Broadview High School - Beam Yearbook (Broadview, Saskatchewan Canada)

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MY LITTLE PARADISE Everybody has a dream of what paradise is, and what it would look like. This is my version of what “My Little Paradise” would look like. I would locate it in British Columbia in some secluded little valley in the Rockies. In this little valley, there would be a lake of fresh, cool, clear water just teeming with fish of all kinds and sizes, waiting to give me the sport and relaxation of fishing. In the forest around the lake, I would have a game preserve full of all kinds of these animals and birds survive the winter months. I would also keep a couple of carnivorous and herbivorous animals. I would also raise hay and some grain to help raise good sturdy saddle ponies for my own use, and I am quite sure a horse would enjoy living there much more than it would living in some dusty old pasture. For my own quarters, I would build a lodge of sweet smelling pine logs, and I would also make all my furniture of pine. I would have the odd tawdry little con¬ veniences like a home-made shower, an outboard motor, and a sixteen foot Peter¬ borough boat. The animals I would like to have the most in my little valley are the deer, elk, moose and Rocky Mountain goat. With some mink, beaver, weasel, otters, and the odd bear just to keep things lively and also so that the valley would not become over populated. I would like to have the authority to tag birds and vaccinate the deer and other herbivorous animals to keep the valley free from disease. After I had all these things, I would not be miserly with them and I would not live like Uncle Scrooge. I would have a short-wave radio and a plane with which to communicate with the outside world. I would also take the odd visitor with me to my humble little abode, but I would be careful in picking the persons I would take for I would not want word of my paradise getting out to hunters who would come and slaughter all the wild life innocent to the ways of human beings. I would also teach lesson to these visitors I would have, as to how beautiful nature is in her own untouched, wild state, and how innocent are her animals. In this little paradise with all its beautiful trees, flowers, birds, and animals is where I would like to spend the biggest part of my life, trying to keep nature lovely in the way it was meant to be, while I enjoy good health, sports, and a clean way of living. I think my greatest enemy that I would meet in trying to do this would be the human race. For in this world of ours there seems to be an unquenchable thirst for destruction and torture of all living things, and the “Little Paradise” is my answer as to the way of avoiding all this meanness and corruption. Although all places and people are not like this, the majority are, and you may gather from this that I would like to change the world, and my answer to that is no, I would not. You cannot stop progress. You may wonder how to get enough money to acquire a little paradise such as this. The answer is, it does not cost you a penny, all you need is an imagination and the ability to be a dreamer. —Lynn Baker, Grade XII. TO HAVE OR NOT TO HAVE A running deer, The rising sun, Oh, it’s so near, And me without a gun. No running deer. No rising sun. The mom is cold and drear’ Because now I have a gun. —Barry McFadden, Grade XII.

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THE SCHOOL DAY OF JOHN Q. DOLITTLE John’s school day usually begins at 9.05 (he is always late). He saunters into the classroom and lets himself fall into his chair. Ten minutes later, he is ready to go to work. The first subject of the day is French. Now, as the only thing that interests John in France is Bridgit Barbot, he doesn’t do very well. John usually finishes his sleep he had to interrupt by coming to school, in French class. Next comes science. After his nap, John is refreshed and ready to go! Of course, he isn’t ready to work, but he is ready to have some fun. Out comes his arsenal, con¬ sisting of two boxes (which once contained geometry sets) full of miscellaneous weapons. A few of them are: compass, several tacks, several erasers and pieces of chalk, three or four elastics, and a good supply of paper wads. His aim is excellent, and he is able to hit anyone in the room. Science is one of John’s more enjoyable classes. When the recess bell gees, John is the first one out of the room. In his mad dash to the door innocent pupils are sent sprawling. And, of course, he is the last in when recess is over. After recess comes either composition or literature. In John’s opinion they are a bore. They are made especially boring because John has nothing to do. The teacher won’t let his “fool around,” and naturally he doesn’t do any work. By this time John is getting hungry. But, he still has one period to go, that is algebra. He usually manages to pass algebra at exam time, but these “flukes” don’t come from any hard work. In elementary school he used to be able to add, but algebra is a little harder so he has almost given up. The long awaited bell rings, and John is away. He crashes through the lunch crowd that is coming in, takes a short cut across the gym floor, and then saunters home. Of course, John arrives back at school late. It is now time for the geometry period. He takes out his arsenal again and begins a full scale war with the boys on the other side of the room. Social Studies class now comes around. For John this is another rest restricted period. He finds it very boring if he can’t play, and since he has no desire to work, John takes his afternoon nap. Often this nap is interrupted by the teacher very rudely suggesting that John had better remain after school. Afternoon recess is a repeat performance of the morning recess. The last period of the day is Latin. John is much too lazy to take Latin, so this gives him a spare period. Most of the boys congregate at the back and fight, throw desks, chairs, and running shoes, much to the frustration of the Latin teacher. Finally, the last bell rings. But, John’s school day is not over yet. Everyday, without fail, he has a detention to serve. He has his own favorite seat in the de¬ tention room, and it is almost like home. Detention over, with a sigh and a yawn, John leaves the school, and another day is over. -—Donald Perrie, Grade X. OWNING A T.V. SET Owning a T.V. set is not all it is “cracked” up to be. In fact, at times, it is an absolute nuisance. There are few, if any, educational programs being telecast and the rest is ninety-nine per cent trash. The “humerous” programs usually end up looking pretty sick to all those but the feeble minded who have no perception of the finer arts. When one of these better programs comes on, the set is usually shut off with the comment, “Who wants to watch that junk?”, never thinking they might enjoy it if they gave it a chance. T.V. could become an important media of learning if used for learning. It softens their bodies and minds. They become pale and wan with no ambition, initiative or imagination. Are these the kind of people we want to lead our nation? Certainly not! What we want are streng, healthy, intelligent people who will do their utmost for their chosen fields of labor. How can we become this by sitting before a twenty-one inch, flickering image of trash? We can’t! T.V. should be revived for the education and betterment of our people, not the destruction. The telecasting hours should be cut down so people would go out and amuse themselves and develop strong bodies and minds. If something is not changed, we will practically cease to exist other than before our T.V. sets. If that is our future, I do not wish to be part of it. —Cathie Anderson, Grade IX.

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A BAD ACCIDENT There was an old man from Blackheath Who sat on his set of false teeth, He cried with a start, “Oh Lord, bless my heart, I’ve bitten myself underneath.” —Elaine McLeod, Grade IX. MIXED UP The stars were out, The sun was hot, He was where I was not. The grass was green, The snow was deep, The posies awoke From a long summer sleep; The birds above Their nests did build. I stepped on an ant The poor bug was killed. He didn’t moan, He didn’t groan, He said with a whimper, “Please send me home.” I looked at my watch, It seemed to say, “You’ve wasted your time and day away Writing a poem you know nothing about, You’re nothing but a stupid lout.” —Margaret Thompson, Grade X. TRAVELLING! ! Bumping, sliding, Banging, crashing, Crying, hurting, Landing At the bottom of the stairs. —Diane Wysoskey, Grade XI.