The Briggensian April 1963
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Editorial VOLUME 50, NO.2 APRIL. 1963 LIVING and moving among the .inmates of a grammar school for some six years, one is struck above all by the mental attitudes of intelligent young people today. Gradually the environment in which he finds himself transforms the unsuspect- ing junior school pupil into a mentally tough, hard-bitten, cynical character, wary of being caught with illusions, ashamed of his ideals. Occasionally this outward inhibItion spreads throughout the mind, becomes a philosophy of life, amoral and dislllusioned. More often the idealist remains submerged, the sympathetic element remains with a genuine love of humanity, carefully concealed by the waters of Mammon. The dangers of this vacuum of ideals are open to question but the lesson of modern history would seem to be that when it is associated ..vUh economic privation, it is a most dangerous breeding ground of extremist dogmas. Why are young people caught in this predicament today? Without question, the scientific emphasis of education seems a most powerful factor. By this is meant not only the conventional .. sciences" but the new attitudes towards the humanities them- selves. English literature Is dismantled and analysed by pupils reared on the endless" comprehension" tests and all sense of organic beauty is lost. History is no longer the "true epic poem" of Carlisle, has lost all sense of purpose in the world today. Year after year in this vein creates in the pupil an attitude of suspicion and doubt. As the poet W. H. Auden puts it: Learn their logic but notice How its subtlety betrays Their enormous simple grief; Thus they shall teach you the ways To doubt that you may believe. The enormous sensation of frustration which this attitude creates, its betrayal of a vision of a better world, is all too common today. Yet it is not only the result of this attitude of doubt with which the pupil is imbued, but the all-prevailing values of the middle class which create this frustration. The timorous retreat into convention, the worship of the hierarchy and its own" rat- race" in life, the eternal and ubiquitous mediocrity, the grey morality, the ugly compromise with life; all these produce that 1llimitable longing for" la grande geste," for the person who will laugh in the teeth of disaster. It is painful to watch the brilliant boy of work(ng class background forced out of the grammar school because of his inability to accept the middle class values of the institution. One can only hope that the future historian of the grammar school will not conclude: "They erected common sense into a code of living-." 53 SCHOOL OFFICIALS-SPRING TERM, 1963 CAPTAIN OF SCHOOL: G. D. LEAK. PREFECTS: A. J. P. AYRES, T. S. BEACOCK, J. CHARLESWORTH, D. A. NEWSTEAD, R. CORNEY, J. GWYTHER, P. JARDINE, A. S. WILLFORD, G. D. LEAK, K. MARSDEN, K. S. PROCTOR, R. H. HARVEY, M. STOCKS, R. B. TAYLOR, R. G. TRUBRIDGE, K. W. WOOD, R. DEW. CAPTAIN OF FOOTBALL: C. SUTTON. VICE-CAPTAIN OF FOOTBALL: R. D. STOKES. CAPTAIN OF CROSS COUNTRY: P. JARDINE. CAPTAIN OF HOCKEY: R. B. TAYLOR. "THE BRIGGENSIAN": J. CHARLESWORTH (Editor), J. M. ASHTON. A. MILLER, J. A. RICHARDSON, Mr. RICHARDS. HOUSE CAPTAINS AND MASTERS: ANCHOLME R. B. TAYLOR (House Captain), M. STOCKS (Captain of Football), Dr. HENTHORN. NELTHORPE J. GWYTHER (House Captain), K. MARSDEN (Captain of Football>, Mr. MORRIS. SCHOOL A. J. P. AYRES (House Captain), A. S. WILLFORD (Captain of Football), THE HEADMASTER, SHEFFIELD G. D. LEAK (House Captain), . C. SUTTON, (Captain of Football), Mr. PIMLOTT. YARBOROUGH T. S. BEACOCK (House Captain), R. DEW (Captain of Football), Mr. JARVIS. SPORTS COMMITTEE: HOUSE MASTERS and CAPTAINS, Mr. WATTS ~Secretary). THE LIBRARY: J. CHARLESWORTH (Senior Librarian), R. E. WALTERS, K. W. WOOD, Dr. HENTHORN. 2nd BRIGG SCOUTS TROOP: Mr. JARVIS, A.S.M. MUSIC SOCIETY: THE HEADMASTER (Chairman), Treasurer: Mr. WATTS. Secretary: Mr. RICHARDS. Committee: Miss CHATTERTON, Mrs. BERRESFORD, Mr. ALLISON, Mr. CRAM, Mr. MAILING, Mr. MORRIS. SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY: K. MARSDEN (Secretary), Mr. PIMLOTT. DEBATING SOCIETY: J. CHARLESWORTH (Secretary), A. J. P. AYRES (President). CAMERA CLUB: P. PEDLEY (Secretary), A. J. P. AYRES (Treasurer). Mr. JONES. CHESS CLUB: D. A. NEWSTEAD, Mr. JARVIS. FISHING CLUB: S. E. NEWSTEAD (Chairman), M. K. GRAVELING (Secretary), J. COLEY (Treasurer). NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY: THE HEADMASTER (President), Mr. MOORE, Mr. SEAWARD (Vice-presidents), K. S. PROCTOR (Chairman), J. C. J. ROBINSON (Secretary), J. GWYTHER (Treasurer) . MODEL RAILWAY SOCIETY: A. MILLER (Secretary), Mr. TURNER. BIRDWATCHING GROUP: P. PEDLEY (Secretary), Mr. HOLMES J. S. HARRISON (Field Secretary). ORGAN SOCIETY: A. J. P. AYRES (Secretary>. S.C.M. ACTION GROUP: