Page 228 - 1968 WW

RETROSPECTION

Cliff Schoenberg

Joseph Addison, an emminent English writer, said. "I consider a human soul with- critical and questioning attitude, have, indeed, at least begun their education.
out education like marble in the c|uarry. which shows none of its inherent beauties These are the students who learned not to accept faithfully every doctrine that was
till the skill of the polisher fetches out the colors, makes the surface shine, and dis­ fed to them, without first engaging in a thorough examination of the ideas present­
covers every ornamental aloud, spot and vein that runs through the body of it.*' ed. It seems that people who ask themselves questions and search for the answers,
often experience disappointment and depression. Such was the case these last few
The major purpose, supposedly, of school is to educate - to develop students into years when some students realized things about their classmates, their friends, and
thinking, open-minded human beings. Have our teachers succeeded? This cannot about themselves that they had never known before. They learned about human
be answered by a simple yes or no. In some ways, they have failed. The prejudices, frailties - about indifference, intolerance, ignorance. But these same students were
with which many of us entered school, have not been destroyed and, to a large ex­ the ones who felt the exhilaration of finding very admirable qualities in those peo­
tent. have not even been attacked. Yes. we have been taught in what year Nathaniel ple they had wrongly thought empty or shallow. These students began to grow up-
Hawthorne wrote his first major work, how to conjugate verbs in a foreign lan­ to mature at Wilson H. S. because of their better insight into people’s natures and
guage. and the characteristics of inert gases. But have we been educated? Have we because of their better understanding of themselves. They realized that the world
been educated to the extent that we are capable of judging a man by his character does not revolve around self, and with this knowledge, they gained a more humane
and not by the color of his skin, or his religious beliefs? Have we learned to care attitude - caring about their fellow man and trying to help him. Indeed, friendship,
about our fellow man? Has Wilson H. S. instilled in us enough respexrl for our own took on a deeper meaning for these students. Friendship meant communication of
convictions that we are willing to stand up and fight for them? Thomas Henry Hax- ideas and feelings, mutual understanding and respect, and perhaps a little self-sac­
ley once said that, Perhaps the most valuable result of all education is the ability rifice. And they learned that a true friend is a very rare commodity - and they felt
to make yourself do the thing you have to do, when it ought to be done, whether lucky if tliey had gained but one. They became aware of the arduous task a teacher
you like it or not. Yet, how many of us can say that we have a set of values and we faces when he attempts to pry open student’s minds and break the chains of igno­
adhere to them even though it might mean not taking the easiest path? If you open rance. This realization blossomed into a great respect for those dedicated, gifted,
a newspaper and look at any front page, you are confronted with war, crime, fear, interested teachers, who stimulate the minds of many. They learned that flexibility
hatred and prejudice. Perhaps, if more people had had a more meaningful educa­ is a must in this rapidly changing world and they were better able to adjust to vary­
tion, these problems would not be as titanic and seemingly insoluble as they are ing circumstances and different people. Because of all this, they achieved self-re­
today. Nations are, after all. comprised of people. It logically follows that if people spect - a feeling that it is important to follow the dictates of conscience; to be right
are incapable of meaningful communication and lack understanding of their fellow rather than be popular. These students will be striving and searching their entire
man, then nations will continue to exist in mutual fear and distrust. lives - searching for truth, beauty, for meaning in life And this searching, I
guess, is what education is all about.
George Gissing, a noted English novelist said, and I concur that. "Education is a
thing of which only the few are capable, teach as you will, only a small percentage If each student graduating today has learned but one thing from his experiences in
will profit by your most zealous energy." And the same is true at Wilson. The situa­ school or from the mistakes he has made if each student graduating today car­
tion, though, is far from hopeless - for there does exist a significant number of stu­ ries with him the seed of an idea - an idea to make tomorrow’s world a better place
dents graduating today, who have developed in their school years, fertile, imagina­ in which to live, then the past 12 years have been worthwhile.
tive, thinking minds. These students, because of their broadmindedness, and their

