West Philadelphia High School - Record Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

Page 10 text:

VICTOR P. DONOHUE

Page 9 text:

Qin the members at the Grahuating Glass nf 1923 You have often watched the progress of the construction of a great building in the center of our city. It begins with a shapeless hole in the ground, and out of that seemingly useless void there grows a tall skeleton of steel. Then, here and there, appear roof coverings, partitions and exterior walls, sometimes growing downwards as well as upwards. It seems haphazard, at times, until we think that it is all a part of a well perfected plan and that its beauty and permanency depend upon the talent and education of the men who designed it and the hon- esty of those who have labored to realize the design. A faulty foundation or a faulty beam or column will endanger the en- tire structure and the lives of all those who may come to live or work in it. Our school has helped each one of you to lay the founda- tion of his life and in some measure to plan the building, but the superstructure must be reared by you. Look carefully to its design and to its realization, to the end that it may be worthy of its position and that it may stand well and serve truly. Cordially yours, KW

Page 11 text:

jfuretnnrh Gin the Grahuating Qlllass nfilune, 1923 T HAS been said that the greatest contribution of the present century to Democracy has been the American high school. The character of secondary education has changed very radically within the last ten or twenty years. The conception of a high school education as the right and privilege of the few, has been replaced by the more democratic and American theory that a secondary school education must be a right guaranteed to all. This great expansion of the high school has come about because the State has recognized the secondary school to be the great training place for its leaders. The fundamental purpose of the modern high school is the development of leadership. The great wealth which the State has expended in establishing these schools will only be justi- fied if the graduates of the high schools take leading parts in the life of their respective communities. It is the duty, then, of each member of this graduating class to take advantage of every opportunity to make his influence as a leader felt in every phase of his life, political, economic, religious and socialg and in so doing develop himself to the highest degree and at the same time serve the State that has given him such a won- derful opportunity as a high school education. fha. P