STAY IN SCHOOL AND GRADUATE

[Music] I remember the day so well and I'm sure my students at Eastern High do too I was driving along Jones Road when I did a double-take on wheels there were some of my boys out in the dunes and I could tell right off they were up to something after you've been a teacher for a while you can recognize trouble almost instantly what has them so absorbed right now recent discussions we had had in class gave me a clue and I was right a rocket a three-foot long container of explosives that could tear those boys limb from limb if there were an accident I might have known bill Gilbert would be involved he has a real scientific vent but he ought to know better than to play with firecrackers made of steel I told him about the possibility of a misfire or an explosion that could maim or kill someone Jim Newhouse tried to talk me out of it as usual he's the real mischief maker in that bunch I told him it was not only their own safety I was thinking of what about a possible aircraft overhead that rocket could endanger the lives of a whole plane load of passengers I could see the boys hated to give up their pet project so I suggested an alternative I told him I take them out to visit the naval base if I could set it up with luck we might see a real rocket and get the Navy professionals to explain the dangers involved the class liked the idea of a trip to the naval base the activity of a military establishment the great ships in from maneuvers and foreign ports filled the students with excitement and anticipation we parked the bus on one of the large piers I made sure to count the boys and girls as they got out the Navy had assigned Petty Officer Joe Grady as our escort somebody said they called him smiley because he smiled once Grady told the class that we were going aboard a giant cruiser and that we would see the Regulus missile on board the plan was to see a real missile firsthand and then to watch a motion picture of rockets in action including the Regulus actually being fired all in all it looked like an exciting day ahead for us the class enjoyed every minute of that trip for myself it was a thrill I'll never forget walking up the gangway of a great ship a cruiser fresh from duty at sea to all of us this ship represents a great deterrent to aggression and a mighty power for peace the massive gun barrels make a thrilling sight and I know the boys and girls were impressed the class wanted to take a look into the gun turret to see what goes on inside a fire control Minh demonstrated how the loading of the guns is automatically controlled from his station the smooth functioning loading mechanism fascinated everyone in CIC the combat Information Center the students were overwhelmed by the complex maze of dials lights Stan's plotting boards and graphs as well as the various radar devices the radar men on duty explained the purpose and use of the ship's radar he said that all of the Navy men who work with radar used the physics and mathematics they've learned in high school as preparation for specialized training they will receive in the Navy in theory operation and maintenance of CIC equipment in CIC information comes in from various sources it is analyzed plotted charted and disseminated to stations where it is needed everywhere we went aboard ship we were told how the lessons learned in school were helping Navy men today engineering control central personnel used both their chemistry and physics in the operation and maintenance of the engineering plant of the ship yeoman and journalists were successful because they had studied English and learned grammar punctuation typing and office procedures hospital corpsman used their background in biology and physiology and doing their jobs when we arrived on the stern of the ship which our Navy friends call the fantail the boy saw what they had been waiting for a real guided missile one which could actually be used launched from a ship such as this a chief missile minh pointed out various things about the missile the students were told clearly how dangerous the explosive propellant can be how the Navy takes the most extreme precautions during a launching to safeguard their personnel the students were clearly told that a chance explosion of their own three foot missile could kill or maim them for life missiles are for professionals only the chief said remember that I think all of them got the message then I saw that my friend Jim Newhouse was already off on another tank I heard him ask Grady where the ship was going next Grady said I can't tell you where it's going but I can't tell you where it's been you know I'll never forget the first time we visited the Mediterranean along the coast we saw many picturesque canals and bridges sailors always get a kick out of visiting Genoa the home of Columbus and in Greece the Parthenon reminded us of civilization thousands of years old across the world we visited the Orient with its strange temples and statuary many of them built centuries ago by hand and in Australia we found you can play with a koala bear I should prefer kangaroos about ten minutes later we were leaving the ship on her way to a screening room ashore where we would see the missile movie just for precaution I counted the students again it didn't take me long to see that someone was missing new house of course I asked the class if they had seen new house but they told me no had he run away or was he hiding on the ship I didn't know what to think but I was worried Grady was very nice about it in fact I think he was a bit amused but I wasn't Jim was on the base under my responsibility Grady got on the phone to see if anyone had spotted him he picked up the outside line first the Sentry at the gate said no the doc watched near the bus said he wasn't back there then he tried to board ship we got the same answer at the missile area and from CIC by that time I was really worried but then a call came in on the outside phone for Grady this is chief Collins over at the execs office he's looking for a 16 year old freckleface runaway name of new house yeah I found him walking on the piers hands in his pockets whistling relaxed as you please finally told me where he came from all right I'll Drive movin okay well Jeff color you've got a lot of people mystified I was just taking a walk what's wrong with that depends on where you're going I just wanted to get away by myself to think a bit what's on your mind I don't know being out here today I realize how tired of school I am I mean it was dark classroom where the teacher sits around talks all day an outside the sun is shining people are having fun it does make sense I don't know who's having fun Jim everyone I know is working when the Sun is out well I wouldn't be working sitting in school I they have fun working if what I like or joining the Navy how about that we wouldn't take it Jim you don't have enough education no matter what you do you'll be a failure unless you stay in school and learn something to make yourself worthwhile to an employer this is the 20th century Jim industries making things that weren't even dreamed of 30 years ago satellites are being launched off into space nuclear energy is running powerhouses and submarines it's a complicated age takes more than a pair of hands to do the job today that's all I hear school I thought this was a navy not an educational institution it's both today Jim it has to be to keep up with the times today the men with an education go get ahead faster they're able to understand and to use the new developments and electronics ordnance and nuclear energy all the new facets of our way of life no matter what you choose for a career you'll find that and without an education you will be able to compete with men for the better jobs it's the first rung on the ladder of success and without that rung there's no place to go but down but suppose I'm just not suited for school all I do is sit and look at the window and dream well every young man with gumption dreamy Jim you're not the first to be Restless in school fifteen years ago when I was your age I was Restless to the fact I'd did something which is kind of drastic I stowed away aboard a ship for South America I hid out and an empty garbage can fortunately someone fill that can with garbage and covered me with a tube I gave up my career as a stowaway right then and there anyway I went back to high school the smartest thing I ever did took some courses in physics chemistry and English other subjects which would make me a benefit to anyone who employed me has helped me a hundred times and in decisions based on knowledge and experience it's also paid off in promotions all the way up the line you know Jim there's an old saying live and learn well the way I say it is learn and live I think I see what you mean and maybe you got something there thanks Carla you're a regular well that's a real compliment mr. Newhouse Grady's over the base theater showing some movies would you like to come up one with me we were sitting in the screening room when Jim came back looking a little sheepish I felt better again I even began to see the humor in the situation this guided-missile cruiser is about to launch the terrier the terrier is one of the Navy's powerful anti-aircraft missiles which travels at supersonic speed the Navy's Regulus packs a mighty punch modern ships carry missiles such as these to deter any possible aggressor this missile can be launched from submarines as well as surface ships the crew men working with missiles have had specialized training in electronics electrical circuits mechanics and the safe handling of highly dangerous propellants used throughout the Navy's extensive missile program [Music] and a glimpse into the space-age as the vanguard soars off into outer space barring a satellite destined to circle the earth this launching symbolized the Navy's active participation in the International Geophysical Year research and development continues in the Navy on many scientific projects the day had been a success and maybe for some of the students a guidepost for success the way to get ahead according to the Navy was stay in school and graduate that's good advice [Music]