Saltus Grammar School - Yearbook (Hamilton, Bermuda)

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26 ' Be prepared! thundered the proposers: a strong well- equipped army minimised the HkeHhood of war. Moreover, a period of outdoor training under strict discipHne served to brace up youth and make it reahse its responsibiHties, and general compul- sory training was a democratic institution. On the contrary, argued the opposers, militarism constituted an international menace, and a large standing army was a tempta- tion towards aggression. The physical and moral benefits of mili- tary training were doubtful, while the conscription period inter- fered seriously with a young man ' s education or career. Military disciphne was dictatorial and unlikely to inculcate democratic ideas. The Motion was defeated. March 7th, 1946.— Motion : That the man of today is over-civilised. Proposer: W. S. Lombardo Opposer: D. H. Harrison Third: F. R. Anfossi Fourth: J. F. Vivian The proposers thought that this business of civilisation was being overdone: man is becoming a slave to it. He is being over- educated and regimented, and his spontaneous personality is being stifled; man is descended from the ape, so why shouldn ' t he ' ape around ' a bit? The opposers feared that the events of the recent war did not encourage the belief that man w as yet even civilised enough, let alone over-civilised. Even a monkey would be ashamed of some of the tricks he ' d been up to. The majority were inclined to agree, and the motion was defeated. Officers for the Year 1945-46 President: Mr. J. H. Kerry. Secretary: J. F. Vivian. Committee: N. H. Richardson, P. Wingate, J. McDaniel, D. P. Lines and the Secretary (ex-officio). Cult A. As will probably be gathered from reports appearing elsewhere in the year book this has been a year of intense physical training. As a direct result of this enthusiasm for physical culture, enthu- siasm for mental gymnastics is on the wane. So your Cult A has lost some of its pristine glory. Nevertheless in the hope that a re- vival of interest in the things of the spirit will come, we have tried to keep the society functioning. In this effort credit should be given to Vivian, our secretary, who read to us extracts from Francis

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25 Debating Society If necessity is the mother of invention, sociaHsm is the father of idleness, it was suggested during a sparkHng debate on the Motion That socialism is the road to dictatorship. There was a good House for this debate, held on February 7th, when a visiting team opposed one drawn from the school. The principal speakers were: Proposer: M. C. Misick (O.S.) Opposer: N. H. Richardson Third: Rev. Keith Harmon Fourth: A. A. Michielson The proposers claimed that socialism destroys individuality and enterprise; the citizen is gradually encouraged to expect a paternal government to shoulder all his personal responsibilities and to arrange his life for him ' from the cradle to the grave ' ; this attitude creeps upon him like an insidious drug; he loses first this responsibility, then that,, and ends by losing his freedom . . . The opposers rebutted the charge of complete regimentation. The aim of the socialist was to organise the resources of the com- munity in the best interests of the whole community, not merely for the privileged few; not to stifle, but to encourage initiative more widely by inducing conditions which would allow ' fair play ' to every citizen and help to bring out the best that was in him. The danger of dictatorship came rather from capitalism operating in a world where the law of the jungle prevailed. The motion was defeated, whether from conviction or ' for the school ' was not determined. The programme of debates included two Hat Debates, one on October 11th, and another on January 17th. Among the subjects discussed were these: — Can war be permanently outlawed? Modern dancing is decadent. Saltus boys should be provided with Pep drinks between periods. Should boys and girls choose their own careers? Is the World the only inhabitated planet? The modern generation is too fond of pleasure. Could we do without schools? Should the Government buy the Bermuda Railway? The boys of today are allowed too much pocket money. Is Bermuda over-populated? Other debates were those of : November 1st, 1945. — Motion, ' This House believes in compulsory military training for all, whether in peace or war. Proposer: A. A. Michielson Opposer: J. F. Vivian Third: P. Wingate Fourth: J. McDaniel

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27 Bret Young ' s epic The Island, gave us an account of English School life in wartime and arranged for our entertainment by the Elocution Classes of B.H.S. We have sighed the lack of those opportunities which at one time were given us by the Bermuda Censorship Players. Art. The Annual Art Exhibition held on Nov. 17th and 19th con- sisted of work done under the tutelage of Miss K. M. C. Cook of the school staif, Mr. Donald Kirkpatrick of Bailey ' s Bay and Mr. Snape of the NichoU Institute. The judges, Mr. Bayfield Clarke and Miss May Middleton, after working carefully through the numerous exhibits awarded the prizes, again the kind gift of Mr. Hereward Watlington, as follows: Art — 1 James Fall, 2 North Cooper, 3 Reed Cooper. Most worthy: Upper School, Reed Cooper, Lower School, David Wingate. Special Prize, Anthony Correia. Commendations — Upper School, Wilbur Woollard, James Fall. Lower School, W. H. Barber, A. R. Churm, Henry Laing. Manual Training — 1 J. Cook, 2 J. Wyatt. The Exhibition was considered most successful as regards the work shown but owing probably to unsettled weather the at- tendance was disappointingly small. However, those kind friends who braved the weather took a real interest in the work and gave us helpful criticisms. The results of the R.D.S. exams, came through more speedily this year. Owing perhaps to the unforeseen change of syllabus we were not quite so successful as in 1944. The Honours Standard did not include the drawing of flowers and leaves, a handicap to many boys. We enjoyed working for the Art Section of the Agricultural Exhibition which was held this spring and prizes were won by Reed Cooper 2nd, Still Life, John Patterson 2nd, pencil drawing. Handicrafts — Carpentry and wood 11-14 David Franklin, 1st prize. Extra prize Trevor Fountain, 14-18 John Wyatt and James Vivian, 1st prizes. Handicrafts. — Toys, D Outerbridge and I. Smart, 1st prizes. Metal box, 1 D. Franklin, Extras, H. McHarg and J. Wyatt. Airplane, A. C. MulHn. Many kind friends have remembered the Art Class amongst whom are Miss Eleanor Browne a beautiful gift of feathers all shapes, sizes and colours, ribbon, etc., Miss Rose GosHng, art books, paper and brush, Mrs. Purvis, Objects d ' Art including the ever useful saucepan beloved by the R.D.S.