Let your kid speak
Aftermath of Kent State
Dr. Heing, Miss McDonald, Mrs. Nesbit, Mr. Fink, Mr. Myrent, inductees, parents and friends—
We are gathered here today to witness the induction of the Mather Chapter of the National Honor Society. The ceremony you are about to witness marks a distinguished achievement in the lives of these young people for in order to become a member of the society, each inductee had to have, in addition to a notably high scholastic average, outstanding leadership ability, fine character traits and an imposing record of many hours unselfishly devoted to some school service. Herein lies the purpose of this nation-wide society: to create an enthusiasm for scholarship, to stimulate the desire to render service, to promote good leadership and to develop character traits above reproach in the students of secondary schools throughout the United States.
The development of one’s character is a step which alters a teenager, a youth, a student into an individual. The strength of people’s convictions changes an apathetic, silent majority into a knowledgeable society. Apathy is a word that has been tossed around Mather ever since I’ve been here. Lately, I have noticed the thoughts of my fellow students manifest into ideals.
In the last few days with the change in strategy in Southeast Asia and the unfortunate, almost inconceivable deaths of the four students at Kent State University, I have witnessed the maturing of students’ thoughts into strong beliefs. There is no more an attitude of what do I care? Every student has taken a position and is backing up his convictions by action. Not violent action but action that has made an astonishing amount of sleeping thinkers wake up and ask, “What have I missed? There must be something I don’t know about the world.”
That is the purpose of the Mather students who walked out of school at 9 am yesterday. We gathered together yesterday and first made it clear to ourselves what we wanted to show. There varied opinions on the war, varied possible solutions but one point was constant and that was …everyone wanted it known that he did have an opinion and was going to stand by it and convince others to carry out that opinion.
Some students remained in school and they made their opinions perfectly clear by doing so. Many others wanted to have their voices heard but are being hampered by their parents’ demands to “stay out of trouble.” If there are any of you in the audience, please listen to something which I hope will convince you to let your “individual” be heard in a manner that he thinks will do the most good.
Late yesterday afternoon, I went downtown for an interview with a person from a scholarship committee. I met my mother and we were to go together. My mother saw this armband, my way of showing people that I do have an opinion. She begged me to remove it, at least for the meeting. It might ruin my chance for a scholarship. I told her that if I had to throw away what I believed in, it wasn’t worth it. She finally agreed but was visibly disturbed. We entered the interview and discussed my beliefs. The interviewer told my mother how proud she should be of those who care to say something and do something and if people would learn to be tolerant of others’ beliefs, a worthwhile solution might be arrived at with the support of the majority—a knowledgeable and active majority. The pride in my mother’s face was enough to make me realize that we must be heard, in our own ways and that we mustn’t fear the consequences of an open mind.
Today at 10 am, the students have decided we are again going to prove that we do care by meeting in Mather Park and walking peacefully to Loyola Park for a rally. We want to be heard, our purpose is clear. We would appreciate all of your support. Come with us if you are not clear on our purpose. I’m sure we can convince you we want something done, and done before our country, and not in a foreign land but right here dissolves into a land of puppets not by strings, but by ignorance.
In any case, each individual should have an opportunity to do his share. Don’t hold him back. You will be gratified to know that your son or daughter has solid convictions and is now the individual you worked so hard to mold.
Now I would like to introduce a man, who through working with him, I have realized how fortunate we at Mather are to have. He is the most cooperative, innovative, respected man I have known and I’d like you to welcome our principal, Dr. Heing.
[This is taken from a talk that I delivered in the Spring of 1970 at the induction ceremony of the Mather High School Chapter of the National Honor Society]
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