Branksome Hall - Slogan Yearbook (Toronto, Ontario Canada)

Page 7 text:

YEARxBOOK, 1959 MISS RUTH CRAIG, M.A. Academic Head of the Senior School.

Page 6 text:

Page 4 THE BRANKSOME SLOGAN Dear Girls: Charles Kingsley once said, ' Thank God every morning that you have sonnething to do that day, whether you like it or not. Being forced to work, and forced to do your best, will breed in you temperance and self-control, diligence and strength of will, cheerfulness and contentment, and a hundred other virtues that the idle never know ' During this year you have had few idle moments between studies and school activities. Some of the virtues enumerated by Kingsley are undoubtdedly yours, but we expect more from our Branksome graduates than mental, moral, and social attributes, important as these are. Since the founding of the School in 1903 both Miss Scott and Miss Read have placed the Bible in the centre of our teaching. The lessons learned from it should remain with you always. You will, I know, remember the four cornerstones: truth, honesty, justice and purity, and you will not forget to Keep Well the Road. As you look forward to the future remember what another writer, not so well known as Kingsley, has said. After reminding us that we have not been promised ' Skies always blue, ' ' she says: Buf God HATH promised Strength for the day, Rest for the labourer, Light on the way; Grace for the trial Help from above. Unfailing sympathy. Undying love. May courage and strength be yours! Affectionately,

Page 8 text:

Page 6 THE BRANKSOME SLOGAN EDITORIAL It is often said in truthful mockery that everyone from fourth form to first year university knows everything. Since the prime purpose of education is to teach the student how to think, and at this stage education is not a finished achievement, this omniscience is natural. We (for I am included in this group) have learned much, but not yet how much there is to learn. University is a preparation for thought, but mainly a lesson of inde- pendance and responsibility which must be learned well by all who wish to advance farther. Life itself is the only school to teach the process of reasoning, and it does not discriminate among its pupils. The only require- ment is an open mind, but unfortunately those of youth are very often closed. Satisfied with the knowledge that books provide, we consider the days of schooling over. In the sense which the words have for students, yes, but we must not shut our minds to learning, for one cannot learn if unwilling, and the opportunity will not come often. In June we will study for our Departmental Examinations, and ' ' try to impress our examiners with a knowledge of our subjects. But it is futile to try to impress anyone else. With years of schooling and experi- ence behind them, our parents and teachers merely laugh at our superior- ity. As we continue in our education, let the idea be always with us — think, and keep an open mind. The more that is learned, the more there is to be learned, and the sign of a man who has learned to think is humility because of his ignorance. If all knowledge could be inscribed in a circle so that all inside was Known, and all outside was Unknown, then as more was learned the circumference of the circle would grow. But as it grew with Knowledge, so would the number of points in it touching the Unknown. JOCELYN AYERS, Editor.