Wakefield High School - Oracle Yearbook (Wakefield, MA)

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only, wished to study Greek, he should have the opportunity, and this rule he never changed. One secret of Mr. Howe ' s success was his intimate knowledge of and affection for the community in which he lived. He kept his finger, as it were, in the pulse of public opinion, and so far as he thought right he conformed to it, but if he felt that public opinion was wrong, he dared to disregard it. He showed so much kind- ness and good sense, however, in his oppo- sition to the opinions of others that in most cases he won the respect of those who were opposed to him in matters of thought and policy. One of the most difficult tasks Mr. Howe had to perform was the selection of teach- ers. Owing to the small salaries paid by the town, he was often forced to select young and inexperienced teachers; but he was quick to recognize ability, and the showy, self-seeking teacher seldom found favor in his sight. Under his wise guid- ance the young teacher soon gained her ex- perience, and all too often left after a few years of service for a larger school at an increased salary. This frequent change in the teaching force made the administration of the school at times very difficult. But Mr. Howe never complained. He used often to say that the Wakefield High School was a training school for teachers, and he was proud of the fact that his teachers were sought by educators from all parts of the State. Such loyalty on the part of the principal won the lasting respect and de- votion of all who were associated with him in school work; and during his entire term of service no disagreement between prin- cipal and teachers ever arose that was not quickly and pleasantly settled. The boys and girls, however, held the largest place in his affections. Their wel- fare was his chief care, to serve them was his highest pleasure. Within the walls of the old High School all were welcomed alike irrespective of race or creed, and he worked untiringly to develop the best in each. Many a boy can look back to quiet talks with Mr. Howe in his office, when subjects far removed from the school cur- riculum were discussed. Little did he dream at the time that he was skilfully be- ing taught the worth of an education and that ambitions were being aroused that would lead to worthy achievement. To Mr. Howe belongs that best of all tributes — he was a good man and he lived a good life. His unassuming, yet strong influence, like the delicate golden thread in the wonderful cloth of gold, was woven into the very warp and woof of our com- munity life. Who shall say in what deeds of unselfishness it shall find its ultimate fruition? Elizabeth Frances Ingram. iK K ifi Mi ' i 7i ' 7R 7t 7f The Debater Knows: That 1919 is the best Senior Class at W. H. S. That certain members of the gentler sex seem anxious to participate in the football fray. What about it, girls? That, considering its many handicaps, we had a good football team. That Captain Ray Batten is some ath- lete. That its m ghty proud of Jim Brown, our classmate, just back from over there. That some of the Senior girls looked well in ribbons, and some looked like — ! That it takes Senior colors to make a Junior Party a success. The Debater would like to know: — What folks have against the Senior Class. What happened to the Sophomore Party. When we ' re going to have another track meet in Room I. What Miss G — and Mac talk about, Monday, 3rd period. (Room I.) What the Seniors think of rhetoricals. At the W. H. S. White House, 1918 — 1919 President: W. F. Maguire. First Lady of the Land: Not yet known. (Confer with Medford.) President ' s Cabinet: 0. Rowland, R. Batten, R. Reid, L. Douglass, M. Neiss, M. Kelly, M. Sawyer, M. Anderson, 1. Low. Events of the Social Season: Senior Party, Nov. 27, 1918 Officers ' Party, Dec. 27, 1918 Reception, June, 1919 Military Department: Commander-in- Chief of the Army, C. J. Doyle. Grand Review and Prize Drill, May, 1919 Secretary of State.

