Weldon E Howitt High School - Hi Life Yearbook (Farmingdale, NY)

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ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT PRINCIPAL 10

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SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS Dr. Thomas W. Guilford To the Class of 1961: . . For ail of vou, graduation from High School is of major importance. For some, it is one more step in vour formal education; for others, it will he the end of your formal relationship with school and teachers, for all of vou, it is a goal you hat e worked to reach since you first started school. I congratulate you on vour accomplishment. I wish you much success on vour chosen path of lire. I caution vou, however, that vou are just beginning and that you face a challenge that is unparalleled in the history of civilization. The world is still under the threat of war. there is much political and economic unrest; our nation is at the crossroads of history. There are great tasks to be done. All this awaits you and I urge you to rise up and meet these challenges. .. ... . . Your parents and the school have given vou the best they could under the prevailing conditions. i ow it is up to you. You must be responsible citizens, willing to help make your country and the democratic way of life secure. You have a moral obligation to sec to it that the world ou have found continues to improve, so that you may one day leave it to vour children in as good or better condition than you found it. Again, I congratulate you and your parents. 1 wish you the best things in life with as much happiness as you can enjoy. Sincerely, Thomas VV. Guilford Superintendent of Schools 9

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OPPORTUNITY AND RESPONSIBILITY UNLIMITED! Dear Members of the Class of’61 and all other students who will follow: Since the entrance of the United States into World War II on December 7, 1941, approximately twenty years ago, the industrial and technological development of the world has been proceeding at a fantastic pace; almost be- yond the comprehension of man to understand in all of its total aspects. It is tragic indeed that technological de- velopment had to be motivated by the conflagration of World War II and the Korean War, as well as the cold war” which has been in progress now for over a decade. During the past twenty years systems of communication and transportation, to mention just two aspects of tech- nological development, have proceeded to the point where earth satellites are commonplace and human exploration by scientists to other planets is envisioned within the next several years immediately ahead. Because of the tremendous technological development which has been taking place, it is understandable that many persons, including adults as well as young people, are apt to get the impression that “nothing else remains to be done”, or that it is now almost impossible for the individual to make a contribution to society, since it some- times appears that everything that can be accomplished has already been accomplished. However, this, I believe, is certainly not the case and today, in 1961, the opportunity and personal responsibility of the individual in America is without limit — that is — infinite. It seems to me the opportunities at present, because of the technological de- velopment of the last twenty years are more unlimited now because of the many new horizons which have been opened and which require penetration by the minds and know-how of men. As this message is being written, the communist coun- tries of the world are determined, by every means at their disposal, to destroy the United Nations, which is recog- nized as a world organization capable of bringing and maintaining peace. Also, it must be understood that pres- ently the Soviet government is recognized as having a space missile well over two million miles from earth and headed in the direction of the planet Venus. I believe these two actions on the part of the Communists, that is, the attempted destruction of the usefulness of the United Nations and their apparent present superiority in at least one area of space exploration, have come about because of the concentration of effort in these two areas. This has been accomplished, I believe, at the expense of the best interests of individual citizens of the U.S.S.R. and, in fact, at the expense of individuals throughout the civil- ized world. Therefore, it must be recognized by thinking persons that in the American philosophy of government and life, as opposed to the Communist system, it is the individual who is important! In other words — in our system of free- dom and dignity of the individual, we believe, as do other free peoples of the world, that government exists to serve people. On the other hand, the Communist philosophy regards the government as supreme, and fosters the belief that individuals merely exist to serve the best interests of the government; all too often at the expense of the in- dividual. If our way of life, that is Democracy and freedom, is to survive the Communist-slavery system, then what hap- pens in the minds and lives of individual Americans, and particularly individual American youth, holds the key to survival of moral decency and individual dignity of man in the world. Therefore, I emphasize that now, as perhaps never be- fore in the history of civilization, the opportunity and re- sponsibility of individual free men is unlimited and the proper contribution of each free man is essential to the survival of civilization as we would have it. Specifically I belive that each individual in America and in the free world has the responsibility of developing himself mentally and morally and physically and socially to the highest point in accordance with the “laws of Cod . The individual is important in our country, not only to himself and his family, but to his nation as well. Individual rights and free- dom must be safeguarded at each turn of the road! Further- more, it must be understood that rights of individual freedom go hand in hand with individual responsibility. It is believed that in order to achieve the highest possi- ble personal development, an inquiring mind and a search- ing soul dedicated to truth and progress, according to moral laws of God and man”, is characteristic of our con- cept of the individual in America and the free world. In freedom loving nations, education is not a whip or a device to submerge the individual and have him serve only the best interests of the state — in free lands, education is a tool and opportunity to help the individual make the most of himself and through self fulfillment, obtain the better- ment of conditions for all. The mass educational opportunity present in America, which seeks to provide for the full educational development of the individual for his own and his country's future, is unprecedented in the history of civilization. Here in America it can truly be said: “It is the individual who counts! OPPORTUNITY IS UNLIMITED and becomes more unlimited with each major technogical advance. I emphasize that technological advance for the development and welfare of mankind must be based upon morality and freedom and the individual dignity of man. Therefore. Graduates of 1961 and all other students who will follow, it is your “RESPONSIBILITY USLIMl ELD to make the most of your OPPORTUNITY UNLIMIT- ED to develop yourself in all ways for the good not only of yourself, but for the good of free men and moral decency in the world as a whole. What you say, what you do and what you are and how you use your time each day, in fact each moment, is important and is related to the survival of our way of life . You must, as an individual, stand up and be counted in the eyes of God and in the eyes of man! We, as Americans, cannot afford to fail individually or collectively or there will be no world fit to live in — you dare not fail to meet the challenge , for the sake of God, family and country — and may you be steadfast in the tasks which lie ahead. 11 DR. R. C. BURAU HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL