Westdale Secondary School - Le Raconteur Yearbook (Hamilton, Ontario Canada)

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EDITURI LS Ye Editor Speaks By Bob Coulson The staff of Le Raconteur sincerely hopes that this issue of the annual paper meets with your approval, and at least approaches your expecta- tions. Wie have worked hard to make it a success. If we have failed-well, we are sorry, but we have clone our best. So much enjoyment can be obtained even from a summary of the happy days of school life that we trust we have given you that, if noth- ing more. To the many students who have submitted material for publication--our thanks. If you have not broken into print this time, try again. That your copy has not been used is no reflection on its merit. Perhaps it did not reach us soon enough. Perhaps the standard features of the paper crowded it out. Perhaps it got lost in the rush. Never mindg better luck next time! Again this year, we must, too, 1nake special men- tion of the yeoman efforts of the advertising staff. To this group of young men and women, we really owe this paper, for they have secured the necessary financial backing for us. Our debt to the teaching staff in this, as in other school projects, we do not forget. Mr. Rinn, Mr, Lillie, and Mr. Hawes have been of inestimable help to us. To Miss Cawthorpe, and Mr. Gillan we are no less grateful. The proof of our appreciation of Mr. Gillan's work is the number of his photo- graphs we have used. The sun of school life, so long absent from XYest- dale, is appearing above the horizon. If this issue does anything to assist it towards its zenith, we will be more than satisfied. John Buchan By Loreen Wilkinson john Buchan was born in Perth, Scotland, in 1875. His father was a Presbyterian minister, having a parish near the Tweed River, where john Buchan spent most of his boyhood. lVhen selecting his title, he remembered his boyhood and chose Lord Tweedsmuir. john Buchan was educated at Oxford University and graduated as a lawyer. For two years he was Private Secretary to Lord Milner in South Africa, and thus became well acquainted with the world of politics and the governing of people and a country. lle is a partner in the firm of Nelson X Company, one of the greatest publish- ing houses in the world. john Buchan was also a member of the British llouse of Commons. repre- senting the Scottish Universities. llis successor is the Duke of Kent. During the Great XYar he was on Earl llaig's staff, which was a very outstanding position. ln 1907 john Buchan married Susan Grosvenor, who is related to the lluke of XYestminster. They have four children, three boys and a girl. The eldest son, john, has a government position in Uganda, Africa. XYilham, the second son, is at Oxford, and is the editor of the Uxford Magazine. Alstair, the youngest son, is at Eton College. Alice, the only daughter, is the wife of Captain Fairfax Lucy, of an old English family. The Buchan family have resided at Elslield Manor, near Uxford, for the past seventeen years. john Buchan has written much history, biog- raphy, and fiction. He writes every word himself, usually while travelling. Some of his more popular books are: Castle Gay, Prester john and The King's Gacef' the latter being the history of His late Majesty, King George, and his consort, Queen Mary, since their coronation. john Buchan writes books because he likes to and because he gets real enjoyment from writing them. At least fifty of his books have been published, and they are very popular. ln appearance Lord Tweedsniuir is like Cardinal Newman. lle has a spare figure, lean face, brown hair and broad brow. llis gray-blue eyes are the distinctive feature is his rather austere face. His movements are quick and lithe, as befits a sports- man. He is a mountaineer, rider, walker, falcon enthusiast, deer stalker, and a very good angler for salmon and trout. He dresses quietly as a rule, but in ceremonial clothes he looks very stately. john Buchan is a friendly man, and an extremely fine speaker. As Governor-General, he has already won the esteem and affection of the Canadian people. i 9

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7 db FRONT ROW-Alan Vila, H. Tweedle, M. Nixon, R. Coulson iEditory, M. Barclay, P. Bath, G. Richmond. BACK ROW-W. Chllman, P. Henderson, R. Cattell, K. Giffen, l. lVlcNairn, E. Siegal, I. Goldberg. Staff of Le Baconteur at Editor .......... Assistant Editor .... Photograph Editor Almfnni ........... Social . . . Room News .,.. Book Reviews .... Music ........., Boys' Sports ..., Girls' Sports .... Exchange ..... French and German Cover ....... Photographs .... Faculty Advisors .. Robert T. Coulson ...... Ian McNairn . . . . . William Clark Peter F. Henderson Daphne Etherington Morna Barclay .. William Chilrnan Robert Cattell John Davies . , Kenneth Giffen Irwin Goldberg Alan Vila .. . Helen Tweedle . . G. Richmond E. Siegal . . . Helen Sadler Peggy Bath . . . . Jack Hatherley Mr. F. Gillan Mr. H. L. Rinn Mr. B. S. Lillie Mr. H. C. Hawes Miss H. A. Cawthorpe 2 ?5:7'M i 1. .-...W Y 1 V. . 0. Q., .. L l

