1981 School Magazine

Library Report The year started off as a promising one, lor all concerned, lull of hard work and lun. Mrs. Riggs, with the heip of Mrs. Peterson and Mrs. Richardson, worked hard to change from the 9th to the I lth Abridged Dewey Classification Systems. Although a massive job, the advantages should be well worth it. With School Day approaching, the whole library community is striving to make this year the best School Day display yet, centering around the theme "The Journey". One of the more eye-catching displays already in the library is thejourney of the "Pilgram's Progress" - a miniature garden of lichen and moss. Other displays of interest will include: "Dishes around the World", a Media display and a space exhibit by the Grade 8's. The work put into the library over the year, by the media monitors, willing helpers, and of course Mrs. Riggs, Mr. Rowell. Mrs. Peterson and Mrs. Richardson, is much ap- preciated by all who use the library. Heidi Muller Beanland Secretary The Anti-Entropic Library The scientilic state ol entrop! is that of a system tending to travel towards a natural condition of randomness, requiring therefore an amount ol work to restore and maintain order. This lacet ol science correlates to our library. Without rules and regulations, the system of numbering, labelling, stacking, storing and checking books would topple into a state of utter chaos, school students would scuttle and cluck around the bookshelves resembling headless chickens, deliriously searching for a book, foreseeing the impending doom of an overdue assignment. Such would be the dismal destiny of a student in an unorganized library. The answer: a motley of rules and regulations designed to maintain peace, order and sanity. Ellicient systems are created which the participant must adhere to - ranging from no eating, no smoking, SILENCE! to no stealing. Never are the rules born in the pursuit ofabsurdity - each has a specific reason and a purpose. The library has become a source of knowledge, pleasure and a rvelcomed escape from the exhausting velocity of simply sur- viving. Let's keep it that way. Many thanks are due to librarians across the surface of the globe. Never has so much been done by so few lor so many. Ingrid Tall (written in school detention room - 'Sweet are the Uses of Adversity')

Computing Report The early nineteenth century saw the beginning of great industrial changes in England. Machines were beginning to replace craftsmen, causing widespread unemployment and misery. In desperation, gangs of men - called Luddites - broke up many of the "obnoxious machines", mostly during nocturnal forays. Their activities started in 1811, and in a mass trial in York in 1813, many Luddites were sentenced to hanging or transportation. Improved trade increased wages and employment and the movement disappeared and machinery continued its inexorable development. Many reactions to the computer parallel those of the Lud- dites. but a machine once invented cannot be uninvented. A few years ago it was predicted that by 1985 at least 807o ol jobs in the U.S.A. would have some computer content, and with the present rapid spread of technology Australia will not be far behind. The only positive response to the computer revolution is to find out what you can about them and profit from any oppor- tunities of contact with them. In May of this year we took delivery of a DEC PDP lll23 computer processor with dual 10 megabyte cartridge drive (hard disc) and dual floppy drive (flexible disc), card reader, hard copy terminal and 4 video display terminals. To date the system has been experiencing the usual installa- tion pains which are par for the course, but even so year l2 Accounting and year 9 Computer Awareness and the years I I and l2 E.E.A. Computer Class have started to profit from the advantages of a resident computer. In the June/July holidays all year l2 results were standardised as part ofthe preparation for their order of merit results which go to produce Tertiary Entrance scores. In the next few years we can expect more students having more contact with the system as problems are overcome and more time becomes available. Even so, time at the terminals will always be limited so make the most of any opportunities which come your way.

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