LIFE'S CHALLENGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 296, 13 December 1940, Page 3

LIFE'S CHALLENGE.

SCHOOL YEAR ENDS.

EXHORTATIONS TO PUPILS.

That present' ehaotic conditions in the world were due to a breakdown in humanity, and that the remedy was that humanity should build up better

men, was the opinion expressed by the chairman of the board of governors, Mr. ■I. Stanton, at the annual prize-giving at the Auckland Grammar School yesterday afternoon. He said that he was sure the boys would fro forward and do their duty with the. daring of their fathers and the cheerfulne.-s an<l devotion to duty which was lieing shown by the men overseas. The school prizes were presented bv Mr. Stanton ami the. sports trophies by -Mrs. Stanton. During the prize-giving items were rendered by individual boys, the school choir and the entire school. Future of Girls.

The hope 1 lint girls leaving the school would endeavour to lead useful and purposeful lives, realising the Ix'auty and dignity of work and service, and striving always for the common good, was expressed by the headmistress of the kpsom (lirls' (Irninniar School, Miss A. L. Loudon, in her annual report. .Miss l.oudon drew the attention of parents to the important question of the choice of careers for their daughters. Useful exploi atory work was done bv the careers mistress, Miss K. McKeage, who was available to give advice and direction. (Jirls acadeniicallly niinded usually had clear-cut ideas of their future, but others would do we.ll to consider t lie many avenues open anil seek expert advice. Parents should not tacitly acquiesce in a decision that- a child might make without the consideration of all the rele.vant information. Often it happened that, as a result of family ambition, or tradition or prejudice, children were sidetracked into positions which, because of their unsiiitabilitv, resulted in wasted or aimless lives. Miss Loudon said that the. official roll at March 1 was (MS. and later increased to o.> 1, an advance of l(i on last year's roll and a record for the school. ' The I high enrolment, taxed the maximum capacity of the school. The end of the year roll was

An important jmrt of the work of the year had been in connection with the school's war effort. Tn a special drive for fund* for the. lied Cross and Sick and Wounded Knurl, £17~» was raised, and further efforts increased the sum to £.!.'!(>. Hundreds of garments were made for the Galway Guild, and jinicli help was given to emergency hospitals in the district. A\oollen garments we.re supplied for men of H.M.X. Achilles and the Navy League. Miss Loudon said that there would be no relaxation of the effort, and all would work unselfishly and devotedly as long as the need existed. I he prize giving ceremony took place yesterday afternoon, Mr. .1. V. Mack v. a member ot the board, presiding. Advantage of Education. The (ipiiiion that in the necessary bolstering up of public administration, industry and commerce, too manv promising boys were being rushed into the world of action to the detriment of their natural rights and interests, was expressed by the headmaster of the Mount Albert Grammar School, Mr. F. W. (iamble. in his annual report. Mr. (lamble said that at the end of last year. Government Departments and business houses began a wide and vigorous campaign for boys of all ages to meet, starting requirements. Parents and bn.v.s found themselves caught between the enticement of ready employment, on the one hand, and the advantages of contilined education on the other. In the senior school, although one sixth form totally disappeared, the effect was not noticeably severe, and the return entry of 457 last February, was fairly satisfactory. However, in the case of younger Imivs ready to leave primary schools, the attraction of plentiful employment seemed to be beyond the resistance of parents, and that was reflected in the heavily reduced number of new enrolments. Actually only 180 new pupils entered, as against 24.'! in 11*39. The net result was that the official roll, of March ]. of till", showed a drop of 4-'», and consequently the loss of a master from the staff.

Mr. (iamble added that comment on the present tug-of-war between employment and schooling was of doubtful value, but one could not but reflect seriously oil the fact that in national emergencies. the younger generation waa called upon to face its future grave responsibilities under a big handicap. Employers* were called upon by circumstances to look well beyond present requirement?*, and in spite of the freedom with which boys were leaving school, it would seem that firms would find difficulty in staffing tip to full strength.

The prize-jrivinjr ceremony was held last eveninjr, the class prizes being; presented by the chairman of the board of jiovernor*, Mr. ,T. Stanton, and the sports prizes by Mrs. Stanton. A number of school were sung, and two plays were presented.