London Normal School - Spectrum Yearbook (London, Ontario Canada)

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NORMAL SCHOOL LONDON ONTARIO | Editorials — Continned YEAR BOOKS IF, when we are wandering aimlessly about the spacious halls of our Normal School during a spare, we chance to meet the editor of the Year Book, and if the editor peremptorily demands an editorial — anything, but for goodness ' sake, something! — then what are we to say? The obvious reply is, I can ' t think of anything. Surely you can write something! exclaims the editor. Why not try the topic, Year Book? After much argument and many protestations, which leave us very submissive, we finally consent. Frown not, therefore, upon our attempt. Let us first give you a peep into the inferno which precedes the finished masterpiece. The first step in the undertaking is to select from so many clever and witty students a crew of the most brilliant to pilot this literary ship successfully and on schedule into harbor. Then the real work begins. Each member of the crew takes his post whether it be at the helm or on the lookout and works faithfully towards the achievement of the final goal. One of the first indications to the student body that such an undertaking is under way, is the bulletin notice, Photos to be taken! On the appointed day, one sees every degree of splendor from a clean collar and freshly pressed trousers to a silk dress and a recent marcel. Soon this trying ordeal is over, and all are anxious to see whether or not the photographer has been able to make them into Mary Pickfords or Ramon Novarros. But to the Scotchman, at least, the success of the adventure depends upon the watchfulness of the lookout crew. They must be brave, dauntless, and constantly on the alert in order to extract advertisements from the heartless tyrants on the sea of business. On them depends the financial success of the whole venture. We must not forget, however, to laud the untiring efforts of the pilots who have both steered the ship through the rapids of business and maintained the co-operation of the crew and the entire student body throughout the undertaking. We close with the wish that the students of future years will be able to look upon the Year Book of 1927-28 as one worthy to take its place in the long succession of successful Year Books. Page Twenty ' two

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MOST people, when they see that something should be done, look around for someone else to do it. And thus it is that practical parents have handed over nearly the entire educa- tion of their children to the teachers in the schools. Behold the noble field in which we are called to labor! Surely, after all these weeks of training and instruction, we understand our duties as educators. It is not our duty to give information, but formation; we are to deal chiefly not with facts, but with faculties; it is to strive not to make our pupils encyclopedias to be re-edited every little while, but an endeavor to develop their intellects. Our pupils will need a trained mind and a power to express themselves; they will have to think, to write, to talk. In this connection, the wise teacher will make use of her opportunities to stimulate interest in the best books. The far- reaching influence of books upon child-nature can hardly be realized, in spite of all that has been said and written on the subject. Great as is their power in broadening and stimulating the young intellect, books have a still stronger influence on the moral nature. The standards of right and wrong pervading the books read go far towards forming youthful ideals. Access to books presenting neither good literature nor good morals has turned many a Dr. Jekyll to Mr. Hyde. Therefore, the utmost care is essential in the choice of books for children. Our library activities should be devoted, not only to acquaint- ing our pupils with the pleasures of reading and to fostering a refined taste, but also to teach the use of books as sources of information. Thus, in the latter we are dealing with the literature of knowledge; and in this direction lies a wide and rich field to be developed. Page Twenty-one

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OETSXT PROLOGUE As here you pause a while, dear friend, To read some line, a quip or jest, Give heed to this, our sole request; Scan with no censuring eye, nor bend A critic ' s mind to thoughts unschooled By life, but immaturely young; Let all the chaff be widely flung, To find some kernels we have pooled. Knight Autumn comes with all his brilliant train, To woo sweet Summer in her verdant dress; His subtle smile and golden wizardry, Beguile her fulsome heart in warm caress, Till languidly her drooping head takes rest In sweet content, upon his scarlet breast, And trembling lips in love to him she yields; Then, sprightly dancing elves, sly witnesses, On wings of love take hurried flight to fields, And beg pale gossamer, the milkweed ' s down, To spin the snow-white filmy wedding gjwn. AUTUMN Ah, but thou wert a ruthless traitor, knight! Thy faithless breast, a keen-edged sword concealed, Whose hilt with frosted jewels, sparkled bright And for her sanguine death, thou didst it wield; See! ' neath this oak, their tender trysting place. Great drops of Summer ' s warm life blood they trace; The trembling birches on the hill are pale; From that dread scene the sun hath hid his face; And all throughout the day, the pine trees wail While plumed golden rods stand stark and gray, Since thou, Despoiler, marchedst down the vale. And stole the life of their dear Queen away. — Estelle Haycock-