Whitmer High School - Oracle Yearbook (Toledo, OH)

Page 11 text:

Board of Edocation Seated: Vernon Brown, Dr. Stephen Donath, Walter Graves, Clyde Elder, President of the Board. Standing: Emery Myers; Earl B. Driver, Superintendent; Orra K. Benton, Clerk-Treasurer. 11

Page 10 text:

To the Oracle Staff: Again, I feel privileged that you have asked me to make a statement for “The Oracle.” This year, I especially commend you for the renewed zeal you seem to be manifest ing in producing “The Oracle” of 1953. I sincerely feel that the readers of these lines will be handling one of Whit- mer’s very best yearbooks, and a volume that will bring much individual and group pride. And now, may I pass on, through these columns, a special message to each and every Whitmer student. Without the shadow of a doubt, you are a member of one of the great¬ est high schools to be found anywhere. The qualities and attributes which make Whit¬ mer great, are in the ascendency. You mem¬ bers of the general student body are among the most important factors in the building of, and the maintenance of, a good school. May I admonish you all to have a con¬ tinued zeal for the highest type of school spirit and pride. With this attitude, on the part of all of us, Whitmer will ever con¬ tinue to maintain its en viable place on the honor roll of schools. Sincerely, EARL B. DRIVER Superintendent There is no better school building in Ohio than the new Washington Town¬ ship Junior High School. We know this will give the students of Whitmer a challenge to have the same statement made of their already high scholastic at¬ tainment. Sincerely, HAROLD M. RYDER Superintendent of Lucas County As this book goes to press, the 1952- 53 school year will be drawing to a close. Many momentous events will have happened by this time on a local, national, and world-wide scale. To the readers of this book perhaps nothing will be quite as important as the fact that another class will graduate from Whitmer to go out and leave their “foot¬ print in the sands of time.” HARRY T. GRAVES Vocational Advisor 10

Page 12 text:

The bridge was designed to aid young people in the matter of character building. To understand fully the import of this structure will involve the essence of thinking in symbols. Now thinking in symbols is not always an easy task; for in many cases, it may require the highest type of thought pro¬ cesses. In algebraic problem solving, the student constructs an equation which satisfies all the condi¬ tions of the problem and in which the letter X represents the answer sought. Then processing the equation, he finds the answer to X and this is the answer to his problem. But it is not the purpose of these few words to engage in too deep thinking. We readily see that the normal life-span may be divided into three segments or parts, namely, that of youth, manhood and, old age. As youth approaches middle life, he should anticipate many per¬ plexing problems whose solution will require considerable strength of character. It will be helpful if we will let these perplexing problems be represented by a stream which, for the want of a better term, we will call the stream of uncertainties over which one must pass and thus will need a bridge of unusual strength and durability to carry an undetermined load. The common virtues which consti¬ tute the building material for this structure are found in great abundance in the moral quarries of life. Let us go there to select desirable virtues or stones for the arch which is the principal support and strength of the bridge. Our first consideration will be the footings of the arch. These footings must go down deep to the bedrock. Can we do better than place obedience on one side of the stream and self-respect on the otherSurely this will provide a splendid foundation. You will note in the rep¬ resentation that the virtues are more or less in pairs or are complementary to each other, such as physical cleanliness and moral poise, patience and perseverance, loyalty and patriotism, faith and hope. Hav¬ ing considered the several courses in the arch, we are now ready to determine the keystone, that all- important stone which binds and holds all others in place. How about charity for the keystone? Do you agree? Of course it is understood that in selecting material for the arch, we do not reject any virtue found in the moral quarries of life; for we shall employ all the virtues in our speculative bridge. All about the arch, we need good material to build up the roadway so that we may have a smooth roadbed with a firm foundation that will carry an enormous load without mishap. Just so we need to work into our respective characters such attributes and qualities as kindness, reliability, justice, honesty, truth fulness, sincerity and that full line of positive Christian virtues which will make for an abundant life. And let it be understood that it will be a matter of real assurance to the individual if the virtues will become fixed in habit rather than to lie unused in the realm of mere knowledge. 8