The election of Mr. Devreaux F. McClatchey to the presidentship of the Atlanta Board of Education has an a special significance to Henry Grady High.
Mr. McClatchey not only represents the Fifth Ward, in which Grady is located
and where most of her students live, but in addition, he has a daughter,
Eve, in the Grady freshman class. In response to a question imposed upon
her, Eve commented that she finds no difference in being the daughter of
the chief of the Atlanta Board of Education.
Served Since 1937
On January 2, Mr. McClatchey, after serving on the Board since 1937, was
elected president of that body, succeeding Mr. Ed S. Cook. The new president
of the group that is in charge of the entire Atlanta school system has served
in the capacity of vice-president for the past eleven years.
A Native Georgian
Born in Marietta and reared in Acworth, Mr. McClatchey has lived in Georgia
all his life. He received his higher education at Emory University. At the
present time, Mr. McClatchey is associated with an Atlanta law firm.
In addition to fourteen-year-old Eve, Mr. McClatchey has a nine year-old son, Devreaux, Jr., who attends Spring Street Elementary School. The family resides in Ansley Park.
Current Issues
MANY EMINENT EDUCATORS AND STATESMEN have expressed the opinion that those students graduating from high school this month are entering post-graduate life during one of the most critically dangerous periods of our times.
They contend that these boys and girls are starting their new life with a tremendous handicap-in a world marked by physical warfare and moral chaos and confusion. Nevertheless, it is important to realize that the significance of this era involves more than just discouragement and disillusionment. It also off ers the young people of the modern world a true challenge.
In addition, a challenge represents an opportunity possibly to bring about ultimate peace and happiness, goodwill, and brotherhood.
It is the opportunity to overcome the danger, to wipe out the source of the danger and to weld together those who believe in justice into a finer and secure society. Thus, it is imperative that we be made cognizant of the basic and fundamental challenge that faces us today.
With the threat of war and the disruption of our lives hanging over us, the current high school graduates are challenged. It is a dangerous challenge. Yes, but that ever constant factor of opportunity is again present. It offers us the chance and the responsibility to clarify our thinking and to appreciate the true value of our American democracy in contrast to the lives of servitude which others must endure in totalitarian countries.
We should then realize that there are many things we possess which are worth fighting for. It shows us that there is a duty to work for better understanding between men and between nations. It summons us to the high and noble task of preserving mankind and civilization for the better world which we hope will come in the years that lie ahead.