Plymouth State University - Conning Tower Yearbook (Plymouth, NH)

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Training Home On ihc shores of blue Lake Morey, By ihc Palisades so stony. Stands the little town of Fairlcc Stands across the river—Orford. O’er the town the high school pointing To the purple clouds of sunrise. Then began the greatest battle That the sun had ever looked on. That this high school ever witnessed, All an Autumn’s day it lasted, From the sunrise to the sunset. Suddenly starting from their strongholds, Followed fast those hearty youngsters; In the morning glow of sunrise Followed in their fiery war-trail, With the urge of battle in them. They it was who wrecked the teachers By their wicked wiles and cunning. They who from the hills descended Come to school to seek some learning, Sent the pestilence of corn cobs Sent the grapes from blackboard bounding Sent the gases from the Chem. lab. Sent disease and death among us. Every whizzing of an airplane Was the bearer of a message, A challenge loud and lofty, Send me to the office, teacher!” Til at noontime found the teacher Leaning on his bended elbow, Wounded, weary and desponding. With his stately manner broken With' his voice all hoarse and shaking. Then for thirty minutes only Paused to rest before commencing. Aim your erasers, little cherubs, At the head of an instructor. Strike the tuft of hair upon it. At their roots, the long black tresses. There alone can she be wounded!” Thus spoke to them the Voice of Evil. Swift flew the angel’s weapon Full upon the crown it struck her. And she reeled and staggered forward, Plunging like a wounded bison. Swifter flew the second missile In the pathway of the other, Piercing deeper than the other. Wounding sorer than the other, And the knees of the surpiiscd one Bent and trembled like the rushes. But the third and latest weapon Swiftest flew and wounded sorest. And the little missile thrower Saw the fiery eyes of Madness, Saw the eyes of Rage glare at him. Heard his name called out in anger. On through the day the battle lasted Til the bell that meant “Retreat” Fiercely the red sun descending Burned his way along the heavens Set the sky on fire behind him. As war-parties, when retreating Went the students their way homeward Snatching on the way their text-books. So much longer stayed the teachers, Cleaning up all signs of battle. Later they went their way homeward. Homeward through the dusk of evening, Homeward through the gathering darkness, With the trophies of the battle, With a shout and song of triumph. 34

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Off In A Cloud Of Dust Perhaps, each noontime as you’ve seen a senior girl streak out of the dining room, you have been rather curious as to what her destination may be. It is no other place than the Grade School playground. She is on Noon Lunch as the pedagogues know it. To an innocent bystander, her duties may appear simple, but they are far removed from trifling matters. This is especially true when upon your arrival a little boy comes dashing toward you, full force ahead and says in a breathless, excited, partially hysterical voice, “Philip, he swored!” We all know that the little boy shouldn’t swear, but who is Philip and where is he? You calmly ask the reporter where to find Philip and he says he’s right over there and before you reply the little reporter is off in a cloud of dust. All your hopes of reprimanding the evildoer have vanished also. By the time that the bell rings for school to begin, several instances of fights, bloody noses, over the wall, out on the lawn, and throwing rocks have been reported to you. In attempting to keep a reasonable amount of peace and order, you have walked through gravel, dirt, and dust until you feel as if you had been caught in a sandstorm on the Sahara Desert. This is one of many experiences confronting the cadet teacher in her practice teaching at the Grade School. No matter how you face the above experience deep down inside, it is very evident that it is but one step in receiving practical experience in handling individual difference, imparting absorbed knowledge of four years of study and preparing to guide the youth of New Hampshire. 36