The Lampoon - 1930
For many years prior to 1930, the Lampoon was a monthly publication. It was first published to serve as the yearbook for the Markham High School in 1930. The 1930 publication contains 40 pages of articles and advertisements.
Pages 7, 8, 9 - Editorials
When I was asked to write an article for the school paper I hesitated, for giving advice and taking it are different things. A diligent student doesn’t need, and others won’t heed advice. Giving advice is giving the experiences of others while youth wishes to learn by experience, costly as it may be.
We all wish to gain success but the difficulty is to obtain it. Success must be bought and paid for in advance. The student who wishes to wear the crown must be prepared to earn it. To do this, two things are necessary. In the first place, an objective is necessary. A man setting out on a journey must have some destination in view or he will never get anywhere. Therefore, I would advise every student to decide on a career as soon as possible and shape his course accordingly. This is his star which he must always keep in front of him. Those who have no vision to follow drift like brushwood in the current of life. When the work becomes hard, as it does if his objective is high, he does not quit but works the harder.
With his career chosen, how is he going to obtain it? Work is the answer to the problem. I don’t mean that work will carry everyone to success but with ability and ambition to help, success is assured. A vision of the future helps him to read Virgil and solve his problems in mathematics. Thomas Edison has said that with average ability, success is ninety per cent hard work. This is the verdict of a man who has achieved world renown against many difficulties. No path to honest success is easy. The early Romans discovered that there is no royal road to learning. This might also be applied to any successful career. We get out of life just what we put into it.
Mr. H. T. Donaldson, Principal
DEAR READER, “The Lampoon” makes its first bow to the public, as a year book. Realizing that it is Markham High School’s first attempt we ask you to judge it kindly.
For many years “The Lampoon” has been a monthly edition, read at the regular meetings of the Literary Society. This year the pupils aspired to something higher, something more worthy of their school. You have before you the result of their work. At this juncture, my capable staff and myself wish to thank all the students who assisted us in preparing this, their book, for publication.
Left to Right - Keith Kennedy, Circulation Manager; Murray Wilson, Advertising Agent; Jack Todds, Jokes' Editor; Bruce Rowbotham, Editor; Kathleen Wurm, Sports Editor (girls); Anne Barnes, Ass't Editor; Oswald Dyke, (absent) Sports Editor (boys). “Lampoon” is an old form, meaning ‘personal satire,’ and was, no doubt, originally chosen because of this significance. We feel honored in retaining this name, so long associated with Markham High School.
We admit that we are proud of our wide-awake business people who believe “it pays to advertise.” Let’s show our appreciation by our patronage.
Fortunate indeed, are we, to have the widely known former Principal Mr. Geo. H. Reed (now of Toronto), and Dr. Klinck of Vancouver, as contributors. Their articles alone, make “Lampoon” of interest to ex-pupils, and we suggest that a copy of our first year book would prove to be an acceptable gift to any “old boy.” Just a suggestion – Don’t forget to secure a few extra copies for your friends.
In conclusion: --
“May every form of joy be blending,
To mark your school life’s happy ending;
And graduation time, for you,
Be filled with satisfaction true.”
And in the future, when we ourselves are M.H.S. old boys, I trust that this first “Lampoon” will bring back pleasant memories of school life in 1929-30.
A Letter from the President of University of British Columbia:
As one of the many ex-students of Markham High School, I am happy to comply with the request of the editor for a few words for inclusion in the 1930 number of the “Lampoon.”
Ever since its establishment, this school has trained young men and women of energy, enthusiasm, and devotion to the cause of the best things in country life, in professional practice and in business pursuits. The students at present in attendance are no less capable, earnest and self-reliant than their predecessors, and I am confident that their achievements in their studies, and later in the world of affairs, will enhance the prestige of the school at home and abroad.
The achievement of the purposes, however, calls for much more than the acquiring of information, the storing of the mind with facts gathered from lectures or from prescribed texts, valuable and important as these facts may be. It demands systematic, sustained application, the cultivation of intellectual initiative and the ability to do independent, yet disciplined thinking, - in short, it necessitates the early formation of sound habits of study, pursued with enthusiasm, and imbued with that finest and rarest of scholarly qualities, intellectual integrity.
This attitude on the part of the student towards his studies, when rightly understood and faithfully applied, will quicken his initiative and provide the dynamic which will enable him to pursue his studies with resolution and success.
To those students who have had a successful year, I extend my hearty congratulations; to those whose expectations have not been realized and who, consequently, are feeling discouraged, I would emphasize the value of perseverance. May the common quest for knowledge and for understanding yield a generous measure of enduring satisfaction to all, and may your future undertakings be conceived, planned, and executed on a basis which will ensure for you the enjoyment of the highest and most enduring success.
--L. S. KLINCK
A Former Principal Writes:
It is with a great deal of pleasure that I write a few words for publication in the maiden issue of your year book.
I recall the high type of student who received his public school training under such excellent educationalists as the late Mr. Hand, Principal of Stouffville Public School, and the late Mr. Hartman Jones, Principal Markham Public School. Their influence was the means of many students obtaining an enviable background for entrance into high school.
During the twenty years that I was Principal of Markham High School, a very large number of students came under my supervision and many of them, I am pleased to say, have made an outstanding name for themselves in the business and professional world.
Almost every day I meet former students who delight to chat with me about the many happy years spent together in Markham High School.
I trust this year book will revive old associations and stimulate new ones. Wishing you every success in this new literary undertaking.
--GEO. H. REED