— Social Lite at the | Fitebourg State Normal White School oS aaaty arg OF THE YO UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS,” To become one of a group of about three hundred students and teachers, all animated by a common purpose, and representing nearly one hundred towns and cities, in it- self alone means a broader social opportunity than most high school graduates enjoy. To win the respect and esteem of all the mem- bers of the group and to obtain a .worthy place among them in one’s own estimation, as well as in that of others, allows full play for the character and personality of every in- dividual, for such an attainment depends not upon scholarship alone. From the opening of school in September until the closing exercises in June, in addition to the constant daily social contact, there are at regular and frequent intervals more or less formal events. Of these the three receptions are the most formal events. In order these are: - Receptions and Dance RECEPTION TO THE JuNIORS. ‘This recep- tion is given by the seniors and the faculty and comes shortly after the opening of school in September. SENIOR RECEPTION AND Dance. © This re- ception is given by the seniors of all courses to their young gentlemen friends and comes in the winter. Class Mascot — Class Day. RECEPTION TO GRADUATES. ‘This recep- tion is given by the faculty and juniors to the graduating classes, their parents and friends, and comes at the end of the school year. A Commencement Exercises COMMENCEMENT WEEK IN JUNE is al- ways a season of many social activities. ‘These begin on Saturday with the Ivy Ex- ERCISES Of the advanced class andthe TREE Exercisss of theseniors. “The marching of different classes on the campus, the display of the school and ciass colors, the class mas- cots, the decorating of trees planted by pre- vious classes, the Maypole dances, rolling of hoops, and other traditional forms give great pleasure to the students and their friends, and are imposing and extremely beautiful. Each class seeks to add some novel feature and to outdo its predecessors. Last June at the close of the Ivy exercises, the advanced class gave a Japanese play. This vear A Midsummer Night’s Dream will be given. On Sunday before graduation is held the annual “‘sing out’? when students and teach- ers with their friends meet in the Assembly Hall to sing together for the last time the songs they have enjoyed during their normal school life, and to listen to a short address prepared for the occasion. | Dutch Dance — Class Day. 5 Court of Ferdinand and Isabella. Columbus Day Pageant. The graduation exercises include musical selections, the reading of a few of the theses (on the preparation of which each pupil spends considerable time during her senior year ), and an address by some noted edu- cational leader. The formal graduation exercises Welncs day are followed by the public reception to the graduates already mentioned, on Thurs- day evening, and by the Alumni reunion and banquet on Friday evening. Rolling Hoops — Class Day. 6 School Parties Of a less formal nature and therefore per- haps more thoroughly enjoyed are the ‘“par- ties’’ in connection with certain annual dates. ‘These parties are planned and directed by the different classes and by different groups se- lected by the faculty committee on social af- fairs. T*hey are in order: - Harvest party Halloween party Valentine party April First party May party ; Receiving Line — Mothers’ Afternoon. For the Harvest party, the seniors pick the sweet corn planted in their school gardens the previous spring and hold a corn roast to which the other students and the members of the faculty are invited. ‘The roasting of corn, apples, and marshmallows on the school. grounds on a_ moonlight evening proves a very enjoyable and informal wel- come to the new students. 