St Francis Preparatory School - San Fran Yearbook (Brooklyn, NY)

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PAGE 122 ATHLETICS I suppose vou've heard about the I932 Olympics in Berlin-when Jesse Owens was barely recognized by the German government for his outstanding achievement? Or the Lon- don games in which certain countries refused to participate fearing that their representatives would not win . . . and were not about to give credit to the performers of other countries? Now, could you ever imagine that happening here? lt could, if it were not for the many free- doms that the people of America enjoy. Free- dom of Achievement, I like to point out. is the backbone of success in the field of Sports. Recognition gladly paid to the victors helps develop keener competition and sounds out a sports program here in the United States that guarantees fraternal, moral and physical bene- fits. This trophy case attests to the success of the athletic programihere at St. Francis. Reco- gnition serves as an incentive and an incentive is the primer that ignites the long fuse of a- chievement. Should this spirit die in a country, the achievement of that country will pass away with it. Perhaps, you never considered it as such before, but all these trophies for football baseball, track, basketball and the other five sports at St. Francis hold the stories of hun- dreds of former Franciscans whose achieve- ments have brought renown to their school and multiple benefits to themselves. Specifically why? it is a freedom is this: the right to try out for a team, when the only prerequisites are ability and good scholastic standing, opens the door to an individual to prove his worth beside his classmates. No impediments stand in his way, his success will give him the confidence necessary for success later in life. When join- ing a team. the boy knows that he is to contri- bute with his teammates to a common cause. This singular purpose that binds boys together is enough to cement relationships and give them an understanding of their fellow students. That he might be successful and gain the lau- rels that are his due by work and spirit alone, fires the boy to industry and ultimately to achievement. You have been close to all the sports at St. Francis and l'm sure that you have seen this. Nowhere and at no time was a boy refused this right to gain the special niches reserved for oustanding achievements in athle- tics. But isn't this commonly taken for granted? Yes, it usually is, but if we stopped to think that many a shy, sensitive boy who does not make the grade later in life may have been held back because he wasn't accepted-or wasn't made to feel that he belonged -then we'd see the possible injustice. This is very true today, in many countries of the world where fear of the individual's prominence as a leader later in life causes the government to curb his activities as a youth and to train in one way-the State's way. But, we'll go on adding trophies to our case and the boys of St. Francis and the United States will go on achieving.

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Freedom of Growth As the twig is bent . . the saying goes, and it's very true. Perhaps that's the best way of explaining the reason behind the many and sundry activities at the Prep. Freedom of growth is one of those freedoms that we, as Americans, cherish so dearly, freedom to grow as fast as we like in any direction we choose. Therefore, it's up to St. Francis Prep to nurture the seedling and see that it has the chance to break ground uninhibitedly as it surges up- ward. Of course, we'll guide the young plant but we'll supply it as many avenues as there are activities, to enable it to be a fully rounded plant and later, a strong well-nourished staff. To answer all the needs of the young student at St. Francis presents a great challenge to the school but it is in accepting this challenge that St. Francis Prep has established herself as the rains and soil for young men to grow in. Let us go down the list of activities and l'm sure you'll see what I mean when l say that all the avenues of development have been paved. Firstly, we have the school publications, prize winners in competition, which afford the boys that opportunity to express another freedom, freedom of the press. These provide journal- istic training for the literary minded students book: instruction and enjoyment for all who read them. Secondly, there is our Music De- partment with the Glee Club, Marching Band and Orchestra. Just the spark of musical inter- est is all the boy needs and expert instruction is his, and once again, another avenue is opened to him. Down the list we find numerous clubs and societies, among which the Galvani Science Club is designed to satisfy the curious and analytical members of our student body. l be- lieve this last example best clarifies the free- dom of growth idea of which I speak. Chem- ist, biologist, physicist, engineer, any one of these very well may succeed as a result of inspiration he received when he was a Fresh- man in high school. Yes, freedom of growth is important--important enough that the Fathers of the U. S. Constitution thought to allow the Constitution to grow by amend- ment, interpretation, decision and custom. And it's important to the student if he wishes to achieve that perfect balance, that well-rounded education and that liberal training, all of which are necessary for his growth and success later on. Yes, it's important to him that the ground from which he draws his nourishment be well supplied with the nutrients provided by a well Sll1lM1IlV 96 El5Vd who write for the school paper and the year- planned program of extracurricular activities.

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Well son, you go up those back stairs and keep going until you reach the top floor make a sharp left turn past the typing room go through that small door and walk up the stairs turn left again and . . . That's the Tower Room. l S ' x Tqz Mr. Tom Booras puts a freshman back together. Rani'-N 4 A g wk- NN f' .. J 1 .3 Entrance Exam: You have five minutes left to complete l7 the test. PTC? SCQHCS ln l858, Bishop John Loughlin, first Bishop of Brooklyn, invited the Francis- can Brothers of the Archdiocese of Tuam, Ireland, to assist him in undertaking the work of education in his fast growing dio- cese. ln October of the same year, Saint Francis Monastery of the City of Brook- lyn was founded on Baltic Street: thus, the first private school under Catholic auspices in the Diocese of Brooklyn was opened. Throughout the years, Saint Francis has stood, making such changes as the times dictated but holding fast to the most important constants and objectives of Franciscan training. At one time, what is now known as Saint Francis Preparatory School was a grammar school, high school and college,--a military academy and a boarding school. Standing now in a Fran- ciscan community which includes Saint Francis Monastery and Saint Francis Col- lege, Saint Francis Preparatory School is located on Baltic Street between Smith and Court Streets and is about ten blocks from the Borough Hall section of Brook- lyn. Saint Francis Preparatory School is accredited by the Board of Regents of the State of New York and is empowered to grant diplomas acceptable for admis- sion to any college in the United States. Graduates from Saint Francis Preparatory School have been awarded degrees at West Point, Annapolis, Columbia Uni- versity, Notre Dame, Fordham, Saint Francis College, Oxford University and countless other colleges and universities in this country and abroad.