FAIRFAX SCHOOL.

Bruce Herald, Volume XXXX, Issue 98, 23 December 1904, Page 5

FAIRFAX SCHOOL.

The break-up ceremony and distribution of prizes to pupils attending the Fairfax School took place at the schoolhouse on Wednesday afternoon, when, despite the threatening weather, there was a very fair attendance of parents and friends of the children. The Rev. C. H. Standage presided". Prior to the general speechifying and distribution of prizes the children very creditably rendered the following programme: — Musical round, "Tingle* the Bells," pupils; recitation, " The Fireman," Miss Emily Wilson ; recitation, " A Night with a Wolf," Mrss Jane Forgeson ; musical round, " Hark, how Plainly the Bells," pupils ; recitation, 'Curtain Town," Miss Kate Waldie ; recitation, " The Forge," Miss Maggie Forgeson; musical round, "There is a Flower," pupils ; recitation, Charge of the Light Brigade," Miss Laura Woodhill. After the musical portion of the programme was concluded, Mr Mahoney, head -master at the school, said that this was the first occasion for 14 years 'a which he had anything to do with the dis-

tribution of prizes. During that time he Had discouraged the giving of prizes. Previous tc that time, both as a pupil and more particularly since he became a teacher, he. knew that a great, deal oi dissatisfaction was created in the minds of pupils and parents as to who really :s ' deserved a prize. Some thought that the '" prizes ought to be given for attendance, but v " this was scarcely fair, as some of the pupils re lived near the school, whilst others had to ■I- travel about five miles, and were sometimes * r prevented from attending owing to floods in the rivers ; they were, therefore, also handily- capped in work accomplished. Some children •n were in robust health, and never missed a day, f- while others were sometimes sulTcrin iT from ie illness Supposing all the children were r 9 eqnally healthy, there was a marked difference j in the quality of brains, for which no human „ being was responsible. Another reason why >, he discouraged prize-giving was that parents } f were apt to err, and think that teachers showed favoritism. Such an idea was a depressing thing to a teacher. He had not '', heard of such remarks in. this district, but knew it was suspected in some districts. The reason why he hid changed his views on the .' subject was that good books were needful ' to a child's education. There were a large number of children, who had but few opportunities "of reading good books, and a child who did not read books never made the c same progress as those which did. He kad v now reverted to his opinion of 14 years ago, c that prizes should be given ; the only difference on the present occasion being that c there was a book for each pupil, whether good 11 or bad pupils. He requested the recipients to a lend their books to each other, so that the r prizes would be practically a circulating library. s There were also prizes for outdoor games, the . winners of which had been chosen by a vote of :1 the children themselves. He had nothing to :1 do with these prizes, except that he submitted . three issues to the children for a vote to be ;i taken as to the most popular pupil in each a class. The general proficiency prizes were given on his own award, and had been awrtr. - ded according to the efforts of the children to t do their work. lie would not give the names . of donors of special prizes, as no doubt they would not thank him for the publicity. Mr , Mahoney concluded by passing a special word i of praise on the ilu.\ of the school (Charles , M'Leod). Rev. Mr Stand.ige said he felt highly indebted at the honor the committe had done him in asking him to distribute the prizes. He congratulated the head-master and teacher on the excellent work accomplished during the past year, lie did not know whether to call Mr Mahoney 's change of views on prizes a step of retrogression or progression, but he congratulated him on the desire to circulate excel- . lent literature throughout the school. He was pleased to see the healthy looks of the children, and would not inflict a speech on them, as 1 breaking-up day was the happiest day of the year to them, and he always disliked speeches when he was attending school. He was glad . to hear the remarks of the head-master regarding the spirit shown by the dux ; the boy had • shown a splendid spirit, which they should always endeavor to cultivate, as it would be tp their advantage when they went into the world. ; They would be the men and women of the future, and the spirit manifested in the school would not leave them ; they might forget part of their education, but their character was now being formed far life. Tie strongly emphasised the value of effort ; it was not so much achievement would tell as the efforts of the pupils to do their work. He concluded by asking them to put forth honest efforts, and they would be better for il ; the teachers had had an anxious time, and he hoped both they and the pupils would have a pleasant holiday. The prizes were then presented by Mr Stanage as follows : — . Dux of the School — Charles M'Leod. Standard VI. — General Proficiency : Laura Woodhill 1, Robert Tweedie 2, Ettie Craig 3. Standard V. — General Proficiency : Eveline Brown 1, Lancelot Mahoney 2, William Gram 3. Standard IV. — General Proficiency : Laura Brown i, Flora Mahoney 2, Isabella Houston Standard lll.— General Proficbncy : Kate Waldie I, Linda Wood 2, Leslie Wyber and Ella Somerville (equal) 3. Standard II. — General Proficiency : Fanny Brown 1, Alexander Carruthers 2, William M'lntosh 3. Standard I. — General Proficiency : Cyril Jefcoate 1, Allan Bryce 2, James Carruthers 3 Special Prizes. —Outdoor games and good conduct in playground (selected by vote of class mates) : Standard VI — Boys : Leonard Wyber ; girls, Hazel Mahoney. Standard V Boys, Donald M ; Leod. Standard IV — Boys, Daniel Bridson ; girls, Florence Wallace. Standard III — Boys, George Sanson : girl= Ethel Waldie. Special Prize in Standard Vl.— Sight Reading of Prose and Poetry : Hazel Mahoney and Ettie Craig (equal, 85 per cent.) 1, Laura Woodhill (83 per cent.) 2. Special Prize. — Recitation : Emily Wilson, Standard VI. Rewards. — Besides the above, every other child in attendance received a book suitable to its reading capability and comparative progress. The Rev. G. Miller, who put in an appear ance at a late stage, apologised for his unavoidable detention. He thought teachers and scholars should be encouraged by a good attendance of the public at break up functions. The pupils did not realise the amount of work the teachers did until they had left school. \He ha r l always heard 'their teachers spoken of in the highest terms, they were greatly respected. He had always considered Mr Mahoney a splendid teacher, as he exhibited a friendly feeling with the boys. He urged upon

pupils to attend to their lessons, and the ne cessity for them to become good writers. H concluded by wishing them an enjoyable holi day. The function concluded with the customary votes of thanks, after which lollies were dis : tributed to the children.