Washington Lee High School - Blue and Gray Yearbook (Arlington, VA)

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ff55i5f!17'LZf Principal MR. FRANK KAVALIER 4101, Vice-Principal MRS. FRANCES BELL MRS. RU'TH WATKINS MRS. RUTH IRVIN

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Principal! CLAUDE M. RICHMOND E nineteen Fmndmed cmd Kwufg,-dbx the year of your graduation from high school, has been heralded as the beginning of a new era. How different Will this era be from the last? At the moment no one can say. There are some Ways in which each and everyone of you can help it to be a vastly better period than the one Which We have just been through. Are you going to fall into a rut of selfishness, or Will you put all you have into g learning about your neighbor and into help- i ing him to meet his needs? Living 'cto get has proved unvvorkable-Living to givef' must be your motto. Be ambitious? Yes. Develop and use your talents?-Yes3 but Do unto others as you Would have them do pnto you. s l 49?

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ide 2a.cu.Z6g.'6 Rufio-naidieitg. Ln. the :Kaftan-2 VVhen the final chapters on the peace are written, education will truly be outstanding. During peace and war, education has stood strong and Hrm by all Americans. For without it, no country so great and so vast as this wonderful land of ours, could survive. Let us look at this word education from a technical standpoint-we find it dehned as the system- atic training of the moral and intellectual faculties. Yet we End it hard to think of such an im- portant factor in just that one term. It is only right to say that education is the thing around which our individual lives revolve. Each great field has its leaders or those who guide, and education is no different. We have been fortunate in having so many wide-awake and intelligent people who are devoting their lives and learning to the teaching of others. For without these leaders where else would the children of America learn of peace and the world of tomorrow? Each teacher in his own small way has done much to forge the chain of thoughts that will tend to make the student of today the good citizen- parent of tomorrow. To look at it this way, the road of Life now seems dark and weary from the chaos of war. However, as we grope along, we see a path-it is none other than the great highway of learning, from which shines a bright, golden light-the brfghtly beaming light as symbolizing the great strug- gle made by all teachers, in their fight for good, clear, and honest thinking. It is only fitting to place the English department in first place, as it may well be called the fun- damental basis of all studies. For, without an ample knowledge of the English language, it would be impossible for us to master any given subject. We would not be able to express or interpret our thoughts or for that matter, the thoughts of our neighbors. By reading the literature of far distant lands, we have made it possible to have closer contact with them. There is no better way to secure an understanding of a nation than by reading and absorbing her literature. We also have courses in foreign languages offered to us. They have proven to be one of the most beneficial studies in connection with creating good relationships between countries. After all, what else is our document of peace based on than this-a good neighborly feeling between all the nations of the world? On the other hand, through our study of the Social Sciences we not only study nations of the world, but we also Hnd out all about the history of this great United States Of America, its type of government and its functions. VVe are taught about the Wonderful gift which each American pos- sesses-the right to vote, the process of voting, and reasons for voting. We also satisfy our thirst to obtain more knowledge about our great fore-fathers. Then too, we learn of the hardships they endured creating for ng a more perfect land, Behind it all there is the hope that we, the future leaders Qf tOff1Qf1'QVV, may pfgfit by their migtgkes and Obfilifl CtSI'D2ll PGZICC, the gO2ll C3.Cl1 HZl'ClOD of this world has struggled from time immemorial to attain. Other important studies are the Science and Mathematics departments. Tn Chemistry and Physics, we are taught the mechanics of better living conditions and how to secure them for the great world of tomorrow. It is only right to say that without the advantages science offered us, we could not have had this wonderful peace so soon. Yes, the scientists helped to win the peace and we can be sure they will strive to enable us to keep it forever. Mathematics-it has been proven-stimulates good, keen thinking. It teaches us the technique of figuring out a definite way by which to solve problems. This has proved invaluable in the art of warfare and will continue to do so in solving barriers that will confront the peace. Now let us look at the departments of Art and Music, which have certainly broadened the out- look of the student. They have taught us to enjoy the finer things of life. They have provided courses in which the student has an opportunity to do creative work. Although we realize that we must not forget entirely the somber, less attractive things of the past war, we also know that in order to have a lasting peace we must appreciate the beauty of the works of art and music which the rest of the world has to offer. Other equally important departments are those which include such courses as Shop, Home Eco- nomics, the Commercial Studies, and Distributive Education. These may well be grouped as a de- partment of specialties because they fit the students HFOI' all the Walks of lifef, Vve have come to realize that it is the fellow in the store, the mechanic in the garage, the clerk in the oHice, the banker, the mother in the home that our peace will affect and they in turn, will affect the peace. So, naturally, people well-trained will be able to offer good suggestions and worth-while criticisms that will aid and not harm our peace. In covering each department, we have stressed the great effect the faculty of our high school has had on the newly won peace. Let it not be overlooked that these teachers may well be added to the list of unsung heroes of the past war. These teachers can never be repaid in money or po- sition, for their real payment comes when they see students go out into the world fully prepared and know that they have contributed to their education. Yes, through their undying efforts we will learn the full value of eternal peace and how to hold it.