Whitmer High School - Oracle Yearbook (Toledo, OH)

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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

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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

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ARDEN C. WALKER Principal of Whitmer This has been a year of change and we can’t help but wonder what is in store for our W.H.S. This is our first year as a Senior High School and it seems almost as though we have passed through our adolescence and into early maturity. Our graduating class will number a few less than 150. Next year’s class will exceed 200 and the first grade class in our school system now numbers 460 students, thus it is clear that our small intimate Whitmer’’ can never be quite the same again. With growth comes change, and my fervent prayer is that this change will still permit us to retain the many fine traditions and attitudes that have been such a meaningful part of our school lives. I am thinking of the sincere personal interest shown for each other, of the many informal good times and conversations between students and faculty members, of the warm friendliness between stu¬ dents with no snobberies because of financial, racial, or religious differences, of our deep loyalty toward our school—the joy of winning a close, hard fought football game—or the despair of losing such a game. These and many other unwritten and undescribed emotions make up what we mean by Whit¬ mer’’. Our past has been bright, I trust that as our school increases in size we may still cling to the best advantages of a small school and merge them with the best virtues of a large school that we may leave Whitmer equally rich in wholesome traditions and meaning for those destined to be our Whit¬ mer’’ of tomorrow, ARDEN C. WALKER, Principal 9