Three Rivers High School - Reflector Yearbook (Three Rivers, MI)

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7 EDUCATION America was founded by a group of earn- est pioneers who wanted to govern them- selves and worship God in their own way. For a long time their whole attention was directed toward building homes, protecting their families. and using their new freedom of worship. Soon. however, the need of ed- ucation became evident. The wealthier fam- ilies of the colonies either secured special tutors for their children or sent them abroad to England to be educated, The ones that could not afford this still lacked any form of education until l647 when the Puritan gov- ernment passed the famous Massachusetts School Act which laid the foundation for our present American public school system. This act declared that an elementary school should be established for every lifty families and a grammar school for every hundred families. These first schools were small one-roomed structures made of wood. Often they had only crude wooden benches for the children to sit on. and were handicapped by inade- quate supplies and incompetent instructors. The three basic teachings in these early schools were the well known three R's- Readin', 'Riting, and 'Rithmatic. Also stressed were worthy home-membership and ethical character. In reviewing the early history of our schools one man stands out above all others as a great champion of American education. This is Horace Mann. the father of the common schools. Born under the handicaps of poverty and ill-health Horace Mann rose to fame by his own initiative. In 1837 the Senate of Massachusetts passed a bill pro- viding for a Board of Education which was to reorganize the common-school system of Massachusetts. For twelve years Mann served as secretary of this board, and the ideas that he submitted diffused not only through the state of Massachusetts. but throughout the whole world. By speaking, writing, and laboring. counting no sacrifice too great. I-Iorace Mann awakened the thinking world to the necessity of better methods in educa- tion. Through his untiring effort he laid the foundation of the present common-school system of America and established the pre- paratory institutions for teachers which we call Normal schools. The great strides that we have made in our educational program are shown through our present varied program of learning. It is possible today in the public schools to re- ceive commercial, manual, agricultural, scien- tilic, and physical training which were un- heard of a few years ago. Today special ed- ucation is available for those who differ widely from the normal child such as the blind. deaf and dumb, crippled, and feeble- minded. There is a growing faith of the American people that public education will solve the political, social, and economic prob- lems which confront them. And, finally, the greatest benefit we have received from education is the fact that ed- ucation promotes democracy. America must be strong-able to defend herself-ready to serve the cause of human freedom. So we have a job to do. We cannot do this job unless we are strong-strong in body, mind. and spirit. Not only must we build up our defenses for today, but we should look ahead to the days to come. We must prepare for the future, for the America to be. For that America, the youth of today who will be the citizens of tomorrow must be trained to be strong. loyal, wise. tolerant. Thus we provide schools to help our future citizens to-build strong bodies, develop special talents. prepare for jobs. learn to work together, grow in character, and become good citizens! JoAnn Thomas 23

