West Division High School - Comet Yearbook (Milwaukee, WI)

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I, U U ll R S E H I U R S Principal WILLIAM C. KNOELK The war makes us hear much about democracy, patriotism, emergency, service, words that seem remote and have far-flung meanings. lf we bring this thinking of remote places and seemingly remote actions to our own community and our own school, some of the vagueness disappears. And we must think and act, for this is an all-out war. What feelings are stirred in us by pondering these words? We may be moved by indignation at the ruthlessness of the foe. We may all have a deep and consuming love for adventure. We may hold a deep affection for and an abiding faith in our way of life. Whatever we may call these purposing traits that prod us on to show loyalty to our country, allegiance to our flag, or love of our fellow-man, in the final analysis, the urge lies in us.. What we do in our every-day living sets the pattern for our deeds in great moments. You are the most important thing in the world as tar as you are Concerned. lt may seem a selfish senti- ment, an arrogant conceity but not if you ponder the meaning of you. You have the responsibility of making of this bit of humanity, YCU, the finest type of human being. Hu- man life is sacred. Society for ages has realized the enormity of taking human life. it is just as atrocious to waste it. it is dastardly to stand by and see human life become impotent: to see it applied to base pur- poses. lt is the highest law to hold your life, YOU, responsible for the deeds it brings about in others. lt is despicable to be indifferent to human anguish and let brutal arrogance overthrow our faith in the sacred- ness of human life.

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7acu!ty

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t ARLIE A. SCHABDT At this time there have been nearly six months of war. The strange and rapid upheavals and restric- tions of the past half year have been like fantastic disturbances in our sleep. We do not know how long the war will last, but it will have an end. Then life for perhaps a quarter century-the period in which you students will be establishing your way of life-will not be easy. It will be a period that will make great demands upon the initiative, re- sourcefulness, adaptability, and productivity you developed while you were participating in the life at West Division. ' Based upon the philosophy that books are not the sole source of knowledge, West Division for years has encouraged pupil participation' in extra-curricular activities to the fullest extent. The faculty has long been imbued with the belief that the educational growth of an individual begins with himself and where he is, and that it spreads outward in ever-widening circles of participation-participation that educates for competence, bringing to full development the qualities of leadership. In the chaotic years after the war, strenuous efforts must be made to bring our way of living back to an even keel. That will not be an easy task, but in doing your part in those coming times you will do well to remember the lessons of living learned at school. As West's graduates are now prominent in leadership in settling the problem of war, so I trust that you graduates-to-be will take a conspicuous part in leadership in settling the problems of peace. 'Major Arlie Schatdt is now on duty with the infantry in New England.