St Josephs Academy - Academia Yearbook (Portland, ME)

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OPERATION OBSERVATION A seat in the back of the classroom can prove to be a most advantageous posi- tion, if one looks at it from this point of view: one can observe without being ob- served Qexcept by the teacher, of coursej. Unless you have enjoyed the privilege of occupying a rear seat, you may not understand what I mean, so I shall endeavor to explain myself. You see, I find it a fascinating pastime to watch other girls while they recite. By now I know all their mannerisms and consequently know what to expect when each of my classmates is called upon for a recitation. One timidly and fearfully crawls from her placeg another jumps so quickly that she all but falls into the seat in front of herg one performs a sprightly ballet, complete with twirls, dips, glides, and pirouettes, another clicks the snaps of her uniform till she has everyone around her in a frenzyg there is another girl who grasps her chair for support, since the thought of giving a correct answer is too exhausting for words: still another has the habit of tugging ai her back pleats, much as a philosopher pulls his ear when in a particularly studious attitude. But when the girl in the last seat arises, very few see how she reacts during a recitation. So if you want to have a good vantage point in class, be the first to stake your claim on a rear seat next September! HELEN T. CALLNAN, '56 BABY SITTING When I go to baby sit 'Tis with two little boys who scream and kickg One is five, the other threeg But just the two are enough for me. From the start of day To the fall of night These two little boys just scream and fight. What can I do! cries poor little me, Why, I'll stand up and referee! At long last when their mother comes home, I'm sick and tired and weak to the boneg She then asks me, as a mother should, Have my little boys been very good? Well, says me, the referee, I'll tell you after you pay my feel ' ANN HoLt.Ywoon, '56

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FEBRUARY When study hour is over, We hear the lirm command, Each girl who has a pair of skates Skate! Skate! And don't just stand. We go downstairs reluctantly, We lace our skates right to the top. But once we're sailing on the ice, We know we'1l never want to stop. RUTH CONLOGUE, '56 THE FLIGHT OF THE SKIER He soared down the hill, On his face felt the breezeg No more exciting time Than when on his skisl The wind whistled wildly Through the snow-laden trees, While the skier rode by With the greatest of ease. At the end of the trail Breathless from his ride, The man on the skis H Took the cheers all in stride. ELAINE BoRnUAs, '54 ODE TO A FISH A fish that lolls and plays all day And never once offers to pay, A fish that may in summer dare To swim swift currents without care, Who thinks of nothing but himself But never seems to gain much wealth,- I think that I shall seldom dish' A plate as tasty as a fish. MARY A. 'BROWN, '55 E! WG 4' R 'v E if fl' . fl if A f Q 5 oW' ggi- oo

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OUR FREEDOM Freedom is the gift which Americans treasure so much that thousands of men have fought and died for it. We treasure the right to worship God in our own way, to attend the churches and schools of our own choice, to have friends and to express an opinion without fearing imprisonment for doing so. We have just trials and free elections. We may own our own homes and have our own businesses. One hundred and sixty million Americans are happy that they have these rights but there are millions of people in other countries whose hearts cry out to be free of the smothering veil of the Iron Curtain. These people have no freedom. They cannot go to the Church of their own choosing, but must go to the Church of the state, where they are forced to follow the religion of the state. We must pray for these people and pray also for our own religious and civil leaders, that through the intercession of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, we may forever keep the heritage which we prize most-our freedom. MARY SIMMONS, '56 TELEVISION Television, a comparatively new invention, has, like many other things, good and bad features. There are educational programs, historical stories, and history in the making, from which lasting impressions will be derived. However, there are also programs which are potential crime builders and these programs certainly will not help to stop juvenile delinquency, about which we hear so much. Tele- vision, properly supervised for children, could be of great help to them in their study as well as in their recreation. Good Features: lj Religious programs a. Bishop Sheen 2 . b. Father Keller S 0fSPff1a1n0tf 23 Science and other educational programs SQ Historical programs Bad Features: lj Resultant lack of conversation in the home 25 Neglect of reading GAIL RAFFERTY, '56