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HELEN W. POOR Died October 26, 1918 AN APPRECIATION In the death of Helen W. Poor, who was for twenty-two years a teacher in the Wakefield High School, not only the school and the community in which she lived and worked, but the educational world has suf- fered an irreparable loss. Miss Poor was born fifty-seven years ago of old New England stock in Derry, New Hampshire. She was educated in the schools of her native town and state, and at Radcliffe College, Cambridge, Massa- chusetts. Of high principle and strict in- tegrity, she was most democratic in her sympathies, yet would never tolerate the least deviation from right standards of living and thinking. Her spirit of helpfulness increased with the passing of the years. This was most marked during the last months of her life. She was indefatigable in her efforts to help the boys over there, and many a cheery, helpful letter was sent to some lonely sol- dier lad across the seas. Miss Poor had an inquiring type of mind. Her interests were varied, and it can truly be said of her that she knew many interest- ing things about many interesting subjects. Her clever conversational powers easily made her the center of any merry-making in which she had a part. She could always match a good story with one better, but for all sham and pretense she had a satire as keen and sharp as pointed steel. It was in the schoolroom, however, that her influence was most strongly felt. A good student herself, she had little sym- pathy with intellectual laziness. If she aroused a wholesome fear in the mind of the dull and inattentive pupil, she was also the delight of those boys and girls who could follow her intellectual processes in the solution of difficult problems. The work which she did, not only in pre- paring students for college, but in ele- mental mathematics, was thorough and exact; and it is not too much to say that the initiative, the power to think and to act quickly, shown by the boys of Wake- field on the battlefields of Europe is due in no small measure to the training that they received from Miss Poor. Elizabeth Frances Ingram. Note: Written for the Wakefield Teachers ' Association. MR. HOWE, THE TEACHER Died December 20, 1918 It is not often that a school is called upon in eight short weeks to mourn the loss of two valued and well-loved teachers. Such has been the experience of our High School during the past year. Before we had become accustomed to the thought that Miss Poor had gone from our midst never to return, Mr. Howe, who had been principal for more than twenty years, also passed on into t hat mysterious, unknown room, the curtain of which had so recently swung back to admit Miss Poor. At first we could not understand. We saw him in his accustomed place in the morning, caught glimpses of him going through the corridors and up and down the stairs, and listened expectantly for his words of cheer and encouragement. But the days passed and we came to realize that only memories remained. Much has been said of Mr. Howe, the man; but it was Mr. Howe, the teacher, that the boys and girls of Wakefield loved and honored. During the years that he was connected with our school, he watched it grow from a mere handful of boys and girls to a school numbering between five and six hundred students, and ranking among the best of the smaller schools of the State. This remarkable growth was due in great part to the wisdom and the vision of the Principal, for Mr. Howe was truly a mari with a vision; his understanding of what the public schools mean to the community and to the State was fine and deep. It was not enough that his school meet the need of today; but he was always reaching out to prepare for that larger demand which he saw in his vision of the world of tomor- row. It was inevitable that the policy of such a teacher should be constructive. In the midst of the conflicting opinions of the educational world he was not driven about by every wind of doctrine. He aimed to keep a steady course, holding fast to what he found good in old systems, but ready also to adopt new ideas and new methods when they seemed adapted to his school and the community is represented. This is well illustrated in his attitud e toward the classics in the high school curriculum. In the days when the reaction against the classics was greater even than it is today, he established the rule that if one pupil

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Who ' s Who Among the Classes 1919 President, William F. Maguire Vice President, Ida M. Low Secretary, Margaret Anderson Treasurer, Leo F. Douglass Ex. Committee Member, Oliver W. How- land, Jr. 1920 President, John Reid Vice President, Frances Vincent Secretary, Margaret Hurley Treasurer, Earnest Frizzell Ex. Committee Member, Wilbur Batten 1921 President, Charles Carr Vice President, James J. Low Secretary, Kathleen Loughlin Treasurer, Harold Teakle 1922 President, Fred Grant Vice President, Selena Kalaher Secretary, Margaret Bucknam Treasurer, Margaret Corbet Some Seniors as Room I Knows Them F. Maguire: Mack — Our President. Now, Maguire ! 0. Rowland: Butts — The man of af- fairs. M. Anderson: Peg — Our Secretary. Peg of our hearts L. Douglass: Doug. Football captain. Champion of the standing broad grin. M. Kelly: One of the twins. — Still waters run deep. R. Reid: Balphie Dear, — No, that settles it. I said ' No ' ! D. Woodman: Dot — This high school is so slow! L Low: There ' s no reason why we can ' t do it! K. Kelly: Another twin. — She ' d like to exchange the Exchange. R. Batten: Track captain. — He doesn ' t say much, but oh my! M. McLeod: The hours I spent in study are as a string of pearls to me. D. Prescott: Dot. - Learning, the pearl beyond price. G. Clemons: Maynard. — I never let my studies interefere with my school life. M. Duggan: Marg. — Arma virumque cano! She loves Virgil. R. Butler: Seemingly meek, but oh my goodness! M. Heath: She ' s seen but seldom heard. A. Doyle: Al — She loves football. N ' est-ce-pas? 0. Bouve: Does the moon shine? Ask Olive! H. Achorn: The class live-wire, the pet of the Lab. Second the motion, Howard. H. Hanson: Why roll your r ' s in Room 15? D. Perley: Our artist. — We wonder why she takes Spanish? H. Phillips: She ' s never alone in the bus. A. Burrage: Giggles. — They ' re con- tagious. H. Wilder: The doortender in Spanish IV. L. Brown: We saw her blushes come and go . . . L. Lof Strom : Lil. — Possessed with many smiles and sunny locks. L. Blake: There are smiles, — that make us happy — C. Doyle: Doylie. K-K-K-Katy! Give me liberty or give me death! F. Gove: He ' s from Lynnfield — Some place! J. Gilson: He ' s learned to blush! Pearson: History IV ' s politician. Antunes: And when I speak, let no dog bark! — A Seenyor. Punctuate It A funny old man told this to me I fell in a snowdrift in June said he I went to a ballgame out in the sea I saw a jelly fish float up in a tree I found some gum in a cup of tea I stirred my milk with a big brass key I opened my door on my bended knee I beg your pardon for this said he But ' tis true when told as it ought to be ' Tis a puzzle in punctuation you see. — Ruth F. Butler, ' 19.