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

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NORMAL SCHOOL L LONDON ONTARIO SOCIAL NOTES, Continued Once inside che ballroom — where the atmosphere of dignity still domin- ated — nothing seemed real but the music and the smoothness of the floor be- neath one ' s feet. Surely, if ever the glowing hours were chased with flying feet , it was at the At Home . As the coloured lights played over the happy dancers, one felt a certain warmness — a certain emotion — toward the fellow-stu- dents of the class rooms. One felt proud and happy to be associated with them. The evening ended all too soon, but the memory lingers on long after the sound of the music has died away. The afternoon of Monday. February the eighth. Captain Slatter was quite disgusted, for Form V-A appeared for the Physical Training class in high heels, silk hose and robes de soie ' . It was the afternoon of their tea. Ap- petizing odours were already issuing from the Household Science rooms where Form III - A was busy baking little cakes. Misses Frances Milligan. of Form V and Meryl Munro. of Form III. were the hostesses and received the guests. Mrs. Clarke and Mrs. McKone poured tea. The tea-table was decorated with a bou- quet of red and yellow tulips as the centrepiece. The guests included Form I-A and Form VI-A, the religious instructors, and the Normal School Faculty and their wives. Lucille Madill Where ? — Wong ' s. When? — March 1. 1 932. What? — An occasion for physical exercise after much mental exertion from February 24 to March 1 . Who? — Sixteen lively students from the Normal. An event of the afternoon of Tuesday, March the eighth, was a tea, given by the students of Forms I-B and IV-B. Miss Dorothy Francis and Miss Mada- line Hyland, acting as hostesses, received the guests. The table was attractively decorated with daffodils and yellow tapers. Miss Emery and Miss Heffernan poured tea. Among those present were the masters and their wives, the students of the Literary Society and the Athletic Society executives and members of Forms III-B and V-B. Dorothy Dixon Where ? — Wong ' s. When? — March 1 1,1 932. What? — A Leap Year Party. Who? — An interesting group of twenty-eight animated Normalites. About 6.30 on the evening of April the twenty-first, the social side of athletics was brought into play at Wong ' s. The two basketball teams were entertained at dinner by the City League. The less adept were tortured for the following fortnight with devastatingly distinct dissertations on the merits of the menu. Presentations and interesting addresses were other features of the evening. Since the inception of the ' 3 2 Normal Year, Form VI has endeavoured to remove any existing doubts as to their superiority. The rest of the school, after witnessing their remarkable programme on May the second, are just about prepared to concede the point. The musical selections were surprisingly well done. The male characters of the play were decidedly up- lifring (?) while the feminine roles were amazing revelations to all. Afterwards, in the gym, it was sic contra consuetudine to see the boys dodging precariously among the dancers with steaming coffee and plates heaped high with doughnuts. We shall all remember this evening as one of the most outstanding surprises of this Year. A delightful feature of our Year at Normal has been the frequent informal dances held in the gym after Literary programmes on Friday afternoons. They provide excellent recreation for us poor students after a week of toil. We appreciate the leniency of our principal in this matter and the kindness of the masters who have remained to chaperone the affairs. A little bird has suggested to us that we may have an informal gathering on the campus at the close of the Year in order to say goodbye to the staff and our fellow -students. Phyllis Love OUR CRITIC TEACHERS During our term of practice teaching at Normal School, the staff of Model Schools have conscientiously tried to avert from our shoulders the ex- pense of experience as a teacher. Kindly instruction and helpful criticism have been ours since that memorable day last Autumn when we commenced the art of Pedagogy. Discouragement seemed often just around the corner, but we were speedily driven past by a few helpful words from our Critic Teachers. In the days that follow we shall remember the inspiration afforded us by the Critic Staff. M. P. Hyland Page Twenty-Eight

