THE ACORN "KEEP OUT" THIS IS OUR BUSY DAY EDITORIAL Patriotism We sometimes get the idea that patriotism to our nation, state and community is something only remotely connected with our school life; that it has no intimate bearing or place in our younger experiences. But the great need of a really united and strong nation is the training of young men and women to know that it is the government that protects their rights, both civic and domestic; that they are an actual part of the government; and that at the head of this government are men who need the support of the people; and that these same men must some day be replaced by those who are now boys and girls. In order to be patriotic, we must first understand the needs and possibilities of our government; then, when we know, we must be willing to sacrifice individual or local interests to the welfare of the bigger causes and units which represent the best thought and endeavors of all the people. Our community and domestic interests may appear to the average person of greater and more vital importance but it is with government as with nature, that in a union of things it is only as the whole prospers that the parts may grow. The true patriot must have the courage to stand at all times for right and to uphold his leaders when they are right, whether or not these same actions apparently work against his immediate individual interests. We honor Washington and Lincoln as men who best understood the needs of our government; who had the moral courage to stand for right in opposition to personal feelings; and we revere them as the living ideals of our patriotic sentiments. We love the flag, as it is the symbol of national achievements and ideals. Our hearts thrill when we hear the song, "The Star Spangled Banner," as we recognize in its lines the unselfish, courageous sentiments of a true patriot. Our hearts, turn to God who presides over the destiny of all nations, and we are led to say with reverence, "We pledge our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor" to all great causes. In whose heart and soul arises a more enthusiastic response to these sentiments than in the breast of a true student; and who is more willing to sacrifice and work for his community, his state, his nation, and his God than the young man or the young woman who embodies the ideals or a true American school? ACORN 10 Are You Going to Win That Dollar The advertisers make possible the publication of the Acorn, and so that students will read their advertisements (and later purchase), a dollar bill is to be given to some student for reading the advertisements in this issue. A certain advertisement in this issue contains a misspelled word. Find the word, write it with your name on a slip of paper and put it in the Acorn box before February 25, and you may win a dollar. Don't think that yours has to be the first handed in. After all the correct answers are received, a drawing will be held to decide the winner. Get to work now and win that dollar, and after it is given away don't forget to purchase from those that make possible your paper. As time rolls around for each publication of our school paper, we always expect and hear an appeal for material. A few persons are always ready with a full supply of material and ideas, while the majority are as usual sleeping and not thinking of what the next issue shall contain. The Staff usually writes the material for the space that should have been filled by the "sleepers." The clay then arrives when the Acorn is ready for distribution, and if the hall at the entrance of the Acorn room could accommodate more people, more would be there. Immediately after the Acorn is distributed if one chances to overhear the conversation of many of these "sleepers" he will hear something to this effect: "Some sheet. Why not have a decent story once in a while? Why have a joke department when there are no jokes?" If there is anything which shows up the character of a student it is this. There is considerable difference between the way in which they shun the work of writing for our paper and their eagerness to receive the paper when published.