North Bay Teachers College - Polaris Yearbook (North Bay, Ontario Canada)

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Time for Change The graduating students of this year face the adventure of entering our profession at a time when new methods of learning are very much to the fore. lt is you who will implement the drastic changes which have been initiated through the efforts of many teachers who have gone before you. lnsofar as you succeed, these methods will succeed, and your failure will be their failure. The new techniques require a highly-developed kind of teacher, one who can guide rather than inform, and who can infuse enthusiasm for learning into young minds rather than purvey a stock of information. If you do the job well, you will produce a new generation characterized by self- reliance, self- control, and a degree of intellectual curiosity admirably suited to university studies and adult life. lf you mishandle these methods, you run the risk of creating self- centred and wasteful people, ill-prepared for the demands of our elaborately organized society. You are being sent out to a highly complicated task--that of dealing with human beings. Happily, this complication really is its greatest asset, for in the whole vast field of human endeavour no vocation ranks higher than that which nurtures the human mind and spirit. May your efforts in that task achieve rich success. M. J. Curtis, Vice- Principal. 4

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Principal's essage This year has seen the culmination of important changes in Ontario education, changes which present both opportunity and challenge to all of us who are engaged in education. The district system for school administration makes possible the extension of educational services more equitably to all corners of our Province. Very few pupils will now be denied access to adequate elementary and secondary education. The extenion of community colleges and the universities coupled with generous student awards give wider access to post-secondary education. The publication of Living and Learning has stimulated thoughtful discussion about aims of education and ways of achieving them. The wide acceptance of the language experience approach to elementary education, the lessened emphasis upon rigid grade structures, and increased freedom to teachers to plan programmes pertinent to their pupils' needs are healthy signs. A keener recognition of the importance of child development, understanding of mental and emotional health factors, mastery of group dynamics principles in learning situations insight into interrelations and integration of human knowledge: all of these present important challenges to educators. The growing-point, the place where the action is, continues to be in the give-and-take between an individual teacher and an individual child. As professional practitioners in this noble art of teaching we wish you challenge, success and satisfaction. I, D, Deyell, Principal

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Editor's Message One of the most difficult tasks I faced as editor of Polaris '69 was writing this message. I knew that these few words would be my farewell to many of the good friends I had at North Bay Teachers' College. This year- book would be, for many of us, our only link as we enter our chosen profession, teaching. Polaris '69 was compiled as a record of one of the most important years of our lives. This book attempts to portray some of the long hours, hard work, and rewarding experiences we shared. In no way can Polaris '69 replace these or all the wonderful people we met here but it does attempt to help us recollect some of those memories. I would like to take this opportunity to express my personal thanks to Mr. Schmidt and Mr. Pasko. Without their assistance, experience, and unlimited encouragement, this yearbook would still be in its beginning stages My thanks also go to Mrs. Surtees and Mr. Johnston who helped greatly in the literary section. Special thanks are in order for my assistant, Diane Thomas, the yearbook executive and all the others who faithfully gave of their time and energy to help assemble this collection of memories. U Louis Pagnotta.