Wakefield High School - Oracle Yearbook (Wakefield, MA)

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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-

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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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erous in allowing us space for reports of social events, assemblies, club meetings, and sports. Without the assistance of the Item , we should have great difllculty in publishing the Booster and the Debater , since both of these undertakings are too extensive for our school printing shop. Ever since the begin- ning of the publication of both, the Item has done all of our work promptly, courteously, and at reasonable rates. The publisher of the Item has also been very generous in providing prizes for the pupils in connection with their English work. Last year, fifty dollars in gold was presented to the four pupils, one from each class, who made the greatest improvement in English during the school year; and this year, as well as the prizes for improvement, an additional fifty dollars is to be divided among those four who do the best work in EnglLsh. In each group, the award for the winning senior and junior is fifteen dollars; and for the winning sophomore and freshman ten dollars. The editor of the Item , last j ear, presented a fountain pen to the penman who showed the most improvement. These prizes furnish an incentive to better penmanship and to greater accuracy and skill in the use of our mother tongue. They also show us that our friends at the Item office are truly interested in our progress. We take this opportunity to thank the Item for all these evidences of good will. M. A. H. THIS MODERN GENERATION If Youth ' s Aflame, Who ' s to Blame? This was the flashing title of an editorial in one of the current magazines. Much has been written about this modern generation and many writers have expressed disparaging opin- ions of the young people of the present. For many reasons, however, the youth of today is far beyond the youth of yesterday. There are two methods of deterlnining one ' s course of conduct: scientific and authoritative. If you stop to reason out a problem, weighing advantages against disadvantages, and then proceed to carry out what you believe is right, you are acting scientifically. On the other hand, if someone tells you that the thing is right, and you do it, relying wholly on his judgment, you are showing deference to authority. This generation is following more and more the former way, while our grand- parents were exponents of the latter. The aim of the schools today is to teach the pupils to think for themselves. Why, then, complain when they do? Immorality, reading of books that are not of the highest class, frequenting moving-pic- ture theatres of questionable character, im- proper dancing — all these things are charged against youth. But is youth to blame? Let us consider each of these indictments. A certain man told the story of finding it neces- sary to have the electric lights removed from his cellar, so that his son would not see him drinking. But when his son went out on a drinking party, this business man shook his head and wondered what would become of the young people. Who writes the books and who produces the movies which are not fit to read or see? Surely it isn ' t the youth; it is the older people. If educators want the younger generation to be better, why don ' t they make the people of their own age stop writing objectionable stories? It is only a small percentage of the young people who patronize the cheap dance halls; but, as in the reports on prohibition, the papers do not tell of the millions who do regard the law; they merely spread the news of the hundreds that do not. If given their elders ' confidence, the youth of today will carry the race forward and up- ward; for they are frank, efficient, courageous, and able to look life squarely in the face. E. P. The members of tlie Debater staff wish to extend their hearty thanks to Miss Eyan ' s typewriting classes for their invaluable assist- ance in preparing the material for the press. Nearly every article passed through their hands and was typed with great speed, ac- curacy, and neatness. Through their efforts, the work of the editors and printers was greatly facilitated and wc highly appreciate their co-operation. E. D. As the class of 1927 approaches the end of its high school activity, let us call to mind the fact that this is the first class to graduate, having spent the entire period of four years in our beautiful new building. We are very grateful for all its advantages, and we know they have helped to make us more useful and worth while, as a class and as individuals. Our assembly hall, gymnasium, athletic fields, im- proved class rooms and laboratories all rank with the best in the country. In these favor-