Hugh John Macdonald School - Searchlight Yearbook (Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada)

Page 7 text:

3 First, let me offer my congratulations to every student and my thanks to every teacher who had a part in the production of this, another Searchlight. Every¬ one who has written material that has been chosen for this magazine justly will feel pride in having expressed in prose or verse the thoughts that others will read and enjoy. Those who have assisted in assembling, arranging and in putting together this publication will have gained valuable experiences. In the past, many boys and girls, who later in life became writers for newspapers, magazines or book- publishers, or who otherwise founded their careers in the publishing business, obtained their earliest experiences in this line of endeavour, by aiding in the creation of their own local school papers. And who can foresee just how far- reaching may be the benefit derived by those who have contributed in any way to the success of this our own production? At the end of the year, companies and private individuals in business take stock to discover exactly what profit has been made during the year, what business adventures have proved to be worthwhile, and what can be learned from the experiences of the year that will be helpful in future dealings. Similarly, might we not profit by reviewing what we have done in this school year? Let us review the past year at school. Have we, by our study, gained in knowledge that has helped us to understand better the complex world in which we find ourselves? For instance, do we understand and appreciate better the physical world about us through our study of science? Only as we learn the laws that govern nature can we hope to direct the forces of nature - heat, light, electricity, vital energy and the power of chemical change - to our own profit. And what, for instance, have we learned from social studies that deals with the ways people in the past have met their problems in the world in xvhich they found themselves? Many suffered and died in the past that we, who have come after, might be more free, live in a safer world, and be more able to gain the necessities of life - and so survive. Have we become more intelligent social beings because of our study of the way people in the past have planned, worked and struggled to make this a world of peace and plenty? If we have, may we not be able to go forward into a new year of life as a more useful citizen? On the other hand, if we have failed to exert ourselves sufficiently to gain this knowledge, are we a credit to the home and cowminity that are giving us this opportunity?

Page 9 text:

4 Words are the bodies in which ideas dwell. When we put these words together we are able to communicate to others what we are thinking. Indeed these words are necessary if we are to think at all. Only as we read and listen are we able to gather the ideas and thoughts of others. How many new ideas and beautiful thoughts have we learned this year that have made us individually finer boys and girls because of our study of literature and through our reading? When you grow up what are you going to be? Your parents have been pondering this too. When you were making an aeroplane or a dress for a doll, you were so interested in what you were doing that everything else seemed unimportant. But today possibly that interest is gone and you are bending your energies towards other things that now seem more important. Thus, through your experiences in life, as gained through doing, and reading and listening to others, do you gradually learn wherein your deepest interests lie and what you are best fitted for in life. What a pity it is when a boy or girl ceases to go to school to continue to learn and profit by the experiences of others so that he or she may more easily discover what is best for him or for her to do in life. Again, unless you learn to spell and write properly, and learn to calculate accurately and think clearly through your study of mathematics, and learn to express your mind pictures and feelings through a study of art and music, do you think you will be able to take your places successfully in the busy work-a-day world and be happy, useful citizens? Yes, you have had a busy year if you have done your best, and no doubt you have enjoyed both the work and the play. Most of you, at present in Grades 7 and 8, will be looking forward to happy days of work and play next year in good old Hugh John. But what of our present Grade 9 students? We shall miss you with regret from our halls next year for then jou will be sailing forth into unknown seas. To you we join in saying, Bon voyage , and may we meet again. Soon, a well-earned holiday awaits all who have done their best whether you pass or fail. So, anon. Happy Holidaysl