Weaver High School - Portal Yearbook (Hartford, CT)

Page 33 text:

CLASS BOOK 1926A—THOMAS SNELL WEAVER HIGH SCHOOL Cftatrman’si Pittas CLASSMATES, PARENTS AND FRIENDS: Jt is a time-honored custom observed by most high schools of today to set aside one night during graduation week for class festivities. Three reasons might be mentioned as justifying this departure from the more serious and formal exercises which mark so important an occasion. In the first place, since the class is soon to be disbanded and those bonds of lasting friendship which have encircled us for so many years, are to be dissolved, we would like to meet informally once more as a class. Secondly, inasmuch as there are enrolled among the members of the class some students who possess unusual talent in various capacities, we have considered it a fitting opportunity to allow those of genius to display it. And then, we wish to have with us our parents and friends who have made possible for us these four years, fillled with happy and unforgettable experiences. You now know why we hold Class Night; you should also be informed before¬ hand concerning what you may expect. The program will consist of the Class History, Prophecy, Essay, and Oration, the Class Song and other numbers. And so, at this time, we, of the Class of 1926A, take great pleasure in bidding you welcome and we hope that you may enjoy with us our Class Night program. PAUL K. B1 DWELL. 29

Page 32 text:

CLASS BOOK 1926A—THOMAS SNELL WEAVER HIGH SCHOOL Crabuatton Program Salutatory. Edwin John Greene Faces in the Study Hall. Bella Freedman Coal Shortages and What They Mean. Hyman Eli Lieberman Cheap. Barbara Gertrude Duncan Music by the Weaver High School Orchestra Neighborhood Discords. A Thing that is Lovely. European Signs of Lasting Peace Valedictory. . . .Samuel Hilley Cohen . Pearl Older Cohen . Harry W ise Lillian Louise Schwartz Music by the Weaver High School Orchestra Presentation of Diplomas Mr. Fred l). Wish. Superintendent of Schools Class; ptgfjt Program Address of Welcome. Paul Kenneth Bidwell Oration. Harry Herbert Kleinman Song. The Class Words by Elinor Florence Margolis Music by Pearl Older Cohen Essay. Norinne Katherine Auger History. Miriam Podnetsky and Edivard Jerome Burns Song. The Class Words by Jennie Tulman Music by Minnie Finkelstein Prophecy. Gertrude Roberta Honer and William Francis O ' Rourke School Song. The Class Words and music by Rosalind Feldman 28

Page 34 text:

CLASS BOOK 1926A—THOMAS SNELL WEAVER HIGH SCHOOL i ; 1 i 111 I TT mil mill 1111 i 11111 Ti 11111111111 ' 1 Claste Bratton YOUTH AND CRIME [F you and I were asked what the most common thing in the world was, the most obvious answer would be crime. Crime has been in existence ever since the beginning of civilization, and it will continue as long as civiliza¬ tion exists. Nevertheless the $3,000,000,000 that the United States pays each year because of lawbreak ing can be lessened by a thorough study of crime. Who must make this study? You, I, all of us, and especially young people, since statistics show that there are a great many youthful criminals. It is generally thought by a great many people that the World War is the cause of the juvenile crime wave. When we come to consider the situation carefully, the most obvious answer is that the motion pictures and the automobile, especially when combined with drink, are the fundamental reasons for the lawlessness of the present youth. One must not, however, jump to the conclusion that all young people are lawless. I shall now proceed to analyze the fundamental reasons for crime. One of the most potent reasons for youthful crime is the motion pictures. Young people go to the theatres, and form new opinions and new ideas. Not all pictures are bad, but there are a sufficient number of bad ones that have harmful effects. Boys and girls go to a show primarily for entertainment, and they get it. However, do they get the right sort of amusement? Sometimes they do, but most of the time they don’t. They see pictures where defiance of the law is glorified, and where 1 a halo is placed around the crook, who happens to be the hero and reforms later. The youthful mind is very impressionable, and when a boy sees such pictures, he receives a mental picture which cannot be eradicated. The first opportunity he gets he may try to imitate the crook hero. The result is invariably the same. He is caught and sent to reform school, if he is sentenced by a judge that is not sympathetic and understanding. He is bitter against everybody because he has been caught. Unless some kindly person takes the youth under his wing, is there not the strongest possibility that he will become a real crook and a menace to society? The prevalence of intoxication and the consequent disasters among young people is largely the result of prohibition. 1 am not stating whether the Prohibition Act will eventually be for good or bad, but I am simply analyzing one of its present results. The young people of all ages have shown off and the present age is no exception. Before prohibition was enacted there was less intoxication than now. The reason is that when liquor could be got freely the young people didn’t care much for it; now it is hard to get, so they think it smart to carry a flask on the 30