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

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C. E. MARK, B.A., D.Paed., Principal PRINCIPAL ' S MESSAGE TO THE CLASS OF 1947 We are continually assailed in these days with calls for a New Education to meet the needs of a Modern World . Herein lies a pitfall besetting the path of the young teacher. To him the implication may quite pardonably be that the old education has miserably failed and should be replaced by a new philosophy, a new content, and new methods. To him it might seem that whatever in our present world is worth while has become so in spite of the old teachings rather than because of them. ' ' My message to this class is to beware of the fallacies inherent in such an implication. It would be equally logical to say that because Christianity has failed to completely redeem the world we are therefore in need of a new Christianity. We may not have made the most of the principles and practices of the education that has come down to us. This scarcely justifies us in renouncing it and in calling for something different. First, before becoming a victim of the many new isms that are being thrust upon us, let us examine what a heritage the educators of the past have bequeathed us. The Great Teacher laid down a fundamental principle in His advocacy of the love of children. Rousseau warned us against the corrupt artificial conventions of society. Froebel stressed the understand- ing of child nature. Pestalozzi elaborated the value of the practical side. Dewey emphasized the purposeful element in learning. Many have demonstrated the desirability of harnessing up the natural tendencies. Others have brought the social aspect to the forefront. Still others have led us to take into account individual differences and the importance of a well-balanced development for each. Let us make sure we have assimilated what present-day education has to commend it and perhaps herein we may find the leaven which may ultimately permeate the whole. The present system may admit of some pruning and grafting processes, but it is doubtful if it requires an uprooting. -C. E. MARK. Page Four

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THE HONOURABLE GEORGE A. DREW Premier, of Ontario Minister of Education Those of you who graduate this year will be entering the most important part of our educational system at one of the most challenging periods of our own and the world ' s history. In the elementary schools our children are given much of their most important education in their most impressionable years. We want our children to be well educated in the academic sense but even more impor- tant than academic attainment is the good judgment, goodwill, good health and good spirit which will make them healthy, happy and successful citizens of this great country. In their hands, to a very great degree, will rest the future of our country in the years ahead. Yours is the great responsibility and the great opportunity to build clean young bodies and clean young minds worthy of that all-important task. I wish every one of you the utmost success and happi- ness in your work ahead. GEORGE A. DREW, Minister of Education. Page Three

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Our Masters J. G. McEACHERN, B.A., B.Paed. R. H. ROBERTS, M.A. Since Knowledge comes but Wisdom lingers, it is well to seek diligently after knowl- edge but, above all, gain understanding. -J. G. McEACHERN, Every one, taken at his best, will be found good for something.— Dean Inge. -R. H. ROBERTS. C. P. O ' NEIL, M.A. The world would be a better and a brighter place to live in if our teachers would radiate happiness in the daily tasks which confront them. They ought to be as cheerful as they can because to be happy themselves is a most effectual contribution to the happiness of others. -C. P. O ' NEILL.