Halifax Grammar School - Grammarian Yearbook (Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada)

Page 7 text:

May I say hello and farewell in one breath? The first week I met you I remember saying I liked what I saw, this is even more true now, but to be honest I must add there were also some things that anybody would dislike. Some of these have been remedied and I think you are on your way to being a great school. You have not only a fine building, but much more important, -- you yourselves - with which to accomplish this. High scholastic standards alone do not make a great school, there are many other factors, not least among which is the ability to get along with your neighbours - which certainly you have not been doing up to the present. According to a recent survey determining what employers want in their employees, this very factor - getting along with people, came first, even above ability and high marks. It was also found that character was three times as important as your lessons. Now don ' t misunderstand, lessons are important, in fact, so important ■ that without them, you can ' t even get started, practically no door, except that of unskilled labour is open to you. It is necessary to say that those who prepare themselves to enter the world of work have a huge advantage over those that make no such preparation., to-day, even a good education is not as important as it used to be, to-day itfp a case of a good education for what. However, it is not my intention to lecture you, but to wish you well, and to thank you for the co-operation which most of you so generously gave me. So thank you and good luck. H . Y . Haines

Page 9 text:

OUR NEW PRINCIPAL, MR. MACNEILL Mr. Haines, who unfortunately will not be here next year will be replaced by Mr. MacNeill, a native of Dublin, Ireland. Mr., MacNeill obtained his M.A. at Trinity College, Dublin in Modern History and Political Science. He first taught at Kilkenney College, Kilkenny, Ireland. After this office he moved to England in 1947 where he became Head of a boyd grammar school in Dorset. In 1954» Mrc MacNeill came to Canada and since then has been teaching in schools in Quebec and Ontario respectively. For the past three years he has been the Principal of the Carleton Place High School near Ottawa . A chief interest of the new principal is the United Nations and its work. He has lectured on international affairs under the auspices of the U.N. A. of Great Britain. He has a keen interest in the National Committee of Unesco and was a member of it » The theatre and reading are very much liked by Mr. MacNeilh By way of sport Mr. MacNeill and his wife are ardent golfers, although , not very good so he says. Mr. MacNeill views corporal punishment with a critical eye and agree? that in general it should definitely be avoided. He believes, however, that in extreme cases it should be usedo It should be avoided if humanly possible. When asked whether next year he would insist on a school uniform, Mr. MacNeill replied that a uniform was not necessary but that a standard form of dress should be required. He suggested grey trousers, white shirt and tie as a minimum requirement. He is agreed that as many sports as can be fitted in the school year should be played as long as they did not interfere with the school curriculum. He thinks that the House System is a good one if they are picked wisely and evenly. Mr. MacNeill thinks that the school building is a good one for the amount of pupils there, but that t here are a lot of things to improve, A school crest was suggested recently and he is all for it. Art and music are two subjects with high esteem in Mr. MacNeill ' s mind. He thinks however, that the school has alotted enough time for these subjects. He would like to start teaching drama for those interested next year.