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

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22 THE MESSALONSKEE RIPPLE adjusted to the requirements of its existence. Many new experiments are being tried throughout our civilization, which depend for their success, upon a general diffusion of social intelligence. Democracy is such an experiment. The attempt to establish democ- racy without providing adequate social and political education for the mass of citizens must result in disaster. If we want democ- racy to succeed, we must educate for democ- racy. It is treason to our democratic in- stitutions to send forth from our schools young men and women who know little or nothing of the responsibilites, duties, and privileges of citizens in a democracy and of the social conditions and ideals which are necessary for the success of a democratic society. Only through socialized and political study can the highest caliber of citizenship be attained. The social sciences, aiming at the control of social conditions and of social progress, necessarily emphasize the higher life of man, and they therefore set before us the goal, not of material achievement or individual success, but of the service of mankind. If an intelligent public opinion is to be developed, if custom, law, and other social controls are to serve a useful purpose and promote civilization rather than retard it, a constructive social education program must be created. Education as a method of influencing and stimulating individual think- ing is the only hope of a democracy. CQERALDINE ISRIDGI-IS HONOR ESSAY PRESERVATION OF DEMOCRACY THROUGH WISE USE OF LEISURE TIME Leisure is time free from work or employ- ment. It is the spare time in which we people in a democracy can do as we wish, and say what we think. It is a spiritual state-a mood of freedom and joyousness. Our leisure time is taken up in many different ways. Sports, hobbies, reading-- all occupy a place in our daily life. Practi- cally everybody in our democracy has some free time which he spends on his favorite recreation. Many people everyday are in- dulging in sports and other activities. Some have too much free time on their hands. These are the ones who get into difficulties and tend to lower the morale of a democ- racy. If the people who cause trouble, were to live in a dictator-governed state, they would appreciate the great amount of leisure time they receive in our democracy. In a dictator-state one is told how to use his time-all of it. He is under the direct rule of one man. He is given certain litera- ture pertaining to the government and re- quired to read it. On the other hand, many books are restricted, and if discovered read- ing banned books, he receives a severe punishment. Every German youth, who is physically fit, is required to take military training at a very early age. If he isn't in good physical condition, he is assigned to another branch of work that will benefit Germany's pro- gram. No youth is left without 'some task for the government. Freedom of the press is one of the great privileges we have in America. Nearly everything comes from the American presses to help people occupy themselves with read- ing for entertainment and for educational purposes. One enormous and costly thing, which is an obstacle to us, is the large number of criminals we have in our country. These result from the unwise use of leisure time. Most criminals in our prisons today are those who never had a hobby, never indulged in sports, or have done anything to keep themselves occupied.

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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

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THE MESSALONSKEE Rl PPLIE 23 Crime alone costs more a year than it does to run our government for the same length of time. This amount exceeds greatly the cost of public education in the United States. The cost of crime is measured not alone in terms of money, but also in terms of wasted lives, broken homes, and increased human misery. Today many organizations are formed for the purpose of occupying young men and women so that they will help to better our democracy. A very good example of this is the Boys' and Girls' Scouts of America. Young people occupied in great organiza- tions such as these are not very likely to find time to get into difficulties which cost our government money. Among the numerous ways that both young and old can spend their leisure is arts. Men have always spent much of their time creating beautiful things and beautiful experiences. Increasingly our people are turning in their leisure to various forms of arts and crafts. Thousands of people, who have played a musical instrument in their spare time, have made good use of their knowledge and now are earning large sums of money each week. Another form of spending your leisure is being interested in some hobby. Throughout the United States millions are pursuing hobbies. Stamp collecting is probably the favorite. Thousands collect old coins, rare books, prints and other things of value. Gar- dening and the raising of dogs and birds are popular hobbies. Any of the arts, persistently followed for fun, may be considered a hobby. Young and old, rich and poor, are num- bered among hobbiests. Hobby clubs are now very common. The hobbiest never lacks for something to do. One of the greatest form of leisure is sports. Active participation in sports is one of the best forms of recreation. High schools and colleges, which not long ago were con- tent to have a small number of highly trained athletes, now seek to have all their students participate. Athletics have become a highly organized form of modern amusement. Professional baseball attracts enormous crowds and col- lege football teams play before large throngs. During the 1920's the million dollar gate in professional boxing made its appear- ance, and today, millions witness boxing exhibitions every year. Despite the charge that many people limit their recreation to those in which they can be spectators, there is evidence that in- creasing numbers are participating actively in golf, tennis, swimming, hunting, fishing, music, and dramatics. school programs and equipment Modern reflect the new interest in recreation. Pupils today are offered unusual opportunities to engage in athletics and in worthwhile rec- reational activities. The athletic program in our schools has been attacked by some critics on the ground that they are over-empha- sized. While this may be true in some schools and colleges, and while over-emphasis does create a danger, nevertheless there are many advantages to be gained from participation in athletics. Active participation in sports builds up the body, and, if properly directed, builds character as well. It promotes sports- manship and develops such qualities as alertness, self-control, co-operation and courage. Unfortunately, not all schools are equipped to afford training for leisure-time activities. Furthermore, many educators are not yet fully convinced that the school is the proper place for teaching the future citizens how to enjoy leisure that will someday be his. Today travel is another way of spending leisure time. Every year millions visit our beautiful national parks. The automobile has enabled thousands to take advantage of recreational facilities, 'such as parks, play- grounds, camp sites, and bathing beaches. Motion pictures and radio have helped thousands to occupy their leisure time. The benefits of these two great inventions will be in direct proportion to the quality of en- tertaiment which they offer.