Thomas Jefferson High School - Aurora Yearbook (Brooklyn, NY)

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November 18, 1940 Dear Graduates: In the last decade it has become increasingly evident that education plays an important role in establishing and perpetuating a system of government. We in America have come to realize that in a democracy, which is a continuously improv- ing way of life that requires intelligent direction and cooperative effort by all people, education is fundamental. Education must be an ever-growing process and a life- long changing activity if it is to serve its purpose. Only through education can our American way of life ever achieve its goal of cooperative living for the common good At Jeilerson you have been led through the early stages of an educational process by means of participation in social and intellectual pursuits. In various activities we have seen you display a readiness to consider the broader view, instead of the narrow and immediate oneg to make certain sacrifices and to subordinate your indi- vidual desires to the school welfare. We hope that these basic practices have become a part of you, and that they will be carried on into ever-widening areas so that as the years go by, you will feel the inner drive to understand and contribute to the American way of life intelligently and unselfishly. Please accept my congratulations on your reaching this milestone and my best wishes for your future, Your friend,

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BOARD OF EDUCATION of The City of New York IIO Livingston Street Brooklyn, N. Y. THE BOARD OF SUPERINTENDENTS October 28, 19410 Dear Ieffersonians: In this world of checks and balances there seems to be a plus for every minus, and a minus for every plus. If you have not yet read Emerson's essay on Compen- sation you should do so. It will convince you that in every condition of life, while there may be burdens to be borne, there are compensating joys, and vice versa. When I accepted my new oflice I was delighted with the opportunity of being able to influence city wide policies in education. To go from an important school like Jefferson, to an important office at headquarters, seemed to me a natural step in the right direction. What I did not fully anticipate was the strength of my feeling of homesickness for the school and for the students and teachers whom I no longer could meet daily in the old way and under the old conditions. Memory goes back to days when I met you, not only more or less formally at assemblies, but in corridors, in classrooms and on stairways. Exchanging greetings with you, as well as ideas, had become part of my life. I loved to see your spon- taneous smiles and I did what I could to mitigate some of the hardships of living which you bore so bravely. It had become a habit to look for you and to identify myself with you and your interests. It is therefore no ordinary farewell that I say this time. In fact it is no farewell at all. Always in my mind as long as the good Lord spares me, you will be there as I knew you within the walls of dear old Jefferson to which we all gave the best we had. I want to thank you for dedicating this issue of the Aurora to me and to wish you in the many, many years to come, not only deserved success in business and in the professions, but a great measure of personal happiness. Your friend, and alas, no longer principal, ' I -xg Ji 7 -.,-,,- 5 .D