Paxton High School - Reflector Yearbook (Paxton, IL)

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72 THE TAX TON HIGH SCHOOL REFLECTOR Cear’s L etter to Teachers, which is published below, ough. to be of in- terest to high school students as well as to teachers. It may be that it is never given to any teacher to know when, or where, or how he may “ring the rising bell in the dormitory of his pupils’ souls”; but, if the secret could be dis- covered, every true teacher would gladly pay the price of its possession. That such a teacher may at some time, or in some way—unconscious though it be—touch the secret springs that thrill to noble, purposeful, use- ful, joyous life, is his highest and his most ardent hope. Perhaps if students more generally understood this, they would pardon something to human frailty, and ac- credit at least a trifle more to the spirit of unselfish devotion, the no- bility of purpose, and the unwavering faith that together make it possible for a true teacher to labor and to wait.’ Teachers and students, let us all read this letter from Superintendent Blair:—yes, read it, study it, ponder it. Perhaps his stirring words shall have the magic power to teach the way, or touch direct the hidden springs. O. J. B. New Year's Letter To Superintendents and Teachers: “He rang the rising bell in the dor- mitory of my soul.” The gentleman was speaking gratefully of what one of his teachers had done for him. Happily, he found a fine expression for his feeling. You and I would probably have said, “He woke me up.” Nevertheless, I am glad that he used just that figure. It says so much and suggests so much. How many boys and girls grow to men and women and die without near- ing the rising bell! How many of our pupils have heard it? How many of them are still dreaming, dozing, sleep- ing? How many teachers are real bell ringers? How many of them grow old in the school room without awaken- ing a single new idea or latent power in the dormintory of a child’s soul? It may be that the best bell ringers are unconscious of it. It may be that most boys and girls forget when their rising bell was rung and the hand that rang it. Little matter. The result is the main thing. The influence of a teacher is not measured in years. It is measured in the thoughts stimulated, the hearts quickened, the minds awakened. The quantity and quality of her service is not marked on the calendar. It is recorded in the flash of opened eyes, in the sparkle of kindled emotions and in the joy of awakened powers. There is your quiet, tidy little body tiptoeing about the dormitory, hold- ing her breath for fear she will awake some one. If she ever rings a bell, it’s by accident and is a matter of regret rather than congratulation. Her heart’s desire is to go on year after year without disturbing any one. O, for the clang of a bell or a dash of cold water! We have just been ringing out the old year and ringing in the new. Some people, no doubt, think there was entirely too much noise and fuss and disturbance about it. But it came in the middle of the night while we were sound asleep and some one had to blow the whistles and ring the bells to wake us up so that we might see the beginning of a brand new year that had never begun before and will never begin again. New years of op- portunity are beginning every day for our pupils in the dormitories of their souls. Shall we ring the bell or let them sleep? F. G. Blair Superintendent.

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THE PAXTON HIGH SCHOOL REFLECTOR 7' saw that their sister was moving slowly from the bed with her eyes fixed on the man, who was too intent upon his work to see her as she crept softly to the door, which fortunately was close to the bed. Another in- stant, and she was outside, and the two hoys heard the click of the lock as she turned the key The burglar heard it too. Starting round, he saw that the bed was empfy and the girl gone from the room. He ran to the door and tried it; he could not open it. Catching up the sack into which he had been putting everything he considered of sufficient value, he made for the window. Heedless now of the noise, he flung apart the curtains to find the boys standing inside. With a violent push, he sent them sprawling on either side of him, theft jumped out of the window on the balcony below—only to be caught by a pair of strong arms, and in his turn to be thrown to the ground. , s soon as Marjorie was outside the door, she had run as fast as poo- sible to her father’s room, which happened to be just below hers. 'Her father roused by the sounds the hoys made on the balcony, had already dressed, so when Marjorie told him of the man in her room, he was ready to receive him as soon as he descend- ed. So, after all, it was not Marjorie who was taken “down a peg” that time, for though a real burglar had paid her a visit, her brothers were witnesses of the fact that she did not give one “squeak”. In the excitement of catching the burglar it was never known how the boys had tried to give their sister a fright and they thought it best for their own dignity to keep silence on the matter. State Superintendent Blair and His New Year’s Letter to Superinten- dents and Teachers. The teachers and school children of Illinois are fortunate in the personal- ity and character of the man vho is the official head of the educational in- terests of our state. He is a man of the finest scholarship, of the highest moral, cultural, and educational ideals. He Is a man of large vision, and clear vision. He appreciates the dignity and magnitude of his office,— even its honor; but he is not blinded by any of these things. His vision passes right out beyond to every school district in the state, to the work of every teacher, to the possi- bilities for good in the lives of every child. Bach month a letter appears in the Eudcational Press Bulletin, fresh from his heart and brain, and ad- dressed to some part of the great army of workers in the schools of Illinois. Sometimes it is a letter to school janitors, calling attention to the dignity of their part of the work in determining the future character and worth of the rising generation; the importance of cleanliness, the need of intelligence, the opportunities for safeguarding the health of school children, their moral as well as their physical well being. Sometimes his letter is addressed to Boards of Edu- cation, sometimes to parents, some- times to the pupils themselves; but perhaps most frequently to teachers, as the most vital part of the school system. No matter to whom these letters are addressed, the character and tone is the same. In thought, they are al- ways profoundly suggestive; in style clear and luminous,—often breezy, stimulating, racy. Superintendent F. G. Blair s New

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BASE BALL OUTLOOK The prospects for a winning base ball team this year are unusually bright. The surrounding schools gen- erally have due respect for our bunch In base ball because of our strong pitchers. Kelso held them all at bay for a number of years and Swenson is equally feared. This is his last year, however, and we will have to make the most of a good thing as next year we will be in a precarious position as to pitchers. In fact, if ever we expect to make a good record and a clean-sweep, the chances favor us this year. The fel- lows have showed a great deal of in- terest and enthusnasm about a team this year as twenty have promised to become candidates. The lack of a suitable place to play will not trouble us this year. Swenson, Carlson, Overstreet, Ham- merlund and McKegney, are the regu- lars from last year’s team and Mc- Colley and Morgan have had base ball experience at other schools. C-apt. Swenson knows the game from start to finish and we can rely upon him rounding out a winning team for us. Roy Hutchinson, formerly of Clar- ence has been elected captain of the Perdue University foot ball team for next year. “Hutch” starred for the P. H. S. team during the season of 'OIL The U. of I. has had hard luck in basket ball, having lost three big games straight. Lack of capable substitutes and the flunking of some of the men in their studies, are given as the causes for their defeats. The indoor track men, however, are look- ing forward to a successful season and intend to carry off their share of gold medals. Byrd, the all-around athlete, from Milford, has received an invitation to- attend the try outs at Chicago from which the men are picked who repre- sent the U. S. at the Olympic games. Byrd drew a great deal of attention because of his records in weight- throwing at the various high school meets. The P. H. S. basket ball team are enjoying themselves immensely. They are merely out for exercise and amusement and ‘allow’ the other teams to tramp on and play ’tiddle-de- winks’ with them. The fellows would make a strong team if they could get a place in which to practice, but are certain to put up a losing fight as conditions stand. The score has actu- ally totaled over 150 in favor of oppo»- nents so far. Pat ’em on the back.