Sharon High School - Mirror Yearbook (Sharon, PA)

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 ■ The Mirror of 1931 Administration Department A philosophy of life includes the guiding motives and ideals which largely direct one's life. Each high school has a philosophy, which in a manner makes it individualistic. The state may prescribe the curriculum, yet the high schools of the state may, and usually are very different one from the other We say the atmosphere of the school is different, the attitude of faculty and students is different and the graduates have characteristics which identify them as products of a certain school. What then is the philosophy of Sharon High School? Sharon High School is characterized by a philosophy which says that character, initiative, and tools, in the order mentioned, are the important goals toward which we drive. Character first, because it is the foundation upon which all other elements of an education must be built. Without a good character the ambitious educated man becomes a menace, a source of danger to our Republic. With a good character he is usually a desirable citizen and may become a great leader. Initiative we place second. It is the driving force which makes a good man, good for something. It is the force which causes a man to make good use of the tools with which he has become skillful. Our studies, algebra, English. Latin, history, etc., the tools with which we work, come third, because they are the result of character and initiative. They are the servants of the other two and have no value except as they are directed. The man who has only initiative and knowledge is a liability, because he uses his skill for unworthy purposes. The man who has character and knowledge and no initiative is an idler and of no profit to society. But he who has character and initiative will not and cannot be stopped. He will find a way. He will succeed. Character, initiative and tools, but the greatest of these is character. This, then, is our philosophy and we are willing to be judged by its fruits. P. A. JONES, Principal. Eleven

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The Mirror of 1931 miss McMullen MR. REANEY MRS. ROBERTS MISS BROWN MISS WHIELDON English Department MISS ARMOUR I lu study of English is the foundation for all the subjects in the curriculum. And indeed, English is the basis of our civilization—our way of communicating ideas. It is true that a pupil could get along without high school English. But it is certainly worth his while to study it, and the state deems it important enough to make it a required subject. It is high school English that gives the student a finished, polished speech that makes him an interscholastic speaker. English is responsible tor the eloquent expression of thought. And English it is that enables pupils to quote Shakespeare. Pope, and other writers whose words are famous for wit, wisdom, or beauty. English, again acquaints students, through hook reports and class studies, with very worth-while literature. And, certainly English helps them in all their other studies— science, mathematics, and other languages. But English is not a great machine that pounds knowledge into students’ heads. It is a subject taught by capable teachers, who understand the needs of every individual and help each one to overcome his weaknesses in speech or composition. Much credit for the success of the pupils in the aforementioned activities and subjects, is due to our English teachers. We thank them. ELIZABETH McMULLEN Thiel College. A.B.; Columbia University, M.A. English Ilf-IV. ROWENA MacBRIDE Grove City College, Lt.B. English IV'. MAUD BLAIRE ROBERTS Allegheny College, A.B. English II-III. BESSIE ECKI.ES Ohio Wesleyan University, A.B. English III. T welve