Vaughan Road Academy - Acta Studentium Yearbook (Toronto, Ontario Canada)

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ACTA STYDENTIYM Page 17 'IIIDAIIRIIEDIINIICIIFJJ AGIIFGIIFIIEDIINIIIID VQQIIIUGBIIHIIQQIN IIRQGDAIID E4IDlll5lIl5llE941?TlllACll'fll'I'f5 O join in the students of a model student? No, Sir. To come to the gala event of the year, Parents' Night. This year, as in previous years, our ma's and pa's went forth to consult with our dear teachers, while we sat at home trembling and praying that these same dear ones would not tell tales out of school . All departments of the school aimed to show off to best advantage. In the commercial section, dainty young ladies pounded away at their typewriters, under the careful supervision of Mr. Day. How careful they were to see that Mr. Error did not enter into their work! In the Laboratories scientific experif ments of all kinds were conducted, To the astonished gaze of our parents, the innards of little froggies were exposed, carbon dioxide and other horrible gases were preparedg and the marvels of heat, light and sound were duly explained. In a conspicuous place our science note' books were displayed. 'May my mother not be able to find' minel' was the prayer of many a fair maiden, The Auditorium was filled with in' teresting exhibits of art, geography and ihistory. The art was especially fine, the display of geography projects showed considerable initiative on the part of the students: the history was unique. Miniature costumes, homes, castles and towns, ships, swords and whatfyoufwill, all were displayed to illustrate the man' ner in which our forefathers lived. In the large gymnasium girls and boys played basketball games. How the spectators cheered! How the students played!! Woh!! The games were fast, clean and closely contested. And now interest was centered in the mathematical rooms. Here the black' boards were covered with Algebra, Geo- metry and Trigonometry. Our parents were finally convinced through study of one problem worked out on the board that fone' could easily equal ktwo'. The tables of the library were devoted to a book exhibit. One could hardly believe it possible that in a collegiate, as young as ours, such a splendid collection of worthwhile and up-tofdate books could be put at the disposal of the stud' ent body. As to results! A few of us+alas too few-have acquired a new importance in our parents' eyes due to some teachers kindly words of approbation. On the other hand, since that momentous meet' ing, many of us have suffered the ill effects of bitter reproach, continued seclusion and hard labour. But in spite of all, here's to you bothAparents and teachers. May you meet oftenfand the consequences be hanged! n

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Pa ge 16 ACTA STUDENTIUM gold medals for their outstanding work in typewriting. Second place ribbons for general Proficiency were granted to Grace Nichols, Dorothy Greer, Jean Meyers, Mountain Hutt, Helen Upton, Beatrice Elrick, Alva Norris, Marjorie Rothwell, and Bernice Elrick. Third place ribbons were awarded to Arthur Heywood, Donald Watt, Maunsel Hunt, Mldred Sandler, Millicent Phillip, May Couper, Neeta Edwards, Chrissie Reid and Mary Ross, Bert Gerstein gave a clever valedietory speech, a copy of which may be found elsewhere in this magazine. This year, Vaughan was especially proud to have as its guest speaker Honor' able and Reverend H. -I. Cody, D.D. LL. D., president of the University of Toronto. Dr. Cody spoke to us on the subject of Canadian Youth. He urged on us the importance of being gracious in our manners, careful in our speech and persevering in our studies. After Dr. Cody's address the Matricuf lation gradluation diplomas were given out by Mr. Smith and Miss Dickson. At the conclusion of the Commence' ment Exercises a reception was held in the library for the graduates and their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Evans along with representatives from the School Board and Staff received the guests. Dainty refreshments were served' and a pleasant opportunity was given to the graduating class to renew acquaintance with class' mates and teachers, 1103i GlIfllflllllf5 4lfL3llllllllRlllS6lllllllllQ4k.S ll'B4DlINll4l3llBl'RfiIf ITH the painful memories of ex' aminations and the threat of our forthcoming reports hovering around us, it was a particularly pleasant and en' joyable relief to go to the Christmas Concert which was, undoubtedly, the 'best yet. Under the capable direction of the committee of teachers, a varied and sparkling programme was presented, which kept the audience in continuous laughter throughout the evening. The members of the Lower School showed their talent in the amusing plav The Knave of Hearts, and three charming dances were given under the direction of Miss Mason. Three clever young dancers, june MacDonald, Ruth Steele and Joyce Helston contributed to the general enjoyment. Perhaps the greatest attraction of the evening was the Staff Orchestra, com' posed of Mr. Barton Rubenoffski, Miss Mills, Mr. Horwood, Mr. McKeown that lad from the country, and Mr. Cunf ningham our little drummer boy, and under the direction of our new and very versatile Mr. Beale. VVe'd like to see some more of that Orchestra. A girls' chorus, trained by Miss M. Vxfaugh, sang three delightful songs, and our school orchestra gave two selections May we venture to say that the school orchestra gets better every year. The evening was brought to a splendid conclusion by the Staff play Rory Aforesaidw, a Scotch comedy which was very much enjoyed by everyone. Mr. Beale merrily replaced his topfhat for a 'ktamfofshantef' and his Russian ac' cent was suddenly transformed into a broad Scotch dialect. Miss Husband has told a story of European shepherds who spend so much time with their sheep that they eventuf ally assume a sheepflike expression them' selves. If this is the case, Mr. Eennell must have been keeping sheep in his back garden for years to have developed such a sheep-like bleat. Mr. O. B. Coumans, Ixdr. E. R. Cunningham, Mr. M. D. Smith and Mr. R. B. Horwood, who was very adept with his powder puff, com' pleted the cast. If our future Annual Concerts are so successful and of such high calibre as this year's, we can look forward to them as one of the most outstanding features in our school year. ,

