Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-11-22
Another Essay on
Education Week by
High School Pupil


conjunction with National Education
Week by Waterville High School
student:
The Significance OF Our Community
In National Education Week today
has been designated as Community
Day. To explain what this day
stands for We must first find what
the word community means. The de-
finition given by Webster is 1.-The COM
monwealth" or in other words, the
body of people. From this, then, we
gather that our community is the
body of people living within the
limits of the City of Waterville. Or
dinarily We think of community
rather as a small rural group or set
Element than a city. But the city is
community in all senses of the
word.
In the smaller communities the So
cial life is vastly different from that
of the largec. In the smaller COM
munity, some one event will serve
to bring the major portion of the
population together. AS a result the
people are well acquainted with each
other and also are much interested
in the concerns Of one another. This
we find a life of mutual friendship
and helpfulness. In the large town
or city there are so many people that
it is quite impossible to know more
than small portion of. the inhabi-
tants. The extent of the city limits,
too, makes it improbable that one
would see. much less know, but few.
So the social life of the city is con-
fined to small groups. In this way we
get much the same result as in the
smaller districts. We should try as
much as possible to keep in touch
with our surroundings. This at least
we owe to our community.
| One of the greatest factors in unit
ing the interests of the community
are the schools. Here we find the
children from all parts of the city
brought together in close relation to
each other. Many lasting friendships
are formed. Thus we find another
social unit of the community through
the school activities such as socia-
bles, entertainments, athletics and
exhibits the parents are brought to-
gether and thus wider circles of &C
quaintances are formed.
The high school, both Junior and
Senior, should be made a center of
community activities. We are for
tunate in having excellent auditor
iums in each school. Here are places
for entertainments of all kinds. Lee
lures, musicales and other amuse-
ments of like nature are exceedingly
good in bringing together the people.
The parents are always strongly
urged by the school authorities to
| attend the sciables and entertain
ments given at these schools and
4 ho,r1I toll nef ~
do so.
In the athletics Of the high schools
we find another means of bringing
| together the people. 1t also gives
one an idea of the fine specimens of
men who are being developed under
supervisal training. The people
should stand back of all the organi-
| cations representing the schools for
| really they represent not only the
schools but the entire community
! They are a great aid in bringing our
| city in close relation to other cities
thus not only one but many cities
combine in making one large COM
munity.
There is one item of great import
ance to US: namely recreation. We
| all know the old saying "All work
and no play makes Jack a dull boy"
II CdT pc dpPticu W TIE community
as we'll as to Jack. If there were no
amusements what would we do? Our
| minds become tired as we'll as our
bodies and we need relaxation for
both. So we should have proper rec
reations provided. We now have the
| moving picture shows, concerts and
athletics with its many sports. Our
concern now It to support them and
keep their standard high. Another
community effort in which we should
be greatly interested is the recreation
Of the children. The summer play
grounds have assisted wonderfully in
this department. There the children
are under the capable supervision of
chosen directors and the best of care
is taken of them. The Fairgrounds
are factors in the development of
the character of future citizens. So
We should continue to uphold and
support them.
And last but not least comes the
responsibility to our community.
Really it is not group of families,
but rather one great family under
the guidance of the mayor. Under
his able dictatorship we may all work
together in making our community
one of which we and future genera :