Iredell-Statesville Schools School & Family Magazine May 2016 | Page 6

THEN AND NOW

CELEBRATING 50 GRADUATION CLASSES AT NORTH AND SOUTH IREDELL HIGH SCHOOLS
A story written 50 years ago by a student from North Iredell High School , is looked at with a contemporary lense by current yearbook staff from both North Iredell and South Iredell High Schools . Celebrating their 50th graduating classes , we honor all past , current and future students .
A message from the North Iredell School Editor - 1966
IRATE YOUTHS UPSET BERKELEY CAMPUS
UNWED MOTHER COMMITS SUICIDE
ANTI-WAR PROTESTORS BURN FLAG
“ Today ’ s newspaper headlines glaringly illustrate the apparent decline of American youths .”
Looking back over this year at North Iredell ( and the other eleven years-often something which seemed an eternity-of school ), one basic thought comes to mind and I ’ d like to share it with each of you . It ’ s probably as much a challenge as it is anything else . Many of the “ citizens ” of this county have adopted a religious allegiance to and a faith in the “ decline of American youths .” If the people listen to these negative thinkers , if they take the prophets of this new religion seriously , then little-then , in fact no hope remains
4 Iredell-Statesville School & Family for the future of our world . This particular brand of pessimism is not restricted to the United States , seemingly , it has invaded most of the major nations of the world — especially , those experiencing the enormous increase in wealth which is common during this era , such as Britain , France , and even the Soviet Union .
Returning to that basic challenge , it is not an uncommon one . It is simply for each of you to be an individual , to be yourself , to think your own thoughts , to find your own answers , and to be happy in a world shared with God by man . On the other hand , which each of us is an individual , it is important-it is imperative-that we remember that this world is a shared one . It belongs to no one person but to a mortal race which holds , at once , both the greatest potential for good and the greatest potential for bad that ever was conceived . Diminishing in size , as it has , because of the thunderous advances of the mind of man , the world community is just that-a world community . In a community , each individual must respect the rights and beliefs of his neighbors if the neighborhood is to live together and to grow together . This , then , composes one of the greatest values of education : Teaching us how to get along with each other . Learning this one lesson brightens , as a spring sunrise , the future of each individual and of his world . And , this is the challenge : If you learn nothing else at North , learn this one , ever-import lesson .
Remembering : “ Men do not fail , They give up trying .”
North Iredell
A Message from the North Iredell High Editors , Emilee Speer and Joelle Reynolds - 2016
LORD OF THE FLIES MURDER AT SCHOOL FOR AT-RISK TEENAGERS
YOUTH OVERDOSE DEATHS DOUBLED
FACEBOOK LIKES AND TWITTER FOLLOWER NUMBERS LINKED TO DEPRESSION
“ Today ’ s newspaper headlines glaringly illustrate the apparent decline of American youths .”
North Iredell High School will soon have its 50th class walk across the stage . It will most likely be a Graduation Day like the 49 previous : hot , humid , emotional , tiring , and ... extremely satisfying . Some things never change .
It has always been that teenagers hear opinions ; they hear mantras , admonitions , warnings , and advice . A year of school ( or 13 for that matter ) exposes young people to many different ways of thinking — but also to many judgments . The news can ’ t be watched but for at least a headline or two commenting on the sad state of youth , from obesity to