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

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I I J J J r j j J j r j j j j j j r THE HIGH SCHOOL HERALD 27 Graduation Night Program SALUTATORY OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE GRADUATE Parents, teachers, members of the board of education, and friends: I would like to welcome you here tonight. We all know that without your help we would not be graduating tonight and so we express our thanks. It is generally agreed that young people have a better chance to succeed in America than in any other country, and for that reason we of the graduating class should be thankful. Tonight as we leave school, many of us plan to go on to places of higher learning, or perhaps some of us may even be employed by Uncle Sam, but the majority of us will probably seek employment in business, industry, the mechanical trades. First let us consider prospects or chances for young people now-a-days. We realize of course that most of the better jobs require a college education or some sort of specializ-ed training. Thus it behooves us to get as much education as possible. In our country we have the advantage of free public education from the first grade to the senior year in high school. Then for those boys and girls who are not happy in academic high schools, our bigger school systems offer trade schools in which the boy or girl can learn some useful occupation. No matter in which state one lives, from a small state like Rhode Island to a large state like Texas, a young person can find a school to fit his needs. Scholarships are offered by the majority of the colleges to further encourage the brilliant student of moderate circumstances to continue his education. Also, some schools offer athletic scholarships to boys who have exceptional ability in sports. Thus if a pupil really wishes to further his edu¬ cation after high school, there are many opportunities of which he may take advantage. After the student has graduated from high school, what then? The graduate starts looking for a job. What types of work are open? There are the professions, but these require special schooling or a college degree. Another field of opportunity is the business world. There are many branches in this field; such as advertising, journalism, designing and secretarial work. One other line of work attractive to high school graduates is that of the skilled laborer who does such jobs as masonry, carpentry, and plumbing. This type of work also requires some special training. Therefore, to succeed in any field every kind of job requires training and the chance for employment and steady advance in the job. Where else but in this great country of ours is there such opportunity for young people to work and get ahead! Not one country can equal ours. At this time of stress, we should all learn to appreciate our country all the more. If we ever started to count the great opportunities we all have, young and old here in America, we would never have the time to complain about the petty faults and injustices of life. Rather, let us all thank God for our great country, the Land of Opportunity. Constance Drumm 31 as CM Page

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2(5 THE HIGH SCHOOL HERALD r r CAN YOU IMAGINE f [ Neil Daniel. Manager of the First National r Frances Dombrowski ....Having Long Blonde Hair Billy Whitten .-.A Midget ■ Connie Drumm .....Head Nurse at Hartford Hospital Billy Fitzpatrick Owner of Park Chevrolet [ Alma Rodelli. .Not a Cheerleader Ray Ermellini ......1..Not a Good Basketball Player f Mickey Hancock ......A Teacher Nancy Shaughnessy... .Failing a Subject 1 Rita Richard. Not Liking a Buick r Joan Sheehan ..-.....Worrying I Marilyn Fields. . . ..Having Black Hair Joan Quagliaroli. .President of Kaman Aircraft r Claire Hayden.. . Not Being Quiet [. Bobby Kulas. .An Alegbra Teacher at W.L.H.S. Donald Quagliaroli .....Playing the Part of Macbeth r Ellsworth Case. Teacher of Freshman English 1. Joan Clee. .A Giant Matt Wezowicz. .Talking a Blue Streak r Dave Ulitsch. A Television Crooner 1. Shirley Colombi. . .A Famous Ballerina Susan Cutler -- .Congresswoman r Frances Grochmal. ....„..A Famed Lecturer 1, Gladys Dymon.. Owner of the Windsor Locks Lumber Co. Marion Kupec.. .Head of a Travel Bureau r Mary Netolicky. .Singing Carmen” 1, Claire Riggott .Playing on the Redheads Dot Manning .A Lady Wrestler r Margaret Silk. Driving at Break-neck Speed I, Betty Taravella. .Yeoman in the WAVES Shirley Walters .Head Accountant at Aetna r Dolores Vaitukaitis... ....Replacing Judith Anderson as Lady Macbeth 1, r r 00 CM Page

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28 THE HIGH SCHOOL HEKALI) FIFTY YEARS OF CHANGE Graduates of 1951 are today reaping the benefits of the progress made in the first half of this twentieth century. Only a few will be fortunate enough to live to see the next century, but many of these graduates will have a share in the building and shaping of the progress in the next fifty years. Thus we hope that we of this generation will assume our responsibilities and do as well if not better than those of past generations in advancing the arts, the sciences, the humanities, and the policies of our government. Let us consider the great changes made in the relatively short course of fifty years. Today we may safely say that 1900 was the turning point to a modern era. We are all familiar with the inventions which have made life easier and more greatly enjoyed by the masses—radio, movies, television, plastics and synthetics, electronics and more advanced methods of transportation. The entire structure of labor and capital which once made the rich man richer and the poor man poorer has changed. Today, through legislation, many laws pro¬ vide for the protection, health, and safety of a worker. Some of the greatest changes in labor laws have been in those which concern minor children and their employ¬ ment. For centuries, it had been customary for a child to be hired out for a term of years for little more than his keep in order that he might learn a trade. This period was called an apprenticeship and the system afforded some protection to the young worker because seldom were they apprenticed until sixteen years of age and then they were kept in close contact with the employer who was expected to look after their welfare. With the introduction of the factory system, working conditions became most unfavorable to the young employees, some of whom were only five years old and who worked from sunrise to dark. Early in the nineteen hundreds, legislation was passed which generally prohibited child labor. Now most stores reejuire that chil¬ dren attend full time school until sixteen years of age. Another great improvement since the early part of the century has been made in transportation. Our elders will no doubt remember when a trip to a neighboring city was an all-day outing. The roads were not well paved and the early automobiles were hardly more satisfactory than Old Dobbin and the carriage. Now in a matter of a few hours, we may be carried from one city to another in the luxurious splendor of a streamlined plane. Also, the farmer’s life was once a weary round of duty, day after day. Now, because of the great strides in the manufacture of modern farm machinery and equip¬ ment, his life, too, has become less dreary and full of toil. Furthermore, improved manufacturing and merchandising methods have en¬ abled the common worker to secure a higher standard of living. Mass production has proved that the more goods you produce, the less it costs to produce them. The more wages people earn, the greater becomes their buying power. Thus th : s eco¬ nomic law has proved that it pays better to produce the same sort of food, clothing, and equipment for everyone than to produce luxury items for the few and third-rate goods for the masses. i r [ I I r r r r o co Page