Selwyn House School - Yearbook (Montreal, Quebec Canada)

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FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR 1959-1960 'I9 Board and Staff We were very sorry to lose two valuable members from our Board of Governors last Fall in the persons of Mr. Gordon H. MacDougall and Mrs. Harald Martin. Mr. MacDougall has been a tremendous tower of strength to the school and it was under his dynamic chairmanship that the new wing was added some years ago. Mrs. Martin was always ready to give her practical help and counsel and contributed greatly to the work of the Board during her term of office. To replace these members we are most happy to welcome Mrs. R. W. Coristine and Mr. Hugh H. Norsworthy, the latter an Old Boy of Selwyn House. We were pleased to welcome Mr. Rowland Philipp to the school last September- in addition to his regular class-room duties, Mr. Philipp has complete charge of the Manual Training Department and also helps out with Junior Sports, and has already made a happy niche for himself in our hearts. We were also glad to welcome back Mrs. Etanda Farquhar to Junior School work, and regret very greatly that she is not able to stay with us for at least another year, as her quiet competence and sympathetic manner have meant so much to our school family, which has come to admire and love her so greatly. We were all so sorry to learn that Mrs. Dorothy Tester had decided to retire this year. Mrs. Tester came to Selwyn House in September, i946 to take charge of the first Form D, and since that time has given magnificent service in all junior and middle school classes -not only in the regular form subiects, but also in junior school singing, production of plays for the dramatics performances, and as a make-up artist for so many boys in the plays over the years. Her outstanding professional skill and happy, cheerful personality will be greatly missed by boys and staff alike, and our deepest thanks and best wishes go with her as she leaves our strenuous arena of battle for well-earned leisure. We hope to have frequent visits from her to cheer us all up from time to time. Mr. Brian Cleary's decision to return to England was received with great dismay by all. Although he has been in charge of Gymnastics at Selwyn House for only three years, his creative and imaginative work with the boys has made a lasting impression upon all, and his sound philosophy of Physical Education so effectively put into action in the Gymnasium has made him a highly esteemed educator far beyond the confines of our metropolis as well as a much admired teacher at Selwyn House. We wish him all good fortune in the administrative world of English education. We are happy to hear good news from time to time from Miss Afra Snead -formerly senior teacher of the Junior School-from Hastings, England, and from Mr. Timothy Rutley, who is on an extended trip around the world. We are always delighted to have visits from Mr. Howis and Madame Gyger and Miss Locke, who is presently on a tour of western Europe. A very generous gift was made to the school by Mrs. Eva Prager and her father, Mr. Oppenheimer, both outstanding artists, who collaborated in the painting of a very handsome portrait of the headmaster. This they presented at a special assembly of the school last November, and it was received by the chairman of the Board of Governors, Mr. Maxwell, who voiced the thanks and appreciation of all for this magnificent gesture.

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I8 SELWYN HOUSE SCHOOL MAGAZINE being built over the Forth, and another is being proiected over the Tay at Dundee-so the traffic up the east coast will travel faster, and industry on the east side of Scotland will benefit. In the west a new graving dock is about to be built. Prestwick airport is being developed so that both sides of the Atlantic are being brought closer together, and a journey across it is no longer a formidable undertaking. All this will help us to be on closer terms as neighbours, to do more trade with each other, and in general to co-operate in this great new age of progress. Before I close, may I say a few words about three things with which I am personally connected in Scotland-the Church, the Arts and the Land. First, the Church. Scotland has never shown any sign of losing sight of the Christian values. Sunday is still the sacred day, and the Christian traditions are continuing to bring great happiness and richness to the lives of our people. Indeed there is a sort of religious revival nowadays, particularly in the newer towns, where new churches and centres are being built, and where the people show a need for religion which overrides all new scientific developments. Secondly, Painting lfor which I can personally speakl is at a high level in Scotland- there are several painters of the modern school who will be valued in the future. It is a pity that in general the people of Scotland are not taking still more interest in the work of the artist, but possibly this is a transition period. And we hope that the great advances which have been made in art-education and appreciation will lead to a greater understanding for the artist. In the world of industrial design the situation is better. As living standards rise, it is to be hoped that all the fine arts will come more and more into the lives and homes of the people. Finally, the Land. I think that one can say that farmers in Scotland today are living up to their reputation as being second to none in the world of agriculture. The practice of farming is keeping pace with new discoveries of agricultural science. However, we have to face the fact that farming in Great Britain is the Cinderella of the industries. Yet, thanks to fairly distributed government subsidies, an efficient home agriculture is being fostered without restricting imports of more cheaply raised foodstuffs from abroad. There seem to be hopes of expansion in the timber trade. If this is possible, more of the empty hillsides in the High- lands will be planted, and perhaps small communities will spring up in places where populations vanished during the last centuries to the cities. I do hope that these few remarks about life and conditions in Scotland today will encourage those of you who have never been there to go and see for yourselves, and I am sure I can guarantee you a really warm welcome. Gi?

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20 SELWYN HOUSE SCHOOL MAGAZINE The Library The Library has been used more and more this year, resulting in a circulation of more than 3,550 books, from September to early in March. Many hours of research, among our fine reference books, have been spent by the boys looking up material for essays, debates and speeches. Many new reference books have been acquired in the last year. These include a new set of Encyclopedia Britannica and the Britannica Book of the Year , a set of En- cyclopedia Canadianau, and a set of the Golden Book Encyclopedia . As of early March, there were over 4,840 books registered in the Library proper, which does not take into account all the books stored elsewhere in the school. The School has purchased 24 new story books this year, the money from fines has bought 38 books, and 77 books have been donated. Some of the donors were: Murray Whipps, l8 books, Kim Eaton 30 books, Ian Fisher 10, Michael and David McMaster 3, Michael Martin 3, David Esdaile 2, Robert Graham 2, John Angus 2, plus donations from Jamie Fitzpatrick, Jamie McGregor, Pete Rider, Freddie Southam, Jeffrey Smele, Tommy Fisher, Shaun Mclntosh and Mr. Gardiner. Seasonal decorations for Halloween, Remembrance Day, Christmas, St. Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day and Easter, have proved a source of pleasure to the boys and staff. The Library being such a spacious, well-lighted room, lends itself easily to decorations and displays. The boys have proudly exhibited their treasures, which have run the full gamut from genuine African war shields, spears, Haiti Drums, ancient swords, models of ships, planes, rockets and rocket launching platforms, art work, stamps, coins, rocks, shells, to nests, lobster claws and traps and sets of hockey cards. ' The plastic covers, which by now are on most of the books, have proved to be money savers as well as beautifiers. Books emerging from snow banks or mud puddles have quite often only needed a good rubdown instead of a sad discard. Also, the enhanced beauty has been an incentive to circulation. There has been an added element. The boys have tended to be more proud and careful of the books, much less mending has been necessary and fewer discards have taken place. All in all, a successful and happy year for the Library. E. Pick, Librarian. i- Ti