AMONG THE CHILDREN.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13876, 29 October 1910, Page 4

AMONG THE CHILDREN.

A HIS EXCELLENCY VISITS THE .SCHOOLS.

ADVICE TO THE SCHOLARS.

Yesterday morning, availing himself of the invitation of Mr C. tl. A. T. Opie, chairman of the Education Board, his Excellency the Governor paid a visitor inspection to some of ths leading Christchurch public schools, and was able to make personal observation oi the methods employed in the education of the young idea. About. 11 o'clock his Excellency, accompanied uy Captari Humiltoii. A.D.C., and Mr Opie arrived at the Education Boii'd's oitico m the Normal .School, and was saluted by a guard of honour, under Captain Lyiiskey, drawn up outside the build ing. i'_. was then introduced to Messr. H. C. Lane, secretary, ii. Uoyd, H Langford antl Dr. C. J. 1-iissell, members' oi the Hoard. the party proceeded to the large class-room upstairs, where as many .students an J scholars as could possibly be crammed into the room huU been assembled to greet his Excellency. . Mr Opie, on bel'.all of the Board < i Education, expressed the pleasure it »aye them all to welcome his Excellency to the Normal Training College as the representative of his .Majesty dhe iaet that -New Zealand was situated at ihe end of the earth seemed rather to increase than decrease the patriotism ol hei young people to the Mother Country/ Although so far away, this Dominion had been the first country to offer help to the Oid Land when sue needed it. Dmine; the South Atncan war, almost beiofe England realised her danger, New Zealand had offered a contingent, and then contingent alter contingent had gone forth. How many of our young men had fought, and how many ol them had fallen, were matters of history, and many a family that d;iv mourned the loss ol" a son. That Io:.".-;, however, was hallowed and subdued at the thought that those sons had given their lives as an act of patriotism for their country. Then, again when the German scar,, was nt its height, New Zealand had' by her -fler ot two Dreadnoughts, showed the foes of England that they would havo to reckon with her Empires over tho seas. -Mr Opie, continuing, said that he was extremoiy pleased to welcome his Excellency to the Normal College, i specially in view of the Interest Lord Islington took in education, particularly agricultural and industrial education. His Excellency, who received a demonstrative welcome, remarked that it was a matter of great pleasure and gratification to him that the first time he had visited Christchurch for any length of time he had the opportunity of visiting the Normal Training College. Although he had not been long in this Dominion, he had already had an opportunity of realising that the scheme of education in New Zealand was one of considerable progress and advancement, and, at the same time, one wliich followed in many respects the system he had been accustomed to in the Old Country. He had been able to gather that tho Normal College was doing in a peculiar degree a great service to the State. No education in any country could advance on really effective lilies unless thero were certain conditions laid down, and perhaps the first condition of all was that those who undertook to teach in the schools should be not only thoroughly cognisant of what they had to teach, but should know how to teach and tlie methods ol" teaching. . The Normal College gave scholars an opportunity of carving out a useful teaching career, as year by year it was turning out' a host of teachers to different parts of the Dominion. Perhaps be might be permitted to say to the younger members:: .Of the community that though "AA- their '■"lessons .night at present appear to be tedious and wearisome," if they applied themselves to it in tho way their teachers wished them to, their task would lie converted into an extremely interesting and agreeable ono. They hardly realised at their tender years the indispen&ableness of a sound education in their future careers, but if they would carry out his advice and apply themselves to their studies they would find their interest would be returned to them ten and twenty-fold in tho years to come. It was not only education that they required to learn in school; there was another quality, and that was good citizenship. They oould learn in their schooldays the qualities of g-od behaviour, obedience, willingness to do what they were told to do, and last, but not least, unselfishness. If they attained these qualities, they would, when the time camo for them to work out the destiny of New Zealand, be ablo to do their quota for the good of their country. They had a splendid Dominion here, and distance had in no way lessened the ties of the Imperial system. On more occasions than one this Dominion had come io the front in the hour of Imperial emergency, and he was quite sure that with all her facilities for education and other forms of public life Mother Country and other portions of the Empire might look to New Zealand in tho days to come to do her full share in the great Imperial defence. (Loud applause.) The scholars then sang the National Anthem, and tho Governor took his depa rtirre. At the West Christchurch District High School, the next institution visited, the children had been mustered in tho playground and a guard of honour from the school cadets drawn up at the gate. As his Excellency walked down the line, "God Save the. King"' was whole-heartedly sung by the boys and girls. Speaking from a dais, his Excellency -..id he understood that at the West Christchi'-ch S-ho. 1 special facilities -"ere afforded for studying for the Civil .Service examination. He felt sure that those who were going up for matriculation would realise tho importance of Cavil Service work, and the ad- * antages thoy could derive from it. He understood, also, an important branch of the school was the agricultural department, and he had ever attempted to lay stress on the scientific importance of the great industry of agriculture. (Applause.) There was not another industry on which the welfare of the country so depended as agri- uituro. nnd there was no industry wliich required science applied to it with greater force tiian that of agriculture. He was ve-y glad tr hear that the >chool gee -.An opportunity to -nn-iv of tho younger generation to equip themselves lor that particular industry. In conclusion liis Excellency urged tho children to avail themselves to the utmost of the advantage . of education the school offered, and they would then have all the attributes of good citizens.

Aft.r tiie various departments of the school had been examined, his Excellency turned his intention to tlie school cadets, in whom he displayed very kocn interest. He requested the officers to put them through their drill. ;UK i t)V his instruction., a march past was held" followed by the Royal salute. '

After cheers had been given for \] ]o vice-fegal visitor, his Exccllencv proceeded to the Addington .School, "where the school cadets wore drawn up attention right from the gateway to tha school door. Considerable time was spent in the different class-rooms inspecting the work of the children, which was very favourably commented on i>\his Excellency - nd the other members of the party. The address delivered by the Governor to the scholars was 011 similar an. s to his two previous one.. .. lany of th,. children, said his Excellency, wonhj hardly realise what a v: st number <>{ British subjects there were paying

loyal allegiance to one throne and one "ag. There were those in New Zealand, the large and increasing population of Australia, and the tens of thousands in South Africa and Canada, and many other parts of the world. Ft was tne ambition of those who educated the scholars to make them realise how important it was for them to do their best that the Empire might maintain its power and "might in the world. This end could only be realised by the children's exercising the best qualities that Providence had given them. 11l this Dominion they had real equaiity o/ opportunity, and New Zealand, considering its youth, stood in many respects in the vanguard of civilisation. Ho earnestly urged them to do their best at school, and then they would be able to play their nart in the affairs of the Dominion when they reached manhood and womanhood. His Excellency again manifested his interest in the" cadets by inspecting them while they par--ded under Captain Kennedy, and afterwards congratulated them on their excellent work. His tour of inspection completed, the Governor, followed by the rest of the party in motor-ears, proceeded back to town.