Ilion High School - Class of 1943

Ilion Sentinel - June 27, 1943

We Must Put Our Own House In Order Newsman Warns Grads

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We Must Put Our Own House In Order Newsman Warns Grads

The 99 Ilion high school graduates who received diplomas from Mrs. Genevieve Mack, president of the Board of Education, at commencement exercises at the Capitol Theatre Tuesday evening, heard Don Bate, news-writer and foreign correspondent, who described himself as a working newspaper man, tell them that they were doing a magnificent job" in helping to get their elders out of a "mess" which was not on their making. Proof of that was evident in the number of diplomas earned by class members already to the service and by the number of girls scheduled to start on jobs almost as commencement was over.

From his background of contacts and experience, speaking on the topic, "After the War-What Then?", Mr. Bate sketched broadly what he felt would be the likely outlines of post-war settlement pointing out the role which both China and Russia would play and remarking that some means of re-education must be employed in order that the intelligence and abilities of the German people can be used for their own and their neighbors' welfare.

"Put your own house in order", he warned, speaking of the United States. "We must secure actual, real, working democracy in this country and must present a democratic pattern to the world if we are to escape the sneers and contempt which will be leveled at us it we fail and we must do this if we are to assume the position of leadership which will be offered us." We must make an end to race, religious and class intolerance if we are "to repay those youths who are playing a much greater part in this war than most realize." To the youth, he suggested the most practical and simple way to accomplish this. "Elect good men to public office; cross party lines; don't "listen to their campaign speeches, but find out what they stand for. And again he emphasized, "we must cleanse our house now . . . , and . . . We must do it by work".

Cash prizes for outstanding work in various subjects were awarded as follows:

English, Wilma Browning, first; Shirley Pett, second;
mathematics, Joan Hawes and William Billington;
history, William Billington and Claire Crump;
latin, Rudolph Backman and Elizabeth Thorn;
french, Joan Hawes and Shirley Pett;
science, Howard Morse and Donald Smith;
commercial, Camilla Jarvis and Rita Anderson, and
Industrial arts, Hirman Skinner and Harry Sutherland.

The Peters prize awarded to the outstanding school citizens so noted by the class, was given this year to memory of Madeline Peters, by her husband, Ralph Peters and went to Margaret Morris and Eldon Dibble.

Other prizes;
shorthand two years and transcription. $2.50, Camilla Jarvis;
mechanical drawing, two years, $2.50, Harry Sutherland;
American History, Legion Auxiliary, $2.50, Bernard Duval;
dramatics, $2.50. John Gilmartin;
RPI medal, Morse;
Bausch and Lomb medal, Morse;
Stone & Luke scholarship cup, class of 1945;
Becker College commercial pin, Camilla Jarvis;
Varsity Club cup, Louis Sheffield, and
Lever Cup, George Sporer.

Other parts on the program included the invocation and benediction by the Rev. Fred W. Ainslie; the salutatory, "Present Day Education," by Joan Hawes; the valedictory, "Education After This War," Shirley Pett, and selections by the High School Band and High School Choir.