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

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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

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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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The First Term Student Parliament THE election of the officers for the first term parliament was hotly contested. There were many vital, compelling, and insistent candi- dates. Out of the hubbub of campaigning arose a new and vigorous cry — Only a woman can protect the interests of women. So it came to pass that three of the four offices were filled by women — the exception was Earle Sanborn. When two more men, in the persons of Frank Bagnall and John Laidlaw, were added to the cabinet, it took the combined efforts of Annie Snobelen and Helen Morrison to uphold the rights of Normal womanhood. It was only after profit- able, enjoyable, and intellectual debates that your Christmas cards emerged, your budget evolved and your constitution became amended. Meanwhile, the president, who had promised to keep her finger on the pulse of the student body, felt a tremor which she interpreted as a desire to dance. Before long the cabinet was confronted with the facts that Normal School dances were rarely a financial suc- cess, and almost never included the entire student body. Slowly, steadily and with increasing mo- mentum it became an obsession of the cabinet to make a complete success of the first social function. There was motivation, direction, and purpose in every eye as the cabinet convened to discuss the plans for a dance. Lenore Dale vowed to prepare such refreshments as would never be forgotten. John Laidlaw pledged himself to design programmes so that the dance might progress smoothly. Frank Bagnall confessed a yearning to transform the gymnasium with red and yellow paper. Beatrice Mclntyre and Rose Zankan went bargaining for an orchestra and planned games. Earle Sanborn rose to the occasion by declaring dramatically, I shall provide escorts for the one hundred extra girls, — if you will help me. Thus plans crystallized, the cabinet toiled and were rewarded. They had made mistakes, of course, but they had achieved their purpose and were bound more closely together. The term rolled on, bringing the presentation of the slate of officers for the Year Book staff, the selection of designs for the school pins, and the arrangement of the Christmas party. The formal dance at the Hollywood was the consequence of numerous requests by students. The idea of a floor show of Normal School talent was conceived and carried out by Frank Bagnall. The same people gave their time, energy, and loyalty to the arranging of this dance; only this time they acted with a fund of experience to draw upon, and with a standard to surpass. The year book of 1937-38 is to contain no group pictures, so in order to keep a record of the cabinet I name them here, Dorothy Long — President Earle Sanborn — Vice-President Helen Morrison — Secretary Annie Snobelen — Treasurer Frank Bagnall — First Form Representative Lenore Dale — Second Form Beatrice Mclntyre — Third Form Rose Zankan — Fourth Form John Laidlaw — Auditor. This cabinet only stands as one among many of its predecessors. Other cabinets will follow. We, only, shall remember meetings held on street corners and buses; incidents humorous and tragic; friendships tested, and found worthwhile! — Dorothy Long. The Second Term Student Parliament THE Second Term Student Parliament Execu- tive, namely the Cabinet, were present at their first meeting on Feb. 22, 1938. The members were : Honorary President — Dr. Mark President — Norman Powe Vice-President — Doris McDougall Treasurer — Helen Lillie Secretary — Ora Rogers Form Representatives — Murray Riach I Ruth Fox II Margaret McDiarmid III Jean Robertson IV. The first item to be dealt with was the order- ing of the school rings and pins, which was done accordingly. The next important matter was the arranging of a Saint Patrick ' s party. Therefore several Wednesday afternoons found us busy with these problems. It was our privilege to meet several members of the Teachers ' Federation at tea at Governor Simcoe School. We enjoyed a lengthy chat and offered our utmost support to the Federation. We of the second term Student Cabinet feel it indeed an honour to have held office. We thank the staff and student body for their support and wish the same good fortune to future Student Cabinets. — Ora Rogers. Page Twelve