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

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28 THE HIGH SCHOOL HEKALI) The home gives us the opportunity to have that close relationship between parents and youth, and without that relationship, all other opportunities will be of little avail. The home is where one first learns right from wrong. Good homes and wise parents are necessary in order for the youth of today to grow up to be good, outstanding Americans. The church teaches practical religion—a religion which will become a part of the child ' s every day life. The church has the task of gaining the confidence of the youth and getting them to attend church regularly. The church also shows the youth that they will be happy when they follow the ideas and teachings of a particular faith. To sum this up, the church plays a very important part in guiding the youth of today not only through its religious program but by its social activities, also. Schools teach us to interpret the facts for ourselves in order that they may be used for the benefit of that society which we shall some day lead. They also teach us to cope with present-day life. Furthermore, the schools of our nation should accomplish two things in training the children of today to take their places in society: X. They must cultivate not only the higher faculties but the youth ' s conscience. 2. They must mold the character of the rising generation on the lasting principles of duty and humanity. We have many more opportunities in the field of education today than we have ever had before. There are thousands of preparatory schools, commercial schools, and colleges to help in the training of the youth for the jobs that they hope to perform in the future. In conclusion, I would like to summarize these ideas by saying that without the environment cf the home, the guidance of the church, and the training of the schools, the youth of today would not be given these numerous advantages and opportunities which make America a better place in which to live. Remember that there is a silver lining, but our duty is to look for it. Patricia Logan ' 52 THF YOUTH OF YESTERDAY AND THE YOUTH OF TODAY Little does the youth of today realize the advantages he has over the youth of yesterday. He excels him in almost every walk of life, especially in education, in work, and in entertainment. Even in Colonial New England, the Puritans believed strongly in education. At first, in most colonies there was little regular teaching of the children. The small boys and girls learned the three R ' s at home, or under the guidance of some good housewife, but there were no formal schools. In these early days the men were too busy making homes and providing food for their families to think of education, but in the hearts ' ' ' r ' , r r f ! I I I 1 I I I J PageD U

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J J J J J J J J J J I i J J J 1 1 THE HIGH SCHOOL HERALD 27 First, there are many things that play an important part in our lives, such as intelligence, education, personality, and ambition. Not one of these traits, or a com¬ bination of all of them, is of much value without foundation of a good character. An employer may find us brilliant, willing and learned, but without stability and strength of character we are undesirable prospects for employment. He must have someone of stable character whom he can depend upon at all times, and of strong character who will have the moral firmness to resist temptations in his work, and the courage to carry on to the best of his ability. Now let us take the social side of our lives—education, culture, appearance, and even money are very desirable assets to our social success, but again character is the fundamental trait. If we are sincere and loyal to our family and friends, and have the courage to stand by them even when they are faced with danger or failure, then the love, trust, and loyalty we give them will be returned and m ake for us a full and happy life. To me this is a successful life, for true success reaps the satisfaction and contentment that comes with the knowledge that a person has done his best. Therefore, to obtain success in the fullest sense of the word throughout our lives, no matter what other qualifications we may possess, remember that character is what we need most! Personality, education, ambition, and brains will attract both social and business acquaintances for a time, but there must be something beneath all this to hold them. Lack of character is something that cannot be concealed very long, for as Abraham Lincoln once said, You can fool some of the people some of the time, and all of the people some of the time: but you can ' t fool all the people all of the time . Rita Cousineaij ' 52 OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE YOUTH OF TODAY All Roads Lead To Rome”. The question that is in the mind of each member of this graduating class is Which road are we best suited for? The answer to this question lies within ourselves. Whatever our undertaking in life may be, we must have ambition and guidance to be a success, and with the many opportunities around us in 1952, there is very little excuse for failure. Over and over again, we have heard adults remark that things were different when they were children. Children didn ' t get into trouble as they do today. That has been the cry for ages, and in all probability, the present-day child will say the same in the years to come. The only difference between today and yesterday is the fact that through modern means of communication, the cases have been brought into the open. As we consider these questions of our day, we come to the conclusion that there are three institutions that should be concerned with ycuth. They are the home, the church, and the school. CNI Page

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J J J J J ; j j j j i j j j j j j THE HIGH SCHOOL HERALD 29 of our forefathers was a deep-seated reverence for education, and soon they began to build school houses. More education was given to boys but very little was considered necessary for girls. Rather than send their sons to Europe f:r higher education, the Puritans founded their own grammar schools, academies, and colleges, such as the Boston Latin School in 1635 and Harvard in 1636. But families had to be wealthy to send their children there, and one could not work his way through then as now. Education is the responsibility of the state and today is free to everyone, rich or poor. In fact, we feel it is so vital to the well-being of cur democracy that we have compulsory school laws. Eurthermore, contrast the wide range of subjects offered today in the school curric¬ ulum with the rather limited choice of subjects in the early academies and colleges. Also note the difference in the modern, we 11-equipped classrooms of today with the old-fashioned, one-room school houses of days gone by. Truly the student of today has many more educational advantages than the youth cf earlier times. Like wise in work opportunities there are many more advantages. After the Civil War there was much immigration to America, and large industrial plants developed which used unskilled child labor to such an alarming degree that there was a general demand for more stringent laws regulating the employment of children and providing for their education. States passed truancy acts, but society had to cope with the ignorant and unscrupulous parents willing to impo-e improper burdens and even hardships upon their children for financial profit, and with the greedy employer who was anxious to avail himself of the cheap labor obtainable through the employment of children. Thus you can see how the youth cf today has many advantages in fair em¬ ployment practices over the youth of yesterday. The first settle rs in Colonial New England because of their Puritan training were rather strict in the entertainment then provided. What they called entertainment in that day was closely related to their community and religious life and activities. On the other hand, in the Southern part of the United States the people gave balls in their elaborate mansions, had afternoon teas, and entertained socially on a very large scale. Our entertainment or leisure time activities today can be many and varied. Not only can we have parties, dances and similar forms of entertainment, but the invention of the motion picture, the radio, and television serve as a means of entertainment as well as broaden our knowledge. Yes, little does the ycuth of today realize bis many advantages over the youth of yesterday. In education, in work opportunities, or in entertainment, who among you would wish to change places with the youth of yesterday? Anna Danyluk ' 52 CO Page