G.W.V.A. School Essays

G.W.V.A. OFFERING PRIZES TO SCHOOL CHILDREN FOR ESSAYS – “Poppy Day” Will Be Observed Locally Nov. 11; All Schools May Compete For Prizes

            The committee of the local branch of the G.W.V.A. in charge of “Poppy Day” on November 11^th, when it is hoped that every person in the district will be in lawful possession of a replica of the Flanders Poppy, are putting up at least two prizes, $10.00 and $5.00 respectively, for the best essay on the Flanders poppy, written by the children of the school district surrounding and including Cranbrook.  This area will include all schools from Kingsgate to Jaffray.  It is also the intention to offer a prize for the best essay submitted by the local high school pupils of $10.00.

            The conditions attached to the competition are simple.  Each child in any of the schools included is to write an essay on the Flanders Poppy, forward all essays to the Poppy Flower Committee, G.W.V.A., Cranbrook, by November 5^th, who will make the final selection and award the prizes.  In order to give every child a fair chance at these prizes it has been decided to have marked on the paper the grade in which the child is at school.  It was at first decided to consider the age of the pupil as a base of judging, but it was thought that it would be more equitable to take the grade of the contestant as the standard for arriving at their decision.

            The committee wants every child to write everything that they can find out about the Flanders poppy.  Ask any returned soldier about the flower.  He will perhaps give you the information that will enable you to win the first prize.

            Remember that neatness and correctness will help to decide the paper, but no good essay will necessarily be thrown aside because of a little too much ink is on the paper where no ink should be.

            Complete circular instructions will be forwarded to every teacher in the included area so that the children will have every opportunity to know what to do.

            The co-operation of the teachers in the various schools is of course a paramount necessity, and it is hoped to hear of every one of them explaining to their classes some time before Armistice Day the reason for Armistice Day being made a memorial day in honor of our fallen hero soldier boys, and also why the Flanders poppy has been adopted as the memorial flower.

            Facilities will also be made to see that every child in the district has a small replica of the poppy to wear on Armistice Day.  These, if arrangement can be made, will be sent to every school to be sold to the school children at 10 cents each.  These flowers are made by the war orphans and homeless children of the war areas of France and Flanders.  In every little dug-out where once the rats played in festive humor with the allied soldiers, in every war hut and every place where a shelter from the elements can be obtained, the paupered women and children of this devastated region live, and in these humble shelters the silk imitation Flanders poppy grows, and through the sale of these same flowers is most of the funds are obtained whereby these unfortunate victims of a war-mad ruler’s passions can exist and gradually return to those conditions under which they lived so happily before they became the innocent victims of the ravages of war.