Page 80 - 1940

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Society 7 \ [ o t e s
The 1939 Commencement in the new auditorium at Oakwood was a charming affair. The address was given by Dr. Robert H. Searle. Miss Hartridge announced that the Pardee Prize for Literature and the School H Pin had been awarded to Frederica Coerr. She spoke to the seniors as follows:
Members of the Class of 1939:
ll we should add all the years that you have been with us—from thirteen for some to one for others—we should find that the average length of time for each of you is five and a half years. And, if I were a statistician, I might dwell on the fact that the sum total is equal to 117 years for one of you. Feeling averse from that flight of fact or fancy, I return to the thought that we have enjoyed each of you on the average, five and a half years.
The odd thing about this time question is that a girl who has been here only one year sometimes knows us as well as or better than a girl who has been here ten times as long, and sometimes we know her as well. It isn’t a question of place, either, for our knowledge and understanding of each other does not depend on whether we both live at Oakwood. It is a matter of individuality.
If human beings had more individuality, they might develop more wisdom, more purpose, and they might see to it that scientists and mechanicians used their talents to discover or invent means of repairing more quickly the damage caused by our lack of fore sight and our wastefulness, not means of maiming and destroying one another.
It is normal for young people to wish to be like everyone else. They feel more secure if they are not different. Unfortunately, that desire for uniformity often delivers them bound to those who need masses of puppets in order to carry out their designs and who are, therefore, working for standardization.
You have the zest and the inexperience that also go with youth, and so you proceed, as each generation has done before you, treating lightly the prophecies of disaster uttered by your elders, rushing lightly into matrimony and parenthood, taking it for granted that the world will be for you a happy and livable world. That is all to the good; but add to it as much individuality as possible. Fight against standardization o'f anything hut weights and measures. Develop as much intelligence and as much common sense as you can. Combined they may give wisdom. Don’t be sheep, as almost all of us are. Think for yourselves and try to build a better world than we now have.
Having known you and worked with you, I have high hopes of you. I predict no disasters. I expect your generation to use the wisdom that will avert disasters.
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