Toronto Teachers College - Yearbook (Toronto, Ontario Canada)

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SOCIAL A STAFF TEAS EMEMBER, oh thou mighty brain, the most amazing notice that reached your nearby ears one sunny morning long ago. Think back. Cahst thou not hear? The staff will have the pleasure of enter- taining in the drill-hall, to-morrow afternoon, all those whose numbers are from 0-I. Was this not a y most amazing notice? Do you re- member the awe with which we glanced at one another? Do you remember the glad surprise when it was discovered that we were among the elite of the moment? Those same sensations flood our consciousness even now. We knew no one: we did not know the staffg we did not know what to do. But with what brave fronts we marched down the corridor to the drill-hall steps. Courage, where wast thou? First we pinned our names to us. How kind and friendly the staff were to us those next few minutes. Were they ever after to be thus, we mused. Why, Normal is going to be fun after all, we heard our- selves thinking. And so indeed it has been. That moment, when we shook hands with one another, was the beginning of many, many good times. We do sincerely thank the staff for those most pleasant afternoons with them. F, Aitken. Pls Pls Pk if If the dance held in Dec., under the Auspices of the Mens Ath- letic Society, was noteworthy for no other reason, it had at least the distinction of being, perhaps, the only dance in some years at which the men figured more prominently than the women. This is no mean dis- tinction in an institution where the fair sex outnumbers the other by at least four to one. The ladies, who rightly claimed the scarcity of partners at the majority of social functions in the school, certainly missed a grand opportunity this time. The dance, held in the Social C014 neil Front Rmu-M. Monks, D. Whyte, E. Smith, Miss Hay, A. Barron. Bark Rau'--H. Dunbar, M. Willis, J. McCullough. I CTIVITIES gymnasium, was not noted as being a financial success, although every- one present gave assurance of an evening well spent. The decorating committee spared no efforts to give the hall an air of Christmas spirit. with good old St. Nicholas present as usual with his Christmas tree. Members of the staff welcomed the guests, and soon all were partici- pating in this joyous festival. The refreshment committee did not forget to carry out the theme of the decorations. Christmas cake and coffee were served in the Kindergarten-Primary room. Although not one of the out- standing social affairs of the year. the Christmas dance remains as one of the pleasant informal evenings spent in the Normal School. Sfmrlifzg. Friday evening. February nine- teenth. was a gala evening at T.N.S. The reason. you askfsthe Womens Athletic Dance. The drill hall was attractively decorated with red a nd white streamers and hearts. in keeping with the Valentine holiday. Bridge tables were provided for those not wishing to dance. Our genial patrons and patronesses for the evening were Mr. and Mrs. Whyte, Miss Hay, Miss Merchant, Mr. and Mrs. Keefe. Miss St. john, and the president of the organization, Miss Meikle. The most charming fashions in semi-formal gowns were displayed by the fair sex, as they danced away the evening to the music of Arthur Vincent's Orchestra. What the men were wearing, at one time during the evening, remains much of a mystery. Evidently some thought the dance was to be a masquerade, for sweaters and sweat-shirts appeared. In passing, we might add, the idea was not a remarkable success. but thoroughly enjoyable. Page Twelzty-zzizze

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Prize ESSBY TEACHINGS MY DESTINATION A-Strickland In a few weeks now, each of us will leave Normal School-most of us forever. For nine months we have worked and played together. We have each gained something and lost something. We entered as High School children-we leave as adults. teachers of the Province of Ontario. From the mazes of hectograph ink, Science of Education and teaching, a few memories remain etched vividly in our minds. No two of us have the same major impressions though we have had the same major experience. To me one incident looms. You all remember it. The scene is an ordinary classroom, The C1355 ig gjngll, The time is eleven o'clock Friday morning. There are six pupils--two boys and four girls. They are about eleven years of age, normally attractive children to all appearance. We know they are deaf. It is a shame: but. we aren't terribly impressed. The little red-haired girl acts as spokesman. The childs voice jangles forth in broken syllables. We were prepared for that. Re- member the children as thev clustered about the piano--the little lad with black curly hair which had been soaked to lie flat? You see doz- ens just like him every day. The piano is sweet and melodious--a trifle loud perhaps: and then, the children begin to sing. Above the music breaks the clash of six voices scarcely human in sound. iflach syllable rasps forth in six different interpretations. We close our eyes, and the picture of six pretty children about a piano fades and in their place rises the figures of old, wild prisoners of the Bastile or similar dungeons. That mechanical grating might belong to old men and women, who have been shut off from their fellows and suffered agonies of loneliness. What right had it to belong to children? They are jangling forth the verse- He loves me too, He loves me too. One of the students whispers, If you have the least bit of cynic in you, you can't help wondering if He really does care. Uo you remember laughing at little Emily of New Moon and her flashes? ln that moment came my flash. There isn't much we can do for that special little class of children. They are doomed to be shut off from their fellows. They must live forever in a world of silence. But what of the hundreds of other children, the mentally de- ficient, the problem cases? Do you remember the startling state- ment of the principal of one of those schools? ln every problem case -truancy, misconduct or sullenness, we have not found one where the Pzljigf' Twrzzty-riglzl child was to blame. Sometimes it is necessary to remove them from their homes and in every case the child improves mentally and physi- cally. But the force of the statement lies here-A few years ago those parents were school children. To-day they are discontented, irrespon- sible parents. a handicap rather than a help to those whom they love most. There is a serious deficiency somewhere. Are our pupils to be incompetent parents, poor citizens, irresponsible waverers or worse? Those problem children are given a chance. They are trained for a vocation. and they are taught how to be independent, self-respecting. sympathetic men and women. The girls are taught how to be good wives, and good mothers, good business women. The boys to be ef- ficient, self supporting, self reliant men. While our normal and superior children receive-what? Each year thousands of boys and girls emerge from our public schools, high schools and colleges with little training --few qualifications that are counted as significant in the world to- day. These intelligent. educated but discontented and unskilled stu- dents become discontented, dangerous men and women. To-day our two great fanatical forces-Communism and Fascism are being fed from their ranks. If we as teachers send children from our schools well versed in Latin, Algebra and other Academic subjects and nothing else, we have failed miserably. Gur children are living in the midst of a fren- zied, unsettled world. Our politics, our governments and religion are all changing. Speed, excitement. frenzy rule. Peace is a far-off dream. Nothing is certain for our child and yet no child was born under such propitious conditions. He can succeed where our generation has failed if we will but give him the key. This following might serve as a guide to this graduating class of 1937: til May I never fail to see in my boys and girls of to-day the men and women of to-morrow. t2l May I give not only academic and vocational training but some equipment to aid them meet life. t3j May I never lose sight of the goal-peace and contentment- towards which we are striving, however blindly. t4l May I never reach the point of satisfaction with my own work to the extent of losing all desire to improve. t5l Above all, may I strive to be the example I would have my children follow, and may I be guided to do my best despite my failings and restrictions. Upon our schools lies the responsibility of the future of Canada: and you and I are the schools. Let us never forget it.

