Bridgewater State University - Alpha Yearbook (Bridgewater, MA)

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22 NORMAL OFFERING Zliarultg Numa. Miss Martha Pritchard, the only new member of our faculty, joined our ranks last September. She is a graduate of Wheaton Seminary, 1905, of the New York Public Library's School, two- year course in 1914, during which period she was Librarian of the White Plains High School and continued there until 1916. During the years 1914 and 1915 she did extension work in New York University and Columbia. In 1916 she became assistant at the Geneseo Normal School Library, receiving a diploma from the Geneseo Teachers' Librarian Course in 1917. With Miss Pritchard has come a new department. It con- sists of a children's literature course, and a course in the technical use of books. Good reading is necessary for every live teacher of today and here at our new library we find the source. It is not a library of fiction, but a laboratory of knowledge. In it we shall find before long every topic of interest to the teacher. Methods of teaching, psychological growth of the child, the study of individual pupils, books suitable for every kind of children and a collection of every oflicial current magazine which will aid us in any way to a broader view on all subjects. . Aside from the knowledge in the books the course consists of the preparation of the books for the shelves, mending, cataloguing, and accessioning construction, the knowledge and use of a Con- gress, the author, title and class cards are also taught. It also consists of a course of where and how to find the thing we seek. How many people are there who really understand the parts of a library? lt is therefore our duty as teachers to teach the child so that he may not grow up in ignorance. The teacher must also know the contents of the books in order to recommend them to children, and this is the purpose of the course.

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NORMAL OFFERING A Efrihutv Ein Hiifaz Alire IE. Eirkinann I speak of a friend, both loyal and true, Her absence means much to me and to you! We pause by the door of her empty room, And feel it hallowed, a sacred tomb. Its silence speaks of sweet memories dear And echoes our sighs, while the Welling tear Dims the eye, as we think,- no more Will she bid us enter her friendly door. No more shall we find her knitting, or tattlng, Busily working while we were chatting. There's many a soldier, in battles' storm, Will be the braver, because he is warm In garments wrought by her nimble lingers, fHer patient neatness in mem'ry lingers.J She told us stories, with quaint humor rare, Was always ready her comforts to share. No student or teacher was ever afraid She was too busy to render them aid. The club came asking for her counsel wise, And left the richer for her sound advice. The church observed her, her stately mien, And gracely manners, so calm and serene, The town was thankful to have her pen Write up its records for the eyes of men. Friends, students and teachers, club, church and town Unite in their tributes to her renown. She's gone, with a smile, she would have it so Had she chosen the way that she would go To her work, in another world, more fair Because her cheerful presence is there. -Elizabeth F Gordon Nov. 19, 1917.

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NORMAL OFFERING 23 Qlnmmenrvmvnt. Eliarultg illvrmatinn. S a war measure it was decided by the Seniors to give up Prom, and many sighs and groans accompanied the announcement. But, true to the Bridgewater spirit, the tempor- ary disappointment gave way to a certain joy that one of the dear- est pleasures of Commencement could be sacrificed to the needs of the country which makes Normal School possible. Still, there were those new dresses which had providently ap- peared in countless closets! How could they be appreciated? The answer to this query was revealed bythe Faculty Reception. It seemed as though every eiort had been expended by the hosts to make it a joyous affair. Mr. and Mrs. Boyden, with other mem- bers of the Faculty, graciously received all aspiring graduates on Friday evening, June the fifteenth, in the Gymnasium. Ranked with oak leaves, and with pots of trailing spirea suspended from the balcony, made an enchanting setting for the festive gowns. And such a pervasive sense of cordiality! Happy faces and bright smiles shone everywhere, while the orchestra did its bit toward the gladness of the hour. Miss Whitney played delightfully upon the violin, and Miss Hooper's piano solo charmed in equal measure. Upstairs delicious ices were served. Afterward a portion of the time was devoted in a promenade and a huge gymnasium-filling circle singing Alma Mater and The Star Spangled Banner. Reluctant good nights were said and all crossed to the quadrangle to sing and cheer for nearly an hour. Lastly, and late, when everyone was supposed to be in bed, came the jolly Junior serenade in South Field. How those girls did sing! Filled with enthusiasm and inspiringly led, they made the night air fairly resound with their clear, vibrant voices. So closed the happy evening, and on the lives of those who participated was left an ineffaceable impression of good cheer graciously bestowed of sparkling mirth, or whole-hearted loyalty to school and country. R. M. '17