EXPECTATIONS Stuart Bloom

The brilliant Mark Twain once said; "There is one thing that has struck me wherev­ back into the groove the same as everyone else. Real comfortable. The only ones
er I went; clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on socie­ who dare laugh at us are the hippies, and there are more of us than there are of
ty-'' them so there's really nothing to worry about. We’re pretty safe in this fortress of
gray flannel. Of course it presents a lot more problems - bringing home the bread
And so here we stand, about to embark on that great sea of torment and trouble, of for the family, making that last minute election choice, making it to the PTA meet­
peace and of happiness. The class of ’68 meets the world. But will we meet that ing, and arranging the carpool for the boyscouts. That’s not to mention meeting all
world fully clothed? Perhaps only half dressed. Perhaps naked. Will the class of ’68 of the bills and still having enough money left over for a new Chevy. That’s alot of
influence that society into which it enters? Perhaps only a little bit. Perhaps not at Problems, but there are advantages. You get to change out of the gray flannel suit.
all. You know what I mean. On Sunday afternoons all of us get to change into our Ber­
muda shorts and contrasting knit shirts, the ones with the little alligator on the
The youth of today are more concerned, better informed, and more active than the pocket.
youth of any previous generation. No other generation has so sharply changed the
policies of our universities. No other generation has raised such violent dissension You don’t particularly care for that attire? Perhaps we should dress down a little.
against a war which rules against its moral fiber. No other generation has caused Let’s step into some overalls. We’ll work at that machine for about forty-eight
such complete havoc on everything from hair lengths to communal premarital liv­ hours a week and then come home and worry about the bills and saving for the
ing to human equality. Many other generations have asked the questions, but no kids’ education and paying for the four year old Chevy in the driveway. The only
other has demanded the answers. What is patriotism in the era of the bomb? Just thing that keeps us in those overalls is the hope and prayer that the kids will have
what does the individual owe society? Flow long is an anti social hair? Flow short is something a little better, maybe one of those Brooks Brothers suits, whether they
an anti-social skirt? like it or not. After all, we've seen what the world is like and we have the answers.
And so now we, the class of ’68, are born. Born into this world where the climate is Still doesn’t appeal to you? Well how about a uniform? A nice blue or khaki uniform
one of questioning and rebellion. And naked come we into the world. "Naked peo­ with shiny buttons no decisions, no problems. Just do what the guy up front says
ple have little or no influence on society.” and everything will be all right. Forget about that sick relative and the girl back
home. You’ve got a job to do and you’ll do it. My country right or wrong, my coun­
Let us begin to dress. W hatcanw eexpecttow ear?A ndoncew epickoutthe try. You’re in the army now. Your rifle is your best friend. Kill or be killed but, heav­
clothes, will they fit? en forbid, don't stop and think - questions only complicate matters.
Shall we dress in wild colors and wear our hair long? Shall our love beads match Still doesn’t appeal to you? Maybe the class of '68 should try a combination. Yes. a
our flowered shirts? What color boots shall we choose? As soon as we put on these combination. For as we stand here naked, capped and gowned, yet naked, we must
clothes parents stare in disgust and teachers write down examples. LIFE magazine decide which path we’ll follow, which rivers we’ll cross, which clothes we’ll wear.
runs to do a story and a man named Leary holds a private ceremony of ordain- From out of the class of '68 will come lawyers and doctors, machinists and welders,
ment. The men who peddle their wares from a homemade laboratory smile at the plumbers and butchers, business executives and mailroom boys, teachers and min­
suckers and we all talk of love. We’re Flippies. We’ll proclaim our love for all hu­ isters, prostitutes and thieves. And the class of '68 will dress in everything from
manity and fight against war. We’ll run away to our private Utopia in Haight Ash­ black leather to gray flannel.
bury or Greenwich Village. All of our problems will be solved. We’ll live without re­
striction and without hate. Oh yes. just one problem - and that’s not bad - retiring So just what can we expect after 12 years of education? We can expect each man
from a world of problems in exchange for only one. Just where is that next puff of and woman here to walk that path, good or bad, which he has chosen. He may
marijuana, or is it a shot of heroine, or perhaps a sugar cube with some extra add­ stumble and fall, but he’ll keep going until he has left some minute mark in his
ed flavor, coming from? Isn't it wonderful to live without care or hate. Isn’t love a world of minute marks. He’ll wear the clothes he’s chosen but here, today, he’ll
beautiful thing? For a couple of hours anyhow. have the choice to change those clothes.
Hold on. That whole thing doesn’t sound exactly right to me. Let’s try on some dif­ "Naked people have little or no influence on society.”
ferent clothes. Ah yes, A beautiful Brooks’ Brothers gray flannel suit. IT’s just like The class of '68 is about to get dressed.
Bill’s and Tom’s and Dick’s and Bob’s. Why everyone's got one. It feels good to slide