To the Editor,

Forest Harvey’s “Readers Write” column was most interesting. He posed a question at the end of his column that when he graduated from high school in 1952 he didn’t understand and still doesn’t understand what Professor L.H. Robinson meant by the question, “Why are we here?”

Prof. was principal at the high school from about 1933 for almost three decades. He did a one hour chapel program every week with mandatory attendance by all students and teachers. Most of the programs were inspirational or motivational talks by Prof. but some were religious (Bro. Rollins from a large Baptist Church in Cincinnati spoke at one time), some were entertainment (Preston the Magician came and performed his magic most every year) and there were other programs such as: military bands, plays, speakers, and our own student musicians such as Fuzzy Campbell, the McKinley brothers and many others.

Prof. had his own standards for student conduct and the Board of Education was always available on a moment’s notice to decide the fate of an errant student. His board was about 42 inches long, four inches wide and three-fourths inches thick. Forest Harvey (Freeman back in his high school days) was only punished one time with the board but it was for something I did and I should have been the one to feel the sting of the board. But like many young school boys back in that day and time you didn’t admit to anything unless caught red handed in the act of doing it.

Back to the question “Why are we here?” Prof. always referred to former students as his “Ships at Sea.” His objective while they were under his care in school was to help each one make the transition from adolescent to adult and to prepare them for their journey in life as a productive citizen in whatever line of work or profession they chose. Grades in class was just one part of the process.

“The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind” is from a 1963 song, “Blowin’ in the Wind” made popular by folk singers Peter, Paul and Mary. The answer has been described as “impenetrably ambiguous; either the answer is so obvious it is right in front of your face, or the answer is intangible as the wind.”

Forest Harvey is one of Prof’s “Ships at Sea” and his ship rides high in the water. “Why are we here?” will be answered every time Forest Harvey looks in a mirror and reflects back on his high school days under Professor L.H. Robinson.

Other “Ships at Sea” may have a different or better answer for the question “Why are we here?” If you do, Forest Harvey and a multitude of students who attended when Prof. was principal would like to hear what your answer is.

Walton R. Haddix

Albany, Kentucky