Salem State University - Clipper Yearbook

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The truth was, he was in a hard place. It was only twenty minutes after two and he had already attacked and rejected two lessons, confused fifty-four little brains, and driven Mary Smith to tears. Mary finally subsided, however, much to his relief, and a song was chosen. The children started to sing on fifty-four different pitches and discord reigned supreme. Could it be avoided ? No I Because the College Man didn't remember the pitch or key of the ff Butterfly Song. So, in the middle of the first strain, he arose with a puckered brow and exclaimed, ff Don't sing any more, children, don't sing l His musical ear could endure no more. It was now half past two. How was he to keep these fifty-four noisy, restless chil- dren busy for an hour and a half more? His head reeled when he thought of it and his eyes blurred when he looked at the first grade reader. Suddenly a bright idea occurred to himg he would try blackboard drawing. It proved to be a novelty and its eiect was magical. After this he told them a fairy story he had once read, and so the after- noon dragged on. Never had he experienced such joy as thrilled him at the sound of the four o'c1ock bell. After putting on fifty-four pairs of overshoes and the same number of coats and caps he locked the school-room door, thankful that the ordeal was over. What an afternoon he had spent! Slowly the College Man walked toward home, more tired than after a footfball game, but thankful in his heart that he was not a first-grade teacher. 0. L. M2 '05. A Sonnet. '06 J is for Judgment Day when Junior marks come out, U is for H Unity which they'll soon learn about, N is for Normal work, quite strenuous, no doubtg I is for Ignorance, 'tis their first state of bliss, Us for the wonder when they find what real work is ! lt is for glaring Red which they so gaily flaunt, S is for Science-room which they so sadly haunt. '05 5 is for Serious, it is the Seniors' mien, E is for liloquenoe, their ignorance to screen, N is for Negligence, a common fault, I weeng I is for Interest in eflueation's themes, 0 is their Outlook, and oft it misty seemsg ll is the longed for Rest., a Senior's dream of bliss, S is the Sadness felt at leaving S. N. S. I2

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A True Story. The College Man was a tall, broad-shouldered individual of prepossessing appear- ance and the grave mien of a Harvard Senior. He had finished his course at college and was now attending Normal School, from which place he was sent to the N- School to observe. Now it happened that at noon of his first day there the principal, an old friend of his, came to him in sore need of assistance. 4' The first grade teacher is absent. IVill you take her place for the afternoon? he asked. The College Man could not refuse, so after consenting to assume the responsibilities of inst1'uctor of these five-year-olds for the brief period of two hours, he proceeded, with all the gravity possible, to the room occupied by the primary grade. As no plan was given him he began to recall his childhood days, and amidst the childish clatter and shufiie of many feet, he had faint remembrance of reading ff Mary had a little lamb and writing f' I see a cat, besides singing numerous cradle songs. Having decided upon his plan of action, and having sighted fifty-four anxious faces gazing at him from behind fifty-four tiny desks, the College Man decided to ff attack writing first. When the preliminary directions had been given he took a pen from his desk. 4' What is this, children? he asked in a most professional manner. ff A pen, piped fifty-four wee voices from fifty-four wee tots in front of him. ff Children, weire going to write the word 4 pen '. Watch me as I write it. U Pen was straightway arrayed in white chalk on the blackboard. 4' Now, children, you write this. And the College Man awaited the result. Presently one little hand in the corner was raisedg H I can't write that first letter I wailed the distressed individual. The College Man proceeded to show her the neces- sary strokes, and turning to help another who was struggling with the same difficulty, he beheld fifty-two hands wildly waving in the air, and heard a chorus of --4' I can't Write that letter! accompanied by, ff My pen's broke X f' Well, children, sighed the College Man, ff I guess we won't write 5 we'll read. Take out your readers. Straightway fifty-four sets of writing materials were plunged into fifty-four desks and the same number of readers took their places. ff Turn to page ten, we'll read the lesson on the f Bird's Nestf Read the first line, Mary. Mary arose and meekly began. The bird builds a nest of strawf' ff Stop that noise I commanded the College Man. HYou read the first line, Samuel 2 Samuel, with all the dignity of a Wilkins-for that was his family name-arose and proceeded to sound as Mary had done, only in a much higher key. ff Stop that noise l shouted the College Man, I told you to read ll' Fifty-four grave faces beheld their gentleman CQ teacher and great was their fear. Yea, verily! Mary was crying already. One brave little boy in the back row now arose. 'f Our other teacher always makes us read that wayf' he volunteered. 0 well, said the College Man, 4' That's all rightg I guess we won't read any more this afternoon, children, we'll sing instead. 11

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Lest We Forget. July 3, 1905. Dear Class-mates of 1905- I've had a most thrilling experience and am sitting down at the first opportunity to tell you all about it. I can't explain it, but hope you may be able to. On the night of the graduation reception I intended to leave the building with the rest of the girls, but whether I did or not remains a mystery, for, as the clock struck one, I became conscious that I was wandering along the west corridor in total darkness. As I approached the geometry room I heard a terrible .S din. VVhen I opened the door a strange spectacle met my E eyes- a dozen girls equipped with combs were playing the most melodious music, while others were adding to the din E K' E! 3 by duelling with pointers. The ethereal music was fre- quently interruped by shrieks of laughter. I seemed to be E E' K H invisible, for no one greeted meg and without weight, for I made no noise as I hastened away from this deafening place and fied up-stairs. Will all the rooms of old S. N. S. prove as lively as this? I wondered. The science laboratory looked very familiar, for arrayed along the floor in perfect order, each occupying its proper place in the biological chain, were an amoeba, par- amoecium, vorticella, earthworm, clam, fish, and cat, in fact all the animals from the amoeba to the manikin, who towered above them in all his majesty. Each animal in turn seemed to be analyzing himself and after each statement to be making a compar- ison between himself and man. It was very interesting, 5. but fearing I should be drawn into the discussion, and I feeling that I could not analyze even myself correctly, I slipped away into the next room. The first thing which met my eye was this notice in green chalk underlined with red on the blackboard: U Young ladies-please do not converse above a whisper. This is the nine-hundred and ninety-ninth time I've spoken of this to you. If you wish crucibles you will find them in this room or in the weighing room or in the science laboratory or in the lecture room. If you can't find them it is probably my faultg in some way I have not been explicit enough. WVasn't that natural, girls? You all know, as I know, that the author of that notice was too good for us wicked girls. The physics 1'oom now demanded my attention, but as there was a class in progress I did not enter. Standing in the doorway I heard an intellectual looking member ofthe class remark, -' It seems to me that what you have just said is contrary to the pedagogical law you taught us in chemistryf' A look of mild surprise came over the face of the instructor who replied, ff I never had a class tell me that beforeg however, Igwill make a note of it. Whereupon he slowly unbuttoned his coat, drew a small memorandum from his pocket, jotted down a note, replaced the book, and re- buttoned his coat. Could it be that those conscientious girls were worrying about a pedagogical law, or might it be that they,-well, no, I won't say it, for it couldn't be so anyway. 13 T0 YHONX