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Il IX Ei L I Tonorrro 'H- -lihl l, scl-i l-YEA -B9-0..lg 1 STRATFCDRD AS OUR GUESTS lllf first night of the Stratford visit took the form of a very enter- taining concert followed by an exceptionally enjoyable dance. The concert began at about Nl? p.m. .Xttendance in general was very gtnitl. Stratford were out in full force. with a fair number from our own school. Xmong those present were the genial soft-spoken Dr. Mar- tin, principal of our guests' home school, and some of his staff. Principal and Mrs. Whyte, and many of the staff were present. tint- of the outstanding features of the programme was the Op- eretta. very capably presented by the girls of Kindergarten-Primary. who won the cup for the best Fall literary program. Mary Robb was on hand as usual lo entertain us with her unique French horn. Then the .Xladridgal Singers put in their appearance and excelled themselves in two very delightful numbers. To contlude the concert. each of the two principal gentlemen of the evening favoured ns with a short address. Mr. Whyte spoke first and remarlaticl on how times had changed. Why! twenty-five years ago, young men and ladies were not even allowed to associate with each other and were gently but firmly forced to retire at the hour of 9.00 p.m. But to-day, in the year 1037, not only did the opposite sexes associate freely, but stayed to dance until the hour of 12 o'clock. Dr. Martin expressed very eloquently, on behalf of the Stratford Normal School, their great joy at being our guests and very vividly pictured for us in a few words the outstanding place in education that the Toronto Nor- mal School holds. Then the dance? Immediately after the concert, everyone adjourn- ed to our gymnasium ballroom. And ballroom it was indeed! Our interior decorators deserve special mention for this piece of work. The ball room was admirably decorated with streamers of purple, yellow and black, a clever harmonizing of the colours of both schools. The dance itself was a tremendous success. liveryone was in high spirits. Stratford seemed to feel at home. The orchestra played splendidly. Our staff joined in the gaiety of the evening with their usual whole-hearted enthusiasm. Prizes were given for special numbers and during the inter- mission refreshments were served. Page Thirty But all good things must come to an end. And so, shortly after 12 o'clock the orchestra played God Save The King , and with Satur- days athletic struggle in view we departed in the best of spirits. E. Smith. STRATFORD AT l-ICDME NE of the delightful experiences of the Normal School year has resulted from making new acquaintances. Opportunities for this were given not only among our own students but also among the students of Hamilton and Stratford at the occasion of Inter-Normal meets. It was my privilege to have another such occasion. This oppor- tunity was granted at the time of the Stratford At Home . Gladys Holley, representing the women of our school, journeyed with me. From the beginning the events proved to be interesting. 'Jn our arrival at the school we were courteously received by Dr. Martin, the principal, Mr. james Coulton, president of the Literary Society, and the Dean of Women. The programme consisted of several delightful musical numbers by members of the Glee Club and graduates. A two-act play entitled Becky Sharpe was cleverly presented by the Dramatic Club. During the programme, time was given for the introduction of delegates from other Normal Schools. The delegates then presented greetings from their Alma Haters. After a promenade around the Assembly Hall, we were directed towards the Household Science room where dainty refreshments were served. This gave us an added opportunity to meet interesting people and exchange ideas. The evening passed quickly and happily away. One of the outstanding pleasures of our visit was realized in re- ceiving impressions of another school. Stratford School is a more re- cently constructed building than ours which is so full of history and tradition. But even such a happy trip ends and we returned with mingled sentiments of gratitude and appreciation. T. Edwards.