Our Job: To know the etymon of a word is undoubtedly the best aid to the correct use of it, hence the study of etymology. In many cases, the long and frequent use of common words has obscurred the deep significance of them. One of these is the word education. Latinists know that we get the word education from the Latin verb educere, meaning "to lead out or to draw out;" and we have come to use it in defining the system of "training the moral and intellectual faculties the developing of personality." Education is effected, therefore, when the seeds of possibility within the person are warmed by the sun of awakening influences, and watered by the gentle showers of helpful criticism; this brings forth the admirable plant of original thought and action, blossoming with the flower of success.
Lift Your Aim: When we think of the Junior Exhibition, along with most every contest, we are prone to think only of the prize as if it were the primary aim but is this true?... No, the Junior Exhibition will not be the aim or the end of using this ability. The prize will not be the only motive for competing. This is a point of departure and not a goal in life. The prize winners will not stop here because of success The cheerful losers will not stop here because of failure. This is but the first rung in the ladder, and whether in is win or lose, in this contest, it will be one step upward to a destined goal for each one; for are not these but the school-days of life?
New Thoughts: How humiliating it would be if we could not discard old thoughts for new ones! How contrary to human nature! After a thought you can see how many changes come over the thoughts and actions of a human being in a lifetime. No doubt, the most rapid changes are made in the younger days.
Life's Impulse: The person who sprightly vacates the alluring comforts of a warm bed at this time of the year and ventures out upon the adventures of the day must have either a head empty or a head full. The latter, however, is the condition more worthy of study. Everybody knows the case of the former class; they never do things very much by reason. But the intelligent person, although ruled over somewhat by his physical senses, is able to reason and determine. You can always depend on him for a reason for his conduct. This sort of person would tell you that he made his brisk stir in the morning because the day, for him, was full of expectations. In the first place, he got ready for breakfast expecting that someone would have it ready. Perhaps, on the way to school, he expected to have a chat with someone who always has a good word; a smile, or a joke for everybody. At school, he anticipated the welcoming smile of a classmate or instructor. By the help of kindness from another, he intended to solve some perplexity. And so the story goes, from one expectation to another. Would you debate the question of getting up any morning if your day were to be like that?
Christmas: That day of holly, presents, glittering decorations and excitement. Christmas will soon be here, now, with all its joyful anticipation and good cheer. will hold the attention of the civilized world for a little while and then it will be forgotten until next year at this same time. But shouldn't we hesitate during all this celebration and ask ourselves just what we are commemorating? Then it may be that we will see something that we did not see before that we are honoring the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ in the little town of Bethlehem, in Palestine, just one thousand nine hundred and twenty-four years ago. Thus, we hope that with all the joy and pleasure shown at this glorious time of year, a little room may be left for the reverence we ought to show, for this day of days. The Oracle Board wishes to extend their best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to the faculty and students of Bangor High school, to our alumni, subscribers and advertisers and to our exchanges and readers, wherever they may be.
Thanksgiving: This month's Oracle is not only the football number but also the Thanksgiving number. To many of us young people, when we think of Thanksgiving, the thought uppermost in our mind is that November dinner, which comes only once a year. A family reunion is planned, and after days of hustle and preparation the hour approaches and then after a merry meal together, with fun afterwards, each goes his own way again for another year. But to some it is different. To them be-ongs the real joy of Thanksgiving Day. They, too, may have a family get-together with a big dinner, but they have also, provided for, and made some other family, who are not so fortunate, happy with gifts of food and clothing. And when they gather around the table a prayer of thankfulness and gratitude is offered to the One Creator who has brought them safely through another year and blessed them with prosperity.
School Spirit: The spirit of a place or institution is its genius, its atmosphere, its dominating influence. It may be depressing or uplifting. One feels it through suggestion. The spirit of a prison is always unhappy and saddening in its effect. It suggests crime, the violation of law, the failure of life. The spirit of a church is different. "All seem to feel the spirit of the place, And by the general reverence God is praised." In a church we are awed by the greatness of the thoughts it inspires, we are made better and feel nobler because of the friendship it suggests and the good and holy things it brings to our minds. The spirit of a school is the dominating influence which "pervades and tempers the conduct and thought" of its students. That dominating influence may be good or it may be bad; it may be helpful to the great body of the students or it may be unhelpful.
"Proceed not Recede": Seniors, the motto you have chosen is a challenge to the world. You will shortly enter into the second half of your life. Many might say that you were about to enter life itself, meaning that up until the present time you have been busily engaged in preparing for life. That is plainly a false interpretation, for surely you have been experiencing a real, vivid and enjoyable existence for nearly a score of years. Thus childhood and school education are all over. All of your childish games, picnics, pranks, laughs and sorrows are over, some of them never to be forgotten. That is all written down in the big book and cannot be erased. However happy, sad, intense or dull it has been, you cannot play it over, or in the language of the movies you cannot "stay and see that part over again."
The School Band: April 26th, the band gave its seventh annual concert in City Hall. The band presented in a very expert manner, an exceedingly difficult program, which was received enthusiastically by a large audience. A great deal of credit is due Mr. Alton L. Robinson, conductor, for his patience and thorough knowledge of music has made the band what it is.
Reciprocity: The following sentence is quoted at the top of each page of Oracle advertisements: "Our advertisers make the Oracle possible." There is more truth than fiction in that statement, for it is an absolutely sound fact. You will notice that there are very few High schools that attempt to publish as expensive a paper as the Oracle.
