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

Page 8 text:

Main Erilramr. London Normal Scliool (4]

Page 7 text:

Consulliti ' Editor Dr. C W. H offerd Editor-in-chief Anne Park Associate Editor . . - . . Marion McClafferty Business Mayia ' er ...... Kingsley Vogan Art Editor ....... Margaret Carter Photography ....... Betty McCallum Literary ....... Ciertriide Bergej ' Iliimonr ........ Isabelle Hale Girls ' Athletics ...... Margaret Beattie Boys ' Athletics ...... Edwin Gawley Visitors ........ Edna Leeson Typist ........ Margaret Phipps

Page 9 text:

MALEDICTDR m nWWJ W WJ Winum jmJWJWWJW j,JUJ IJ UWJ I |T is hard to bid farewell to Normal. Enjoyable associations with masters and fellow-students, both in the classroom and without, have fostered friendships which make parting a sadness. Personal memories of success and failure, of hard work and good times — the night our boarding-house mistress com- plained when we spent nearly an entire night trying to master Principles of Method, the time it rained when we went hiking, the happy day when we blundered upon an honour lesson — how powerfully such memories charge with sentiment our thoughts of Normal! Even the old school building itself — the impressive reach of the building and tower, the graceful curve of the walk, the picture-laden walls of the rooms — rouses a feeling of sorrow at the prospect of departure from it. Yes, it is indeed hard to bid farewell to Normal. But the sadness of departure is more than a little tinged with a kind of joy, for the conclusion of this year marks the beginning of a great new period in our lives. Next year will find us teachers and leaders in various communities throughout the country — afire with the high ideals and enthusiasm of youth. May this divine flame, whose presence makes teaching full with zest and inspiration, and whose absence renders it drab and almost profitless, burn within us as long as we have pupils within our care. May we never fail to found our lessons upon sound principles of method, and at the same time to enliven them with delightful variations of originality; to research in the science of teaching, not merely to accept the statements of others; and to practice teaching as an art, not as a job which must be done. Perhaps it is this view of the life ahead of us which rouses the feeling that there are so many worth-while things to think and do, and so little time in which to do them, that we can not too soon leave this school and take up our positions. And so, anticipation of the life ahead tempers the sadness of departure with a kind of joy. To all those who have helped and instructed us throughout the year, we express our deepest gratitude — to the masters and instructors whose patience and kindliness have been a lesson in themselves, to the critic teachers whose suggestions have proved so helpful, and to the boarding-house mistresses whose motherly welcomes have made us feel at home. Indeed, not only have these made our year most profitable, but they have made it so pleasurable also that the days seem actually to have flown by like laughter in the wind. It is almost as if we must say in one breath, as did the Roman poet, ave atque vale — hail and farewell. Brief but full has been our day at Normal. It is with mingled feelings of sorrow and gladness, of regret and eagerness, that we bid farewell to her halls. — K. VOGAN. (5)