Williams High School - Messalonskee Ripple Yearbook (Oakland, ME)

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20 THE MESSALUNSKEE RIPPLE the life of democracy is at stake, science is in mortal danger. Here in the United States men of all races have contributed to the advance of science. Science and democracy know no color line. White, black and yellow men have changed the face of America through science. It knows no national boundaries. Science and democracy recognize the dig- nity of man. Democracy regards each scien- tific worker as a human being free to investi- gate whatever field of science he may choose. Science wants light, not darkness, science wants reason not passion. Science means to iight dictatorship and to strengthen democ- racy. Classmates, we are indeed fortunate to- night to be graduating from high school and to be living in a democracy in which the vote of every man has equal weight of judgment in the tribunals of election. During the past four years we have been taught freedom: the freedom of all men to breathe the open air, to work, to play, to think as we wish. We have been taught humanity, justice for the criminal, pity for the impoverished, sympathy for all unfor- tunates. Let us resolve tonight as we go forth to make our pathway in life, that we will guard with fidelity the principles and ideals which have been handed down to us as a heritage from our forefathers. When we are called to defend our democracy fmay we do so to the best of our abilityj. I would like to extend, with my class- mates, our appreciation and gratitude to the superintendent of schools, the school board, our principal, and our teachers for their patient and inspiring assistance dur- ing our school career. We are sincerely happy tonight that our parents can be pres- ent because we realize that this graduation assumes the greatest importance to them. They are always anxious for us to succeed and, it is through their sacrifices which they have so willingly made, that we are able to finish our high school career. Lastly, in behalf of my class and myself, I wish to thank the citizens of the Town of Oakland who have made our graduation possible. RoNA1.u Rox' SALUTATORY SOCIAL STUDIES What is democracy? There are numerous definitions of the term democracy. To me, however, democracy is a form of govern- ment which gives the opportunity for an individual to derive the greatest possible benefits to himself, with due regard for the rights and privileges of others. We are all aware of the opportunities which exist for individuals and we know that many people are striving for personal advancements. This is a worthy ambition and should be encour- aged. However, we should not neglect the other side of the picture. In this world of ours we have come to realize that our very existence is defiinitely related to our fellow citizens. Unless those with whom we come in contact have opportunities for freedom, health, and happiness, we cannot, as individ- FOR DEMOCRACY uals, expect to prosper. In other words we are dependent upon others for our well being and progress. The study of our problems as they are related to other people is spoken of as social studies, and by society, we mean the great masses of people who compose our popula- tion. When we 'speak of social control, we refer to the means and methods of control- ling the activities and conduct of the people of the country. In the few short years of my experiences I have observed many changes in human progress. Great strides have been made in scientific achievement. Great advances have been made in agriculture, industry, trans- portation and communication. As a result

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THE MIESSALONSKIZE RIPPLE 19 Science affects practical affairs and every- day life. Without it, modern cities would be impossibleg it transports people to and from their work, provides them with concentrated fuel in the shape of coal to heat their homes and run their factoriesg brings them refrigerated food from the countryside and even from distant countriesg gives them sanitation and pure water. Practical men now realize that the best method of getting an answer to a practical problem is to investigate it scientifically. As a consequence of this, the present period is a period of scientific research institutes. Such institutes exist for the study of chem- ist1'y, electricity, agriculture, aviation, coal- mining, fisheries, building problems, wool and cotton, refrigeration, steel, medicine, and countless subjects. Research experts show little fear that mankind is exhausting our irreplaceable raw materials. Take oil as an example, while it is a fact, that at the present rate of con- sumption oil for gasoline within the United States would be exhausted in about 30 years, there is enough oil in shale rock fat a some-- what higher cost of extractionj to last 3,000 years and there is coal enough for 2,000 years. The scientists are more optimistic than any other group in the country. They do not believe that civilization is perishing, that the Dark Ages are about to return. On the contrary, they think that mankind is on the threshold of a new and better existence. They feel, for example, that most wars at the present time are caused by the struggle for natural resources, many of which we already able to produce artificially in are the laboratory. The scientists believe firm- ly in democracy as the only way of life. To them the search for truth is of vital human importance, and they know that this is only possible when the winds of freedom blow. Science is a valuable soldier. In 1916 America had only 19 industrial research lab- oratories, but many priceless devices were developed in them. Today, with nearly 2,000 laboratories, a vast treasury of ingenious brains and intricate mechanism is already at work on our national defense. Newest in the aviation industry is the so-called plastic plane. Also in our labora- tories we are improving the supercharging of airplane engines to produce greater speed and power at greater altitudes. We have developed a searchlight so powerful that, in the beam of one of them, a newspaper was easily read in an airplane at a distance of 12 miles from the searchlight. If you wish to see where the research scientist is performing near-magic, turn your attention to the corncob. The labora- tory expert has brought the corncob right into the parlor in more ways than one. Such things as infiammable gas, book paper, fiber board, furniture, varnish, phonograph records, and a variety of household products are being made from the corncobs and stalks which used to decay in storehouses. All of these products now being made from corn waste didn't just happen. Each product has been the result of many hours of patient re- search and experimentation. Prominent economists have for many dec- ades, worried themselves over the unstable future of the American farmer. Who knows, perhaps his salvation lies in the factory. Perhaps the industrialist and the farmer may join hands to solve many an economic problem in the future. A generation hence the American farmer may find himself figuratively growing commercial products galore in his own fields-products that wili find their way into the parlors of our grand- children. Today America faces a critical period in the history of the world. Beyond the two oceans that wash our 'shores are men who scoff at democracy, jeer at the equality of and destroy pure cannot stand idly mankind, stifle religion, science. Men of science by while such things are taking place. It is the duty of science to protect democracy, for dictatorship means its destruction. Freedom of thought and of expression are of the essence of both science and democ- racy. Science thrives best where each man is given the opportunity to develop his own abilities. Democracy is the first line of de- fense against the stifiing of true research for the benefit of all mankind. Whenever

