Pickering College - Voyageur Yearbook (Newmarket, Ontario Canada)

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24 THE VOYAGEUR but such as these are we believe them to be worth while because we feel we are working towards a definite aim and a realizable purpose. Here at Pickering College our educational exploration brings to light such things as democratic government-no rules, just regulations,-no punishment, friendship between the boys and the masters, the atmosphere of a university in a prep school, the spirit of living in all senses of the word, the knowledge of the boy that he is expected to do the rightithing at the right time. We voyageurs of the twentieth century are finding our course just as exciting and intriguing as those of old. In memory of our pioneers this magazine is named 'tThe Voyageurf' It is hoped that in some way it may be a voyageur in this line of publication. It is with these thoughts and in this spirit that The Voyageurn comes to you. VVe hope that it may embody the spirit of Pickering. Education Without Tears On Tuesday, September 13th, 1927, some sixty odd boys had some sixty odd feelings, the reason being that they were all human, they were all natural, they were all coming to Pickering College. What some of the feelings were is hard to say. Some of them were probably dubious, some optimistic, and others were very likely sunk in the deepest gulfs of gloom. On their arrival, however, their feelings may have changed, they may have been very pleasantly surprised when they went through the buildings for the first time, or an element of doubt may have found its way into the minds of some of them when they wondered if everything they had heard about the college, its old traditions and new ideals, was going to be fulfilled. After the first few days the boys were quite unanimous in their feelings. They didn 't know what the score was. They came and went as they pleased, they did what appealed to them most, they did things that they would not have dared do at other colleges, and the strange thing was that nobody seemed to mind. Things happened for which at other schools they would have expected to be called down to the principal 's office and severely lectured, perhaps chastised, but nothing of the sort happened. Nobody appeared to mind at all what they did, in fact it almost seemed that these things were expected of them. But everybody makes mistakes, and when by accident some dreadful crime did occur, instead of being expelled from the college or bent over the back of a chair, the one involved would be requested to appear in the Headmaster's house, where, over a cup of coffee, the whole situation would be gone over systematically,-the Headmaster with a smile in his eyes and the boy with a look of unconcealed wonder on his face. CI speak from experienceb. And when it is all over the boy departs, not with a feeling of having been lectured or punished and storing up his enmity for some day when revenge may be possible, but with a realization that in the Headmaster he has a friend-a friend that is young, understanding, and very, very human. And this is the attitude that permeates our whole life here. For many of We know that we speak for every member of the school when we say that our us it was something very new and very strange but needless to say we enjoy it. only regret is that more boys our own age could not participate in the privilege that is ours-of receiving an education without tears!

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THE VOYAGEUR 23 ill The Staff Edifoi'-flu-Clzicf-R. lJoI'oI.,xs C'.xM1f:RoN Associfzfc Editor-J.xC1q R. SH1i:11Ds Sporting Staff-R. CONNOR, C. E. H. BAIN. ll. T. lllJI'GItI'l'Y Busz'ne.ss Stuff-J. A. I .-XREXVELL, V. A. OILL14: Art Editor-J'. MACDONALD Asszfsfrzfnfs-F. B. C'L'MMRR. BIGGAR, G. IQERNOHAN, ll. M. 011.111 Advisory Board J. BICCULLEY, G. N. T. NV11JDR1No'roN, R. E. K. Ro1'1z141c The Voyageur The outstanding men in Canadian history, the men who due to their d auntless courage and far-reaching ambition made possible the founding of this country of ours, were the men who left their homes and loved ones and braved the hard- ships of the plains, of the forests, and of the vast barren wastes,-the Voyageurs.7' Ever onward they went facing dangers. new discomforts. scorned and derided by the world as dreamers, vet they never lost sight of their goal. The age of voyageurs is not past and the twentieth Century finds many who still have all the instincts of a vovageur. All of us here at Pickering College are vovageurs, embarked on a new venture of exploration and research: not in the field of country discovery and colonization, but in Education. -lust as the vovageurs of old who felt that there was more in this world than their own country, namelv, Europe, and later around the valley of the St. Lawrence. so we feel that there are new fields in Education as vet undiscovered. XVe are experiencing many things in common with the previous vovageurs- the thrill of discovery, the jov of travelling unknown and hitherto unexplored paths. There are, of course, the difficulties common to any pioneering elifort,

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THE VOYAGEUR 25 Random Comment As a worker with boys, Mr. Taylor Statten is known from coast to coast throughout Canada and we, here at Pickering, feel ourselves most fortunate in that he has spent three or four days every week during the past year with us. NVe value his expert psychological advice, we appreciate his helpful counsel in the subject of vocational guidance, his breakfast table talks are wells of in- spiration, above all these, however, we have beenglad of the opportunity to know Taylor Statten, whom the Camp Ahmek boys affectionately call HChief, and to discuss with him those personal problems in which his life-time ol' experience with boys so eminently fits him to be a Counsellor. His official title is Hllirector of Character Education twe suppose if a name had -to be given to an unacademic post such as his that this as closely fits it as anyl, but we want him toknow that we have all been helped and inspired this year, not by an occupant of a high-sounding and somewhat unexplainable position, but by the very real and human Taylor Statten. This Magazine is more in the nature of a family journal than an official school publication. VVe may be pardoned, t.herefore, if we make particular mention of that one person to whose thoughtful care we owe so much-Miss Ancient, the Hguardian angel' of Pickering College. Cn the occasion of the visit of Sir George Foster to Newmarket to speak on the League of Nations it was our pleasure and privilege to entertain him at dinner. He spoke to the school for a short time and it was evident that the passage of years makes no difference to the youthful spirit that is the real Sir George Foster. He compared present day educational facilities with those in existence when he was a boy and challenged the youth of Canada to measure up to their opportunities. A considerable number of members of the school subsequently attended the lecture in the Town Hall and heard from Canada 's outstanding orator the story of the League and our part in it. Cur editorial remarks would be incomplete without reference to the domin- ating figure of our happy community-our Headmaster. And here at once we are faced with an almost insurmountable difficulty, for we write not only for ourselves, but also for a larger circle-thus must the torrent of our loyal pane- gyric be decently dammed. Cf the Headmaster, therefore, standing tall and majestic, albeit with a twinkling eye that ever and anon belies his stern aspect as he conducts the more formal duties of the day, let us say nothing. Cf Mr. McCulley, the host, plying a daily quota of youthful guests with coffee, soft music, and the use of a glorious range of literature, let us hold our peace. Cf Joe, the counsellor, confessor, and sage advisor of the oldest to the youngest of us all, let no word be spoken. Of the guide to the tortuous paths of History and Literature, enthusiasm in his eye and eloquence upon his lips, let no whisper be heard. Cf unfailing cheer- fulness, of ever-resurgent inspiration, of almost sleepless vigilance, let us utter no word. To the Chairman of the advisory board of f'Le Voyageurf' however, for his advice and guidance to harassed editors breasting a stormy sea, may we tender this brief word of thanks?