PRINCE ALBERT COLLEGE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 78, 1 April 1895, Page 2

PRINCE ALBERT COLLEGE.

RECEPTION OF THE PRINCIPAL.

Mb Thos. Jackson,, M.A., the principal of the reoently-farmed, Prince Albert College, Upper Queen-street, was accorded a formal reception on Saturday afternoon ab the college. A large number responded to the invitation iesued t by the Board of Governors. Among those present were Mr and Mrs Holland (the Mayor and Mayoress), the members of the Board of Governors, Rabbi Goldstein, Rev. G. B. Monro, Mr Tbeo. Cooper. Mr J. L. Wilson and Mr W. Brakonriy. The Rev. D. McNicoll presided, and in some opening remarks he extended a bearby welcome to Mr Jackson in a threefold capacity—as a Christian man, as a preacher (the grand-nephew of. one of the *; famous preachers of the Wesleyan denomination, the Key. Thos. Jackson, of London), and as an educationalist. He did not say ib in any offensive sense, when he eaid what they wanted in this colony was religious education; at the same time, and he spoke for himself at least, if not for all his brethren, ho would nob lay a finger on the Education Act. They Hid; nobidesire the pupils to be brought up as Vyealeyans:, but as Christians. Hfe vfoul^i like t6\Bi^\;i>}V6^a^d': oj^'6filey:aj) done away with, and that of Methodiat BubstituterJ. ; ■ * " *\' - ■*■■..'"" Mr R;, H^bbs gaye an-account of the early history and ■establislimonbof Wesley College. . The, speaker 'said he Chad seen the evils of State aid to. denominational education, and would never be a pa>ty to ib. As far aa the national system of education went, bo had v (jreat regard for ib, but the Prince Albert College, and other institutions on similar lines, supplied what was lacking in that system. The recent trials in the Supreme Court showed how mere secular education was prostituted. What was wanted was secular education combined with tbo inculcation of Christian principles. Tho new institution would, be run on the broadest- lines, aa belonging bo all denominations, and to all parents who chose to entrust their children to them. As a member of the Board of Governors, he would give every assistance to Mr Jackson in thab direction.

;"" The Rev. H. Bull (secretary to the Board of Governors), said the object in view in now reoponin^the College was to combine with high-class secular education sound Scriptural instruction. But, while securing for the scholars a course of sound Scriptural instruction, the directors were firmly opposed to any mere sectarian teachiug ; and, as a matter of fact, the permanent and visiting staff represent the Hebrew aud various sections of the Christian Church. In the name of the Board of Governors of: the College, and in the* name of the many friends of higher oducation upon broad Christian lines, he would give to Mr and M,rs Jackson (the latter having the superintendence of the boarding side of the establishment) and the staff a bearty welcome. ,

iMr Jackaan was heartily; cheered when he rose... He. thanked the.speaker?.heartily for their kind words, and/ the audience for their kind reception. of-:those, worded; l}r. Stevenson had told him' the Adckl|nderß: were a hospitable peopley and heJiadprovadthab, and felt perfectly ab home, owing to ; the cordial reception he-had from K all^ from

the Board bfrGover^rs^dbwnwanl^S'Bre bad spentl7 years!of his life in teaching, and hoped-'to iaVybtefhis whole lite to the; profession. He: meant: to go slowly, bub solidly, along. 5 retain ing permanently all thab was accomplished. 'Some schools rose into fame at on,ce ; and fell ,;aa.suddenly. Whab'iiedesiredlo'db waslaWach^eVerything they professed to teach, and have no shams, or obtain pupils on false pr?benceß. The curriculum would be as good as that of any school in the \Oqlonyi .and the school would have a classical as well as a~modern side.;, His proclivities were for the classical side, but his experience taught him< parents preferred the modern side for their bby«. flChey had had, n^appjicationa for Hebrew, Greek was losing its'hold, and Latin was going tha same''Wfty : in modern education, tor whidb'he was sorryjr;but French and German, though inferior, as' (substitutes, were-admirable for mental training, and be | hoped-parents Would, bear j that in noind. I Then they meanb to take part in the public examinations of the colony, to show thab the school was on a level with any other school. The;Jßoarcl_df ; Governors hoped to establish classes for technical education, mechanical drawing, and ;ehgineering. They were layfiTg b'ut~a~cricketrand football groundj and lawn tennis* court, bub i the college wanted a gymnasium. He had received: great.-holp.from his coadjutors, ,Messrs Pemberton and Bollard. The former would be equally at home in teaching athletics or in giving a lecture on political economy to Unirereity students, and the latter had excellent capacity as a teachdr ;of 'the junior division. He welcomed the theologicalsbtid^riits to the insbitution as giving Lone to ifc,,and a» being the means of hold : lingiip a good example to the boys. The training of the students would be outside of the regular, school hours, ,so that the ! ordinary ..' school ":[ teaihiog'.;' Wouldr'; nob Sbe ...trenched upon. Aa %o Mrs Jack-, ison, she would do her best to ! attend to" the boarding esbabliahment.* |In concluding, Mr Jackson "said he hoped,' ■ above, all things, to teach the lads to be I good ; to teach them morality and .Chris- ! tianity, which was the highest form of i morality. It was his purpose to carry out | 'the motto of the institution, "Wisdom is j i the principal thing; therefore get wie- 1 Idora."' ' . . "',• . ■ . ,\ -, . A number of bhose present, including j j the Mayor and Rabbi Goldstein, tendered congratulations to Mr Jackson. Rabbi Goldstein said he eympabhised . with Mr Jackson'a regrets in regard to the ■increasiuK neglect of ,the classics. _There | waa nob, in his opinion, a school in the ! colony in Vphich Hebrew was tborofaghly i taught, and in a lesser degree the. same | might be eaid regarding Greek. He waß iwcll satisfied' as••■ to the instruction in iLkbin and French, but German was poorly ; taught.;1;. ■■• .-;■ .^.•■■; ■;.•:■' ■ •' .■: '.' ', - ";■- - '■',''" Afternoon tea was served, and the 1 yieitore were then shown ofet the various [ D arts of the College.