Worcester State University - Oak Leaf Yearbook (Worcester, MA)

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CLASS HISTORY As we, the Class of 1959, launch our rockets of learning into the firmament of tomorrow ' s classrooms, we pause a moment to reminisce about the four years which we have spent together. It all began in the month of September in the year 1955. Fresh from a year as the ruling class in our respective high schools, we were now on the bottom of a new academic ladder. But we were in college, and that was quite a distinction in itself. We now had a common goal: teaching. The year was full of new experiences, all of which constantly reminded us of our responsibilities in a profes- sional school. We faced the class alone on many occasions to give reports, good training, we were told, for the day when we would have to face a class of our own. There were six sections In our freshman class, but as yet, no mention had been made of either elementary or secondary. The division was purely alphabetical. How quickly we learned whose name came Immediately before our own and who was destined to sit on either side of us in almost every class! This was a big social year for us. We had been In the school only a week when we were honored at a Welcome Freshman Dance sponsored by the sophomores. This was held In the gymnasium, that area of the old building which our class still remem- bers in all its former glory. October brought with It All College Week, during which we made our first effort as a class, presenting a successful variety show. Most of us were somewhat stunned by the prospect of a half-dozen research papers which were required during this year. Almost any Saturday morning, a class reunion could be held in the public library as we became Intimately familiar with the Reader ' s Guide. Scarcely had we survived that ordeal when we discovered that the time was approaching for our first brush with mid-year exams. Many of us could not imagine any exam lasting two hours; at least we couldn ' t until we saw those first essay questions! Our big social event of the season was scheduled for January 13, 1956, a Friday evening. But we weren ' t superstitious; why should we have been? Moonlight Mist was an unqualified success, and Judy Maynard was a lovely queen. In April we held our extra dance, Let ' s Make Believe. By that time, the lovely spring weather was making us wish that some of our classes could be held outdoors so that we could enjoy the beautiful, unbroken landscape which Is no more. In June we realized that we had actually survived a whole year of college; nothing could stop us now. Sure enough, during the summer, a metamorphosis transformed us from fresh- man caterpillars Into sophomore butterflies. We were upperclassmen! We could sit In the middle of the auditorium! With our new-found wings spread, we extended our sphere of interest In ail directions. For example, the more artistic of our number demonstrated their ability to copy the beauties of nature at Elm Park with Miss Jayne. One divis ion In geography set out, pencils In hand, to count the fire hydrants and 16

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THE IVY ADDRESS The planting of the Ivy represents a tradition which has been cherished at Wor- cester State Teachers College for many years. The planting of this ivy, however, is more than just a tradition; it is a testimonial to all the beloved people responsible for our success; to the teachers, parents, husbands, wives, and friends whose encour- agement and devotion aided us in achieving our goal here at State Teachers College. We hope that this ivy will remind all lower classmen of the time and effort, the success and failure, the joys and sorrows which were an integral part of our four years. We, the Class of 1959, shall plant the roots of this ivy deep and firm, with the hope that it will remain growing and blossoming, just as we, now teachers, hope to grow and blossom intellectually. May we accept the challenge of our profession and achieve its goals successfully. ANTHONY J. MARINO 15

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unoccupied buildings on Chandler Street, prepartory to mapping that otherwise uncharted area. The rest of the class prosaically mapped the whole known world. Miss Morris ' s class, obviously not stay-at-homes, made a notable geological survey of Purgatory Chasm where they also learned such things as mountain-climbing and swamp-hopping. With the cold weather came our Winter Carnival. At the Ball, our class was represented in the Queen ' s court by Arlene DeBoer. Late In the year, three days were set aside for the gruelling ordeal of Sophomore testing. How difficult it was to concentrate, sitting there In the cafeteria with such delicious odors emitting from Mrs. Whitney ' s kitchen! This was the year of the beginning of progress In the new building program. Disturbances In the west wing of the building told us that we would soon ha ve a new annex. They also reminded us that with the loss of the gym, we would have to hold our Sophomore Prom, Spring Fantasy, somewhere else. We finally decided on Wachusett and ginger ale. Much credit must be given to the President of our Sophomore class. Bob Dunne, who, because of his outstanding leadership, was retained in this office for the remainder of our college career. And so our second year was gone. Now we were juniors. We had been moved out of the lower echelons and placed in a more distinguished category of humanity. But with this elevation In rank came the Inevitable division of our class Into two groups: the elementaries and the secondaries. While the larger portion of our class trooped off to reading, writing, and ' rithmetic, our more scholarly colleagues delved into the realms of climatology, physiography, calculus, chemistry, Shakespeare, and, of course, secondary education. The elementaries really held the spotlight this year. They were snowed under by professional fitness, the football, CARMA, and making lower loop letters. Secondaries were whacked by flannel boards as they passed through the halls on their way to classes, and the melodious screeching of pitch pipes gave audible proof that the elementaries were trying to sing in key. Girls In nylons and heels and boys in jackets and ties were the clues to observa- tion days. Our first real look at actual teaching made us wonder — could we ever do that? But when mid-semesters were past and the secondaries were settled down for another semester of concentrated study, the elementaries descended upon the field of practice teaching. On Fridays, the usual salutation of Hi! gave way to How do you like it? and then to Who came this week? Our junior year cannot be considered one of only hard work and complex prob- lems; rather it was the year in which we engaged in highly successful activity. Socially, this year was highlighted by our Junor Prom, at which Helen Fitzgerald reigned as a gracious queen. As June approached, we joined again as a class to be measured for caps and gowns and to begin work on our yearbook. Elementaries said good-bye to their new friends (ages 5-12), to their very accommodating cooperating teachers, and last, but not least, to the janitors. The secondaries filed away their climate maps and worn sets of ancient history notes, to be kept safe for the day in the fall when their owners too would try their wings In a public school classroom. 17