Pennsylvania Western University - Calnorsean Yearbook (California, Pennsylvania)

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Tfye Co ?crsecr Junior Societies ,,, IARLY in the year of 1916 a committee was appointed to make plans g for Junior Literary Societies. After much preliminary effort the Philo Junior and the Clio Junior Societies were established. These Societies were instituted with the idea of giving the members of the Freshman and Sophomore classes an opportunity to develop their literary ability. The Societies are now one and one half years in age. It may be said with Justice that the members of the Philo Junior and the Clio Junior have met with a marked degree of earnestness the responsibilities which are involved in Society work. No member of the Freshman and Sophomore Classes has been enrolled for a term without making some contribution to the program o one of the Societies. When a student enrolls he is expected to visit both Societies and on the third meeting become an active member of the one that has made an especial appeal to him. So far as is consistent the details of society work are made the obligations of the student member. But in order that the true Society instinct might be cultivated and the youthful organization might be protected from damaging influences, there has been a loosely organized, but systematic and close supervision of the work. The learning of parlia- mentary rules has been emphasized. The debates dealing with political ques- tions have been made a stimulus in awakening an interest in Current Events. The Independent and the Literary Digest have been used as sources for secur- ing material. Classic literature and history have been introduced by various devices calculated to win the attention of boys and girls. Dramatizations of The Garden Scene and the Casket Scene from the Merchant of Venice. Scenes from As You Like It and The Meeting of Glaucus and lone from the Last Days of Pompeii, also character sketches given in costume, and a reading entitled Nydia, the Blind Girl from latter text required considerable effort but the results were praiseworthy. The telling of a good classic story is made a prominent program feature. During the spring term some good original stories have been given. The Victrola has been used in giving records of strictly educational value and by way of adding variety to the programs. Realizing the close relation between the cultivation of ability in Oral English and success along any line of work, it will continue to be the aim of those having charge of the Junior Sacieties to cultivate the literary talent of the Juniors classes by making personal appeal to the latent powers of each individual. 107 O

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Clio Contestants 106

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PHILQ Junior Literary Societies 108