Snowden High School - Aquila Yearbook (Library, PA)

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Page Four IMG-ada that Qwlde L. R. Cutshall Supervising Principal 1 America can never fail so long as we may presume a free educational system, fair competition, and a jealous regard for what is right. For more than a century we have had free secondary schools. Although it may be pointed out wherein the institution has failed, yet when everything is considered, a pretty good job has been done. Curriculum changes have been too slow, but will ac- celerate in this decade. Fair competition has not been general. Even in sports we have been too short- sighted to see there is no dishonor in losing to a better balanced team. I am happy to say that in our system coaches have always been admonished never to be guilty of teaching boys an unfair way to beat an opponent. Business, big and little, cannot boast a clean record in fair competition. Regard for what is right often-seems to be a lost art. Fix, a word we should all eliminate from our vocabulary, is a prevalent measure. Disregard for regulation is widely practiced because some friend is in a position to Fix the breach of rights. Why should anyone be able to Fix a jury, a judge, or an election? Why should not justice always prevail. These point to a reason why today so many entertain the false notion that democracy gives me the right to do as I please. My dear sir, if that be true, what will take place if what you please and what I please happen to counter? Abraham Lincoln stated it beautifully when he said, I am for each individual doing just as he chooses in all mat- ters which concern nobody else. Our conception of democracy must clear itself. We must realize personal liberty is not, and never can be, democracy. Democracy is, and only can be, for the good of the people. It must have leadership and the leadership may come from a group or a.n individual. In any event the leadership must be right and for the welfare of the mass. To make democracy succeed we must adopt and apply the philosophy and teachings of the lowly Galilean. Sincerely, L. R. CUTSHALL.

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n to Vlctory The watchword of America since its beginning has been On to Victory. Time and time again following this slogan, we have reached our goal and thereby gained Liberty, Freedom of Worship and Speech, the right to choose our leaders, the right of trial by' jury, and many other precious privileges. We have made our nation the envy of the other downtrodden people of Europe. Now again we are forced to defend these precious liberties. Again our battle cry is, On to Victory, and again we can and will succeed. Americans everywhere are giving all they can. They are offering their services, their wealth, or whatever the government may need. Without a word of complaint, we are united as never before in a common cause to stop aggression, greed for power, brutality, and cruelty. One wonders why people have ever followed leaders such as those of the totalitarian countries, why they have allowed themselves to be deceived into thinking they can be right. It can be for no other reason than they have been denied the very freedoms for which they fight. They have been told how they must worshipg they have been forbidden the right of free speech, and the right to listen to others. Radios, telegraphs, cables, have all been taken over by the government, hence lies have been spread to poison the minds of these enslaved people until they actually do not know what to believe. In our country we feel we are right. We have a real reason to believe so. We are allowed to debate on every questiong we may listen to what we please: and we have access to papers, books, or any other source of information. Our people know our cause is right. We have set out to fight. We cannot fail. When future generations look back upon the history of this time and read of these savage cruelties - the wanton destruction of houses, schools, hospitals, and churches -- they will wonder if we really were civilized. So as we again march On to Victory, we will win. We march on with a prayer on our lips - May God lead us to preserve Freedom, Liberty, and Peace. We pray for every one of the crushed and broken nations who are now suffering under The Whip of the tyrannical dictators of Europe. BETTE MATTES. .i Page Three

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w- W to- the WML Martin E. Weaver High School Principal DEAR GRADUATES OF I942: It is indeed with a great deal of hesitance that l set about this annual task of writing a brief message for your yearbook. There has been no other time in my brief history of writing messages to graduating classes, that , I have been so hopeful of being in a position to spread good cheer among you all. It is now too late in this school year for me to con- tinue being hopeful that the tide of events will change so that my message to you might be a more cheery one than it can of necessity be in this world, that is even more tense today than it was when I wrote my message to the graduating class of l94l. Many changes have taken place in this world of oursg economically, politically, and socially, since the day that you matriculated in our high school. The changes that you have faced during your four years with us had not been anticipated by many of the best thinkers of our country. We were forced to adjust our life to situations as they arose. So far, you, as members of our Democratic Society have done an excellent job of coping with the new problems as they have been presented to you for solution. You will be con- fronted with many more perplexing problems that you have not been able to anticipate and prepare yourself for. It is my belief that through the sum total of experiences that you have had during your brief stay in our high school your life has been enriched to the point that you will be capable of adjusting your life to new situations that present themselves during and after the present crisis, that we, as Americans, will be pressed to solve. You are going to be called upon many times during the next few years to give of your services so that the democratic way of life may continue to be the word of the day. You, the class of I942, are the men and women that we must rely upon to perpetuate the American way of life. l know of no better way to impress upon you the responsibility that you, as an American, must be ever mindful of, than to quote from William Tyler Page's The American's Creedn: l believe in the United States of America, as a government of the people, by the people, for the peopleg whose just powers are derived from the consent of the governedg a democracy in a republicg a sovereign nation of many sovereign States: a perfect union, one and inseparableg established upon those principles of freedom, equality, justice, and humanity, for which American patriots sacrificed their lives and fortunes. I therefore believe it is my duty to my country to love it, to support its constitution, to obey its laws, to respect its Hag, and to defend it against all enemies. Further, if you will in the future, spend equally as much time doing the task that you may have been assigned to do as you may spend in looking for a way out of doing that task, there will be a satisfaction that will come to you that will make you grow younger as the years go by. Again, if we are to continue, after the War, as a Democratic nation among friends, we must continue to abide by the principles of the contract - that is - the terms of the contract will be carried out to the letter by each of the contracting parties, even though the sacrifice be painful. With sincere good wishes that you may enjoy a healthful, happy, and good life, I remain, Very truly yours, MARTIN E. WEAVER. Page Fiiae