From an Old Oracle: The following poem was recently received from a former student of B. H. S., who is now living in Massachusetts. It was written in 1911 Oracle by our Dean, Miss Mary C. Robinson, and published in the Oracle of that year in acknowledgment of a gift of flowers, which the Senior class sent her during an illness. The sentiment of the poem is a specific example of the everlasting love and understanding that Miss Robinson has for her family of fourteen hundred boys and girls. There are very few students in B. H. S. who have not had some personal proof of the helpfulness and good will of our Dean.
Responsibility: There are very few people who like responsibility. They run away from it instead of welcoming it. They are willing to venture opinions, but when it comes to deciding on definite action they like to have someone else take the final step. Stop and use the life of any great and successful man as an example. You will find every time that he did not shirk responsibility but took it and made himself useful by it.
Library Instruction: It has been the custom for several years for the Public Library to give special instructions in the use of libraries. This has proved to be so very successful that we have decided greatly to increase library instruction. Students in all modern high schools are instructed concerning the use of books and libraries; we wished you students of B. H. S. to have this advantage.
Appreciation: On November 21 and 23, the High school had two periods of the regular morning work in the evening, in observance of education week. This enabled parents and friends, interested in the school, to come and see a modern high school in operation. We students fail sometimes to appreciate this wonderful opportunity we have of attending a modern school.
To The Class of '27: Lucky it was that the City Council recently reserved Abbott Square for a public parking place for automobiles. This affords a splendid opportunity for you to romp around, before and after school; and also makes a fairly safe place to park your kiddie-kars and velocipedes. It has been noticed that in spite of the general minuteness of most of the freshmen, the size of their heads is practically up to standard measurements, and the hope has been expressed by many of the upper classmen that these large "beans" may contain a good amount of gray matter floating around in the hot air.
To the Class Of '23: The class of '23 of Bangor High School is now to close its record in this old brick building. Bangor High School meant to you at first only a place where you had to go, because your people thought that it was best for you. Now you, we are sure, cannot help feeling something more than the attitude of curiosity with which you entered the doors of this school, partly by compulsion, on the first few mornings of your Freshman year. The goal toward which the school is striv-ing would be hopelessly missed if that was all you had accomplished here, just put in your time. During the last four years you have laid the foundation of your future life within these walls. Of course, all classes have their flaws, but to you, we are sure, the "class of '23" means everything, simply because of the school spirit which you have obtained and shown here, not only school spirit, but friendship, and gratitude, which during the four years of high school work have been firmly planted in your souls.
The Harvest: In the April 18th issue of the Bangor Daily Commercial, the following news item appeared: "The report cards for the third quarter were given out at the High school Wednesday. As usual there was a wailing and gnashing of teeth from the disappointed ones." This last sentence is very true, for as we all know, after the issuing of report cards there are many hard luck stories, complaints, and excuses, circulating through the school.
Some Team! In the January issue of the Oracle an article appeared praising the football team for its successful record during the football season, and calling on the student body to render their utmost support to the coming sport--basketball.
That's Why We're Here: The station was full of travelers hurrying to and from their trains, and in the midst of this confusion, a uniformed young porter stood, quiet, ready, and helpful. He gave a cheery nod to an aged gentleman, who shuffled along, burdened by the weight of two suitcases, and assisted him into a seat in the right car. The man thanked him gratefully and the porter replied, "That's what I'm here for, sir, all day long; just to see that people get aboard all right."
Boom the Sports: Have you ever stopped to realize what wonderful opportunities we have in our city to indulge in the outdoor winter sports? If you have communication with any friends who live farther south, where snow and freezing weather is scarce, you will find that they envy very much the chance for fun that we regard as merely a matter of season. The winter sports are examples of perfect exercise and are as healthy a pastime as can be found. Yet when the Winter Sports Committee sends out a call for help in clearing the toboggan slide, ski jump, etc., the response is exceedingly discouraging. One of the best sports possible is shovelling snow. Do not regard it as a duty but as a privilege. Let's get behind this opportunity and help forward the Bangor Winter Sports.
The New Year: Students, glance back over the year 1922 and think of the countless trifling things that you could have done, to increase your associates' estimation of you, and, above all, your estimation of yourself. If you think seriously, there is no doubt but what you will regret these omitted trifles, and you probably would be happier if certain other acts of yours had been left undone altogether. If you have the intelligence that Bangor High students should have, you will reach the conclusion that if you could have 1922 to live over again, you would right all of these petty mistakes in order to make your record as creditable as possible.
Football Is Gone! Basketball Is Here! The football season for this year is over and Stephen Casper has had a very successful season. The work of the manager, Benson Davis, in giv-ing the school and the team its place and name among the leading high school teams of this state and even of New England has been much appreciated by the student body. The football coaches, Mr. Edward Trowell and Mr. Everett Strout, have developed the team and the individual players in a remarkable way. Although the schedule of this season has been a very tough one we have had no one seriously laid up. The credit of this should be given to the coaches, and the coaches may feel assured that they are given credit for it.
School Spirit and Cheering: October the fourteenth, Bangor High's football team was trimmed at Bass Park by the Portland team. We all know that Bangor should not have lost the game, but some people said the lack of support that the players received was a disgrace--the cheering, and spirit shown. Well, the cheering was a failure to be sure, but what more could be expected, when the bleacher seats cost so much and the cheer leaders were all mixed up. It is getting so that it costs a small fortune for a person to get a high school education now. To be sure, a dollar and a half is not a very large sum for a football or basketball ticket, but when you come to take in the other activities and social functions of the school it does cost something that will soon count up.
