Spaulding High School - Red and White Yearbook (Rochester, NH)

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THE RED A D WHITE VOL. XXXV JUNE, 1949 NO, 3 Editorial LOIS DAVIS, '49 It's bad enough to be treated like a freshman when you are a freshman. Now that you're a senior, you're go- ing to let the world know it more than by the letters on your sweater. You're on top and every little underclassman is going to have to go through four years just as painfully as you did. Who's going to make it hard for them? . . . You are, you, the high and mighty seniors. Well, you'1l probably get away with it. But in making other people your playthings perhaps you've forgotten that toys are breakable. You were a toy once and will be again but you forget that now that you're a high and mighty senior-a person of privi- lege. Being a senior does bring certain privileges, but they, in turn bring their responsibilities. It took you four years to reach this charmed spot, and something was happening all the time. Some of it was very painful, partly because nobody cared enough to smooth the way for you. Think back-how many times did you de- clare that, in their place, you'd be more understanding? Well, you're in their place now. And how many freshmen are declar- ing just as indignantly against your behavior toward them? For all the good some of you got out of those four years, you might just have well played truant. Perhaps you've forgotten how you used to be the one to stand around and hear everyone invited to a party ex- cept you. You were expected to be the Great Stone Face-and heart. Or you've forgotten how you gagged when it was you that elders were laughing at. Forgotten how your little unheard voice called out to those a notch above you who didn't pay any attention. Could you have forgotten? And yet you remember other inci- dents-the first time that special someone glanced your way or your first unchaperoned party. Then how come those other memories Went by the board? Have you forgotten to remember how a friendly smile would have made your old clothes seem less conspicu- ous? Or the hand that would have helped you through the misery of those first days in high school? But the smile, the hand, were nowhere to be found. You weren'it asking for much-just

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Ein illivmnriam MR. WILFRID CRETEAU Never idle a moment, but thrifty and thoughtful of others LONGFELLOW, Courtship of Miles Standish.

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4 THE RED AND WHITE a little consideration. And that is all good manners are-a little considera- tion. Respect for your identity and the privilege of living were small fa- vors to ask. Yet it is all you wanted from others. That is what those struggling underclassmen want from you--now. Don't deny them those small favors. You're not expected to take over the social reforms of your high school in charge of all lost souls. Just remem- ber your early days at Spaulding High. The way is difficult enough without you making any faces red with embarrassment or palms sticky with discomfort. So let's play fair. The climb up- hill is not easy. There are roadblocks we can't do anything about. But as for all your precious little hurting pebbles you can just throw them into the ocean! Citizenship G EORGE HARDVVICK, '49 Today, it would be safe to say that the greatest desire of all freedom-lov- ing peoples is for complete and perma- nent world peace. Such a peace is not Fascist, not Communist, but a state of world-wide harmony to be en- joyed by all. In order to have such a democratic peace, the advantages of democracy and its better way of life must be made clear to the rest of the world. This goal can be reached only through the example of those living under such a system. To halt the surge of Com- munism and give the people under its tyrannical heel reasons for resistance, we must make our own democracy so attractive and so eificient that there will be no question of its desirability. For the most part this program merely means good citizenship to be practiced by each and every one of us. Now what are its essential re- quirements? The foremost privilege given to the American citizen is his right to vote for the candidate of his choiceg yet, not much more than half of those eligible to do so voted in the last na- tional election. What did Poland, deep behind the iron curtain, think of this dire neglect on 'the part of the citizens of America? Voting, like many other privileges in a democracy, is likewise a duty. One of the basic principles on which our great country is founded is the privilege of expressing one's self fear- lessly. In view of this fact, why were candidates for public oflice insulted and attacked in this very town as well as many other localities? If this is to be truly the land of free speech, we must give such an opportunity to others as well as using it ourselves. Something that has always dis- turbed the borderline nationalities, those who do not know just which way to go, is the ever-increasing num- ber of instances of racial and religi- ous prejudices in the United States. Will the tragic stories of these out- rages in a nation supposedly built on the principle of equality cause these countries to accept democracy? If we are to expect to be treated on an equal basis with our fellow men, we must not allow the question of race, creed, or color sway our judgment or reason at any time. Although these are the basic es- sentials of democratic citizenship, we must not overlook the many other things that are also important. These are a succession of seemingly little duties which, when added up, are just as important as some of the more ob- vious points. They are especially im- portant to us as students as they can be performed by everyone regardless of age. Maybe you never stopped to think of it this way, but care of school books is as much a duty of citizenship as Voting. CContinued on Page 225