West Paris High School - Nautilus Yearbook (West Paris, ME)

Page 12 text:

The opponents of socialized medicl e declare it could lead m unethical solicitation, unprofessional competition between groupg and destroy the free choice of doctors by the patient. The problem of socialized medicine faces each of us, what E your solution? Betty Tamminen '48 CJCJL PKC5'CuQ'fS'J5W5!l The pupils who live at a distance from school, obliged to carry cold lunches during the winter season, were indeed pleased when it was announced last fall that Hot Lunches were to be served again. However, because food prices were so much higher the prim was 15 cents a meal instead of 10 cents as it was last year. Part of the old gym had been converted into a kitchen with tables where we could eat our lunches. Two girls or boys from th high school assisted with the preparation of the lunches. Some- times, also, pupils from the Grammar rooms were excused from classes to help. Miss Ricker who has served so acceptably as cook.in the past consented to take over this difficult job again. We feel that high praise is due her for the way she has handled the problem of preparing appetizing and nourishing lunches for about lOO pupils. She has given generously of her time and interest to do this. Th following are typical menus for one week: Chop Suey Cabbage and Apple Sandwiches Salad Iilk Cookies Salmon Loaf Mashed Potato Sandwiches Peas Cookies Fruit Milk Mashed Potato Frankfurters Cabbage, Celery, and Pineapple Salad Milk Cookies Mashed Potato Meat Loaf Sandwiches Carrots Milk Fruit Sylvia Andrews '49

Page 11 text:

SOCIAUZED MEDICSIXIE There has been much controversy over the question of Usooiab ized medicine. Several plans for Federal Health Insurance have been proposed, but none have been satisfactoryt At the present time only two states have compulsory sickness insurance. Large numbers of prepayment plans, based on the insurance principle, have been tried. Some were successfulg others were total failures. WB1ue Cross is one of these plans, Friends and critics agree that HBlue Cross is fine, but does not go far enough.H Lack of medical care is a factor of primg importance to ini dustry. Productive losses due to absenteeism caused by disease, accident, and premature death results in the loss of millions of work days. Because of lack of medical care 60,000 cancer patients die who might be saved. T B could almost be eradicated but in 1942 it killed 60,000 americans in the prime of life, More than one U. S. citizen in six has a chronic disease or physical impairment many of which might have been prevented, The draft brought out the fact that, although young men bee tween 18 A 48 should be healthier than at any other time of life, four or five million young men lacked the physical and mental ability to bear arms, Many of these physical defects could have been prevented or cured if the community had been aware of the importance of physi- cal fitness. Why donlt we have adequate medical care? The following are some of the reasons advanced. . nlllness strikes suddenly and makes budgeting impossible for people of modest moans, People neglect measures to prevent serious illness, or are unable to pay lor medical services. Low incomi families are reluctant to accept charity and therefore are vnable to get hospitalization except in extreme cases. Small communities cannot provide hospitals and adequate health facilities, and doctors hesitate to settle away from moderx medical facilities which they have been trained to use,U It is generally agreed that some health insurance plan is needed but disagreement arises over the method.

Page 13 text:

TI-IE FORGCTTEN PROBLEM Since the hostilities of World War II have ceased and most of the American neetle'aro once morelliving'e fairly normal life, the problem of juvenile delinquency, as well as other criminal or fenses, is no longer receiving its Qreatly needed attention. We seem to eomeletely forget these so-called criminals who are, in reality, nothing but tnfortunate persons sorely in need of a little kindness and an understanding heart. True enough there an those who seem to have no honor, no morals and no conscience and no one will deny that these few deserve any punishment which may be inflicted upon them. Fowever, if the majority of these law- breakers were made to feel that the public had some interest in them, they would become honest, hard-working citizens. Whereas after they have served time in a jail they believe themselves to be social outcasts and ge on living in abasement for the rest of their days. For these reasons it is quite evident that one of tha greatest deficiencies of the American cities and towns is their lack of judges, officials who are understanding and helpful and who have faith in human beings. One person who strongly believes that there is some good in almost everyone is Anna R. Kress, judge of Magistrates Court in New York City. Her name is not a too familiar one but it is cer- tainly pitiful that there arenit many more like her, Drs. Kress came to this country from Russia in l895. By means of a scholarship, she graduated from New York University Law School. Since then she has saved innumerable peddlers, prosti- tutes, petty Uamblers, juvenile delinqients until zhe has ri5ht- fully earned the title of nThe Poor VanfsxJud5e.n She refuses to punish the common laborer for such violations as games of chance when she, and everyone else, knows they are being carried on by the richer class and mon of prosti5e. At one time when La Guard- ia was stayiny a campaiyn ayainst gambling, she dismissed case after case announcing that she was taking orders from no one. In hundreds of cities she has personally aroused the citizen and opened their eyes to new solutions for their youth problems. As a result Youth Forums, Teen-Age Canteens and Youth Councils have been established all over the country. Anna Kress is truly a friend of people in trouble and she be lieves in action instead of resolutions. The good she has done for this country has made her loved and respected by all who know her. If only she could serve as a model for other judges and be the idol and inspiration of youth, this country would have many more respectable citizens and therefore be a nation which could set a yood example for the rest of the world. Rachel Dunham '47