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

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Student Parliament First Term MANY enjoyable social functions have been sponsored throughout this term by the Student Parliament. Our first opportunity to become acquainted with the Staff and Students was on Friday, September 18: The afternoon was spent in games, conducted by Miss Rider on the School campus, after which a social half-hour was enjoyed over the teacups in the Library. On October 29 the halls of our School were filled with witches, owls, cats and fine ladies and gentlemen in gay robes. It was the Halloween Party. The company gathered in the auditorium for the first part of the programme during which there was a Grand March and Grace Graham obtained the prize for the most original costume. After a weird ghost story had been told by Jim Mark, the group separated to different rooms for games. A tasty lunch was served in the sewing- room and the evening was topped off by dancing in the gym . The Christmas party on Thursday, December 17, was an outstanding success. The gymnasium was gaily decorated with the seascn ' s colours and the mistle- toe over the door caused a gieit deal of amusement. The first part of the evening was spend in square and folk dancing. Then the toys on the Christmas Tree were distributed and, after much excited enjoyment, were handed over to the Welfare for distribution to poor children. A dainty lunch was served, and danc- ing to the orthophonic brought the evening to a close. But the greatest event of all was the At Home held on January 29. The gymnasium decorated in crimson and gold presented a gay spectacle as the students and their friends danced to the music of Allan Johnston ' s orchestra. The programme s novelty dances and prizes added an extra touch of enjoyment Table tennis was provided for those who preferred it Lunch was served in the sewing room The end came too soon, but still we were all happy that the At Home had been such a success. Great credit is due the following executive res- ponsible for the efficient manner in which our affairs were managed and for the pleasant entertainments afforded: G. Houghton, Pres.; J. Hatherell, Vice- Pres.; J. Foy, Sec; G. Nelson, Treas.; A. Rae, Helen Cares, D. Greer, E. Webster. — Reps. ESTHER WEBSTER. Form IV. Student Parliament — Second Term THE Second Term Student Parliament was elected shortly after the Normalites flocked back after a much-needed Christmas vacation. The President, Gordon Grogan, introduced a number of bills which were read by the Secretary, John Gloin, but as a rule the members gave them very little consideration. Eva Bicum, the Treasurer, opened the eyes of the public when she balanced the budget and levied the Second Term taxes. The Vice-President, Verna Cunningham, and form representatives E. McLean, P. Sutherland, J. Morris and Z. Bateman, always found it convenient to reach the place of meeting at various intervals after the appointed time, but made up for this by their effi ' ciency upon arriving. The Parliament now is planning a series of parties to break the thread of methodology and excusology so popular with the students. GORDON L. GROGAN. Form I. Melody at Normal EARLY in the fall term after each tender, young Normalite had adjusted himself to his new situa- tion, Mr. Charles Wheeler, the music master, began to make advances, and finally won to himself the majority of the Students. Tuesday nights after four we might often find Miss Prendergast gaily tapping the keys of her type- writer to the lilt of John Peel, or Dr. Hofferd counting eggs, ONE, two, three; ONE, two three, in the waltz- ing rhythm of Roses Everywhere, as these melodies throbbed out through the keyhole of the auditorium door. The officers installed were as follows: Pres., Margaret Herbison; Vice-Pres., Tom Speidel; At- tendance Sec, Audrey Furse; Business Sec, Kay Mc- Eachern; Librarians, Ralph Gracey, Elinor Price. The height of the musical season was reached on the evening of March 4th when the Glee Club under the capable direction of Mr. Wheeler, Miss Gahan and Miss Rider, presented its operetta, The Wild Rose. Sincere appreciation goes to Miss Emery, and Mr. Pickles, for the lovely scenery. The leading role was played by Grace Graham who smiled and sang her way into the hearts of all present. She was followed throughout by the inimitable news- boy, Bobbie, impersonated by Jim Mark; the adorable debutantes, Mary Miller, Helen Cares, Margaret Herbison and Zelma Bateman; the reporters, Audrey Furse and Ruth Willis; the suffragette, Kay McEachern, and the charity worker, Jean Waghorne Other members of the cast were the salesladies, Marian Crewe, Mildred Eaton and Jean Morris; the secretary-com- panion, Catherine Griffiths; Lady Grey, the playwright, Margaret Roe; the housekeeper, Cecille Burnstine; and the maids, Mae Nixon, Elinor Price, Margaret Williams, Edith Southern, Eva Bicum, Jean MacTavish, Ruth Smith, Jean Munroe, Jean MacPherson, Dorothy Isaac, Penny Sutherland, Wilma Ross. KAY McEACHERN. Form III. Christian Fellowship ONE of the School organizations which cannot be overlooked is that of the Inter-school Christian Fellowship. The I. S. C. F. was organized in November, and since then meetings have been held every Wednesday morning and every Sunday evening after church. Our meetings were held in close con- junction with those of the I. V. C. F. organization of Western. As teachers we shall face many problems ,but knowing Jesus Christ as our Master and Friend makes them all easier; for, I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. — Philippians 4: 13. JEAN MacTAVISH. Form III.

