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

Page 14 text:

LAISSEZ-FAIRE In 18118, the European world exploded into unrest and violence. French, Italian and Ger- mans had withstood long enough the repressive actions of the monarchies that governed their lives. The nucleus of these movements can be traced back to the universities where students and professors were absorbing the thoughts and works of the past 3,000 years. It is a known truth that has been proved throughout history's pages that, where there is knowledge, there is thought. Once the human mind has been stimulated by knowledge, the most repressive measures in the world cannot keep out the processes of thinking. Dictators of the past and present have tried to twist or distort knowledge and thought, but eventually they must face the problem of unrest caused by their own instrument of education. In Russia today, rumours penetrate from be- hind the barrier of the dissatisfaction that is circulating among the educated. Censoring knowledge and restraining thought is like damming a riverg for a while the flow stops, but eventually it gathers strength and over- whelms its shackles. The true course lies in the laissez-faire of education. The thought resulting from learn- ing will benefit H if that thought is free to exist and thrive. It was in the country of Eng- land, the home of freedom, that Karl Marx found refuge and was free to write books that have caused world-shaking developments. Al- though there is criticism and dislike of com- munism, no one can deny that it has benefited the poverty-stricken Chinese. Our own Mc- Master University frequently is given praise foi' its benefits to the community. Socialist governments that have been born of radical yet unrestrained thought have brought benefits to post-war areas. Freedom of thought processes that have been stirred up by education can benefit mankind and, if some ideas are destructive and harm- ful in their effect, by this freedom of thought we can reject them. Freedom of thought is a priceless gift that must be preserved if mankind is to progress. Jack Brown. SPRING CLEANING Today, with satellites in orbit and travel to other planets under consideration, we might take a closer look at the Whole question of space travel. Are we actually prepared to take the step into outer space? When we go on vacation, we do not leave our homes in disarray and confusion. In pre- paring to make the journey into space, should we not first house-clean our world? Divided as it is now, the world would not be a very strong bulwark in a space war if our explora- tion ever brought us to such a catastrophe. In addition, we would advance more certain- ly towards our goal in space travel if the powerful nations buried their animosity and combined their scientific efforts. Remember. the vacation-bound family that lacked organ- ization and co-operation would still be prepar- ing to depart when it could be at journeyys end. Should we not turn our attention to a world very much in need of a spring-cleaning before we begin to contemplate space travel? Betty Toon. VERNE CFADGE Wealdak Fwy Stone PRESCRIPTION DRUGGIST COR. KING and MARION STS. Copposite Loblaw'sl Phone JA 7-2741 VVe Deliver RAPHAEL MEN'S 81 BOYS' WEAR Westdale JA 7-7689 Compliments of BEAUTY MANOR 1124 Main St. West

Page 13 text:

