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

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THE HIGH SCHOOL HERALD 23 obtain an education by travel, for America is rich in natural beauty as well as numerous places of historic or literary interest. Furthermore, many sections in America resemble foreign lands and give almost the same pleasure as traveling abroad; yet, one remains under the security of our own flag. The West Indies, for example, the first settled part of this hemisphere—in fact, the only part of America where Columbus set foot, reminds one of old Spain in a good many ways—the congenial, happy inhabitants, their music and customs, even the old Spanish streets. Then Morida, also, reminds one of foreign lands. As one writer describes it, This is a land where everybody goes, but one that almost nobody knows.” There is a part of Morida which is not known to the health-hunter and play-seeker. This part is southern Morida, which is rich in natural beauty and wild life. Ponce de Leon entered the forest here while seeking the Fountain of Youth. The Tamiami Trail is the only road which the traveler, who wishes to study the beauties cf the flowers, trees, and animals in the swamps, may use. The human inhabitants of the interior of southern Florida blend with its untamed atmosphere, for the Seminoles are the only American Indians who have never, since the end of hostilities, signed a formal treaty with the United States Government. There are many more places as interesting and beautiful as these mentioned, and right around us, too. Let us, then, all seek to continue our own education and to broaden our minds by traveling through America at every opportunity with eyes open to appre¬ ciate its beauties, and mind alert to understand and sense its greatness. In this year which through world conditions will force many to travel in America, let us join with the poet in appreciating, not only the scenic wonders but the ideals and principles upon which this great country was founded. O beautiful for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain, For purple mountain majesties Above the fruited plain! America! America! God shed His grace on thee, And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea!” Justine Ann Ferrari, ’40. HOBBIES What can one do during his spare time? This is the question asked by millions of people today. We have more leisure time than ever before because of the shorter work¬ ing day and the prevailing custom of the longer week-end. Therefore, the problem at the present is what can we do to fill this time that is usually wasted. First of all there are many different sports we can engage in. Then there is music, reading, painting, gardening, poetry, and other such hobbies that would help us to forget the worries of the day which steadily follow us, and also help us to get acquainted with subjects and fields of interest other than our regular vocations. Furthermore, the mass of people think that when school days are over, the interest in learning stops, but the pursuit of some worthy hobby makes a person anxious to study and add to his information along the line of this pastime until he finds he is actually- enlarging and adding to his general education. LD CM Page

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THE HIGH SCHOOL HERALD GRADUATION NIGHT PROGRAM ▼ SALUTATORY COOPERATION Classmates, Members of the Board of Education, Teachers, Parents, and Friends: On behalf of the Class of 1940, I welcome you to these graduation exercises. The time has come to bid good-by to our high school days, though the memory of them will always remain near and dear to us. From the beginning of our school days, twelve years ago, we learned that coopera¬ tion was one of the keys to success. Where would people be today if they had not learned to cooperate with others? Schools cannot advance, business cannot profit, and people cannot survive without cooperation which is a vital part of the problem of living today. The way in which people cooperate with others depends often upon the previous education they have received. When they were young, their parents taught them to share their toys with their playmates. Thus they were learning then to share their things with others. When they went to school, they cooperated with the teachers and their schoolmates. Therefore, when they were ready to take their place in the world, they were capable of helping, sharing, and cooperating with others. On the other hand, a person who has not been taught to share his work and pleasures with others will not be so well able to cooperate with the world when he leaves his school and tries to become a success at his chosen field of occupation. In school, because of the close relationship between teachers and pupils in their classroom work as well as in extra curricular activities, there is plenty of opportunity to practice cooperation. Another excellent way to learn to cooperate in school is by par¬ ticipating in scholastic sports. In games, a player must work with the other players in order to be victorious, for if the players do not work together, they will be playing separ¬ ate games instead of working as a team. Therefore, in order to cooperate, one must participate and help instead of looking on. Industry today would be a total loss if there were no teamwork in the factory, for everyone’s work depends upon the labor of his fellow worker. The employer must also cooperate with his workers. If he works with them, they will produce better material and will be ready to do anything that may help their employer. With all the ”isms” of the world today, democracies must stand together and help each other or they will perish into an ism. Democratic people are happier, better fed, better clothed, and better housed than the oppressed under such government as Nazism, Fascism, and Communism. If we are to stamp out such isms” and make this world a better place, we will have to learn to cooperate with other nations in our trade relations, in our foreign policy, standing for justice and tolerance, and showing sharp disapproval of those countries whose actions are a menace to the ideals of modern civilization. Elizabeth A. Bellingeri, ’40. EDUCATION THROUGH TRAVEL Travel is such an interesting way to obtain or complete an education. Each country offers new sights and new experiences, and adds volumes to one’s store of information. To millions of travelers a sea voyage is a thrilling experience in itself, now that ships are built to provide every luxury. It is not at all necessary, however, to go abroad to CM Page

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THE HIGH SCHOOL HERALD For instance, during our high school days we were made to read pieces of literature such as Ivanhoe and The Tale of Tu o Cities. It never dawned on us then to see the advantage of this, but now during our leisure moments we have more time and inclina¬ tion to continue this vast and worth-while reading program because we realize that there are many good books to read besides the rather cheap and showy type of novels which after awhile grow tiresome to even the most avid reader. Even in science or other similar studies, the love for research, or photography, or agriculture can be developed from what first started as a simple hobby. Many people have become prominently known as a result of some hobby which became essential in their life. ,, , Thus, if people are fortunate enough to be interested in some hobby, they may become so absorbed that they will actually consider it as a life work. Composing music, writing, painting, and gardening have often proved to be more than mere hobbies for individuals who have started them simply as leisure-time interests. What often makes one first interested in such hobbies? Education is the answer. Perhaps way back in school at sometime the spark of interest for stamp collecting was kindled, or for photography, or writing, or sports. Then after school days and formal education had stopped, that interest continued until one individual through the pursuit of some hobby has become an authority on antiques, or photography, or ancient coins. Thus as we have indicated in our class motto. Non Confectus sed Initus, commence¬ ment is not the end but the beginning of our education. It is just the start of our prepa¬ ration for the numerous interests of life. Rose Marie Massaro, ' 40. VALEDICTORY ACCEPTING OUR CIVIC RESPONSIBILITIES Four years’ work well done—but just how well. This is one of the many questions coming into our minds this evening. To answer it, we must examine both the past and the future. We may well be proud of the knowledge which we have acquired, but the great question, after all, is not so much wh at we possess but how we are going to use what we have. The young man or woman graduating from school today faces conditions entirely new; ones which a few years ago would have seemed impossible. All over the world there is an undercurrent of restlessness, of suspicion, and of willingness to take advan¬ tage of the weak. A state of war exists in practically every part of the world, except in the Western Hemisphere; our only hope, at present, is that in the future our beloved land can remain apart from any entangling alliances. With these frightful conditions facing the graduate of today, his chief concern is to do all that he possibly can to pro¬ mote peace and good-will in this war-torn world. These young people sense this discord lying all around them; they know that there is something basically wrong—but what is wrong? That is the question that confronts them. Can it be that people are losing sight of one of the fundamental duties in life that of owing allegiance to their country and of being unprejudiced citizens, anxious to further world fellowship? If that is the case, undoubtedly the underlying cause is that people, in general, do not fully realize the requirements of a good citizen. First of all, a good citizen must be self reliant and trustworthy, for it is upon the principle of self reliance that the impulse to establish the relations of men upon a broader and better civic foundation springs. A citizen must also be loyal to his country ; this CN Page