Victoria High School - Victorian Yearbook (Edmonton, Alberta Canada)

Page 10 text:

MISS M. R. CRAWFORD, M.A. C Jl essacje to the Qraduands of Victoria Composite High School So far in the history of the world there have never been enough mature people in the right places. Dr. G. B. Chisholm, W.H.O. Year Books and Graduation Exercises used to be functions peculiar to the University. Today, they are part of the life of the Senior High School, and properly so. For, while formerly High School was but the antechamber to halls of higher learning, today for most students it is the end of formal education. Eight of every ten of the graduands of 1952 will go direct to some occupation in the vast complicated system of modern society. You are about to enter upon another very important period in your lives. From here on you are on your own. One of the functions of the High School is to prod you on to maturity, to help you to grow up. How well have we succeeded? Physically, you are splendid, abound¬ ing in energy. It is a grand thing to have a healthy body, just so that you may forget about it and get on with the business of living. The question is: Have you matured equally well on the intellectual and emotional sides? What are the tests, by which to judge? Know thy¬ self, said Socrates. Do you know your aptitudes and powers? To mature is to bring one ' s powers to realization. Are you keen to stretch your powers to their limit? Dr. Chisholm says, A man is at his best, when he is doing his best at what he can do best. It is also true that a man at his best is a man at his happiest. It is a privilege to be young today and to live in Canada. For it is the young nations and the young people who must expand democracy and get it right into the hearts and lives of all the people everywhere on this planet. It is the only way to lasting peace. Almost every¬ one believes in it but only a few are doing much about it. Yet it needs to be worked at all the time. Democracy is not just an idea for election day. It is the guiding principle for all our relationships, in the home, the school, the office and the market-place. You, whose names are recorded in this book, are among the best educated of your age group. You understand the problems of the atomic age better than the average. Many of you have the qualities for leadership. There are never enough mature people in the right places. In the near future the responsibility for carrying the torch of democracy will devolve upon you. It may be you think the school has not prepared you for the responsibilities of adulthood. Well, I have yet to discover the person who thinks the right things were done in his mind, and I have yet to meet a teacher satisfied with his results. We could have done much better if there had not always been so very many of you and far too few of us. At any rate, democracy is the philosophy of a second chance. Many of the great contributions to civilization have been made by men who rose on stepping-stones of their dead selves to higher things . So, the past gone, seize today! From here on it is strictly up to you. 8 M. R. CRAWFORD.