Westfield State University - Tekoa Yearbook (Westfield, MA)

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. 1909 l'l'ESTFlELD NORJIAL. 17 iwhen, in our notebooks of the fall term, he found that we had been very generous with red ink. NVe soo11 learned that, although both Mr. Allyn and Mr. Monroe liked red ink, it would be a good plan to be a. trifie more economical with it. Get the idea? Dur- ing the first week or two we had a most enjoyable time. thought Normal School very easy, and resolved to get the full benefit of our stay here. For some unknown reason. it seems almost a dream now, Mr. Monroe was not present at the opening of the school, and did not put in an appearance until a whole week had pa.ssed. Strange, was it not? Mr. imma did not come until we had been here about two weeks and so, with the absence of two of our teachers, life here at first was very unlike what it was after they were all here. During the first term we studied Zoology under Mr. XYilson. It was not long before Normal girls could be seen almost any time in Search of grasshoppers, crickets, etc., some of which caused very strenuous and exciting times in Dickinson Hall. In arith- metic, under Mr. Allyn. we learned that a subject may have very different aspects, and were obliged to look upon this one in a different way than we had ever before thought of it. keeping always to the practical side. Is it not so? Having learned that no text books were used in this subject. we thought it would be very interesting indeed but, when repeatedly questioned as to actual facts? we thought of it in a different light. 'With Mrs. Knight we had grammar and here, at least. was one class in which we were always greeted with a pleasant smile and allowed to recite with the use of all of our senses. XVith Mr. Monte we soon learned to distinguish all the colors of the rainbow in any one of the beauties of Nature and were happy to think that we could always get the H1llOllI.f.H Although we had been fully warned as to the proper thing to expect in Mr. Monroe 's classes, we came out of our first reci-

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16' lVESTFIELD NORMAL. 1909 0115155 lgiatnrg Given- T11 ursday, June 17, 1909, at the Banquet. BY SEPTA LYNN. NE of the most noteworthy events of modern history oc- curred on September 12, 1907. On that date the Class of 1909 of the 1Vestfield Normal School entered this fa- mous institution of learning. Our aim in coming here was the same as other classes have had and will have, namely,- a. desire to manipulate the ruler and to learn how it may be done most effectively. Although we came into existence in much the same way as other classes there was one important difference for which we were very grateful, and we hope the same privilege may be ac- corded to all classes of this school hereafter. Former classes, be- fore entering, were obliged to take examinations as a test- of the knowledge they had already acquired. In place of these, we were allowed to submit certificates of our high standing in the various high schools from which we came. Needless to say, we availed ourselves of the opportunity, excepting a few who desired to show that examinations could not frighten them. Now that almost two years have passed it is hard to tell what our first impressions were, but this much can be said: Vxlhatever they were, they were supplied by the seniors who, the evening before school opened, took great pains to give us a very clear concept of each member of the faculty, with the traits of character of each, also various suggestions as to how to get on the 'fright side of them. Mr. Allyn should not have blamed us

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18 WESTFIELD NORJIAL. 1.909 tation with him with little hope of ever getting Hsignedf' Vie were to him the young juniors. Sometimes our voices failed us: at other times reason was so impaired by fright that Mr. Monroe failed to Hget the point in our recitations and we were obliged to call upon our colleagues for help. Such instances brought forth ejaculations fro111 our psychology professor, which it would be hard to imitate. In the study of the history of edu- cation it would have been well if we had had a previous course in phonetic shorthand. The day our notebooks were first in- spected was a red letter day in the history of '09. The worst part of the work in these classes was the fact that so little en- couragement was held out to us. One girl, who entered a few weeks late. when told that it was almost impossible for her to do the work, and that it was useless for her to expect to get throughf' decided that she would give up the idea. and so made it her last as well as her first day. , XYith Miss Cummings we spent many pleasant periods inthe gymnasium at Dickinson Hall after a hard day's work. She, together with Mrs. Knight, we found to be the most considerate of our teachers. In these periods we were never allowed to overwork ourselves Cand never didj. Two other teachers whom we had throughout the year were Mr. Goodwin and Mr. Brodeur. The former did his best to implant in our minds the Hseven time principles, and if they are not there still it is through no fault 'of Mr. Goodwin One period of each week was devoted to pedagogy. in which we had various interesting discussions, varying from My boy at college to Hthe standard authors. As time we11t on there grew a desire for class organization. Our first class meeting was called and conducted by our prin- cipal. It resulted in the election of class officers for the year. After that. meetings were held regularly. and one of the first things we did was to choose honorary members. Other classes