..."Tell a man he is unworthy of the ideal he has built into his life; he has still something to live for. He may yet strive! But God pity that one who has persuaded himself that his dream is false! The ideal must be true and eternal. It can never be shattered. We may forget it; we may barter away for dross that which is priceless, but whatever our weakness, the Dream is true. Let the cynic scornfully say, "The Dreamer cometh!" With the sobered confidence of youth. with all the humility of manhood we can answer in the very words of cynicism, 'We shall see what will come of his dreams.'" Excerpt from Dwight Whitney Morrow's commencement speech at Amherst College June 26, 1895
Our children should know who their school is named after and what that person contributed to our community and the world. Some time should be given during the school year to learn about each school's namesake.
ReplyDeleteI was prompted to refresh my knowledge when an Englewood board member asked me who he was. "Who is Dwight Morrow anyway, he just donated a school, right?" Well, I have discovered many of Dwight Morrow's great lifetime accomplishments. He gave selflessly of himself and his time to Englewood, this country, and the world during and in the aftermath of war. I am still searching for an explanation of "the school gift." I have found no record of it. Still looking. He inspires me. History records him as a republican. He sounds like the most democratic republican I have ever studied. He shares many ideals with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Like King, he wanted us all to "just get along". His Englewood neighbors credit him as the first and originator of the concept of "the good neighbor" policy. Mary Margaret McBride's biographical book about his life is out of print, but it was still in the library. It is a well worn volume copyrighted in 1930.
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU I HAD NO IDEA. I AGREE THE NAMESAKE OF A SCHOOL, SHOULD BE TAUGHT AND STUDIED IN SCHOOL.
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