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l 7 OUR AMERICAN RIGHTS Throughout the entire world today, mil- lions of subjugated people have placed their faith in the United States of America as the symbol of their highest aspirations. For to them. the United States symbolizes the same freedom and individual rights which they have lost. Yet we in America seldom realize the great heritage of liberty which our fore- fathers have entrusted to us. Most of us take for granted those same civil rights which the conqueror has denied the people of Europe. As loyal Americans. we must realize how fortunate we are to have these rights. We must remember that our liberty didn't just happen: it wasn't merely granted to us. Our freedom is the result of centuries of struggle with countless men fighting so that we might enjoy that liberty for which they died. NEVER IDLISI we take our liberty for granted. The basic foundation of our civil rights dates back to medieval Europe in the year 1215. ln that year. the barons of England forced King John to concede certain indivi- dual rights. But still our ancestors did not enjoy the freedom which they desired. They longed so much for religious freedom that they braved the unknown ocean to settle this new continent where they could worship as they might choose. Our forefathers fought and died in the Revolutionary War rather than to submit to the principle of taxation without representation. Despite their strug- gles the founders of our country were still not willing to grant specific rights to the people. A I ,,f They believed that the courts would uphold civil rights. Only after determined demands of the people was there included in our Con- stitution a bill of rights which guaranteed justice to the individual. Our civil rights were still not complete for amendments had to be made to the Constitution to free the slaves and to extend the right of voting to women. In this manner our American rights have developed until today we possess greater freedom than has been won by any other nation on the face of this earth. Seldom do we realize the privileges which we enjoy. We have the right of voting for the officers of our government, while in Germany the right of voting is entirely denied the people. We read the newspapers with complete assurance that there is no govern- ment propaganda in them. but in the dictator- ships every printed word is either heavily censored news or propaganda. Under the Nazi regime. freedom of speech is entirely lacking. In America an accused man is guaranteed the right of a public and speedy trial by an im- partial jury. Contrast this with Hitler's latest demand that he be given the power of life or death over all of his subjects. ln America, we have the privilege of choosing our own religion but under the dictators, all religions are being destroyed. ln countless other ways. the vanquished have been robbed of their civil rights by the invaders. Small wonder is it that in the conquered countries of Europe the defeated still fight on. In Erance. patriots wreck Nazi supply trains and kill German officers: brave Norwegians sabotage supplies and destroy military equip- ment: in Czechoslavakia. munition workers construct shells which will never fire. These courageous men are risking their lives against a merciless enemy in order that they may do their part in regaining liberty. Yet most of us in America take our freedom as a matter of fact. We forget that many people do not enjoy such freedom. lf we are to remain free we must exercise our rights and jealously guard them. We must feel proud of our American liberty and of our forefathers who sacriliced in order that we might be free. Today our liberty is in danger. The out- come of this world struggle will determine if we will remain free. If we fail. America will no longer be the land of the free but only a subjugated protectorate in a Nazi dominated World. If we succeed, not only will we have saved our own freedom but we will have restored freedom to all the people of this earth. Today. all Americans must stand strongly united to fight-work-sacrk lice--save--give-for Freedom. Georqe V. Thom son . P

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l24 7 SOCIAL FREEDOM The heritage of social freedom is very im- portant to the American people. It gives us equal opportunity and the right to live as we please. We have freedom in choosing a career, in participating in home life, and in selecting our recreation. We may formulate our own political and religious beliefs. When the settlers came to our country, they left behind them nations that were domi- nated by the nobility. In those nations members of the working class were poor. They were not allowed to associate with the upper class and had little or no chance to obtain sufEcient training in any field so that they might be able to improve their living conditions or social status, When people from those nations came to establish a govern- ment here in America, they provided that there would be no titled class. Today anyone who is ambitious and will- ing to work has the opportunity to make a success of his life in any field that he chooses. There is free education for all and if a person wishes to continue beyond high school he can work his way through a higher institu- tion of learning. One doesn't have to be wealthy or a member of the Four Hundred to obtain an education. He can follow any profession or trade that appeals to him. He may be a doctor, a machinist or a street sweeper and he may practice his chosen vo- cation in any part of the country whether it be Maine, Missouri or California. In our country it is not as it is in some European countries where a person does the kind of work he is told to do and is sent where the ruler thinks he will be most useful to the nation. In our leisure time we have the same pri- vilege of choosing what we wish to do. Our recreation depends entirely on our own tastes. One person might prefer to read while an- other would enjoy a good rousing game of tennis. We do not have regimented activities to fill our spare time. We are not compelled to take part in any form of athletics in which we do not care to participate. We may be- long to any form of club or organization as long as it is not actively against our govern- ment. These rights-to choose a career, to have equal opportunity, to live your life as you please, to spend your leisure indulging in your favorite pastime, and to obtain as much edu- cation as you want-all contribute to social freedom. But in the social aspect of life as well as in the political and economic, we need leaders-leaders who will open new fields in work and play and who will take advantage of existing opportunities. This necessity is recognized by the schools and they take the responsibility of attempting to develope qualities of leadership in the students. The most significant of these qualities are initia- tive, dependability, enthusiasm, honesty, and cooperative spirit. These same traits should help to make up the character of every good citizen. Therefore the class of '42 dedicates itself to strive to attain perfection in these qualities. Mary Ellen Smith