[Points: What it is—how managed—its usefulness—it gives training in literary composition—develops school patriotism—bond between present and past students—creates interest among guardians].
Nowadays many schools have printed magazines of their own. There are schools that are too small, or the students of which are too poor, to meet the cost of printed magazines. They bring out manuscript magazines, that is, magazines the contents of which are written by hand. The school magazine contains poems, articles of educational interest and short stories, all written by the teachers and students of the institution. Editorial notes deal with the general problems of the school and are mostly records of its achievements, activities and wants.
The charge of the school magazine rests on a committee consist ing of two or three teachers and a few students' representatives. In some places the editor is a teacher; in others he is a senior student of proved abilities. The assistant editors are always chosen from among the students. The expenses are met from a small fee called the 'magazine fee' charged by the school. If there is any deficit it is met from the school funds.
The school magazine serves many useful purposes. The most important is the training it gives to students in literary composition. A student feels proud and happy wheh he finds his writing in print. But he is too shy at first to come out in the open. When, however, he finds the writings of his friends in the school magazine, he feels tempted to try himself. A little encouragement at this initial stage gives him confidence and he goes on writing. Gradually writing comes easy to him. talents. In this way are developed his literary.
The school magazine also develops school patriotism. It is eagerly read and discussed by all the students of the school admirers the writers, and get acquainted with those among them they did not know In this way there grows up a feeling of oneness among all the students as if they were members of the same family.
It also serves as a bond between the past and present students of the school. Old boys, that is, past students of the institution, sometimes contribute articles to it as a mark of their continuing affection for their old school: Through these contributions they get into touch with the present students and become almost one of them. Even those who do not write, remember the school with all the happy memories of their early days when a copy of the magazine reaches their hands. Distance and age are forgotten, and for the time being at least they return in their minds to their 'Alma Mater'.
