Westford Academy - Clarion Yearbook (Westford, MA)

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lil FIRST HONOR ESSAY Q...-7 XI FREEDOM In The School LORRAINE LAMIE The youth of America rs yery fortunate rn hayrng granted to thcm the fight to a free education Before 1820 publrc educatron was relatively unheard of but today rt rs practiced rn cy ery state of the union The yalue of thrs opportunity cannot be oyerstressed Each rndryrdual should be made to realize the rmportance of and the adyantages to the right which rs hrs heritage He must also realize the responsrbrlrty vshrch thrs education requires of hrm The school rs a complex unrt of democracy composed of rndrvrduals working toward happiness and security The stairway to learning includes three basic steps which might be termed the elementary school the secondary school and the rnstrtutron of higher learning which rs available to those who dcsrre rt Let us consider thc responsrbrlrtres of each The elementary school seryes as a basis for ey ery form of education the chrld wrll recerye during hrs lrfe trme Here rs burlt hrs foundation here rs gryen the concrete groundwork on which he must burld He rs taught the three R s by teachers well yersecl rn dealing wrth hrs rndrvrdual problems He perhaps for the frrst time gets really ac quarnted wrth other children of hrs age he learns to grye and take to cooperate as a crtrzen When the child completes thrs basrc trarnrng he rs ready to adyance to the next unrt rn our educational system the high school Here hrs trarnrng rs furthered He takes up work which he rs gorng to apply not only rn hrs yocatron but as a competent crtrzen of hrs country and community when he enters the complex world strll practically unknown to hrm He has a faculty deeply concerned wrth hrs problems which wrll most certainly develop Socially also he rs ads ancrng he has the opportunrty to take part rn the goy ernrng of hrs school he plans dances and recreation he partrcrpates rn these actrvrtres When he leaves thrs school he should have the experience and knowledge necessary to enable hrm either to enter the busrness world successfully or to be elrgrble for college training Qi ... L.. r 5 1 K . f , '- ,4 f x E Q , 3.1 A W - 7 ' ' v . v- 1 ' a common end: giving children a foundation on which they may build a future of , N , . . . . Y Y ' Y . . A . , -' 5 , , Y V - V, V . . I . , . . . v . Y . Q . 7 I Y- L . 9 . . . . . . U , Y

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I'rrst let us consider the dutles of thc parcnt toward the child Most assuredly parent has to su ply hrs chrldren wlth clothrng for comfort food for nourrshment and a house for protectlon But parental !'CSPOlI5lblllly goes far beyond these realms A house rs made of brxck and mortar a home of lovc and good cheer Analyzxng thus statemcnt we realize that the home must supply to the thlld a 'well dey eloped mental cmotlonal and spmtual state The most lmportant emotlonal factor ns loye Lose glxen freely openly and sagaclously can mean more than the finest of brlght shrny cars or elegant clothes True parental lose lends securlty and securlty gnes a feellng of unity and well berng It IS essentral that we remember that lack of securlty oftcn turns a person to false rdealrstlc practnces and prrnclples whrch only harm the person and those persons about hrm Each and ey ery rndrvldual IS constantly strlvmg for securlty rn one form or another If thxs securrty can be obtained rn the home less dlscontentment will arnse The outstandmg home possessing the most outstandmg members rs the one that fosters a respect for learnrng In helprng the chrld to develop rn the rrght path mentally the parent must teach by example Intolerance IS bred rn a home where false reasonmg or condemnation wrthout cause are practrced Rather the responsible home teaches that truth IS to be sought before op1n1ons are formed and lose and understandrng are the keynotcs to human relatlonshrps Brgotry and jealousy result from mlsunderstandlng and fear A responslble parent knows and transplants the knowledge to hrs chrldren that good judgement and the abrlrty to know rrght from wrong come from a sound healthy mental attltude It IS then the responslbxlrty of the parent through the freedom gn en hum by so clety to proylde hrs chrldren wxth an understandrng that can cope wrth the twists and turns of lrfe s road Mental and physxcal fxtness are necessary to brrng about a well developed personalrty but equally as rmportant IS the capacity for a healthy spxrltual state of mrnd A house where God IS the center of actrvrty IS a home of mutual love respect and understandnng It cannot help but be such a home Wxth a fxne spmtual relatronshrp the chrld wrll possess a well rounded personallty and often an mdlvrdualrty that make hlm a well adjusted person Thxs affection and securlty grven to the chxld should demand from hum certaln obligations These would be loye understanding respect and the abnlnty and deslre to share the responsnbxlnty of bemg a member of a home and a famnly Wrth thus mutual shanng of problems the xndmdual prepares hrmself for a future of emotnonal and lntellectual stabrhty If a chnld can face responslbnlxty rf he acts wxsely after consnderrng carefully the facts surrounding hum the parent can be certain his home llfe has been of the highest qualnty he can feel confrdent of a job well done 4 umu- 4' ' ' , . ' ,a , . , , -P , , . J x...v X 1 - 1 ' - Y 'V v 1 1 . ' - 1 1 ' ' 1 1 , , , . 7 .Y .V .Vg . .V . . . , . r V I . .. -. ' 1 ' V , . 1 1 - v , . .. Y . V A x ' ' v 1 . . .7 . - Y . . . . . - 1 1 1 1 ' Y . .. . ' 1 v 1 . .V. . . 1 ' 1 x , .

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I The college or university is a still more advanced means of learning. Here the boy or girl is more on his own than he has ever been before. He has new responsibilities thrust upon him, such as learning to live with others without the aid of a mother or father, keeping his studies at the correct standard without constant pushing from super- visors, a complicated social life, and financial management. He must study diligently and choose his courses wisely, carefully considering his future needs. He must learn how to think and act for the best advantage of his country and himself. In all these different types of schooling, the main driving force behind each is the educator, the teacher or professor. On him rests the future of America. The children of today are the citizens of tomorrow, and as long as we realize this, know that the teachers and the students are working harmoniously toward a common goal, America's destiny is well secured SECOND HONOR ESSAY FREEDOM In The Commumty EILEEN O NEIL Freedom is the responsibility of everyone No one person is exempt from the respon sibilities which freedom creates The community an organization of individuals living together is a minute part of our country but when we consider all communities towns and cities we have the United States in its entirety As a representat ve sampling of the nation the community has many obligations and duties toward the individual Let us consider some of the most important of these One of the most prominent on the list would be the maintenance of suitable educational facilities These facilities would include the provision of teachers buildings and equip 1 - . 'V - - ' 9 1 1 1 ' , . , . - 1 9 '