St Johnsbury Academy - Lamp Yearbook (St Johnsbury, VT)

Page 9 text:

THE ACADEMY STUDENT attractively. Her overhand patches’ and bound buttonholes’ teams demonstrated their practical work to over one hundred mothers, and the buttonholes’ team won a free trip to the National Club Camp at Washington, D. C. This girl reached the pinnacle of 4-H success by winning the annual Moses Trophy Leadership contest, for she had increased the membership in her county from nine girls in club work to two hundred thirty-five. Not only that, she also received the heartfelt thanks of the fathers and mothers of her girls for the help she had given them. Alex Cruickshank is a typical 4-H boy. For seven years he had worked on his projects, not having much success but never giving up. Then he began to exhibit his best poultry, his best pigs, and his best calves at fairs. His stock was good. He was urged to exhibit at state fairs and finally at the Pacific Coast Expositions. He won many prizes, enough to help finance his way through college. Although busy with his studies, he continued his leadership work until he too was rewarded with the Moses Leadership Trophy. Out of the five million people enrolled in club work since 1914. there should now be over a million leaders. The 4-44 Club is a training school for developing leadership. Besides the trip to Washington which one of Caroline Eyring’s girls had, there is the trip to the Chicago 4-41 Congress, and boys and girls in the East have the privilege of exhibiting at the Eastern States Exposition as well as at their local fairs. Thev have their state camps and county camps every summer in which thousands of club members take part. They make new contacts and learn many new things to take back home with them. This work is for rural boys and girls — but couldn’t an organization with the same ideals and purposes be adapted to the needs of urban young people? 4t would stimulate them with the will to achieve honestly and would aid them in performing their work. It would help tremendously to solve the problem of criminals among young people.

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G THE ACADEMY STUDENT but as weaklings they succumb and follow the path of least resistance, that of becoming a criminal. With a money-mad craze they sacrifice reputation, honor, and self-respect to obtain the riches which they think will purchase happiness. An energetic, thoughtful group of people realizing the catastrophe befalling our future citizens introduced a bill into Congress for an appropriation of $3,500,000 to be used to aid the unemployed young people. This bill was not passed, but it did arouse public interest in the situation. Even had the bill been passed, it would have helped out superficially for a time: the change within the boys and girls themselves which must take place before they return to normalcy would not be effected. Truly, something must be done to keep them occupied, healthy, and happy. Many clubs endeavor to interest youth in all kinds of activities, but I know of none which have a program so diversified as that of the 4-H Clubs. Every state in the union has its enthusiastic club members and even in Hawaii wonderful work is accomplished. The entire membership of the organization now exceeds a million. This is what 4-H’ers vow to do: I pledge my head to clearer thinking, Mv heart to greater loyalty. My hands to greater service. And my health to better living. For my club, my community, and my country.” To fulfill this pledge is to do all your work and all your play just a little better all the time, to learn just as many phases of your work as you can, to develop a courage and fearlessness to try and try again even after many failures, to cooperate with every worthy enterprise, and to deserve the respect of your fellow citizens. Caroline Eyring is a typical 4-H girl, hour years of club work was long enough to thoroughly infuse her with the lively 4-H spirit, and she was sent to Pima, Arizona to organize other clubs there. She taught the poor neglected girls of the community to make their own clothes and to furnish their rooms

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8 THE ACADEMY STUDENT Elbert Hubbard expressed this idea well when he wrote: “We are all fools until we know That in the common plan Nothing- is worth the making If it does not make the man. Why build these temples glorious If man unbuilded goes? We build the world in vain Unless the builder grows.” That is also a thought for the Class of 1936. We are about to leave St. Johnsbury Academy to go out and build for ourselves. We hope the trustees, the principal, and the teachers may be proud of the structure that we raise. It is a tribute we owe to our sojourn here. —Kathleen Smith CLASS SONG CLASSMATES TOGETHER Classmates stand together. One big loyal band. Classmates stand together; We’ll never cease to lend a helping hand. Though we drift apart. And separate be our lots, And we leave St. J. behind us, Memories always will remind us Of those bygone days. Classmates stand together; We will have no fear. Classmates stand together; Success for all of us is very near. Though we have to say farewell, Forever we’ll be pals. Though the blue sea may divide us, St. J. A. please don’t forget us. Seniors must depart. Words: Marian Lumbra and Ruth Jenne Music: “Don’t Give Up the Ship”