Appleby College - Argus Yearbook (Oakville, Ontario Canada)

Page 156 text:

I x dacf ;4cUMtce activities. A system must be developed for keeping track of attendance at the various clubs if we wish to see a successful programme next year. The so-called ' work detail has turned into something close to a farce, as boys on this weekly group either don ' t show up at all or are made to do rather useless jobs. Somebody must be put into control of this work group who is prepared to arrange work for the boys. However, on the more positive side of things Thursday afternoon activities have proven to be beneficial and enjoyable to all involved. The work DelaU. a compulsory activity or each boy at di erent times throughout the year, was not a favorite one. Other activities which flourished at different times during the year were the weight room, dancing classes and First Aid. 152

Page 155 text:

approaching the plate. Altogether it is a most enjoyable part of the afternoon. On a more intellectual side, bridge is taught by Mr. Revill to several keen students. The level of play attained was good enough for some of the boys to enter a tournament in which they fared well. Cadets and pre-north training take up most of the afternoon for the younger boys, who are taught by capable seniors. The Cadets, who throughout the term gave the appearance of being a little disorganized, proved the cynics wrong by putting on an excellent show on inspection day. Pre-north training is invaluable for the boys in grade 9, since they will need it for the following year at Nor- thward Bound. For those so in- clined, the weight room club is a main source of entertairmaent on these afternoons. This is one club which has a constant attendance and, overall, has been a success. Activities on Thursdays that have been the most successful have tended to be the more recreational variety. The baseball, weight room and dancing clubs are examples that the boys enjoy a break in the week which does not involve anything remotely resembling school work. The organizational side of Thursdays afternoon leaves something to be desired. At- tendance at activities has declined because the boys soon realized they would not be missed even if they didn ' t go to their The program as a whole started out with good support from the students, but gradually dwindled as people found that Thur- sdays are an excellent chance to catch up on work or just veg . Three activities wliich have a constant attendance but which have a fairly low profile are music practice, debating, and the yearboolc.

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The Thursday Programme: One Boy ' s Reaction by Graham Leggat K H E - ' . i-M . ,. J t y - i •i V 1 1 ' - -■-•v •• For those who are particularly work- conscious or who suffer from guilt feelings if they don ' t do their homework, or for those who are slow to keep up, the Thursday Programme lets you engage in amusing activities or hobbies without worry. The reactions to the Thursday Programme have been varied, as reactions to new things usually are. Some think it good and worthwhile, others are disillusioned because it never reached the level idealists said it would. Still others enjoy it for the breathing space it provides. But whatever side one takes, all are agreed that it is better to have it than not. For those who are particiolarly work-conscious or who suffer from g iilt feelings if they don ' t do their homework, or for those who are slow to keep up, the Thursday programme lets you engage in amusing activities or hobbies without worry. If you are afraid or psychologically unable to in- dulge in extra-curricvilar ac- tivities on other school nights because marks mean a lot to you, you can relax on Thursdays because everyone else is relaxing too (except for the twisted few who wet their beds if they do not work every night.) You can, if you would like, play with trains, play cards, feed fish, pretend you are Jaques Cousteau in the swimming pool, identify new breeds of band- aids, bits of skin and hair, or you can play more sports, supposing you haven ' t had enough. Actually, it ' s good because you get a chance to do something you would or- dinarily, outside the school, get a chance to do, like play baseball or tennis if you are a rugby player,