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Cultivate not only the cornfields of the mind, but the pleasure-grounds also. ARCHBISHOP WHATELY Outside Convocation Hall — in the softly falling snow — with the win- dows streaming welcome out across the wide path — a feeling of barely sup- pressed excitement filled the air. You felt a thrill, a delicious little shiver of anticipation as you mounted the broad steps and passed inside the door. An atmosphere of dignity pervaded the high-ceilinged hall in which we found ourselves. Instinctively you walked with a prouder lift of the shoulders as you ascended the marble stairway. The 1 931-32 Normal Year began on September the fifteenth. The halls of our beloved Normal School were alive with would-be school teachers — most of them fresh from High Schools and Collegiatcs. There were interested ap- praisals of the school, the masters, the students — our associates-to-be for the next ten months. On the afternoon of September the twenty-fifth, the masters entertained their student-guests at a Get-Acquainted Party. In direct contrast with the dull, drizzly atmosphere outside, we were gaily engaged in beginning the friendships of our Normal Year. Games, dancing and refreshments were the order of the day and hastened the carefree hours spent in the gym. Those of us who are credulous tried hard not to appear just a wee bit frightened at the Hallowe ' en Party which we held at the School on October the thirtieth. Soft, yellow light diffused the old halls, the library and the gym- nasium. Black cats, solemn owls, eeerie jack-o-lanterns. sly witches contrived to produce the ghostly effects. A weird programme of games was followed by dancing and refreshments. The skating party on November the thirteenth was the only one held this year — unfortunately so. since it was such a success. The reason for this was that outdoor skating was a negative quantity and indoor entertainments were so frequent. We skated for about two hours at the Arena and then returned to the Household Science room where some of the non-skaters had prepared a candle- lit supper for us. The fall term ended socially with our Christmas Party on December the twenty-first. The evening began with a delightful programme in the auditor- ium for which we were indebted to some artists from Mr. Jordan ' s classes at the Institute of Musical Art. Following, Mr. Gerald Elder, charming in a red suit and white whiskers, was master-of-ceremonies in the gym . It was he who rewarded us — masters and all — for our good conduct, with a present. We danced, and dined a la buffet until closing time, which was some two hours too soon for everybody. Before the fall term ended, Form I lost a member, Miss Frances Butler, who has deserted our profession for the nobler calling. Congratulations to the lucky man! Best wishes, Frances! On February the fifteenth Mr. William Prcndergast. principal of our Normal School from 1922 to 1931. was honoured when his portrait was un- veiled and presented to the school. The staff and student body assembled in the auditorium to take part in the ceremony. Afterwards, the staff was at home at afternoon tea in the principal ' s office, the guests being Mr. and Mrs. Pren- dergast. the religious instructors and the wives of the staff. Miss Heffernan poured tea. She was assisted by the five representatives of the Literary Societv — Misses Greta Clarke, Phyllis Love, Dorothy Stevenson, Madaline Hyland and Martha Vokes. The portrait of Mr. Prcndergast has been placed in the main hall with those of the former principals. On February seventeenth. Form II - B entertained at an afternoon tea. The guests present included Mr. William Prendergast. the former principal, and Mrs. Prendergast. the members of the staff and their wives, the students in Forms II-A. IV-A and VLB. Miss Phyllis Love acted as hostess. Tea was poured by Mrs. Pickles and Miss Gahan. and served from a very prettily decorated table, by other members of Form ILB. Norma E. Kidd Page Twenty -Seven

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The Ditch- Digger A ditch-digger, lowly, dug by the road, Knee deep in the mud, yet you could see The soul of the man wasn ' t there n the slime — On the band of his hat smiled a red peony. Perhaps he had worshipped the beauty of earth — Perhaps he could feel with his spade in the sod The Paean of Life that never grows still : And in that scarlet peony — God. Margaret McKenzie Beauty Worship A mist of pearl-grey vapour Stealing o ' er the plain: A rainbow ' s benediction After the driving rain; A sunset ' s flaming splendour Over the silent lake; A moon-beam ' s irridescence When the fairies wake; All these have power to move me. To make my being thrill. So I bow before the Architect Who made them at His will Margaret McKenzie Dawn Now comes the silent peaceful hour of dawn. Se? in the east, that ashen streak of grey, 7 hat mottled semblance of a new born fawn, As Phoebus and his train announce the day. Yon pine tree stirs and nods as if to say Wake up, here is the day; while on the lawn Dew sprinkled blades sway to and fro, to pawn The last vestige of their rest in hushed way. So quiet the while earth seems, as here I stand And look from my small window, at a sight I scarce perceive, although I know ' tis God. What matters what takes place in this our land As long as things just like the dawn look bright Our worries, fears all disappear, praise God! A. Ryerson Wing Amo love music, (who does not?) Organs throbbing in the dark, Viols sobbing, and the lark Singing of his happy lot. I love people, living things Children dancing, full of joy Maidens glancing at a boy Love, and all the joy it brings. I love loving, even strife. Hopeless yearning, for success. Restless turning, happiness, But of all I most love Life. Olive Elley Roses — Ever Roses (Dedicated to Mother) Take a little rosebud, yellow, red or white. Plant it in your garden, and shower it with care; Soon ' twill blossom, fair and bright. As if God ' s hand had set it there. Take my heart. O loved one dear, Treat it as a rosebud in your garden near. But little care is needed there To make it flower lovely and fair. Ed. A. Hanseord Page Twenty-Nine