Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts - Mohawk Yearbook (North Adams, MA)

Page 13 text:

UIDWAIQD A tree that looks to God all day, And lifts its leafy arms to pray. These lines by Joyce Kilmer give rise to the debatable question, Why do tree branches point up ? Foresters will tell us that the limbs reach upward towards the sun, spreading to admit the light, to allow the air to circulate freely, and to stimulate fully the capillary flow of the necessary fluids manufactured in the little factories called leaves. This reply is correct but does this material explanation satisfy? Does it leave with the hearer the same feeling, the same sudden realization of the greatness of the Heavenly Father that Kilmer's explanation leaves? His lines give a wonderfully simple and natural answer to the ques- tion. It is a pleasant thought, that of a tree spending its lifetime in a gentle, murmuring prayer to the Great Creator, a prayer emphasized by every sighing wind or careless breeze, by each rude storm which, passing, leaves the sturdy limbs tempest tossed, still pointing upward, and by myriads of happy songsters who, nesting in the foliage, send their sweet chorus to the heavens in a melodious sweep of sound. In sunshine or storm, by day or night, in summer or winter, spring or fall, the leafy arms are eternally lifted, rendering praise. These two answers to the problem are both fine. Each contains a beautiful thought, but one is material, the other, ethereal. One is printed in science textbooks, the other is written indelibly in the hearts of many, small and great. One satisfies the intellect: the other, the soul. One is taught in the classroomg the other we learn to value highly as we journey through life. Each explanation is absolutely necessary. Food is needed for both mind and soul, and food for both is found in the answer to our question. Without the spirit, of what use are the workings of the mind? Without the thought behind, of what use the spirit? Without Kilmer's beautiful idea of the Being behind our being, of what good the wonderful story of the life He gave? Our little question is answered. The thoughts which have risen from it have challenged ages of wise and brilliant men. Rita Mead '37 page c'I1'z'cn

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MISS PEARSON If any North Adams Normal School grraduate, State Teachers' College student. faculty member, past or present, were asked to give a synonym for art, the answer would be Miss Pearsong so completely does she express the art life of this college. Everyone who has learned through her wit and wisdom enjoys more of the beauty of livinggg the eye is led to look at a tall tuft of flowers beside the brook g each drinks the wine the morning spills and sees the light on yonder hills. Although Miss Pearson has warm and understanding' appreciation of the Berkshires. she is quite the wanderer to places strange and fanciful. Her eyes of wonder and hands of skill have given to many the joy of vicarious travel, and now that another dream argues the death of an old duty we wish her great happiness in her continued search for beauty. G. L. D. page fcn

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. . .-gr ' A -...ui 2' ' BELL i . FACULTY GROVER C. BOWMAN President Mr. Bowman received his A.B. from Williams in 1906 and his A.M. from Yale in 1912. He has also done graduate work at Columbia. He began his work in the educational field at a private academy in New York City. For about five years he was rural supervisor in various towns in Connecticut. He was superintendent at Fairfield - W'estport, Seymour, and Thompsonville, Connecticut. He was instructor of education at Middlebury College Summer School from 1914 to 1918 and at the Yale Summer School from 1920 to 1924. He came to North Adams as superintendent in 1922. Mr. Bowman has been a member of the faculty of the Univer- sity Extension Department for thirteen years. BERNICE BATCHELDER Instructor in Reading Methods, Children's Literature, Language Methods, Activities and the Integrated Curricula, Story Telling, Hand Writing, Geography, American History, and Education for better Human Relations. Miss Batchelder is a graduate of Bridgewater Normal School. She received her B.S. in Education from Boston University and an M.A. from Teachers College, Columbia. She has attended many summer schools and has taught in several. Being a spe- cialist in reading and music, she has traveled all over United States lecturing and demonstrating for Silver Burdett and Co. Miss Batchelder's experience as a teacher of primary grades was obtained at North Reading. Wakefield, and other Massa- chusetts towns. She was also primary supervisor at Salem Normal School in charge of four rooms. LILLIAN BOYDEN lHSfI'll1'llll' of .llllsic Miss Boyden is a graduate of Bridgewater Normal School. She received her B.S. and A.M. from Boston University. She has had experience as head of Music Depart- ment, Friends School, Wilmington, Delaware, Director of Girls' and Womens' Activi- ties at St. Bartholemew Parish House, New York City, acting Dean at the Gorham Normal School, Maine, Academic head of Junior High at the Knox School, Coopers- town, New York, and Resident Director of the Students' House, Boston. Miss Boyden has also had six years of intensive private study in piano, organ, and voice. THOMAS F. CCMMINGS Instructor in I,I'fll'fI.l'll1 Arts Mr. Cummings is a graduate of the North Adams Schools and has taken a summer course at Columbia University. He is Manual Training Supervisor of the North Adams Schools as well as at the State Teachers College. page fll'f'Il'!'