Windsor Locks High School - Herald Yearbook (Windsor Locks, CT)

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THE HIGH SCHOOL HERALD 29 It is the duty of parents to give their children as many educational advantages as possible. All parents want their children to succeed in the world, to hold good positions, to converse well, and tc talk and understand current events, and all this can be done only through a good educational background. Thus, fellow citizens, let us continue to give the young people of our town every educational advantage possible, for it is the chief means that they have of reaching safety, hcnor, and happiness. Let us strive to do this even if it means a sacrifice. Let us remember that one hundred years ago this July. Horace Mann gave up a promising law careen to become secretary of the Massachusetts State Board of Education. This decision was a turning point, not only in Mann’s life, but in the history of American education. In closing, let us recall the words from a great commencement address delivered by Horace Mann at Antioch College, in 1859. “Be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity.” Flora Therrien, ' 37 VALEDICTORY THE VALUE OF TIIE EDUCATED MAN TO THE WORLD An educated man can live effectively, usefully, and comfortably with his fellow men, because he can understand his countrymen better and in understanding them he can cooperate more easily with them. In like manner, education tends to make nations more tolerant and peace-loving, for peace can only flourish in nations where intelligent analysis is em¬ ployed in the settlement of disputes and other problems which arise. Public opinion, however, is the deciding factor in many disputes between nations and the amount of knowledge and enlightenment indi¬ viduals have often gages their opinions on internation affairs. A man who studies and understands the customs, laws, and living conditions of other countries besides his own is more capable of giving an intelligent and fair-minded point of view on decisions in controversies which have to be judged by public opinion. The educated man not only presents his point of view, but he exerts influence enough to attract other people to his way of thinking. Thus modern education should prepare a man not only for effective, cooperative living with his fellow citizens, but it should include the study cf history, the interests, customs, and problems of other nations. To be sure, it is the duty of every citizen to understand thoroughly the laws of his own country and to try to enforce them. The educated man should have a similar understanding of the laws of other countries, for it is only through international understanding that we shall build an era of peace among nations.

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28 THE HIGH SCHOOL HERALD HORACE MANN, THE GREAT EDUCATOR It is necessary today, that everyone should have as fine an educa¬ tion as possible to enable him to survive in this complex civilization of ours. The world is depending on the future generation to solve some of the difficulties of the present. Thus, we must have educated men and women qualified to meet these puzzling problems of our times. No doubt, Horace Mann, whose hundredth anniversary we are cel¬ ebrating this year, is the most inspiring example in the history of American Education. Almost a century ago, he tried to impress upon the people of Massachusetts, the need for a free public school system, for with¬ out free education, many children of poor families we,uld be unable to re¬ ceive any schooling, and our nation could not exist half ignorant and half educated any more than it could exist “half free and naif slave.” As Horace Mann suffered from bad health, he realized the need for schoolhouses to be made livable and comfortable places. He tells the story of a visit one rainy day to a little schoolhcuse which had an enormous leak in the roof. He spoke jokingly to the teacher, asking if some of the children wouldn’t be drowned. She replied, however, that this would be impossible, because the floor leaked as badly as the ceiling, and as soon as the rain fell from the ceiling, it drained out through the floor. Today we are not confronted with conditions like that, but we should remember that school children should be housed in buildings which are comfortable and which provide the environment necessary to good habits of work. The results of Horace Mann’s untiring efforts in beihalf of education certainly prove the truth of the motto “He conquers who persists.” As a lawyer, Horace Mann came in contact with many criminals, who he learned had become criminals through the lack of education. Thus he tried to correct this condition. There is an interesting law in Iceland that says when a minor child commits a crime, the courts should find out whether or not the parents have given him a good education. If it is proved that they have not, then the child is acquitted, and the parents ai 4 e punished. Perhaps that law should apply to other countries too , for very often, children are taken out of school by their parents, or allowed to leave school unnecessarily to go to work. In addition it has been proved that education has a market value. Business men and manufacturers, who employ thousands of workmen, tell us that the work of the educated person is much superior to that of the uneducated person. Uneducated people find it more difficult to get po¬ sitions today, and the uneducated person is always among the first to lose his position. Bsides the educated person advances steadily in position antt earning power, while the uneducated jobholder can look back ten or fif¬ teen years, and if he is still holding the job at all, he will find that he has not advanced in his work in the same degree as the better educated individual. Thus, from the standpoint of dollars and cents, education pays.

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30 THE HIGH SCHOOL HERALD A few i ' ines from a poem by Elwood Roberts show the feeling of all thinking people: “The blessed day is dawning. When war and strife shall end; When all mankind together Shall dwell, as friend to friend. That happy day, O Nations, Pray God He soon may send When all mankind together Shall dwell as friend to friend.” That day can only come when the nations learn that education is the only thing that will iead to settlement of disputes without destruction of lives and property; in other words education is the surest means to peace among nations. Therefore, Classmates, in saving farewell to you, I also want to say, let us each do our part in the drive to preserve world peace by sup¬ porting education for peace. Dorothy Micha, ’37 CLASS SONGS Tune: “My Melancholy Baby” Four long years together now are ending. We must meet again some day, And ou» ' future work we soon are starting. We shall climb and reach the top some day. All our friends and teachers we are leaving And those happy days at High, So. farewell, classmates. It’s success for him who waits. He conquers who persists, so now “Goodbye.” Tune: “Let Me Call You Sweetheart” Farewell, dearest classmates, we must say “adieu,” Our four years have ended Though they seemed just two. Thanks to friends and teachers. Those that saw us through. Farewell, dearest classmates, we must say adieu.” So we now are parting, from our high school dear, For our friends—-and teachers We now shed a tear. So at last we’re parting, Here’s a long, sad sigh. Farewell, dearest classmates, we must say “Goodbye.” Jeanne Urbanowski, ’37