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Page 18 ACTA STUDENTIUM VQQIIIIIQIIIZSIIDIIIIECIIFGDIIRCJY By BERT GERSTEIN Mr. Evans, Ladies and Gentlemen: IVE years ago, you mothers and fathers here tofnight had a duty to performg you had to see that your child' ren attended school regularly. This evenf ing I see before me you same mothers and fathers, but not the same children. Inf stead I see you accompanied by young men and young ladies. What has happened to your children? Each day they were not radically changed from the previous day, and yet they are no longer children. Time fliesfand five years, after they are past, are as a shadow even though they may loom gigantically in the future. What has happened to your children? Psychologists answer that question. They tell us that the intelligence of the average person grows only until the age of 17, varying slightly with the individual. So we are to understand that during our attendance at this institution, whether known or unknown to us, our intel' ligence has developed to its fullg in the future we can only increase our store of knowledge. And so, although unnoticed by those with whom we have daily con- tact, we have become young men and women. What have been our contacts during this period of transition? We have formed a few lasting friendships, but we have all been brothers in the same fraternity. We have all yelled for the same touchdown, rejoiced over the same holidays, and attended the same social and literary functionsg we have all had the same academic interest, have had the same teachers, wrestled with the same problems and laughed at the same jokes. In a more serious vein, we have been under the guidance of a highly qualified staff of instructors whose duty and purpose has been, they have assured and convinced me, not to make us memorize certain latin phrases or complex physical theories, but rather to develop our inf telligence and our character. If they disregarded that duty they would be guilty of a heinous crime, for you, and they, must realize that after leaving their care our intelligence, unfortunately, could no longer develop while our characters, dependent upon our mental aptitude, would degenerate. I have painted a black picture of what would be the result of their neglect, but I have not overestimated it, and I have purf posely blackened the picture, in order to make you realize how well they have attended to their duty by the example offered you by your own sons and daughters. Theirs is a difficult task. I have seen teachers affected more by a pupil's failure than the pupil himself, and I have even seen teachers suffer as much from overwork as a student study' for examinations. You parents owe them a great debt for their care of your children, while our debt is a greater one insofar as it is a personal one. There is one existing circumstance, however, to be deplored, and that is the lack of intimacy existing between parents and teachers. I am speaking more par' ticularly to those parents of under' graduates. You do not invest your material possessions without careful inf vestigation, and yet you entrust your children to the care of persons unknown to you without any apparent qualms. Are they less valuable than those material possessions? This state of affairs must be remedied, and you are the only ones who can possibly remedy it. The teachers want to meet you, but it is only by action on your part that