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

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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

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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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3U THE HIGH SCHOOL HEKALI) VALEDICTORY Tonight as we appear before you we might well be called the youth of today; tomorrow ' s men and women. But as long as we live we should remember to keep the spirit of youth ever present in us. Think how wonderful it would be if every one in the world today kept this spirit! Perhaps judges could be more understanding when delinquents are on trial; perhaps teachers could be just a little more-lenient with boys who seem to be sick just when fishing season opens; perhaps parents could better cope with the many important prob¬ lems facing their adolescents. Wordsworth once said: Bliss was it in that dawn to be alive, but to be young was very heaven! This has been proved true over and over again, even by you yourselves. How many times can you remember saying Oh to be young again. Even from history we can recall Ponce deLeon ' s quest for an eternal fountain of youth. If youth then is such an envied period in life, cannot people in some way re-capture it? Of course, and the answer is simply this —keep young in spirit. Granted that time must pass, and we must age in years, yet our spirit can forever remain young. What are the rules? You will find them in no encyclopedia, no dictionary, nor in any reference book, for it is the individual himself who determines them. Perhaps we could state one general rule; Live life, every golden minute of it. An outstanding example of this is a man known to almost everyone; namely, A1 Jolson. Throughout his life he spread happiness everywhere with his songs. Jolson had the power to make an audience feel just what he was singing, whether it be his rendition of Mammy or California Here 1 Come. He could .not have done this, had he not been young in spirit, for we know for a fact that even in the worst of times, when the going was toughest, he gave his best performance. Al Jolson has passed away now, but his youthful spirit and zest will long be remembered in our hearts. Why then cannot we remain forever young in heart, doing for others, doing for ourselves? Ambition, position, success—all can be attained, if we strive hard enough; but happiness, peace, contentment are the secrets cf true success. Classmates, as I bid you farewell, I hope that you, too, will always remember to keep young in spirit as you go on through life. May you have all the success and happiness that life may hold, and may God bless you all. Alice Marconi ' 52 r. r, I l l l I i l i l l CNI CO Page