South Philadelphia High School - Keepsake Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

Page 12 text:

To THE CLASS or JUNE 1959 In this world, we know that there are wheels of many kinds. Each type is built for a specific purpose. Very often we hear of the wheel of fortune. Too often we attempt to hide behind this phrase so that we may continue to live with our ulazyfitisw or to excuse our failures. We make our own wheel of fortune through careful preparation and hard work. We must remember that in order to be successful in our chosen field we must: learn all we can about the fieldg develop skills in the field, be sincerely interested in the field, keep abreast of the new developments in the field. When one follows this formula, the wheel of fortune is set in motion. Then, when the time comes to be considered for advancement the wheel of fortune will turn his way - not because of luck but rather because he had planned through hard work to be ready when the opportunity presented itself. Boys and girls, I wish to extend to you my best wishes for a healthful, happy, and prosperous future. I do hope and pray that you will make your own wheel of fortune through hard work and always giving the other fellow a square deal. Sincerely, . JOSEPH J. Rossi 6

Page 11 text:

ANNE WRIGHT: DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT What is knowledge? Is knowledge the same as education? It would be of interest to me to know how you young people react to these questions. Have you ever wondered what has been the basic purpose of your years in school? It is at this point of purpose that the crucial differences between the ideals of different countries are most easily evident. In America I believe the basic purposes of education are: 1. To teach individuals how to think 2. To help us to appreciate the differences among people and to live happily with these diiferf ences in a democratic society 3. To provide individuals with the specialized knowledges they will need in order to work. Possession of knowledge does not guarantee that an individual will think. It is education which gives to an individual the ability to use knowledges and facts in order to arrive at a con' clusion. It is education which helps us to understand that the purpose of thinking is to arrive at a belief. It is education which leads us to question and to doubt but ultimately to believe. Our world has conquered space-where once our youth looked longingly at the star' studded sky, we now dream of other worlds and other planets beyond the stars-perhaps of other people. Have we given much thought to our relations with these possibly new peoples- can we live happily with them? Most of us have the capacity to live well with our neighbors but find it difficult to understand people from far away. What education do we need to help us live well in this wonderful new world which is unfolding? A man needs to have knowledge in order to work but this is only a part of his life. He needs too, as a worker, basic values of honor and integrity, of truth and of faith. It is because of all these needs of man that neither knowledge nor the grasping of knowledge is enough. What we must strive for is education and understanding, In your lives, will we teachers see our failures or our success. Superintendent, District Three ANNE WRIGHT 5

Page 13 text:

WHEELS The wheel is one of the most important invenf tions of man. But simple as the wheel itself apf pears to be, its usefulness depends upon a perfecf tion of construction and its perfect coordination of movement with other wheels when it is part of a complex piece of machinery. So it is with a thorough education. Many wheels have faithfully and constantly turned for you, many gears have been made to mesh tof gether properly, so that you might now be ready to proceed to assume your position in our complex society with confidence, courage, faith and per' severance. We trust that the wheels we have kept turning have done a proper job of setting you on worthwhile paths with high goals in mind. J. CAPORALE I ,,,,,,N A I Q Who can measure what we owe to others- our parents, family, teachers, religious counselors, friends? What we are and what we shall be is determined by the countless daily influences through which they shaped us. From them we acquired our aspirations, our ideals, our visions, our dreams. So does the great march of civilization and progress go forward. Each generation sees just a little further because it stands on the shoulders of those who came before. May each of us be worthy of the devotion and the aid which we have enjoyed, so that we may each bestow, in turn, these great blessings on the generations that will come after. 'MQW l g -'Y -.fo-f ,.,,n ,Z X-1 f--f ' V, , H A., .H I-f-.,Y.,,., , a Through every year of your life you have been helped by many people, many institutions. Your parents, your teachers, your friends, your church and the community in general have all contribf uted to your development. You have now reached a stage where the shapf ing of your life is more your own work. You can make it a thing of beauty or a thing of shame. One way of making your life a rewarding and happy one is by helping others become happy and wellfrounded individuals, Une ofthe most beautif ful compensations in life is that no person can sincerely try to help others without helping himself.