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LE llACONTEUIl An 0pen Letter to The Editor Dear Mr. Editor: XYe, the pupils of CQII, take this opportunity to express our ideas in regard to the activities of the XYestdale Secondary Schools. Our com- plaints will be salved with good-will, Zlllfl we hope you will accept them in the spirit in which they are meantg our approbation represents an honest attempt to express an appreciation of the various school organizations and those responsible for their control. All the activities in Yllestdale do not appeal to us, but we have tried to express an opinion about those that do. THE TRIUNE The tonic that XYestdale needs is not cod-liver oil but a live Triune Society to keep our school system functioning well. The programs this year have been quite interesting and we have enjoyed them, but we would like to see and hear more of the girl members of the executive. Xkihy can't the vice-president take charge of some meetings and make some announcements in the auditorium? Could the Triune arrange some kind of meeting the first or second day of school especially for the newcomers? Everyone sits around most of the opening day in September and we think it would be better if all the First forms were gathered in the auditorium and told something about the various organizations in the school. THE LIBRARY XYe suppose that both libraries are the same, but our experience is limited to the Vocational. Atten- tion should be called to the condition of some of the books. lllrs. Shaw works hard repairing the older books-those that are gradually succumbing to everyday wear-and-tear-but there are some books, practically new, with torn covers, with pages miss- ing, and names scribbled all over them. lt certainly is annoying to read a book all through, only to Find the last few pages gone. A little more care on the part of the pupils would save unnecesary work for our librarian and would also make reading more enjoyable. Then there is the question of library detentions. Somehow the library doesn't seem just the place for detentions. A pupil should enjoy going to the library, but if it is necessary to report there for detentions he will soon think of it as a place of punishment rather than of pleasure. THE DRAMATIC SOCIETY??? One of the outstanding school orchestras in the Province, the best auditorium in I-lamilton, and 10 considerable talent in acting, singing, and dancing -these are the assets with which we could build a successful Dramatic Society. This Dramatic Society would have the job of eliminating all inferior plays for both the Triune and the Annual School Play Committee. As it is now, nobody is interested in seeking out the real talent in the school and in producing a play worthy of the standards set by other schools in the city. This Dramatic Society could also sponsor classes in such branches of theatrical training as the art of make-up,'l stage scenery and costumes, lighting effects,'l etc. XYe have a Technical Department that has work- shops where scenery could be constructed for big- ger and better plays, and there is also a Sewing Department where costumes could be made. XVhy can't we put on a famous operetta or a Shakes- pearian play, instead of the inferior plays that do not till the auditorium? The answer is that we have no Dramatic Society interested in furthering the cause of theatricals at XVestdale. lf not, why not? THE DEBATING SOCIETY It has been announced from time to time in the auditorium that the pupils have not been support- ing the Debating Society. More support would be given if we knew what it is all about. After all las the teachers remind usl, we are just second- formers, and you cannot expect us to become en- tlmsiastic about debating when we have only a confused idea of what takes place at the meetings. XVe have three suggestions as to how the activi- ties of the Debating Society could be improved. ill Put on a sample meeting in the auditorium. so that the pupils will have some idea as to the activities of such a club. CD25 Have a debate at one of the Triune meetings by some of your best mem- bers. till Choose better topics for the debates- something in which the pupils are interested. NYC have not run out of ideas, but you have been kind to allow us as much space as you have, and so we close, wishing you every success with the 1936 edition of Le Raconteur. In spite of our criticisms we are anxious to support as many student activi- ties as we can, and we wish the school and Triune a happy and a prosperous future, Yours sincerely, PUPILS OF CQB. Editor's note: This letter is the result of a co-operative effort during which each girl in.the class C42 in numberj had a chance to express her opinion.