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THE MIESSALONSKEE RIPPLE 21 of these changes our world has become more complex. New problems of social control confront us. Problems of taxation, conser- vation, protection, and regulation grow with increased population and increased activity of the masses. New and more difficult prob- lems of crime, delinquency and health come before us constantly. In such a dynamic civilization, education has become increasingly important as an agency of social control and as a means of social progress. In fact, the school with its ever increasing social studies may well be considered the bulwark of civilization and preservation of a democarcy. Social problems have been compared to boulders in the stream of social change. The changing character of civilization makes social problems continuously, for one prob- lem is succeeded by another, or by a diflierent aspect of the same problem. The solution of social problems, therefore, is as temporary as it is difficult. For the maintenance of social control and for the achievement of social progress study and solution are con- tinually necessary. One of the greatest challenges to our great democracy is the ever increasing problem of crime and delinquency. Crime is probably more expensive than the entire cost of government, at least during normal times. The causes of crime, like those of poverty, are found in the physical environment, in the economic environment, in the social en- vironment and in defects of government and education. Therefore the efforts of society should be directed toward the prevention of crime through improving the environmental conditions, and through developing good citizenship qualities in the youth of the land. Two methods are usually employed in the solution of social problems. One is to make a study of the causes of social failure and the other is to sympathize and keep those who suffer from social troubles. Poverty and crime can be used to show this contrast. Preachers of religion and teachers of morality have emphasized for- giveness and charity, which, like the quality of mercy blesses him who gives as well as him who receives. A cold scientific attitude, however, regards poverty and crime as social diseases to be studied with care and to be treated without sentiment. Just as yellow fever and typhoid fever have been reduced by increasing knowledge of causes and car- riers of these diseases and by increased con- trol over conditions favorable to their devel- opment, so poverty and crime can be reduced by a similar study of, and a similar effective attack on, causes, carriers, and contributing conditions. A physician, for example, must continue to treat his patients with the greatest skill at his command and with the best informa- tion available, while a research student con- tinues his experimentation and investiga- tion, as a result of which, the physician's scientific knowledge may be increased and improved. Similarly, practical social workers must care for the dependents and delin- quents in their charge while students in sociology continue their research into the causes of dependency and delinquency. But care without cure and the betterment of distress without the study and elimination of its causes would be like hailing out a boat without repairing the leak through which the water continues to run. We cannot solve our 'social problems with- out more social intelligence and the surest way to secure these ends, is to have more social and political education in our schools. We live in a social world more than in a world of material objects, where our chief adjustments must be made to men and to institutions, not to things. We can no longer trust common sense to adjust the individual to this world of human relationship, for our civilization has become such a complex system of relationship that no one can play his part in it well without a very considerable amount of general and specific social information. Therefore, the study of the relationship of men to one another must be the essential element in a system of education. Such studies as history, government, economics, ethics, and sociology must occupy a larger place in the education of the future if we are to secure a humanity