PRIZES PRESENTED

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 69, 14 December 1939, Page 13

PRIZES PRESENTED

Ceremony At Wellington Girls’ College

The process of education should go on uninterrupted if lhe ravages of war were to be repaired by a generation trained for peace, said Miss E. M. North, headmistress, at the Wellington Girls’ College prize-giving ceremony last night. The realization of the effects of broken training on the youth of the lawt war should make for a feeling of determination that the present generation should be as little touched by the war as possible, she said. “1 am realizing more and more,” said Miss North, "that the ever-increasing complexity of modern life makes it necessary for a general education to be carried on to a later stage than it used to be. I consider that there should be no specializing in the first secondary year, except in commercial work. And this exception is only a concession to a great local demand. It is not always wise for parents to enrol a child with the decision already made about her course and career. After the first year there is available a choice and variation of course. Specialization proper does not begin till very much later.”

Summarizing the work of the school, Miss North spoke of some of the charges brought against secondary schools. The most serious charge, -she said, was the one that the schools were too academic, and that they were too out of touch with life. “Such criticism,” she said, “is about 20 years out of date, and can be made only by those who are quite ignorant of the work that is done in our secondary schools. I have constantly invited those who make the charge to come to the girls’ college and investigate. . They do not accept the invitation, but they still make the charge. It is time that the secondary schools themselves, and the parents of the children who attend them, refuted the charge with all the energy of which they are capable.” The official party bn the stage included Mrs. P. Fraser and Miss Mary McLean. who presented t’ho prizes, Mrs. Knox Gilmer, Mr. L. McKenzie, chairman of the board of governors, who presided ; Dr. Guy Scholefield, Mr. W. H. Denton, Mr. W. B. Fitchett, Mr. W. H. P. Barber, and members of the staff.

The school orchestra, under the baton of Miss Henry, gave several numbers, and some seasonal songs were sung by the choir.

The speaker was Dr. Guy Scholefield, who urged the girls to develop independent thinking. Mental indolence, he said, was at the root of much of the trouble in other countries of the world today. The youth of the dictatorship countries after the last yar, he said, were in such a mental state that they welcomed anyone who could restore their self-respect. They had eagerly followed the causes of leaders who were without tradition and very often without education or character, ami whereas they had admittedly found their national self-respect, they had unfortunately lost the ability to think for themselves. 'They were forbidden to have any opinions except the opinions of those in power, and their self-respect was transferred to a respect for the State, and later, to contempt for all countries except their own. It was this attitude, contended Dr. Scholefield, which had led up to the present conflict. The youth of Germany and Russia were led by men of sinister intellects who had apparently turned them against the youth of other countries. "There will be no safety for democracy or any of us,” he said, “unless we develop the habit of thinking for ourselves, and the enthusiasm of youth must be linked up with the fine experience and co-operation of the older generation.”

The annual prizes and endowments were awarded as follows :—

The Anna P. Stout Cup for best all-round girl, Alexis Entrican: the Mary Izard Prize for New Zealand History, Joyce Swiney; (lie Hilda E. Moorhouse Essay Prize. Alexis Entrican ; the Marguerite Turner Memorial Prize for .Modern History, Carllen Cox; the Marjorie Nicholls Prize for a Prepared Speech, Shirley Tipling: the Mrs. A. G. Mitchell 'Memorial Trophy for Dramatic Endeavour. “Lady Precious Stream” group; the Inter-Form Choir Contest Cup presented 'by Mis.s Greig, Form IVB; the Old Girls’ Association Ena Daw’son Scholarship, Marjorie Kinross; the Mary McLean Scholarship, Jocelyn Sandlant; the Mary McLean Scripture Knowledge Prizes, Form VI: Carllen Cox, 1; Dorothy Johns, 2; Forms V: Shirley Magee, 1; Lyndsay Cox, 2; Forms IV: Betty McCurdy. 1; Ellen Stewart, 2; Forms III: Gloria Fraser, 1; ghlrley Burridge, 2; the E. M. Rainfortli Bequest fora Excellence in English in IVth Forms, Fay Marshall. SPECIAL PRIZES: Botany Prizes presented by Mrs. Gilmer, Form VAMaths: Zara Wilinshurst; Form IVA, Patricia Arnold; Botany Prize .presented by Mr. Field, Form 111 A, Gloria Fraser; Form IHB, Nancy Adams. Vth Form Mathematics: Prize presented by Miss Kershaw, Jean Macdonald. Vth Form Geography: Prize presented :by Miss Isaac, Lyndsay Cox. "Senior Commercial Work: Prize presented by Miss Greig, Lyndsay Cox. Work Showing Literarv Promise in English: Prize presented by Miss North, Ngaire Robinson. Christian. Union Scripture Prizes: Presented by Miss E. Mackay, Alexis Entrican, 1; Jean Macdonald, 2. Prizes for Work in Art: Senior, Nancy Nicholson; Good work In Drawing and Art Appreciation, Margaret Silver; Intermediate, Form IVA, Edith Anderson, Sylvia Baker; Form IVB, Itka Goodman, .Shirley Ward; Junior, Form HIB, Phyllis Clarkson, Nancy Adams. Prizes for Handwork; . Sewing, Form VB, Shirley Berryman; Form IVA, Betty McCurdy, June Blake; Forms 111, Jacqueline Staub, Betty Halgh; Cookery, *VB, Joy Walton. Eileen Lawrence; IVB, Lily McIver: IHB, Margaret Morrish. Hygiene and First Aid: Form 1118, Barbara'Bridge. Home Nursing: .Senior, Marion Harrison. REPORTER COMPETITION: Original Prose. Pamela Wilmshurst, 1; Joyce van Wetzinga, 2; Original Verse, Jean Crawley, 1; Jean Broadhead, 2; Original Illustration, Nancy- Nicholson, 1; Sylvia ißaker, 2. Pro-Prefects’ Badges, awarded after one complete year’s service as prefect, Joan Andrew. AMeen Bruce, Ailas Cameron, Adele Couse, Pauline Craig, Daisy Filmcr, Jean Finlay, Norma Henderson, Dorothy Johns, Jean Mgcdonald, Anne Menzies, Gwen Newton. Prefects’ Badges, Carllen. Cox. Jean Crawley, Joyce Swiney; Head Prefect, Alexis Entrican. CUPS AND TROPHIES: Mayer InterHouse Shield, SMwyn House; runner-up, Wycliffe House; Grace Halley Memorial Cup for Physical Drill, Joy Asquith; run-ner-up, Jovce Knighton; Halliday Memorial CU’P for Drill, Lily Melvor; riqiner-up, Bettv Noble; Inter-Form Drill Khield, Forms VIA and VIB; Athletic Championship. Senior, Margaret John; runner-up, Marjorie Kinross; Junior, Pamela Wilmshurst; runner-up, Olive McGregor; Swimming Championship, Senior, June Ridge; runner-up, Gloria Whiteacre; junior, Millicent Dickie; runner-up, Norma Kitching; Diving Trophy Rose Bowl presented bv illd Girls’ Association. Millicent Diekie; runner-up, g) 110 ™ 1 Moore; Hon. F. M. B. Fisher Tennis Championship, Senior, Alison Wybe: run-nor-up. Gwen Newton; junior, Pamela Wilmshurst; runner-up, Betty McCurdy; Shield pi-esentcd by Messrs. Clark « Co. for Needlework, Form JI LAL*. Maxwell Trophy for Swimming, Jean Macdonald. Gloria W'hiteaere, Millicent Dickie. June Ridge.