Victoria High School - Victorian Yearbook (Edmonton, Alberta Canada)

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14 Victoria High School

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Year Book 13 FOREWORD By the Principal VOCATIONAL LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE I N the absence of a suitable and comprehensive text book dealing with occupational information and vocational guidance for use in schools of Alberta, some general hints for our students might not be amiss. Physical stamina, mental equipment, inherent tendencies, local oppor¬ tunities and economic backing vary greatly. Stock must be taken of all before one’s vocational range is selected. Moreover, these variable factors should be fairly well estimated by the alert individual before he has grad¬ uated from high school, in order that he rhay be master of his own destiny in so far as such gratification is possible. Vocational latitude is determined by one’s physical equipment and stamina. Many occupations, even among those most preferred, require physical energy and immunity from slight physical ills, to a greater degree than is possessed by the average person. It is quite true that to a large extent the lack of a rugged physique may be offset by wise and consider¬ ate living, but this may only be effected when our occupation permits of such careful attention to health. Vocational longitude depends upon mental capacity, inherited char¬ acteristics, present opportunities and economic considerations. When the individual has reached the age for high school graduation, his judgment with respect to his vocational longitude should be absolutely candid and dispassionate. To aim high is noble, but to aspire unwisely is an unprofit¬ able undertaking which may foster a querulous and peevish temper and sour the even tenor of our way. Having determined our vocational latitude and longitude, the range of our possible vocations becomes apparent, and it then remains as a matter of expediency, coupled with opportunity, to take root where we hope to grow to maturity. It is a splendid commentary on our civiliza¬ tion that the world, in general, looks upon youth almost with a hallowed feeling of tenderness. This feeling disappears as the youth passes out of his ’teens and the world then expects him to stand on his feet and to be able to make a worthy contribution to society. Vocational guidance has not yet approached the status of a science and it behooves ea ch youth to preserve an alert, questioning attitude concerning present day society, in order that he may discover for himself his proper vocational range. The national character of our Secondary educational system is yet in a state of fermentation. Evidence of frothiness and sediment do not detract from our belief that its ingredients are sound and wholesome, and in time will settle down into something substantially excellent. The greatest proof of this statement lies in the present, ever expanding tendency of Canadian educational reform, to stress education of the youth not as masses, but as individuals; and by this token to aid them in the discovery of, and preparation for, their particular vocational range. In conclusion, may we suggest that our whole educational trend in Canada warrants the degree of optimism expressed by Emerson: So nigh is grandeur to our d,ust, So near is God, to man, When duty whispers loiv, “Thou must,” The youth replies, “I can.”

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Year Book 15 Huturial XgifftT 1 E, the Year Book Committee, submit to you the second Victoria High School Annual, and hope JJttJ it will meet with your approval. It represents WVW considerable work on the part of the committee as well as that of many contributors not on the Year Book staff, and for their literary efforts we are grateful. The quantity and quality of them has made the book more interesting and although many do not appear in print we beg the authors not to feel offended —our space was limited. To Mr. Luck, our literary advisor and staff rep re ' sentative, we also owe thanks. With much patience he judged the stories and poems, rebuilt such of them as were crippled, and kept our joke editor’s humor on respectable levels. Mr. Hicks did not lack in giving us support. Last fall when the proposed Year Book was discussed he secured the consent of the staff for its publication and then organised the committee. By placing an office at our disposal and arranging for the photographing of dif¬ ferent groups he greatly assisted in its progress. Miss Hegler, Mr. Smith, and others of the staff were also on hand to help. Mention of the business men of Edmonton whose advertisements appear in the book must be made, for it is they who have enabled us to sell it at a price con ' siderably lower than the actual cost. In conclusion we wish to say that it is our hope that in future years Vic will publish an increasingly better year Book due to experience gained by the mistakes of previous publishers.