G. D. LEAK. 54 School Notes THE weather has been a main feature of the term, with the field out of action for the greater part of the time. So far only one hockey game and no football game has been played. The latter is most disappointing for the XI was gaining in experience and confidence. It is a long time since we have had so complete a staff-room. Mr. Longden, happily back with us, is gaining strength all the time. Mr. Robertson has remained with us a further term and we are grateful for the admirable way he has filled the vacancy. We have been fortunate in having Mr. Roberts and Mr. Smith, students from Hull, who have fitted in well and have been of great help. Mr. Roberts will return permanently next year to teach chemistry and physics. If games activities have been limited, musical activities have thrived. The Music Society held two well-attended concerts; a party of junior boys have been to Westmoor School for an R.A.M.C. band concert and a party of seniors visited the High School for a concert by the Dorian Trio. These last two have been arranged by the Authority to whom we are grateful. Visiting speakers to the Sixth Form this year have so far included Mr. Magrath, Clerk to the U.D.C., Mr. Billington, of the Theatre Royal, Lincoln, Mr. Rex Russell, of the Workers' Educa- tional Association, Mr. Readman, Principal of Riseholme, Mr. Dram, of Appleby-Frodingham, Mr. Smith, of the Royal Insurance Co., Dr. James, of Hull University, Mr. Curtis, of the Yorkshire Electricity Board, Mr. Oliver Kingdon, Old Briggensian and Director of the Tilling Group, and Mr. E. Dodd, of the Lin- colnshire Times. We have also had visits from liaison officers of the Army and the Royal Air Force. The Youth Employment Officer, Mr. Linder, has been here on four occasions to talk with and interview boys. Parents of Upper Fifth and Sixth Form boys came to a Parents' Evening on March 11th. The cross-country rajces on March 13th were held under pleasant conditions; some excellent team performances marked the day, and the innovation of an intermediate division appeared succe1:sful. Five new school prefects have been appointed: R. J. Dew, R. Harvey, D. A. Newstead, A. S. Wilford and K. W. Wood. J. 55 Charlesworth has been awarded an Open Exhibition at Jesus College, Oxford, and A. J. P. Ayres an Open Scholarship at Brasenose College, Oxford. G. D. Leak and P. Jardine have been selected for Voluntary Service Overseas. R. E. Walters was a successful entrant in a Hansard Society Essay competition. NEXT TERM'S DATES Term begins: Tuesday, April 30th. Bishop of Lincoln's visit: Thursday, May 2nd. Sports Day: Saturday, May 25th. Whitsun Holidays: Saturday, June 1st to Monday, June 10th. Main "A" Level Exams: Monday, June 17th-Monday, July 1st. Main "0" Level Exams: Wednesday, June 26th--Friday, July 5th. School Fete and Old Boys' Cricket Match: Saturday, July 20th. Term ends: Friday, July 26th. SCHOOL FETE WE intend to hold a fete on Saturday, July 20th in aid of the School Fund. This wll! be the same day as the Old Boys' cricket match and we hope the occasion will be strongly su!)ported by Old Boys, parents and friends. We shall pUblish further details in the press. Meanwhile please reserve the date and, if you can give any help beforehand, it will be most welcome. Small prizes for sideshows, used uniform clothing or games kit, second-hand books-these are some of the items which would be appreciated. SALVETE U.V.A.: JONES. T. L. (Yarborough). VALETE V.V.A.: DARBYSHIRE, G. (Ancholme). PALFREE, C. G. (Yarborough). U.V.B.: .JONES, A. J. (Yarborough), IlIA: ATKINSON, J. (Sheffield). GOODALL, S. J. (Nelthorpe). 56 House Notes ANCHOLME UNDOUBTEDLY our most outstanding achievement this term was our performance in the Junior cross-country race. This has been one of Ancholme's most successful seasons for many years in this particular sport. However, mention must first be made of our unrecorded footballing activities at the end of last term, when we played Yarborough House. The Seniors drew and the Juniors lost. This was a rather disappointing display by the Seniors, who should have won easily. In spite of this, we finished third in the foot- ball table, which is quite a creditable performance. In the cross-country results we were first in the Junior division, third in the [ntermediate d!vision and fifth in -the Senior division. This gave us an overall position of second, which we shared with Yarborough House. Our special congratulatlons must go to Jones, McColl and Schultz who were first, second and fourth, respectively, in the Junior race. In this race" Anchors" occupied ten of the first fifteen places. The Intermediates ran well and gained third place, although if more members of this division had taken part in House practices, we might have done better. Dodds was the first Ancholme home in fourth position, followed by Broome in eighth position.