SELWYN HOUSE SCHOOL

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25678, 15 December 1948, Page 2

SELWYN HOUSE SCHOOL

NEWS FOR WOMEN

END-OF-YEAR GATHERING “We must be ready to give to the child not only the utilitarian in eductaion, not just information, not merely instruction; we should remember the words of Plato: ‘A good education strives to develop in the body and soul all the beauty and perfection of which they are capable,”’ said the principal of Selwyn House School (Miss D. Govan) when giving a review of the year’s work at the school yesterday morning. There was a large attendance of parents and others interested in the Parents’ National Education Union, and the guests were entertained with items given by pupils, including carol singing and orchestral items given by several pupils who have been learning music only since March.

Individual awards, with one exception, are not made at the school at the end of the year. Each child attending belongs to one of four tribes, and his or her good work and good behaviour gains points for the tribe in the winning of the good work and conduct shields. For swimming, sports and drama, also, cups are awarded to the tribe and not to the individual.

At yesterday’s gathering. Mr E. J. Chennells, chairman of the board of directors of the school, presented the awards as follows: good work shield, Ngapuhi tribe; good conduct, Waikato; sports, Ngatiawa; Nature Cup, Waikato; magazine box, Ngapuhi; drama cup, Waikato; tennis cup, Waikato; drill cup, Ngatiawa. The one individual award, the Character Shield, given to the girl who. in the estimation of the staff and her class mates is the most loyal, courteous, obedient, kindly and honourable, was presented to Prudence Raphael. Miss Govan, in her report, said that the tribe system was a great help in the discipline of the school and also made for a corporate feeling among the children. Misdemeanours Tiad to be acknowledged in front of the tribe, and bad marks took away hard-earned points. It was thought that this was a much wiser incentive to good work than when the work was done to gain a prize.

Of the handwork displayed in the schoolrooms, perhaps that of the very young pupils was the most imaginative. Scenes depicting Christmas at the P.N.E.U. School in London, England. and at Selwyn House in Christchurch provided a marked contrast, the grounds of the English school being covered with snow and those in Christchurch being beautified with a lawn and flowers in bloom. In the background were the houses of children attending the two schools. The children had also given free rein to their imaginations in depicting a beach scene with pleasure craft in harbour, and a seaweed-strewn beach gay with beach umbrellas. The plder pupils displayed moccasins, toys, experiments in pottery, painting and garments they had made, the most outstanding features being the neat smocking done by girls not yet in their teens.