A Tribute to Excellence...

Flotsam and Jetsam; When you see “June” Collins, the tallest member of the Orleans High School faculty and teacher of what, when I went to school, was called Manuel Training but now goes by the supposedly more dignified and less clear name of Industrial Arts, be sure to ask him about the airplane on which he and his lads are doing a job in the High School Shop.

They are doing a really fine job but to one as ignorant of the intricacies of heavier-than-air machines as I it appears at the moment that this may be a parallel case to the well—known incident of the man who spent & whole winter building boat in his cellar and who, when the time came for the launching amid the flowers end birdsongs of Spring discovered he’d have to tear the house down to get it out.

I think he compromised by flooding the cellar. However, since Brother Collins and his lads obviously got this craft INTO the Shop, It is logical to suppose they can also get it OUT without, demolishing part of the building. If they don’t I’ll let you know.

Last evening there gathered for their first meeting of the year at the home of one of the members a group composed of about a dozen of the towns more-or-less matrons who, while they have no official name, no charter, no organization, no minutes, no dues, are yet one of the liveliest and worthwhile organizations within the environs of Orleans.

Following the Biblical injunction they hide their light under a bushel. Nonetheless they have done a lot of good over the past few years. Meeting fortnightly from October to May they spend the evening sewing various articles for the Cape Cod Hospital. They turn out an amazing amount Of stuff, seem to have a wonderful time doing it and conclude the evening with refreshments provided by the hostess of the occasion.

There is of course, continual chatter punctuated by frequent gales of feminine laughter throughout the evening. They are informally known to some of their husband, rather logically I think, as “The Clatter Club”. Have fun, girls. We know you will.

Al Brown, the veteran and perennial gatekeeper at, the local shrine of the super-colossal Hollywood spectacle and extravaganza, reports that he called on our friend Harry Eldredge at the Cape Cod Hospital the other day. He says that Harry is improving steadily and seems cheerful and hopeful of being able to come home in time for Halloween. I, for one, miss seeing him in his tonsorial parlor on Cove Road, for I frequently stopped in for a brief chat on my way home from doing the daily marketing.

If any of you have a child taking Current History in Orleans High School and someday discover that he has a notebook labeled “Notes on Communism”, don’t call the F.B.I., don’t telegraph you-know-who from Wisconsin (what is that chap's name?), don’t be alarmed, be glad. Why? Because, following President Eisenhower’s dictum that we should learn all we can about Communism else how can we fight it, we are TEACHING about Communism at O.H.S. just as it being done in hundreds of schools throughout the country. Persona11y, I think it is a very healthy sign, for young people who have been instructed in communism and democracy and shown the two systems side by side to sbe far less prone to fall for the wiles of the Communist propagandist than those who are ignorant of it.

Just as disease cannot be fought conquered without a thorough knowledge of its symptoms, its causes, how it spreads, etc., so the disease of Communism cannot effectively be fought until it is thoroughly understood. As disease breeds and flourishes in filth, so Communism breeds and flourishes in ignorance. Only by eliminating the filth and the ignorance can victory be gained.

Therefore, I happy to have the opportunity of helping to tell these young people all I can about Communism and all I can about democracy.

One very great benefit I have observed accruing to these students in the two years I’ve taught it in Current History is that by studying the great contrasts between democracy and Communism they come to appreciate far more deeply how fortunate they are be living under a democracy and to cherish many rights which formerly they took for granted and supposed were common to people everywhere.

If for no other reason, it seems to me, this instruction is therefore valuable. There may be few ultra—conservatives who think such instruction is wrong and feel that that fellow Brooks better be watched, the things he’s teaching those kids. However, red is not my favorite color. It is rather, well, ask any of the Seniors at O.H.S.