Balmoral Hall School - Optima Anni Yearbook (Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada)

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ancy: Head Girl Elisabeth: School Captain This year it has become more and more evident that the future of the boarding school is in debate. The social environment in Canada today exerts pressures on residences so that many times, es- pecially in the girls' schools, they are unable to cope with them. The trend towards breaking down the class structure has instilled in people the idea that private schools are a breeding ground for petty snobs . As well, inflation and high taxes discourage parents from paying extra for their chiIdren's education. lt would be a shame to see the private school disappear entirely. Balmoral Hall offers a good scholastic education but what is more important, it gives its girls a chance to become individuals. At larger schools, especially at the critical ages, it is very easy for a girl to lose her identity, not enough encouragement and individual attention is given. At BH, perhaps because it has a residential atmosphere, a personal touch is added to school life. The social pressures found in public schools tie., competition over clothes, boysl is, obviously, not found here and this also makes it easier for girls to really be themselves. The opportunity for girls to meet girls from all different parts of the country, to learn to live together in co-operation, and to accept and put forward different view points can only be beneficial. It is for these reasons, let alone academic ones, that schools like Balmoral Hall should not be let to fold. The urge to keep it going must come from within the school. The saying United we standg divided we fall is a true one, as is the well-worn one that the school is what you make it . School spirit should not just be pulled out once in a while - it should be the mainstay of the school. ln closing, we would like to thank you very much for giving us this opportunity to learn and to experience responsibility. Yours sincerely, Nancy Bi ley, Lis Deckker 21

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EDITGRIAL From September 1970 through June 1971, the world has seen many changes, many spectacular occurrences. Natural and political crises have arisen, some unexpected. Minor skirmishes and full-scale attacks have been dealt between opposing factions. Emergency measures were enforced in Canada to deal with a national crisis. Specific trials have come to light as extreme examples of social judgement. More wide-scale pollution is being recognized. Epidemics struck certain parts of the world, and other forms of disaster wiped out thousands of people at a time. The year has been one of tragedy, of confusion. All is not despair, however. Governments strive to pass legislation to benefit their people, and scientific breakthroughs now alleviate some form or other of life. Depressed minority groups are being recognized as such and are rightly gaining equality. There have been celebrations both joyous and numerous. Individuals have found that personal achievements are rewarded through various channels. Spiritual awakenings are also trans- mitted more widely. The year has been one of happiness, of contentment. This June, a number of Balmoral Hall's girls will graduate from the school and emerge into the world at large. Each girl has her individual ambition, her hope for the future. Each has been fortunate to receive the preparation for her ventures by the dedicated teachers and staff of Balmoral Hall. The girls have been pampered, but not only so. ln the time they have attended this school, they have learned to live. Our school has been a kind of mirror of the world for the girls. Balmoral Hall was their immediate sphere of experience, but the world happenings were impressed upon them. They knew about what went on within the school, and most took an active part in its society. The world is fast changing. lts affairs are now passing into our hands, those of today's youth. We are women, and the woman's role in the world has widened. Therefore, we as BH girls have a number of enormous obligations to fulfill. Now the time has come for each girl to recognize and apply her resources towards securing for society in gen eral a world of justice, of prosperity, of peace. Connie Kucharczyk, Editor. 20

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E ECUTIVE CCU CIL -5 EXECUTIVE AND STUDENT COUNCILS There were 15 meetings of the Student Council this year. Although vve planned to hold meetings every second vveek, often other extracurricular activities interfered. The representatives of the council this year helped plan the dances, tally-ho, and coffee-houses, and on the whole the council worked well. As vvell, the Executive Council carried on meetings. I suggest that in future strict order be kept in these meetings, as they often proved useless. However, for the most part, it worked well. Thanks so much to all the class presidents and vice-presidents as well as the Dalton House Com- mittee for all your contributions to the running of the Student Council this year. Good luck to next year's council. Nancy 22