, 1949-08-04
.~VALEDICTORY ADDRESS
denVered at the Charlotte Amale High School at its
1919 Commencement Exercises
b. BERNARD LAW r.

.bY BERNARD Law n.
Tonight my classmates and / are assembled to receive our high
school diplomas, a sign that we have successfully completed the pre-
scribed course Of studies in St Thomas institution of highest learn
ing. More than that, we are officially ending that, period in life which
responsibilities have been ours before tonight; but for all Of us, these
exercises mark ia memorable step. A step which places us in a posi-
ton where.we will be called upon to make more and more decisions
Of our own. Tonight marks the end, yet marks the beginning.
Two great questions are on my mind and the minds of my fellow
graduates Two great oqueshons which, if answered, would unfold
the future before our eyes. These questions are: What and Where
The choosing of a vocation and a futur home pose a problem for grad
yates the world over. Conditions governing a students choice mi
these matters vary according to locale. It is these very Important
factors of our environment about which / am going to speak.
In the course Of my talk, / will find occasion to point out short
comingse L do not offer an apology for taking this liberty, but 1 dol
advance an explanation. St Thomas is my home; not by accident oil
birth, but by choice--my parents choice, my choice l not only share
THE joys of the Virgin Islands, but the sorrows as well In my home
I seeathe lnakings of an ideal community. My feelings are very sen
sitve for St IThomas; the slightest imperfecton disturbs me In my
enthusiasm I make little allowance for any discord in the democratcI
harmony which should prevail. It is not a critical eye, but an en-I
thusiashc eye which points to the flaws in our community.
ST. Thomas is blessed with a sublime climate, the ugly marks of
Ignorance bred prejudice are not rampant here as in other less for
tunate places, and lastly, St. Thomas has yet to fulfil its destiny. Tol
the enterprising businessman, to THE ideaistc scholar, to the IN
selfish doctor, ST. Thomas offers a great incentive. Briefly, those are
the reasons which encourage us to remain here.
On the other hand, two factors are eminent which are detrimen-
tai to the future of the Islands, which move us graduates to settle
elsewhere. Those are the absence OF announcement sometimes tol
the extent of a presence of Encouragement, and the lack of lura$ive,
salaries for well qualified persons. The latter is sufficient in ITSELF
bearing no further explanation. /
To illustrate this question OF encouragement, let LSatake the teach
ing profession and the high school as we know them in St. Thomas
/ choose this particular phase in the community because it is some
thing about which / can speak with personal experience as a guide
We have a shortage of teachefSy yet there are but a few members of
this class who plan to enter teaching as a profession; some of these
are doing it only as a stepping stone to something else. What has in
nuenced the class in it's attitude towards the teaching profession
True, we realize the pay given. teachers is low considering the grave
responsibility entrusted to their care and the lengthy preparation
necessary before one can become a teacher. A teacheris in a betterI
position than anyone else to influence the citizens of tomorrow. A,
teacheryNdth the right. approach can do wonderful things with the
youth entrusted to his care, but by the same token, can use that ap I
proach in molding citizens directly opposed to our democratic soc-
iety.
In spite Of the tremendous importance of the teaching. profession,
teachers are still paid too low wages, i
Yetteachers are not mercenaryl They are compensated in a differ
ent way They must be paid decently, yes, but they receive their
main rewards in different values! When one of their students does
outstanding work they are filled with satisfaction awarded only to
teacharsa They helned@ rn1d that 8nerSnn,S. haracAe a. little hit al