Class Of 1948 Reunion Held

John R. Wilson holds a 1948 copy of Echo, the Garden City High School newspaper, announcing his victory in the school election. Social Studies Coordinator Doug Sheer is on the right.

Garden City class reunions are often a chance for old friends to catch up with each others' lives as well as retell stories of high school days. The class of 1948 had something different in mind when they gathered last weekend to celebrate their graduation from Garden City High School 58 years ago. In addition to several parties, they invited the students of Garden City High School to a debate between two 1948 classmates on a topic of interest to students of social studies: "When should a country go to war?"

This topic, along with the time and place of debate, has been worked out by John R. Wilson of the class of 1948 and Doug Sheer, Garden City social studies coordinator, over the course of several months. Mr. Sheer invited 175 eleventh-grade students to listen to the debate between Mr. Thomas Evans and Mr. C. Murray Adams of the class of '48 in the high school cafeteria. Each of the speakers gave their views on the history of the U.S. entering into wars over the last 130 years and the prerequisites for going to war today. After the debate, students were invited to ask questions of the speakers based on the viewpoints they expressed during the debate. Several of the questions and comments made by students and members of the class of 1948 reflected the change in times and attitudes toward entering into war.

From Left: Debaters C. Murray Adams, Thomas Evans and master of ceremonies John R. Wilson. Wilson is holding a 1948 copy of Echo, the Garden City newspaper, announcing his victory in the school election.

Mr. Sheer said of the event, "I think it is hard for our eleventh graders to imagine coming back to Garden City 59 years from now for a class reunion. We can't thank the members of the class of 1948 for holding a debate on such a timely topic and allowing us to take part in their reunion."

Class of 1948.