Spencerville High School - Echoes Yearbook (Spencerville, OH)

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Valedictory Parents, friends, faculty, and fellow graduates: It is my privilege to speak on behalf of my classmates on a subject which is uppermost in our minds. Should 18 year olds be given the vote? Perhaps some of you have already decided that the idea of allowing 18 year olds to vote is absurd, or a few of you, no doubt, think it might be a good idea. For all who are interested I would like to give a few facts about this issue which have been expressed by writers, congressmen, and the American Youth. Dorothy Fisher, author and member of the American Youth Commis- sion of the American Council on Education, says the voting age should be raised, not lowered. Those who say, since an 18 year old is old enough to fight, he is old enough to vote, haven't thought clearly. Mrs. Fisher believes merely physical abilities are necessary to make a good soldier. A soldier learns instinctive obedience to orders on which his life might depend. This does not develop one's individualism. Quite the contrary. A soldier must be a small part of a unit. Too much individualism might cause Well-constructed plans to go wrong through no fault of the unit. A soldier must learn at the very beginning and remember that strict obedience is of the utmost im- portance. A voter must inform himself about the overall plan proposal, judge by its merits and desirabilities as best he can, then vote accordingly. To do this intelligently, the voter needs good judgment. A soldier as a young person has had no chance to develop or use his judgment to such an extent that it can be depended upon. This is merely Mrs. Fisher's opinion. Just how long would a soldier live without good judgment? If a soldier is suddenly left in command, if he is on his own, good judgment is the only thing that can help him. Dr. George Gallup, director of the American Institute of Public Opin- ion, has found that 522, of the public is in favor of lowering the voting age limit compared to the 17175 that favored it four years ago. To quote Dr. Gallup: One objection . . . against lowering the voting age is that young persons 18-20 are not sufficiently Well informed to be able to vote wisely, or at least as wisely as they might after attaining a more mature age. Because of the present-day educational requirements, however, the present generation of young people between the ages of 18 and 21 has had con- siderably more schooling than the average for the whole public. The young people have certainly had more schooling than the voters who are 50 years of age and over--takn as a group. At this time there are about 7,000,000 people between the ages 18 and 21. There are approximately 48,000,000 voters. This would be increased by 4,500,000 young people who are definitely interested in voting and things in relation to it. This slight increase in voters would not greatly sway an election. By letting the young people vote just after they are out of school or perhaps while they are in their senior year, you can be sure of a larger percentage of eligible people voting since interest is kept alive in schools by discussions of current happenings. Dr. Virgil M. Hancher, President of the State University of Iowa, says 18 year olds are too young to fight or vote. Dr. Hancher admits a strong case can be made for those young men who have been drafted into military service before the age of 21, but he also says it should be remembered that we adopt many emergency measures in wartime that we would hesitate to recommend as permanent policies for peacetime. 23

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'X x Y Q Y Y 1 Y Gail Reynolds Beer Barrel Polka He's right at home in Delphos, is always with the Gang, likes night life, never has his English, Miss Deemer thinks he's a pill, it's im- possible to embarrass him. Chorus 1, 2, Wee Echo Staff 4. Bert Pickering Speak Low My wife shall not rule me, has girl trouble, he's usually sleeping in class, rather dull, fugitive from a cracker-jack box, sprawls all over his seat. Defense Booth 3, 4, Class Play 4. Marguerite Wein My Devoiion She appears so quiet and shy, is a good Commercial student, never has much to say, is cheerful and happy, is always well-pressed. Chorus 1, G.A.A. 4, Wee Echo Staff 4, Librarian 3, 4, Scholarship Test 4. Ruth Fissel My Dreams Are Geffing Beffer All The Time Likes to argue, has unruly hair, is teacher's pet, is another Jennings brainstorm, is bossy but a nice kid who is sweet in a sour sort of way. outstanding personality. Chorus 1, 2, 3, 4, F.H.A. 4, G.A.A. 4, Annual Staff 4, Defense Booth 3, 4, Waitress 2, V. President 2, Reporter 1, Eisteddfod 3, 4, Honor Banquet 3, 4, Prince of Peace 4, Scholarship test 4, Ring Committee 22 ,.fl'77!.0.-o'5L .lack Mewhorter Cowboy .lack Cowboy, usually wins an argument, sort of a sissy, just look at his hair curl, does he blush easily or is it just reflection? ? We wish he could have come to Spencerville sooner. Dola High 1, 2, 3, F.F.A. 3, Class Play 3, 4, Chorus 1, 2, 3, Science Club 1, Honor Banquet 31 Vernon Harruff l'm Beginnin' To See The Light!! Plays basketball, is of medium height, dark and bull-headed, is picker-upper, has a certain twinkle in his eyes, makes an ideal sailor. Chorus 1, 2, 3, 4, Wee Echo Staff, Editor 4, Basketball 1, 2, 3, 4, Cap- tain 3, 4, Baseball 1, 2, 3, 4, De- fense Booth 3, Waiter 2, President 1, Reporter 2, Student Council 3, Eisteddfod 3, Honor Banquet 4, Coach Jr. High Basketball 4.

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Vculedicfory-Continued The Chairman of the Self Government Committee, Richard Welling, favors reducing the voting age to 18 if the schools will do their part. Mr. Welling feels that reduction of the voting age limit to 18 years might so alarm schools that they would wake up and put into education something more than the three R's and such subjects that bear no relation to the alert citizenship which is needed in a democracy. Mr. Welling isn't so well informed concerning subjects taught in schools since most schools do teach more than just the three R's. Such subjects as government, commercial law, business principles, economics, social problems, and organizations such as the Student-Teacher Council, class clubs, debating clubs do bear relation to the alert citizenship needed in democracy. The Association of the Bar of the City of New York feels that any attempt to lower the voting age is unwise. This proposal could not become effective, if adopted, until the 1946 election, and it is hoped that the situa- tion which now motivates the idea will then be a thing of the past. They also feel schooling should be improved. The immediate effects of the war have been to make it worse. Recent surveys and discussions in schools on the question of lowering the voting age limit among boys and girls between 12 and 18 have found about 75921 favoring the proposal while the rest were against it. It might be interesting to note that those opposed to the proposal are the 17 and 18 year olds whom it would effect almost immedately. They feel they would have to follow a candidate's career after election and uphold his ideas or voice their criticism when he steps out of line. It is also felt that the younger people would be less likely to be impressed by promises that are not supported by a candidate's record. It was also learned in these surveys that another good argument for lowering the voting age limit is that many young people are earning substantial incomes and are paying income tax. They have a right to vote in order to say how these high taxes should be spent. Of the Congressmen who were interviewed, approximately 30? were for and 30W were against lowering the voting age. The other 4021 either had no opinion or preferred not to divulge it. It is my opinion that 18 year olds are capable of voting intelligently. Perhaps I'm slightly prejudiced, but when you consider the fact that so many more young people are graduating from high schools than ever before, it should prove to you that we are better educated than former generations were at the same age. Statistics show that high school enroll- ments have increased from one million in 11910 to seven million in 1940. Surely this is proof that we are better equipped to vote at 18 than former generations were at 21. The young people deserve this privilege of voting for the part they are playing in the nation's defense today if for no other reason. The highest duty, defense of the State, merits the highest privilege, suffrage. Upon reaching the age of 18 most young people are out of school or soon will be. They then must assume the responsibilities of adults. With these responsibilities surely they deserve the privilege of an adult- suffrage. This poem was written by a member of my class: The way of life is through wisdom of youthg The way of happiness-through love and truth. We will strive for the betterment of each of these, For God set our goal and these are the keys. 24