Woodbury High School - Warrior Yearbook (Woodbury, CT)

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 Commencement ibbresses; Valedictory Essay The History and the Value of the Science of Mathematics Sidney S. Platt Mathematics is a science which deals with magnitudes, quantities, numbers, and their rela- »» tions. As long ago as Three Thousand, B. C., the Egyptians knew a great deal about mathematics. Many of their methods, to be sure, were cumbersome, but Arithmetic, Algebra and Geometry were all understood, to some extent. The Babylonians, too, knew something of the science, and they made use of it in their study of Astronomy. The Greeks worked out a theory of numbers, but they were chiefly interested in Geometry, and they left little to be discovered in that field. Although the Romans made little contribution, the Hindus and Arabs developed to a creditable degree. Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, and even Astronomy. It is not fair to give the Arabs credit for our modern system of numbers, as is usually done, for the Hindus invented it, and the Arabs merely borrowed it. The results of this Oriental study were carried to Spain, by the Arabs, and in a short time, Europe began to take an interest in mathematics. The Renaissance gave new birth to Mathematics, and from this time forth development of the science was fairly rapid. Descartes, who lived in the seventeenth century, made elementary Algebra practically what it is today. Other great names in the history of mathematics are those of Kepler, whose contributions to Geometry were epoch-making; Newton and Leibinitz, who practically remade higher mathematics, by their discovery of the principles of Calculus. Though the work of these masters left little to be done in regard to the fundamental theories and principles of mathematics, these later centuries, have been by no means idle. They have evolved many new methods and applications, some very difficult, and beyond the reach of any but scholars; others, which have as their object the simplifying of the lower branches of the science. The invention of the Arabic numerals was one of the very first steps in simplification. In order to appreciate this fact, just try to keep your accounts in Roman numerals. Any one who has studied Geography, Physics, or Astronomy knows that he has had much use for mathematics. He knows, too, that he has used numbers, not as abstract things with no connection to the concrete afairs of life, but, rather, as a means of finding out certain very definite facts. This phase of mathematics which considers theories and principles, only as they are related to the material world, is known as Applied Mathematics.” Pure Mathematics treats of theories and principles for their own sake.” The student who masters the multipication table is studying Pure Mathematics; it makes no difference to him whether he is considering grains of sand or the solar system, for two times eight makes sixteen, in either case. The tendency at the present time is to make mathematics, as studied in the schools, more practical and to give problems which have a definite relation to the life of the pupil. There are two principle values of mathematics, as encountered in school, namely; the practical values, and the mental values. Most of us spend our time working, earning money, with which to buy merchandise of one variety or another. In buying, a knowledge of mathematics is not only practical, but essential, if one does not wish to be cheated. This incident, from my own experience, is offered in illustration. Once there lived in my neighborhood, a woman, who knew nothing of mathematics. She went to the market to buy some meat. She took the meat, and paid one cent to the clerk. She then stood waiting for some change. The meat man, who knew something of mathematics, told her she hadn’t given him enough money. Some clerks, knowing her deficiency would have taken advantage of her. More people than you imagine, are in a similar plight. Of what use is mathematics in training the mind? Mathematics, because of its being pure logic, stripped of all sentiment and prejudice, stands out as a fine subject with which to train the mind. Common sense and observation tell us that something worth while does happen to the boy who uses his mental powers methodically and vigorously. He is forming a habit of thinking in an orderly fashion. Is there another habit more valuable? Page Fourteen

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 HELEN ELIZABETH TRAVERS HELEN” Who does all things well.” A. A. (1), (2), (3), (4). Basketball (1), (2), (3), (4). Captain Basketball (4). Third Prize, Essay Contest (1). Athletic Editor Wide Awake (2). Glee Club (2) , (3). Junior-Prom Committee (3). President Nature Club (3). Dramatic Club (3). Dance Committee (3) . Waitress F. F. A. Banquet (3). Chairman Prom Committee (4). Class Secretary (4). Operetta Cast (4) . Senior Party Committee(4). Mirror Staff (4). Honor Roll Committee (4). Class Will (4). The girl with the telephone smile in her voice. If everyone had played basketball the way she did, no other team would have had a chance. The Mirror profited by her literary ability. Dances would not have been successful, had she not been on the committees. We know a certain Senior who has waxed athletic and acquired a taste for dancing, in order to gain her interest. Grammar school pupils are due to learn a great deal from Helen. ALIDA LUISE WARNER LIDA” Teach not thy lips such scorn, for they were made For kissing lady, not for such contempt.” A. A. (1), (2), (3), (4). Basketball (1), (2), (3), (4). Class Treasurer (1), (3), (4). Nature Club (3). Dramatic Club (3). Dance Committee (3). Boys just wilt when Alida comes on to the scene, yet we notice that there is always a group of would-be-admirers around her desk. All the Litchfield hills are swept” in her skiing escapades. She excels in all sports. She likes to collect souvenirs too, so if she is ever your doctor, watch out, or she’ll take something to dismember you by.” REGINALD PAUL WITTEK REG” The maidens prayed”— Class Marshall for the Class of 1931 (3). Class President (4). And look what happened! We have to look up to Reg, not qnly because he is so tall, or because he’s our Class President, but because he deserves it. If you’re undecided about anything, go to him, and watch him look you straight in the eye while he tells you what’s right. An able leader in class activities, it’s no wonder we place him at its head. Even the front seat of the school bus is reserved for him, but that’s another matter. You know— The brave deserve the fair and The fair deserve the brave ” Page Thirteen « ■«•I

