St Josephs Academy - Academia Yearbook (Portland, ME)

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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

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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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NATURE'S BEAUTY The beauty of Nature lies in itself, In the skies and distant mountains, Also, those flowers on the shelf, And even a bubbling fountain. At the glory of a sunset And the entry of each new day, Nature's doing its very best To make for us a world so gay. The beauty of Nature all around Shows itself every day and night, And is always, everywhere, to be found, just look about, it's there, all right. PAULINE LAFLEUR, '56 Dear Diary: I iam afraid your poor, frail, short pages will collapse under the pressure of my account of Tuesday, November 17, 1953. The day itself along with the weather was terrible. First of all we staggered back from our classes with an overwhelming amount of homework. Here is an ac- count of it. If it is not. accurate it is because I have had a bad case of amnesia and so you will have to forgive my misinterpretation. I certainly will have to burn candles tonight to complete all of it. RELIGION: Write out for class the twenty-six given questions. LATIN: Pages 59-65. Read all the English and translate the Latin. Oh, well, only eighteen lines!! ENGLISH: Read a book for tomorrow. We are having a book report. I think to be funny I will choose Vanity Fair. After all, what are 693 pages, more or less, to read in a couple of hours? BIOLOGY: Pages 188-187. Learn thirteen phylums, give examples for each and be able to spell all scientific terms such as Echinodermata fwhich by the way means starlish in our languagej. Last but not least, BUSINESS ENGLISH: Learn the four rules-which cover one side of a piece of notebook paper: and write a page on Modern Civilization. I guess that's about all for today, not bad, right? Besides, I might need the rest of the candle to get undressed by. Your thoughtful entrant, JUDY-L1-:1-: WEYMOUTH