RANGI-RURU.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20421, 16 December 1931, Page 8

RANGI-RURU.

AIMS OF EDUCATION. •The annual prize-giving ceremony, in connexion with Kangi-ruru, Miss Gibson's private school, was held yesterday morning at the Eadiant Hall, which was crowded with pupils, parents, and interested friends. Miss Gibson's Report. Miss Gibson, after, welcoming Bishop and Mrs West-Watson and the visitors, who showed a kindly interest in the school, briefly reviewed the year's activities. The standard of work during the year had been maintained. Ten girls, 66 per cent, of those presented, had passed the matriculation examination, and one had passed the Public Service examination, securing a good place. Two girls had been successful in winning outside prizes, Joy Ridgen having gained the prize offered by the Christchurch branch of the Empire League, and Helen Bruce the first prize in the junior examination conducted by the Cercle Francais. In games,. too, the pupils had acquitted themselves well. Noleen Bishop, the BChool tennis champion, also holds the Canterbury and New Zealand championships, and, with Celia Eeese, had won the girls' senior handicap doubles in the Easter tournament at Wilding Park. "We still hope that we have won the Canterbury Junior Lawn Tennis Shield for the year," added Miss Gibson, "although we have not yet been notified of the fact." Six girls had gained medallions in the swimming and life-saving classes, two had gained teachers' certificates, two had won honorary instructors' certificates, and one, Elisabeth Alpers, had received the Award of Merit. The old girls of the school were doing well at Canterbury College, the" School of Art, and at the Christchurch Hospital, where Mary Crawford had headed the list in this year's final examinations. Miss Gibson specially congratulated Margaret Ogilvie, who had won the John Connal Scholarship at Canterbury College. Addressing herself specially to the girls that are leaving school, Miss Gibson quoted from a speech of the ViceChancellor of Oxford University, recently printed in The Press. "The aim of modern education is to develop a faculty for learning, rather than just to cram in knowledge, to give the students a faculty to utilise their, knowledge for themselves, to teach them to learn to go on learning, to read and to go on reading, to think and to gj on thinking." "Don't imagine," she said, "that today your education is finished; it is only in its infancy, and it lies with you to see that it develops in the right channels and attains a standard worthy of you."Miss Gibson concluded with thanks to her staff, the Bishop and Mrs WestWatson, Archdeacon P. B. Haggitt, the parents,, and .the prefects. Bishop West-Watson's Address. "We are in Christchurch extraordinarily fortunate in our high schools, headmistresses, and. teaching staffs, and from theso schools como girls of high ideals and good education—a strong, healthy'stream flowing into the life, of Christchurch," said Bishop WestWatson, "aind I am sure many parents and clergy are grateful for the inspiration received by girls at. fiangi-ruru." He hoped there would be increasing strenuousness in all the schools—that girls would'fit themselves for careers Gf usefulness and develop the cultural Bide of their natures. Each girl should ask herself, "How can I be of most use; how; can I contribute most to tlio life of the community?" • Continuing, the spealte'r said that the major problem of the day was the relationship of nation to nation, and the importance of this' problem could not be over-emphasised. The result of the Disarmament Conference to bo held in February was a matter of vital interest to every man and woman, for should armament continue, he felt that civilisation was under sentence of death. He urged ; the girls to take a keen and intelligent interest in the problems of the day, and to realise that each one has a personal responsibility as a citizen and as a Christian. , He strongly advised them to think and reason for themselves and to have courage to express their opinions. Thus would they become a force for the betterment of the world. The prizes were presented by Mrs West-Watson, w;ho was presented- by the girls with a bouquet, a similar compliment being paid to Miss Gibson. The following is the prize-list:— FORM \ PRIZES. FORM VI. • Helen Bruce, Margaret Paterson. For Consistent Work—Elisabeth Richards, Alison MacGlbbon, Jean McCracken. ' FORM V. Joan Cunliffe, Valerie Hunter, Myrtle Stephens. ' For Consistent Work —Elaine Perry, Eileen Cuff. "Scripture, Archdeacon Haggitt's Prize— Elaine Perry. Mrs Ridgen'a Prize for Literature—Githa Hand-Newton. Mr G. R. Stevenson's Prize for General Knowledge—Hnia Stables. FORM XV. REMOVE. Jean Morton-Smith, Joyce Earnett, Lois Blafik. . Scripture—Joy Bidgen. FORM IVA. Helen Harper, Mary S. Hamilton! Mary Pearson} Margaret Lindsay, Audrey Slieppard, Mary Coop, Betty Ackroyd. - Scripture—Mary S. Hamilton. FOBM IVB. 1. Elaine Coe, Isobel Brown. FOBM IVB. 2. Dorothy Crozier, Kathleen Flowman, Margaret Davis. For Consistent Work—Peggy Turnbull and Ann Todhunter. FOBM 111. Trixie Meares, Diana Russell, Rosemary Hall, Helen Hamilton, Judith Ormerod. Nature Study—Diana Russell. FOBM 11. Betty Evans, Naida Gardiner, Nancy Burnett. French—Joy Wooler. FOBM lA. April -Hargreaves, Joan Robbins, Marv Macdonald.' Nature Studjy —Janet Todhunter. FOBM 18. Betty Sutton, Erica Gardiner,. Shoua Jlacfarlane. FOBi: IC. 'Felice Crozier. "SPECIAL PRIZES. Margaret Harris Memorial Prize, presented by Mr Chas. Bean for Literature —Margaret Hayes. v Miss Hunter's Prize for European History —-Kathleen Joseph. Mr F. W. Nolan's Prize for Diction—Helen Bruce. ■' Mr G. R. Stevenson's Prize for General Knowledge—*3elen Bruce. Mrs Hilary's Prize for Mathematics—Helen Bruce. Drawing and Painting, (Still Life)— Elv.i Atkinson. Margaret' Hamilton, Cecile Dolamoro.-: . . » . Drawing—Mollie "Whiteside, Diana Russell, Moya Douglas. :Music—Celia Reese, Audrey Amos, Marv Coop, Lois Petrie. Voice Training—Gertrude Moore, Jovce trayton, Jean Tod. Dressmaking—Betty Morrow. Sewing—Alison Bcadel, Pamela Price. Joyce Drayton, Zoe Bowling, Jgan Godfrey Theo Turnbull, Kathleen Newton, Hcleii Thomas, Dawn Milliken. Cooking Prizes—Elisabeth Alpers, Joan Dunkley. General Knowledge (prize offered to boarders) —Margaret Patergon. Swimming^:—LesleyMilnea, Lois Blauk, Nancy Hill, Rita King. Boarders' House Prize—Seniors: Jean McCr«ck?n. Juniors: Peggy Turnbull. Rangi-ruru Prizes (presented by" 'Rangiruru Old Girls' Association)- —Margaret Cav* erhill an<| Janice Cooke. . ; School Bursary^—Margaret .Hamilton «nd Elisabeth Alpers. .