London Normal School - Spectrum Yearbook (London, Ontario Canada)

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A FEW short months ago we, the class of ' 38, came to the London Normal School. Now the long day wanes and we stand in the twilight of another school year. At the outset we thought of our chosen career as a great adventure upon which we were about to embark. We brought with us the ambitions and high ideals of youth, but a very limited knowledge of our chosen profession. At times, perhaps, we have felt that we were falling short of our aims, and that our ideals were not being actualized. We met discouraging situations, but we turned these apparent obstacles into means of progress. In so doing our under- standing has been broadened and our conception of life deepened. A plateau is dull, flat, uninteresting, — we have been shown that we must have the valleys else we should not appreciate the heights. Now, as we stand on the threshold of our chosen profession we pause, and turn with a deep sense of gratitude to honour our masters and instructors who, through their untiring efforts and sacrifice, have sharpened our appreciation of those heights and direct- ed our unsteady footsteps up the path which leads us to self-realization and success. Common interests and ambitions have guided us as a group of students in the development of co-operation, good sportsmanship, and, above all, a true spirit of goodwill. The result has been that we have experienced the joy of the making of friendships based, not on the chance acquaintanceships of the year, but on more lasting understandings and sympathies. The time has come for parting. We turn to go, but cast one longing, lingering look behind. We are approaching another stage of life ' s progress. A new pathway has been opened to us; immediately it gives greater responsibility and influence; further on along that untravelled way lies the path of the ambitious teacher — the way which demands that we remain industrious, conscientious students throughout life. Let us take this path, so that as we advance we may experi- ence the joy which comes only from self-realization and service to others. As we go forth, let us always remember the wonderful relationship between to-day ' s labours well done and to-morrow ' s rew r ard. We stand to-day as moni- tors of young minds, our country ' s greatest resources. If we fulfil this trust well, then shall we build from age to age An undefiled heritage. Donald M. Fortune Page Ten

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ALL year long I have provided keys for man} ' of your treasures; I have solicitously scanned your records as they came in; my heart has gone out to many of your tales of woe; and now my best wishes go with you for success wherever you may go. WINIFRED R. PRENDERGAST. Secretary and Registrar. To Our Critic Teachers D l RING this past school year our associations have been with two different groups of teachers — .Masters and instructors in the Normal School and critic teachers in the practice schools. To the former we owe a deep debt of gratitude for the complete fairness and sympathy which they have always manifested towards us. We wish also to express our appreciation to that other group of teachers — the critic staff. The word critic gives the suggestion that practice school teachers are ever ready to censure the efforts of inexperienced, unpolished young stu- dent teachers. This has never been true in our experience; never have they been quick to berate our attempts. Always they have been a source of patient guidance and of inspiring enthusiasm for their chosen profession. In the learning pro- cess criticism is a necessary factor. Thus, through their kindly and constructive criticism, we have learned which elements of our methods to discard and which to retain. Any material useful in our lessons was always put at our disposal. Another thing which we appreciated was the fact that they always took into consideration our week-end tests and w r ere more lenient in their assignments near the end of the week. Perhaps memories of their experiences as beginners in teaching have filled them with an understanding of and sym- pathy for the difficulties in which we found our- selves, for they have tried to make our training just as pleasant and profitable as they possibly could. Looking back over this year, we realize just how little we could have accomplished had it not been for their kindly criticism and good practical advice. Right from that first uncertain day they have been guiding us on, along the straight and ever widening way of correct pedagogical methods. For all these things, may we express to the members of the critic staff our sincere appreciation. — A. Louise Lonsbery. Governor Simcoe School Mr. T. J. Thompson, B.A. Miss M. Lancaster, B.A. Miss Z. Faw r kes Miss V. Tisdale Miss I. McLeish Miss L. R. Hoffman Miss I. P. Graham Miss M. Buckle Tecumseh Avenue School Mr. J. T. Parkinson Miss E. I. Davey Miss G. Morris Miss H. Rogers Miss M. Gregory Wortley Road School Mr. W. B. Wyatt Miss S. E. McKone Miss A. Hodges Miss C. Sparling Mrs. P. Smith Mr. T. A. Willis Miss A. Davidson Victoria School Miss A. Clarke Miss E. Deane Miss G. Bapty RURAL SCHOOLS Mr. W. G. Rignev Mr. H. Gilbert Miss H. Webb Miss I. Loft Miss M. McLean Miss L. M. Insell Miss M. Penhale Mrs. Paterson HIGH SCHOOL CRITIC TEACHERS South Collegiate Mr. J. F. Calvert, M.A. Mr. W. T. Armstrong, B.A. Mr. A. McKillop, B.A. Mr. H. B. Dinsmore, B.A. Miss B. McCamus, B.A. Mr. T. S. H. Graham, M.A. Central Collegiate Mr. J. P. S. Nethercott, B.A. Mr. C. S. Buck, M.A. Mr. E. O. Hall, M.A. Mr. W. R. Urlin, B.A. Miss D. McCann, B.A., B. Paed. Mr. E. A. Miller, M.A. Mr. R. G. Campbell, B.A. Page Nine

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Foreword HIS is the 1938 issue of the Spectrum, prepared with infinite care and patience for your enjoyment. I wish to commend my most able and efficient staff of assistants for the untiring energy and unwavering devotion in their work. To those who contributed to the magazine we say a grateful Thank you. We received much more than we could use. To the masters who have so kindly co-operated with us in producing this year book we extend our warmest appreciation. Without them the task would have been impossible. We of the year book staff sincerely hope that this issue of the Spectrum will stand out in the true significance of its name; that it will break the light, which throughout the year has emanated from our brilliant student body, into its component parts and shed the proper colour on each and every activity. — Robert- Harris. ♦♦ ♦♦ EDITOR ♦♦ ♦♦ The Tear at J ormal THE time has come for us to gather up our books, bid farewell to masters, students, Normal, landladies — friends all — and depart to our several homes, thence to fare forth in search of a school. There is not one of us but will say he is glad he came to Normal. It has been a great educa- tional experience such as no other school could have given. Since coming to Normal we have all been changed, slowly perhaps, but nevertheless changed, and all the cupboards of our inner beings have been ransacked for material to construct personalities which transcend those we brought with us here on October 14, 1937. Our practice teaching has been our greatest educational influence. It has given us a glimpse of the world we are to enter next fall, where each of us will be in charge of some little unit. It has given us confidence before an audience and practice in leadership and direction. It has given us the sense of being grown up and taking our place in the scheme of things. Our work in connection with the Normal School itself has taught us self discipline. Few of us did very much homework in high school, but when confronted nightly here with as many as six hours of homework we learned to resist the temptation to loaf and went at it with an all- conquering will to win. In the literary society and student parliament we learned to co-operate with others in presenting entertainments and conducting parties. We gained ideas of various forms of meetings and how to con- duct them. We were set high standards to live up to. In athletics and social activites we found re- laxation from toil and learned to really appreciate wholesome fun and frolic. All this and more has been our lot during the past year. Moving and guiding us through it all were our masters and instructors for whom we have nothing but gratitude, praise and profound respect. Taken all in all we could never have found a better place to spend a year of our lives, nor a place from which we would bear away so many pleasant and profitable memories to be treasured throughout the passing years. — Robert Harris. Page Eleven