From the Editors RENATE TANNENZAPF I 4 Eflitor-irz-Clzief 2 N. JACK BROWN KATHY DAIN Assistant Editor Assistant Editor ELIZABETH TOON A ssis tant Editor THE YOUNGER GENERATION Recently it was stated on an American tele- vision program that the youth of today is de- generating, because it has nothing to fight for. Unfortunately, this is the case in the United States and, to a lesser degree, in Canada, and it is truly frightening in the dangers it pre- sents to our civilization, According to the program, a placid compla- cency has subm.erged the youth of today in a mantle of ignorance and self-centredness. For the majority of young people, the road of life has been a streamlined highway. They have been shielded from the thorns and thistles along the roadside by over-protective parents, and have grown up in a world in which they have had few problems with which to cope. From the pinnacle of their smug superiority, they regard the poverty, disease and desolation of people less fortunate than they as remote and unreal. They play out their everyday lives in an endless whirl of their own petty prob- lems, which loom unnaturally large on their narrow horizons. And yet, I cannot believe that the situation as painted by the program is so entirely hope- less, especially since I myself am not only a staunch supporter, but also an active member of this degenerating generation. In my opinion, we in Canada are in a much better position than those living in the United States. our country is young and full of challenges. Its method of education discourages intellec- tual stagnation. Its industries and professions cry out for trained people. Surely our modern world has not reached such a peak of perfec- tion that we can find in it no ideals and goals for which to pledge our loyalties? By meet- ing the challenges offered by life, we can still redeem ourselves in the estimation of our eld- ers. But the final decision rests with the in- dividual, whether he will be able to say in the twilight of declining years: I have not lived my life in vain. I would like to extend my sincerest thanks to the staff of the magazine for their hard work, to the Publications Committee Chairman, Richard Mitchell for his co-operation and help, and to Mr, McCord whose patience, guidance and supervision must be accredited for any measure of success that Le Raconteuru may enjoy. Renate Tannenzapf. FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND THE PRESS When I was asked to write an editorial for the Le Raconteur, my only question was: What should I write about? The answer was: Anything you choose. I could w1'ite about anything I chose, too - integration, politics, religion - anything. This is my right - not privilege: but right, because I live in Canada! It is your right too. It is called freedom of speech and of the press. This freedom that we enjoy may seem trivial because we have never been without it. How- ever, to be without it is to live in fear - in fear of every word you say. This situation is only too apparent in the communist countries of Europe and Asia. There, people are taken into custody daily by the police just because they said something which could be interpreted as derogatory to the Communist party. Frequently they never find out what it was that they said. Frequent- ly their families never see them again. This may seem remote to us, -but it is happening. This is my editorial. I wrote on freedom of speech and of the press. I have criticized the Communist party for their lack of it, but I won't be taken to jail for doing so. Kathy Dain.

Page 15 text:

From the Business Manager gil-V1 - i'- v- ' ' Cf ' ,: I ,,-,,,,. , ,vi ,,fg::fQgfj,fg,f ' RICHARD MITCHELL, , , ,' , ' , ,' ' iff .ft 'fffzfigfff Chan man of Pl.LZ2ZIfCfLf10HS 7 ,' ff , f , Committee. , tv a ef 'fa4z'? , , fff Welcome to Le Raconteuru of 1959. The aim of this year's edition was to present a magazine representing every phase of life at Westdale and not to concentrate on any particular section. A devoted and capable staff Was required to fulfil this aim. The editors of each of the sections and their com- mittees deserve a great deal of credit for their work and ideas in making the magazine a success. The assistant editors, Kathy Dain, Betty Toon and Jack Brown, handled their Work ef- ficiently. Heading up this large organization was Renate Tannenzapf, the editor-in-chief. Her fresh ideas and the time which she de- voted to the magazine have added the polish to it. Finally, no activity can exist Without the advisers. A large amount of thanks goes to them, and especially to Mr. McCord, for their advice and assistance. Thank you for your support. RICHARD MITCHELL, Chairman of Publications. '-wif . ffl f , , ii 2 1 - ' ' fi? , in fi ku, f ' 3 Q.s.,-,,,,,.,r .. .. N . , . . , ' , LE RACONTEUR ADVISERS lst row: Mr. McAndrew, Graduate Adviser, Miss Standing, Grade IX Adviser, Mr. McCo1'd, Chief Adviser, Mrs. Dain, Advertising Adviser, Miss Gilchrist, Girls' Sports Adviser. 2nd row: Mr. Ferguson, Boys' Sports Adviser, Mr. Richa1'dson, Humour Adviser, Mr.. Devitt, Clubs and Social Adviser, Mr. Gilbank, Room News Adviser, Mr. Ettinger, Literary Adviserg Mr. Wright, Photography Adviser. fs, 1 ff f f f ,, f fee f ' f ff ffgyaf ff f 1 1 iff! ff f,...,.,,ra , ,,,,, , , .,., .,,,,, ,,,,,,y,. 1,5 f iff .1 ' , ,'1?f f 4 fgfva , 1 Q f 4 fff ,127 ff, Z5 ya? 1 fof 2 Q f 1 I H4 ff fx! 4 f 1 Q X4 l I ,l fir I at tilt I A,-. llili