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

Page 14 text:

H.G.S. Grows A Report on the New Laboratories On Monday, November 19, Premier John Buchanan pushed a shovel into the earth outside the Halifax Grammar School, symbohcally starting the construction of our new laboratories. A few days later, Blunden Construction began building the foundation of an addition whose importance is only rivalled by the gymnasium and the library built in 1974-5. The need for new labs has been obvious for years to everyone involved with the school. The standards of excellence which the school sets for itself, especially as regards preparation for university, could not be maintained in the sciences with the existing facilities. The chemistry physics lab was inadequate when the school was first built , says Mr. Montgomery. According to one former teacher he and a few of the students actually knocked some of the tables and shelves together themselves. And the biology lab Mr. Montgomery continues, is just a joke. The room was never designed as such. The only thing that distinguishes it as a lab is one sink. It ' s an insult to our teachers. Certainly the chemistry physics lab is cramped and disorganized, and it presents fire hazards with its electric outlets on the floor, and lack of fume hoods and insufficient storage space. There is no room to set up equipment for complex experiments and leave it, or for the teacher to stand behind his students to oversee their work. Our new labs will change all this. Designed by Jerry MacNeil Architects, they will be appointed with all of the things essential to the modern high school laboratory; fume hoods, a safety shower, overhanging electrical units, a greenhouse, balance rooms, separate glass storage and an abundance of space. Furthermore, there will be three separate labs, specialized for the study of.chemistry, physics, and biology. They will, however, be versatile; and with the right kind of furniture ( We plan to experiment, says Mr. Montgomery) math and other cla sses will easily be taught in them. While the need for such facilities has been openly acknowledged for at least a decade, it was when Douglas Williams was Headmaster and David Roscoe Chairman of the Board that the decision was made that it was time to start . But the committment to go could not be made until we could see what monies could be raised from the parent body. The total cost including landscaping will be about $350,000. Slightly over $200,000 has been pledged by parents thus far, and an anonymous donation of $25,000 was made to the school specifically to allow construction to start. Long-term financing will have to be arranged. Construction has been going well, which will help to keep costs down, and the only delays have been minor ones due to the discovery of trench rock , the necessity of laying a new sewer line, and a late steel delivery. If all continues to go well the labs will be ready to open next September. The school will look very different, having had a real face-lift in front, and some interior reorganization as well. The old chemistry physics lab will be converted to a primary classroom; the old biology lab will become a music room; and the art room will be extended to include half of Room 204, which will become a seminar room. Finally, the design of the addition is such that, should it ever become necessary, it could readily be extended in all sorts of ways. Christopher Caines

Page 13 text:

Editress ' Message Why would anyone allow herself to become editress of the grammarian? This is an intriguing question which I have been pondering for some time. After a serious consultation with two prominent theorists on erratic adolescent behavior, vis., Dr. K. Silver and Dr. K. Nathanson, both of whose opinions I esteem highly, I concluded that the two fundamental reasons for her doing so are: (1) a Hitler-like hunger for power and (2) stupidity. The hunger for power reason is easily enough understood; after all, everyone knows there are approximately twelve people on the Grammarian staff subordinate to the editress, each one anxious and willing to perform any task of which the editress wishes completion. These twelve diligent individuals salute the editress whenever they perceive her noble features, foremost among them her beak, in the corridors; they immediately silence them- selves whenever the editress enters the same room which they occupy and, upon seeing that the editress has decided to grace them with her empress-like presence, they say respectfully Good day, Your Editorial Grace . What wonderful tributes are paid to the deserving person of the editress each day! What praise and what immeasurable loyalty an editress must feel from her underlings! You may be asking at this point but where does stupidity enter the whole matter? Surely one is not to be called stupid, but to be quite envied and honoured for holding the illustrious position of editress. One only learns how stupidity is involved after actually experiencing chief- editorship on the Grammarian, as I did. Did those aforementioned individuals rush to carry out any of my orders? HA! The matter is laughable; far be it from any of those twelve sub- ordinates to dirty their hands with menial year book labour. Indeed, it was the down- trodden editress who was forced to execute or supervise each task and all the while seething, trying to control her rage at such incompetence. When one of those staffers discerned my image in the halls more often than not it was greeted by a low grumbling of Oh no... the slave-driver again and salutes were very rare indeed. Did those individuals hush when I entered a room in which a Grammarian meeting was about to occur, or rather explode? No — they continued bickering amongst themselves, obviously unaware that a supreme being had entered their midst. These people are completely without gratitude. Why, when I suggested the Grammarian be devoted entirely to me, page after page of glowing tributes and flattering photographs, they laughed. What audacity, what thanklessness! After the apparent worth- lessness of my first suggestion I humbly recommended that we would only effect a small change in my favour; we would change the name of the year book from the Grammarian to the Gram-MARY-an but still my suggestion was greeted by boos and jeers. Thus, I have examined the two basic reasons for allowing myself to dirty my name with the title of editress. My advice to any unsuspecting individual, who finds herself being nonchalantly asked, Would you like to become assistant editress for the Grammarian? (for this is where the whole scandal starts, my friends,) scream NO , slash your wrists, join a religious order, or become a history professor — but never, under any circumstances, say YES . Despite my complaining, which is only in fun, there were a few caring and helping souls who eased somewhat the burden of editorship — thank you Mr. Montgomery, Dr. T. Brownlow, and, especially. Miss K. Silver. I am also eternally grateful to the industrious and enthusiastic staff of the Grammarian who are responsible for the creation of this terrific year book. Almost at the end of my tether, Mary S. Langille, Editress — 8 —

Page 15 text:

Graduates — 10 —