Saltus Grammar School - Yearbook (Hamilton, Bermuda)

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The Cubs were inspected by H. E. the Governor of Bermuda on 19th October and he remarked on the good turn-out of the Cub Pack. This praise comes from a keen supporter of the Scout Movement and is therefore not unearned. The Pack is the Junior School for the Saltus Scout Troop. Meetings are held for the purpose of making it easier for Cubs to become efficient Scouts eventually — by passing elementary tests, by learning to be smart, useful, and orderly, and knowing the first principles of the movement — the Law and the Promise. The Debating Society. By J. H. K. Debating activities have been renewed during the current Term, and up to the date of going to Press three meetings have been held: — The following Officers were elected for the Christmas term, 1936. Sept. 18. General Meeting and Election of Officers. President : Mr. J. H. Kerry Secretary : T. M. Adams Committee: F. G. Lines, W. R. Kempe, L. Gibbons, and T. M. Adams (ex-officio) .Oct. 22. Debate on the Motion, That the World of To-day attaches too much importance to the Colour of a Man ' s Shirt. Proposer: T. M. Adams Opposer: F. G. Lines Third: W. R. Kempe Fourth: H. G. E. Masters The Motion was carried. Nov. 12. Debate with Whitney Institute on the Motion, Tha t Competitive Examinations should be abolished. Proposer: F. G. Lines Opposer: R. Outerbridge (Whitney) Third: R. Lowe Fourth: W. B. Kempe (Whitney) F. G. Lines ' (S. G. S.), proposing, suggested that competi- tive examination gave rise to excessive rivalry among the com- petitors; yet there was a danger that the best boy might fail 10

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a visit to the School. The turn-out generally was very smart and we hope that we created a good impression. The departure of Mr. Profit for America has been a severe blow to the Troop. We owe a great deal to his experience and energy and it is impossible to fill his place adequately. The most that we can do is to unite all our efforts in the endeavour to maintain the high position that he bequeathed to us. At the time of writing there are a number of schemes on foot, or perhaps one should say afloat, for increasing the interest and efficiency of our work as Sea Scouts. For soma months now we have been hoping to obtain a Naval Whaler. A variety of reasons has delayed the fulfilment of this hope, but there is a real chance that we shall not have to wait much longer. Recently, too, another possibility has arisen. The suggestion was made that we should try to buy one of the lifeboats of the Cristobal Colon , the Spanish ship that was wrecked here in October. On inquiry it was found that this might well be pos- sible, but that of necessity some delay was inevitable, as we should have to wait until the underwriters disposed of the ship and its effects. There is also a plan being considered to buy an old hulk and fit it up as Troop Headquarters, instead of meeting in the school. It should be possible then for the patrols to take it in turns to spend a week-end on board, thus adding variety to our activities and giving an opportunity for practice to those who wish to get a badge for cooking. Whether this scheme materialises or not, I am hoping that it will be possible in the spring to arrange week-end camps for those who can attend, either on our own or in collaboration with one of the other Sea Scout troops in the Island. That, after all, is the sort of activity that Sea Scouts should aim at, rather than indoor meetings once a week on dry land. We have a few recruits this term, and they are displaying the proper spirit and enthusiasm in working to pass their tests. Crawford, indeed, has already passed his tenderfoot test within a week or two of joining the Troop. Finally, it is worth men- tioning that the value of the Scout tests and Badges was strik- ingly shown in a recent football match, when one of our opponents sprained his wrist badly and Adams had him properly bandaged and comfortable within a few minutes. The strength of the Wolf Cub Pack has been fully main- tained this term, and it has even been necessary to make Sixes more elastic to accomodate recruits. Sixers Floyd and Burland 3 have left, and their places filled by Outerbridge 2 and Trott 2. A new system of points for Attendance, Test Passing, Tidi- ness, etc. has been instituted and is working with good results. 9

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Dwing to an unlucky combination of questions or circumstances. The extreme importance attached in some quarters to the result of a competitive examination might lead to overwork and anxiety detrimental to a competitor ' s health, or even a break- down. R. OuTERBRiDGE (Whitney), opposing, agreed that competi- tive examination did not necessarily provide the surest or fairest method of discrimination, but could a better system be sug- gested? Even the Intelligence Test would not eliminate com- petition, which was essential throughout life; for instance, it was competition among store-keepers which brought down prices. If a standard of knowledge were substituted, the number of suc- cessful candidates might far exceed the number of vacancies. Selection by personal interview was already used in conjunction with some important examinations. R. Lowe (Whitney), supporting the motion, claimed that competitive examinations were apt to induce an inferiority com- plex in the unsuccessful, while not necessarily producing the best, for the best boy might be temporarily unnerved. As to competition in business, it should be realised that it had been largely superseded by amalgamation. Already, in some of the most important examinations it was personality which counted most. W. R. Kempe (S. G. S.), opposing, said that it was neces- sary for the last speaker in debate to sum up, and likewise a summing-up was necessary at the end of Term by means of the competitive examination. In that final test there was no chance of fraud, and the boy who had worked consistently well and fair- ly during the Term then came to the top. Competitive examin- ations stimulated effort; the alternative might be favouritism. There also Spoke: Mr. J. H. Kerry, Mr. F. B. Rogers, L. Gibbons, Mr. R. E. E. Booker, Mr. G. J. Butland, T. M. Adams, and H. W. Murphie. The Motion was defeated by 24 votes to 18, some abstain- ing. Lamb may have suffered from egoism but he certainly was never too egotistical. In The Sea Voyage he tells of a voyage taken by a small girl of five years and uses the first person. But this is not egotism ; it is merely egoism. Lamb here uses the first person in order to captivate the interest of the reader, and perhaps also to puzzle the reader, who knows very little of Lamb ' s earliest years. -0- 11