Stuyvesant High School - Indicator Yearbook (New York, NY)

Page 9 text:

Of course, I am deeply touched at the honor of having the Indicator dedicated to me. In fact, I am moved to make a return dedication. I pledge to dedicate myself in every possible way to the members of the Class of ’56 in their quest for college and scholarship guidance. And now, a few words about still another dedication. Most of you are undoubtedly planning a future in the physical sciences. Science and invention are tremendous liberating forces, not only pushing back the frontiers of darkness and ignorance, but also heralding vast social changes. For example, any scientific worker today must be aware that the splitting of the atom was not merely a feat of science and engineering, but that it created great social and political problems affecting all mankind. Similarly, can today’s creator of the electronic computer and the mechanical brain be blind to the many economic consequences of his work? As you approach your career in science, you should realize that you cannot live with test tubes, microscopes, and oscilloscopes alone. Fundamentally, you live with people. My message to you, therefore, is to avoid the narrowing influence of our highly speci- alized era, so that you may become, not merely a scientific man, but a cultured man, a political man, a humane man. In college, plan to acquaint yourself with man's cultural heri- tage, with philosophy, with literature, with the social sciences. You should study the accumulated wisdom of yesterday, so that you may better understand the world of today, and in turn consciously and deliberately help shape the history of tomorrow. To the extent that your science is wedded to humanity and devoted to the elimination of hunger, of disease, of prejudice, to the extent you are making the greatest dedication of all — to the welfare of mankind. Sincerely yours. Jwun1 rj?. JJerhsl Senior Dean By the contributions he has made to us in his capacities as Honorary President of the General Organization and now as College Advisor and Senior Dean, one is reminded of a remark of the late King George VI: “The highest of distinctions is service to others.”