowledge of other countries and by help- ing their citizens to know us better. We can cor- respond with people abroad: — a good way to begin is to reply to some of the letters thanking us for the food packages we have sent. We can read about other countries and introduce dis- cussion of foreign affairs and foreign peoples with friends. These informal contacts will mold public opinion and make the world one. Certain organizations study and discuss inter- national relations, get up conferences and ex- changes, finance education and health service abroad. We can help a great deal by supporting these organizations which are reaching construc- tively across national boundaries. International understanding depends on every one of us. If we resolve not to let our minds be prejudiced and distorted by untruths, we will have already laid the cornerstone for world under- standing and world peace.