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

Page 28 text:

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

Page 27 text:

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

Page 29 text:

1-A1 fllj 711315 in Ill L' , Q A ' ' H -1 'i,-. ' i A We, the renowned class of '42 are leaving at last. But in order to establish ourselves more firmly in your memory, we are also leaving this. our last will and testament, to you. To the Juniors, we bequeath our tradition- al dignity and our ability to lord over the lower classmen. To the Sophomores, we give our ability in penmanship which comes in handy in writ- ing your own excuses. To the Freshmen, we bequeath our fine sense of humor. P. S. you can take it or leave it--as you wish. To the Rhinies, we suggest that you start immediately to save up money for your Senior Reflector. To the Faculty, we promise that, to the best of our ability, we shall practice at all times the fine things which you have taught us. And as a last farewell to good old Three Rivers High we say-- Thanks for the Mem- ories. PERSONALS I, Jane Amer, leave my faithfulness to Phyllis Warner. I, JoAnn Thomas, leave Johnny Carroll- Darn it. I, Doug Horst, leave my ability to sling it to John Withers and Wilbur Teed. I, Nyle Miller, bequeath my height to be divided equally between Hal Brooks and Jim McGraw. I, Ruth Kaiser. bequeath my speed in typing to Wally Roush. I, Edward Linsley, leave my corny jokes to Ned Huddle fwho already has some of his ownj. 1. Marion Weiss, will my quietness to the members of the Stoogie Gang. I, Henry Hall, bequeath my ability to get along without girls to Hubert Dougherty. I, Julia Gherna, will my ability as an organ- izer to anyone else who will take the re- sponsibility. I, Bob Krull. leave my great sense of humor to any other person that really wants to wow 'em. We, Nola Dehn and Beverly Jones, leave our task of working in the bookstore to any two junior girls who want to have a lot of fun. I, Willis Pursley, leave my ability as a swell cheerleader to Dorothy Fosdick, Joyce Deisch, and Hal Brooks. I, Tom Monroe, will my title of Stink to my sister, Evelyn, who will have to carry on the traditional family name. I, Patty Crose, will my athletic ability. to Gene Darrow. I, Don Warner, leave my ears to anyone who can't hear Sam Massie. I, Carol Bromley, leave my ability to study to Muriel Fisher. I, Charles Sampsell, will my dainty feet to Don Jeffery. I, Shirleyanne Guetthoff, will my ladylike ways to Hope Massie. I, Jimi Butler, leave-period. Warner Brothers' I, Bob Fitch, bequeath Hollywood Contract to Sam Massie. I, Jean Linsner, will my stub nose. to Dick Cutler. my temperamental I, Marie Drumm, will disposition to Juanita Clingenpeel. I, Jimmy Malcolm, will my uncopeable sig- nature to H. N. D. This concludes our will to you - - There's nothing more to tell But from the Class of '42 We'd like to say - Farewell. l25