Pickering College - Voyageur Yearbook (Newmarket, Ontario Canada)

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HARRY M. BEER, B.A HEADMASTER

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a personal word '1' corn Ric sun that the following pages refieet the record of a new regime at Pickering. It is true that our llollege had a different Headmaster during the past year-our eighth since 1842-but it would be a mistake to lay too much stress on the adjective new , The strength of Pickering is in the ideals and convictions which our founders, the Society of Friends, held in the beginning and which their successors have continued to try to ineulcate in the members of our beloved community up to the present time. As times change and the outward appearance of daily life takes a different form, the principles underlying our philosophy should not vary for they belong eternally to the realm of faith. During the year just past, therefore, we have striven to hold true to the bases of the philosophy of education handed down to us. I trust that tlld Boys and former masters and friends of the College, on their frequent visits to the hill-top, have found the same friendly atmosphere, the same understanding yet firm approach to the problems of growing up, the same effort to transfer the responsibility of discipline from the older to the younger according to the latter 's capacity to guide his own life. In this educational process mistakes are bound to appear, but what im- pressed me most about our year together, was the harmony which prevailed among staff and students in our common effort together. As in all human institutions, we had our successes and our failures, but in times of difficulty I was grateful for the strong determination to make this city not only not less but greater, better and more beautiful than it was transmitted to us. To the members of the staff and to the students, who helped to create this spirit of basic harmony, I express my heartfelt thanks. I was most fortunate, during my first year as Headmaster. to receive in full measure their goodwill and ready co-operation. To parents, Old Boys, and members of the Board, I should also like to extend this word of appreciation. In particular our Chairman, Mr. Samuel Rogers, provided friendly guidance throughout the whole year. And now to the future! l look forward with enthusiasm and confidence to the years that lie ahead. Our past year has strengthened my conviction that Pickering College has much to offer in the field of Canadian education. The principles of the past and the people of the present will provide the strength we need to continue the kind of education which we people of Pickering love and understand. As students have heard me say so often in recent months, our human potential is great indeed provided that we remain true to our faith. 'HARRY M. BEER Sir

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editorial ANY Galxntwrns or PICKERING COLLEGE will be leaving the school this summer -L in order to continue their education at an institute of higher learning or to begin work. They will quite naturally be filled with hope and confidence in the future. They will have painted pictures of success, filled with rosy skies and lush pasture. The sad part of the story is that most of these students have the notion, that as soon as they leave their university with a degree, they have the right to a top salary in an industrial company or to a leading position in whatever career in life they have chosen. Any student who can apply himself right at the beginning of his university ca reer, and keep from indulging in every little distraction that might present itself should succeed in life. There is a fairly large percentage of young men who g-o to university with the wrong impression, that a university is a kind of pleasure resort with all the expenses being paid by their fathers. Anyone who is facing the prospect of having to pay his own way through college, by Working summers or part-time during the year, will appreciate the fact that a college education is an opportunity and not to be taken for granted. It is most important for them to realize that they will not be treated with kid gloves, as their parents and teachers have been doing either consciously or without realizing it. They may apply for a job which a hundred others with the same qualifications have been refused. A university education is very definitely something to be desired, but unless a student can approach it as a sort of sub-career in which he must learn to fare for himself and do his best work, he may as well not go through with his Plans because he will certainly be unsuccessful and unhappy in any position he may be able to attain. A student who has worked hard at college and who has his degree, should not stop right then in his climb up the ladder of success. He is like a soldier who leaves for war and who has just been issued bullets, he hasn't killed any enemy soldiers yet but he is ready to play his part in the war. A university degree is a necessary armament for a man who wants to hold a responsible position, but, he should not get too overconfident. If he builds himself up in his own mind to a large extent, he runs the risk of being disappointed. This can be the cause of some disillusionmcnt and may make the hard Working fellow think he didn 't work hard enough. The best attitude to have when beginning a university career, or when entering life on your own is one of open-mindedness and of determination. Eight