Wakefield High School - Oracle Yearbook (Wakefield, MA)

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SPRING The daffodils are coming Down a shining golden path. The pine trees whisper it, And the pussy willows laugh, And a thousand tiny heralds Cry, Old Winter has passed! COLORS What is the color I like best? Yellow of daffodil, messenger of spring, Tlie gleam of blue-bird on the wing, Bed of l)uds on maple trees, The delicate green of opening leaves, Violets springing from moist ))rown earth. The lilush of anemone, trembling with mirth, But the color of all I like the best Is the silver-gray of mother ' s Wedding-dress. THE WAY Through the crowded streets of the city. On past the haunts of busy men. Where unceasing toil knows no pity, For hearts it must crusli in the end; Out into the vast silent places. Where sorrow walks with veiled eye. And calling shapes and sweet memories Stir liearts that may utter no cry. Thus onward to seek new endeavor. To fight, perchance fall, and then rise With unfailing courage, that ever Hath beckoned men on to tlie skies. THE HEART OF A BOY Waywai-d, storm-tossed and spent V ith passions, fierce and unknown ; Feeling the pulse of life. Beating a rhythmic tone. Hasty, unmoral, bold — - Loyal to foe as to friend; (living a IjIow for a blow. Faithful until the end. Tender, loving and kind Beneath the mask of the wild — Strong and steady and true Beats the heart of a man-child. THE FIRST SNOW-FALL Gently thiough the darkening night Tinj ' fairies in garments In-ight Had woven a web of purest white. It lay in hill and valley deep. And veiled the river down the steep. It covered the trees, row on row With a shining gossamer of drifting snow. Till hill and vale and slumbering river Seemed a wondrous elf-l.and of long ago. CLIMBING All the tumult and the strife. All the passionate in life; Days of sunshine, evening ' s shade, And the effort that is made; Sorrow for another ' s pain, Patient sacrifice of gain ; Courage when defeat seems near, Hope triumphant over fear; These are steps by which we rise, Out of darkness to the skies. LIGHT The snow had fallen through the night On meadow, lake and hill; Tlie trees bent low in garments white; The dreariness of city sights Was veiled in beauty, pure and still. O magic snow ! O vision briglit! Over our sordid human lives Thy radiance spread, Till something of transcendent light We, too, shall know. STAR OF THE EAST star of the East, Bright Star of Hope, Shining afar in the licavenly blue, Guiding the Wise Men Laden with gifts Fiom far-off lands Unto their Lord. Bright Star in the East, Star of Hope, Sliining for us through the darkening clouds, Illumine our faith. Dispel all doubts. Guide us from far Unto our Lord.

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n Tpvmntion The Debater feels that it is a great privi- lege to pay a tribute to the memory of Miss Elizabeth F. Ingram, our friend and teacher, whose death soon after the beginning of school this year occasioned deep sorrow among the many who knew her. It was Miss Ingram who sponsored the school publication from the very first, and it was her guidance which made the Debater , year after year, representative of the best work of the English Department and creditable to the school. Therefore, since it is indeed her paper, it is eminently fitting that it should now be dedicated to her memory. Miss Ingram early gave her life to teaching. As a girl of seventeen, she was appointed a teacher in the Center Grammar School Number One. As her ability became better known, she advanced step by step, first to the position of instructor in the eighth and ninth grades of the Lincoln School, and thence to an appointment as English teacher in the high school. Ever since 1902 she had been in this department and for many years was head of it. Always devoted to the study of the English language and of the world ' s literature, she took a constant interest in the work of the Beebe Memorial library of which she was for nine years a trustee. When the plan to build a new high school was first discussed, it was through the earnest appeals of Miss Ingram and Mr. Howe that provision was made for a school library. It is pleasant to think that Miss Ingram lived to see her wish realized and to rejoice with us in the beautiful Charles H. Howe Memorial Library. Miss Ingram felt the sacredness of language to a degree which few people attain. She loved our mother tongue and respected it. Not only did she herself not abuse it, as far too many do, but she always worked in her classes for perfection of speech as well as spontaneity of expression among the students. Only those of us who were in her classes can realize what a complete mastery of English she had and how particular she was that each little thing be done right. With a view to further study and cultural enrichment. Miss Ingram took several summer trips to Europe. She became greatly inter- ested in the restoration of France after the World War, and particularly in the problem of providing support for war orphans. It was due to her interest that the school began its correspondence with two French boys and has from time to time sent them gifts. When she was with us, she was a great inspiration to us, tireless, patient, always ready to help a pupil out of any difficulty. To those who took an interest in their study, she gave freely of her time and energy. Now that she is gone, let us still be inspired by her life of service and let us try to work for those ends to which her life was devoted. E. D.

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EDITORIALS W fe-e THE PARENT-TEACHER ASS ' N The Wakefield High School Parent-Teacher Association is a most useful organization and unquestionably fulfills its purposes as stated in the constitution of the society: The object of the association shall be to promote in the community an in- terest in all matters pertaining to the school, to afford an opportunity for the consideration of such matters and to maintain a closer relation be- tween the teachers and the parents to the end that the efficiency of the school may be increased. An interesting program is arranged for each meeting of the association; and a feature of these meetings is that opportunity is given for parents and teachers to become acquainted, and to confer about the work of the pupils of the school. One of the important activities of the P. T. A., as the name is often abbreviated, is encouraging athletics in the high school. Throughout the season the association has provided refreshments for the teams after basketball games. When the fact that the football team lacked blankets, was brought to the attention of the association, it imme- diately voted to donate blankets for the use of the players. The members of the P. T. A. as individuals, made a point of supporting both basketball and football games. The as- sociation as a whole undertook to advertise the Leominster-Wakefield game, which was the last of the -football season, and succeeded in attracting a very large and enthusiastic crowd. The establisliment of a scholarship fund, named appropriately The Elizabeth F. Ingram Scholarship Fund, in memory of our late beloved and respected teacher, is another un- dertaking of the association for the benefit of the school. The object of this fund is to aid students to go to college. Since it is competi- tive, it will be an honor to obtain the scholar- ship. The minimum amount of this scholar- ship will be $50, and the P. T. A. has pledged itself, for the present time, to raise a sum of $150 each year, so that eventually the interest of the money will accumulate and automatic- ally pay for the scholarship itself. When the fund is large enough, the amount of the schol- arship will be increased. The Parent-Teacher Association has started to raise money for the fund by two enter- tainments. The first was a group of readings by Mrs. Laura H. Porter, on December 3, 1926 ; and there was a concert on February 25, 1927, liy the Middlebury College Glee Club. Each was excellent of its kind and the latter event proved especially popular. Great credit is due to the president, Mr. Yeuell, for his sincere interest and hard work. It was largely thru his efforts that the enter- tainments were so successful financially. It was he who gave to the high school a large number of attractive metal calendars with the picture of the high school engraved on them, which were sold for the purpose of helping the athletic fund. We, as students, appreciate the loyal support of the Parent-Teacher Association, and thank it for all its timely help. G. W. THE ITEM ' S CO-OPERATION As the Wakefield Daily Item lias given our high school a great deal of valuable publicity in the past, it seems fitting that the Debater should express the thanks of the student body. The Item has invariably been most gen-