Ruperts Land Girls School - Eagle Yearbook (Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada)

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18 RUPERTDS LAND GIRLS' SCHOOL EDITORIAL fb! AS this memorable year comes to a close, I realize this is my last opportunity ' to share with you the invaluable experience I gained at the High School Congress. With Great Britain fighting a grim battle to keep demo-cracy alive, the High School Congress which was held this year was very vital, for it was run on democratic lines. The purpose of it was to lead the students to consider and discuss democratic problems, particularly those which came within the sphere of school activities, incidentally, I think it also gave the students valuable experi- ence in expressing their opinions and speaking before others, in no other country except a democratic one could such a congress have been held. Another aim of this congress was to unite the students of the different schools more closely, so that they could rally together and take bigger steps in helping Canada's war effort, for this was the largest item on the agenda. ' The Congress, which was held at Gordon Bell School on February 6, 7, 8, and 10, was divided into four sessions. Each school sent representatives fr-om Grades X to XII, according to the size of their student body, and in all there were one hundred and fifty delegates. When we arrived we were registered and each delegate was given a registration badge and assigned to one of the five discussion groups which were arranged in alphabetical order so that the students from the different schools would mix. These groups attended the first three sessions separ- ately, and then they all assembled for the final session. In each group we had a chairman, a discussion leader and a secretary, the discussion leaders were teach- ers from the schools, an-d men from the Y. M. C. A. Having just about thirty students in each group gave them a better chance to air their views, and so much more was a-ccom-plished this way. At the final session the reports of each group were condensed into one, and we voted on the resolutions, then a final report was made and sent to the School Board. Rupert's Land sent three delegates to the Congress-Laurel Bell from Grade X, Gertrude Hoppins from Grade XI, and myself from Grade XII. The three of us were honored to be chosen to represent our school, and feel we have gained a great deal of experience from the Congress. Jean Woodman and Mary Tomkins were delegates from Rupert's Land at the Congress last year, and were on the continuation committee which makes the arrangements for the next Congressg Je-an and Mary worked very hard on this committee, for both girls were secre- taries at the Congress, and Jean was secretary of the continuation committee. The two girls who will be on the committee next year are Laurel Bell and Kaye Milner, Kaye was also elected the secretary of the committee. At the first session the main discussion was on youth's contribution to the war effort. It was moved and passed that a high school council be formed with representatives from every school to organize war effort drives in schools. The one-cent a week system was also adopted, that is, each student should bring one cent a week to school for the purpose of purch-asing war savings stampsg incidentally, that system is being used in some of the schools, as an encourage- ment to save. The salvage corps was only mentioned, as the s-chools seem to be doing fine work in this line. Then another question which was brought up was the place of cadet training in this effort, the majority of the students agreed that there should be cadet training for boys from Grade IX up, for it was keeping the boys physically fit and was also teaching them discipline. Then the question

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THE EAGLE I7 PRINCIPAL'S LETTER My Dear Girls: AT no other time in history has life l been more full of challenge than it is today. We are surrounded by un- certainties, by difficulties and by dan- gers greater than any our fathers knew. All the wide privileges and p-leasures of living that we have enjoyed, and the precious freedom that has been ours, these things which have come to us so easily that we have scarcely valued them, are now threatened. And as you girls look forward, you may well won- der what is in store for you. As I thought about what I should say to you in this foreword to a new issue of The Eagle, I felt that the war and its challenge could not be ignored, and that in thinking about them much inspiration could be found for the I future. For challenge brings oppor- tunity, and opportunity opens up the Ae way for all who strive to achieve great MISS E. M. BARTLETT things. You all know quite well that it is at times of greatest challenge that you really do your best. A game that is easy to win loses much of its pleasure, it is when you have to fight hard that you enjoy it most and prove your worth. When you have overcome a real difficulty in your work, then it is that you are capable of going on to higher achievement than before. In fact, it is the actual struggle that is most worth while and which satisfies you. As we look upon our Empire today and in particular, think of those in Great Britain who are now bearing the brunt of the attack of our enemy, and bearing it with such marvellous courage and indomitable spirit, then we find that we cannot despair and that our forebodings and depression fade away. We cannot help being inspired and even elated. Whatever our difficulties may be, whatever our troubles, our spirit cannot be broken. Let us consider our emblem and determine a-fresh that we will be like the eagle which soars aloft on wings so powerful that they can battle a mighty storm. Surely no motto can be more inspiring than our own! With Alta Peten-s on our lips and in our minds, let us go on seeking. With our hearts set on things above, our spirits striving to climb the heights, we shall be strong to attain the most important thing in the world, a character which will enable us to play a worthy part in the life of our country and empire, to serve the world faithfully and to build firmly for the future. Then nothing can daunt us, and whatever may befall, we need have no fear. Yours affectionately, ELSIE M. BARTLETT.

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THE EAGLE 19 arose as to whether girls should have cadet training, but it was decided that girls were able to keep physically Ht with their P. T. work, and they were helping the war effort more by their Red Cross work whi-ch they do while the boys are having their cadet training. The girls have Red Cross Society branches formed in nearly every high school in the city and are doing valuable work, in Rupert's Land we have a branch in each grade from Grade I to XII. The second session was held on Saturday, and the topic for discussion was youth's place in the outer world. One of the questions asked was how we could have an everlasting peace. The most popular suggestion was to have a League of Nations with an international police force behind it. Mr. Hadcock, our dis- cussion leader for that morning, who was from the Y. M. C. A. and had been at a United States university, told us about a mock League of Nations at which he was a delegate. DiHerent universities of the States represented special coun- tries of the League. Before the conference each delegate was required to spend three months studying the customs and views of the country he represented. Mr. Hadcock then told us a few of the drawba-cks of a League administered on those lines. The third session of this Congress had more to do with high school pro-blemsg we were whole--heartedly in favor of student self-government, and we would like to see this system in every school. We have had it in our school for many years, and it has worked out most successfully. The students felt also that it is impossible for them to go into the outside world and take part in civic and dominion affairs if they have had no practical training in democracy to develop a sense of responsibility and initiative, we felt that for commercial and industrial students more pra-ctical subjects should be given, so that immediately on gradua- ting from high school they could obtain positions. Last year has been a difiicult one for us all, but our numerous school activities have kept our minds occupied. I have spent a most enjoyable year and cannot express how much I have appreciated the honor of being your Head Girl. I would like to thank Mis-s Bartlett for her thoroughly appreciated guidance, and the many kindnesses the staff have shown me. To the prefects and girls, whose co- operation has made my year such a happy one, I am very grateful. To the grad- uates I extend my best wishes and my confidence that they will always carry with them our motto: Alta Petensf' Monica Mackersy CHead Girly. OBITUARY It is with deep regret that we record the death of Mr. E. L. Drewry, last November. In him, as one of its founders, the school had a friend and benefactor who at all times kept alive his interest, and gave his support and help throughout many years. All who knew him, either personally or through the repeated evidences of his kindness, will always remember him as a sincere friend.