7 Pandora — Scene from a Play. | The Halloween party with its witches, bobbing apples, elusive doughnuts and inter- esting mysteries is always | a great delight. The unusually occult and “‘scary’’ one a few years ago, which closed witha genuine earthquake will always be remembered by all who were fortunate enough to be invited. The Valentine, April First and May parties are to some even more interesting than the party held on October 31 st. Dutch Songs — Class Day. bs The receptions give to the students op- portunity to practice the etiquette of social affairs. [These parties add to their experi- ence in events of a less formal character. Landing of Columbus — Columbus Day Pageant. A Mock Athletic Meet was added to the parties this year and proved adecided success. Cotton Pickers — Scene fom Pageant — Lincoln Day. 9 May Pole Dance — Class Day. Miller Wall Parties Should you enter Miller Hall you would: feel at once the homelike atmosphere that~ prevails there. “che spacious parlors are used to great advantage. Here the girls assem- ble after the last meal of the day to sing and enjoy each others company. Here also the in- — itiations take place, but these through the kind heartedness of the seniors, have a de- lightful ending, in the form of a spread. The open fireplace looks inviting on a cold winter night, and the girls show their appre- ciation by lingering to toast marshmallows and to tell s stories. 1U **What Restains Me’’ from Lucia by Donizetti. Tableau illustrating Victrola Recital. The suites, arranged as they are, give the girls an opportunity to use their living room for more than a place of study; and these rooms are the scenes of many a jolly good time. The girl with the mandolin adds to the pleasure of these gatherings. ~The welcome box of goodies from home and the generosity that exists here cannot but bring the girls together in good fellow- ship. ‘here are also frequent chafing dish parties. Advanced Class with Mascot - Class Day. 1} Scene from Junior Class Play ‘*She Stoops to Conquer.’”’ A committee 1s appointed to arrange for a social the first Saturday in each month. «- Special attention is given to this event. - Af- ter the program has_ been carried yout, ; the girls gather in_ the. gymnasium _to.dance. Within the discretion of the matron,:danc- ing is allowed on other.evenings as well... - MF red oF Scene from ‘‘She Stoops to Conquer.”’ _ 12 + . When fair, the Saturday holiday is usual- ly spent out of doors. Parties of girls ar- ranging.to stay away for the day, have their luncheon provided by the school. Mount Wachusett and the beautiful neighboring hills are the goals for tramping parties. Many become enthusiastic over tennis in the warmer months, while in winter, skating, sleighing, and coasting parties are of fre- quent occurrence. Formation of Class Numerals. The girls lead a healthful life, staying out of doors as much as possible. The new girls, the Freshmen, are not forgotten when the Christmas holidays are reached, for it is during this time that the seniors entertain with aplay and the well laden Christmas tree is relieved of its so called presents. Class Day March. Alice Freeman Palmer, who was for some years a member of the special committee in charge of the Fitchburg normal school, fre- ‘quently told the students that the life at the ‘boarding hall had as powerful an influence in developing culture, refinement and social ef- ficiency in the individual as the more formal work of the school. Sarah Louise Arnold, recently a member of the same committee, holds similar views. ., Life at a school boarding hall means much ta: many young women. 14 Lectures, Concerts, and Recitals Students at the Fitchburg Normal School have unusual opportunities to broaden their knowledge and culture and to develop their taste for the best in music and art, and these opportunities are afforded usually at no ex- pense. During the current year (1910 — 1911) the following lectures and entertain- ments have been open to all Fitchburg Nor- mal School students without charge. Soctal Dancing. Me School Gardens (illustrated by stereopticon) — - —Supt. Wallace E. Mason, North Andover. Glimpses of American Schools and Schoolmen (il- lustrated by stereopticon) a: Supt. Bernard M. Sheridan, Lawrence. ~ Columbus Day Address—Hon. J. E. McConnell Boston, English Composition—Supt. Stratton D. Brooks, Boston. Address—Dr. David Snedden, Commissioner of Education. 15 C'ass Day March. Mutual Obligations of Grammar and High School ‘Teachers — Mr. William Orr, Deputy Commis- sioner of Education. The Players — Music, Reading and Sketches. The Raweis — Pictures, Song and Story (Hawaiin life ) Bringing in the Wassail Bowl — Scene from Pageant, Christmas in Old England’ 16 Ralph Parlette — Humorous Lecture. Durno, The Mysterious and Company. Regent Entertainment Club. The Litchfield Trio. Recital — Rip Van Wiakle — George Kiernan. A Fugitive Slave — Scene from Lincoln Day Pageant. Illustrated Lecture — Evangeline — Rev, A. IT.’ Kempton: Concert by Nevin Quartette. Victrola Recital by Willis B. Anthony. Bringing in the Boar’s Head — Scene from Pageant — Merrie Christmas in Old England. 17 Recital —‘‘The Passing of the Third Floor Back.”’ by Alice Chapman. The Messiah — Fitchburg Chora! Union. Japanese Life and Customs — Yoshimitsu Suzuki. World Peace — Lucia Ames Mead. World Peace through World Union. —Anna Sturges Duryea. Some Health Problems in the Schools. — Dr. Thomas F. Harrington, Director of School Hygiene, Boston. Dutch Dance — Class Day. Getting into the Game — Dr. Albert E.. Winship, ; Boston. Industrial Education — Mr. Charles A. Prosser, Deputy Commissioner of Education The Teaching of Arithmetic -— Supt. John.C. Gay Chicopee. Eastern Concert Company — Grand Concert. Play — Clark W. Hetherington. Lincoln — Rev. Arthur J. Covell. Address— Margaret M. Slattery. 7 Memorial Day Address — Hon. Frank Pope. 18 #Hiscellaneous The three chamber concerts given at Wallace Hall annually by the Kneisel quar- tette have been open to students of the nor- mal school ata small charge. In order that these concerts may be fully appreciated and understood, the programs are given on the pianola and studied with the teacher of music before each concert. Selections from the standard oratorios and operas are frequently sung at the opening exercises of the school by the best local singers, one singing each morning for a week, to be then succeeded by another for the following week. Among these singers have been: Grace Sherriffs Chandler. Florence M. Hersom. Dr. E. H. Page. Clifton H. Wood. Assembly Hall 19 Maypole Dance. The normal school orchestra has also rendered many-selections at the opening ex- ercises. Miss-Beatrice Read, a violinist of Fitchburg, also entertained the school each morning for a week. Historical movements and events, by means of the pageant, are made very real, not only to the spectator, but even more so to those taking part. The following have been given this year: Pageants and Dramatics Columbus and the Discovery of America. The World’s Progress towards Universal Peace. - Merrie Christmas in the England of Geen Bess. a bp incoln, s First Inauguration - Fiftieth Anni- versary. ; 20 Procession of the Lord of Misrule — Scene from Pageant — Merrie Christmas in Old England. The pupils of the Practical Arts school opened the dramatic series on February third by presenting the three Myths - King Viidas, Pandora, and Proserpina in dramatic form. Other similar entertainments, including Cranford and She Stoops to Conquer, are to be given during the year by different normal school classes. Bringing in the Yule Log — Scene from Pageant Christmas in Old England. sate The normal school students assist at meet- ings of the Kindergarten Mothers’ League, at socials and dancing parties arranged for the children of the Practical Arts School, at the social meetings of the parents of the children in the schools of observation and practice, and at faculty suppers and entertainments. Each student is also given an opportunity during her normal school course to plan and take charge of some school entertainment given by the children of the room in which she:teaches for three months. ‘This enter- tainment may be for Lincoln’s or Washing- ton’s birthday, for Memorial Day, for Thanksgiving or Christmas, or for the clos- ing exercises of the term. The normal school students are also invit- ed to the ‘‘Parents’ Night’’ entertainments given at frequent intervals by the pupils of the Practical Arts School. Alumni Banquet. 2a Class with Mascot. Throughout the course ,the aim is to give the normal students many social opportuni- ties, not only that they may fully enjoy school] - life, but in order that they may be well pre- pared to meet children, parents and others socially, that they may know how to arrange school entertainments, to plan parents’ meet- ings, to get the most from concerts and lec- _ tures, and to exercise social power in any community. The ability ofa teacher to make the school a social centre is one of her chief ass2ts and must of necessity enter large- ly into her preparation for teaching. For catalogues and circulars, address Joun G. Tuompson, Principal. STATE NORMAL SCHOOL, FircHBurG, Mass, 23 VA tIII vy 1|| | WIN WA ii | 14] Wi | Ht 1}| l] V1 1] i WL