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 Finally, the non-partisanship and the permanence of mathematics should be emphasized. Mathematical studies are free from all prejudices, passions, sentiments, and feelings. Democratic mathematics is the same as Republican, Methodist mathematics is the same as Catholic, and Chinese mathematics is the same as American. Ruclid’s theorems are as true now in English as they ever were in Greek. The fundamental ideas and rules of procedure in mathematics are the same yesterday, today, and forever. Mathematics will endure forever, for, in the words of Kepler, The Laws of Nature are the mathematical thoughts of God.” Classmates: This business of saying farewells, is at all times a sad one. There is, added to the sorrow of parting, a tinge of jealousy of those who have yet another year within the walls of High School. We have long looked forward to this night, but it seemed far distant. Now that we’re actually graduating we feel reluctant to leave the shelter of school and go forth, into what seems to be another world. To the faculty we wish to express our appreciation for their kindness to us. We charge the present and future students of Woodbury High School, to continue to uphold the high traditions of the school, so that, in later years we may point to it with pride and say: That is our school.” In return, let us all strive for success, to the best of our ability, so that our school may be proud of us. And now, farewell, and stand fast! SALUTATORY ESSAY Oscar Lovdal Members of the School Board, Supervisor, Faculty, Parents and Friends of the Class of 1932; We welcome you to these, our graduation exercises. We assure you, that it is largely through your efforts that we are able to have these exercises tonight, and we thank you. The Importance and Development of Forestry. When the Colonists first came to America, they found here, forests, unequalled in any part of the globe. Yet, instead of being a help, as the forests are to us today, they were a continuous menace. Forests covered the land needed for the raising of crops and they harbored Indians and wild beasts of equal ferocity. To these early settlers the supply of timber seemed endless and it is not to be wondered at that they cleared the forests ruthlessly, with little or no thought for the future. Today we know that forests are vital to a nation’s existence. Let us consider a few things that forests do for us, in order that we may realize how important they really are. In the first place, wood from forests is used in structural work, and in this work no good substitute for wood has been discovered. Steel and cement, which are replacing timber in the building of bridges, require a vast amount of lumber for their manufacture and transportation. Enough sawed lumber is used in the United States every year, to make a board walk, three feet wide, and extending six times around the world. This does not include the amount of timber used for fuel or in paper making. One daily paper in New York consumes no less than twenty-five acres of spruce forests for each of its Sunday editions. These are direct uses of forests and even if it were possible to do without these, it would prove even more difficult to dispense with the indirect uses. Secondly, forests are necessary at the headwaters of streams. The trees break the force of the rain drops, and the forest floor, acting like a large sponge, absorbs rainfall and prevents runoff floods. The Spring uprising of the Mississippi, Missouri and Ohio rivers is due largely to the lack of forests at their headwaters. The third important influence of forests is that which they exert upon the climate of the country. Large bodies of timber land tend to make the climate more moderate. It is often noted that it is warmer in Winter in the forests than it is outside in the open field, while in the summer, the reverse is true. For a long time, scientists in this country would not accept the theory that forests had any influence on rainfall. Recent investigations have proven quite conclusively, however, that rains in the interior of Continental America are dependent, to a large degree, upon the presence of large bodies of timber, standing in the track of prevailing winds. The fourth reason why it is necessary that forests be maintained is in order that birds and animals may continue to live in them. If the birds are killed, insect attacks increase almost immediately. Lastly, the value of forests as health resorts must be considered. Statistics prove that the condition of sixty per cent of the tuberculosis patients going to the Adirondack mountains is vastly improved. .in ufun » .f n ........... r i n P r i i - i ‘ Page Fifteen