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Little Brown Hands DON ' T you dread them and love them, the little, brown hands? They ' re the plague and the pride of a teacher ' s career. Oh, so eager they are when the nine o ' clock bell Calls to them that the time for their lessons is near. Through the morning they labour, red pencils held tight, On the paper to trace all the work you assigned. Painstaking, each effort, that the little brown hands Can record the directions of each willing mind. How wildly they wave when the answer is known To the question you asked in the history class! How gaily they clap when they ' re told that it ' s right, And droop, oh, so sadly, if you say it won ' t pass. When the day is far ' spent, and the closing-time nigh, And most of the duties assigned them are done, Spelling errors corrected, arithmetic o ' er, Little hands get so restless, so ready for fun. The red pencils are played with, and rulers are dropped; Treasures shown to small neighbours, examined with awe ; Elastics well-hidden all morning are found; And they bend till it quivers, each school-teaching law. Oh, grant us the patience we know we shall need To fulfill all the tasks our profession demands. Let us love them and lead them to true things in life, And direct them with wisdom, dear, little brown hands. E. MacMATH. Form III. Tryst with Nature L. 7 (. S. Bird Morning, May 14, 1937 Against pale s ies the woods in early dawn Are half ' defined blurrs of many greens. Our voices whisper as we enter, for We feel that God is very near to us. The marshy places blaze with marigolds, And here and there blue violets smoulder low; And every tree and every shrub that grows Has donned the robe God lendeth it to wear. We hear birds singing, each a different song; And, listening, we can remember well Those other springs when other birds trilled to The children that we were, those same old songs. Reluctantly our footsteps bear us bac To city streets and things of common life; But hearts are light, and sorrows that we new Are left forgotten down where violets grow. E. MacMATH. WE are pleased to publish the following little poem written by a ten-year old pupil of Grade IV, Trafalgar School, of this City. If these verses which, in their rhythm have captured something of the robin ' s song, are typical of the work our public school children are doing, we see bright years ahead for the poetry of Canada. The Robin I hear you, robin, I hear you Up in the greenwood tree, Singing your merry, Jilting song, So brave, so gay, so free. I hear your melody, Robin, Ea ch morning and evening you sing, To tell us the gay glad message, It is spring! It is spring! It is spring! I see you, Robin Redbreast, Perched high on a bare gray bough. Have you straws for the nest you re building And mud to shape it now? Oh, Robin Redbreast, I love you, I love your cheery song, May nothing come to harm you Through all the summer long. JEAN HOOPER. Early Spring Brown are the fields beneath the tangled grass Which died last year, and now unwanted lies. On wings that labour black crows slowly pass Below the listless skies. It might still be November; who can tell? But listen: in the oldest apple tree A hopeful robin lets his anthem swell. Then, it is spring — to me! E. MacMATH.