SCHOOLS IN SAMOA

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 119, 23 May 1933, Page 5

SCHOOLS IN SAMOA

LORD BLEDISLOE'S VISIT,

FAVOURABLE IMPRESSIONS (By United Press Association's Special Representative.) Shortly after landing at Apia th«j Governor-General announced that he was ! looking forward to visiting as many schools as conveniently possible, and noting the development of the native intelligence of the young, peoplq and their assimilation as far ds possible of the better and moro useful part of modern education. He: had already heard that in many of the schools the children were taught to uae their hands as well as their heads, in «rder; to fit them well for the work of primary, production, to which most of them. would turn in after life. His Excellency; carried out his intention,- and spent some considerable time-at the leading schools, The tour of the State school* was conducted by Mr. D. Butherford, Director of the Department of Education in Samoa, whose organisation worked perfectly. The weather was excellent at this time, the result being that the distinguished visitors saw tho school! under most favourable conditions. It is evident that the > school spirit is being fostered in Samoa, and that tbo training received is well1 adapted to the needs arid capacity 6t the Samoan pupils. In the native) schools the costume of the boys is tho lava lava, the upper part of thaj body being left bare. This was pan ticularly commended by his Excellency, who is firmly of opinion that nothing should be done to impose European, clothing on the natives, so long as ordinary decency and natural mbdestyj are preserved. Each school has itsf distinguishing colours on the lava lavas, and it is most interesting' to> note the spectacular effect when the pupils are massed. "EUROPEANS" AND NATIVES. ? The first school visited was Ifi Ifi situ* ated a short distance from; Apia.^ It is reserved for European children, which. includes children of nuxed'Samoan.and European descent. When the visitors arrived the school drum and-fifeband played the National Anthem, the school children standing to attention. ■ His Excellency planted a teak: tree in the school ground, and he remarked in the coarse of his address that teak; wasJ the material of which the decks of -'the. biggest ships were made, because it was known to be tough, durable, and; permanent. He wanted to see; the) young people of Samoa tough in body, and still more strong in character, able and willing to resist. temptation! when it came along. The Malifa School for native, pupils adjoins the In Ifi School. The massed pupils sang the National; Anthem as the Vice-Begal party approached, andl probably the visitors had never heard it bo impressively sung before. There, was no hurry or haste, and. the historic air was invested with a peculiar, dignity and. grandeur. The visitors were then welcomed in a most graceful speech by the headmaster, Taua 'a, a native Samoan, who enjoys the esteeni and respect of the entire community. Several musical numbers were given. In the conrse of his address ,to the pupils his Excellency said that theyj had been given an opportunity at the school of developing their natural love! for and gift.of music. They had been,1 singing with harmony and melody,making concord of sweet sounds, and showing that they understood the tech* nique or science of making music. He' advised the boys and-girls to learn te de something well with their hands, and always seek in their future lives to justify the instruction and1 educa* tion received at-achooL* ■*;.<- : BFEOIAUttED EBTfOAtION. A. delightful afternoon was spent ats the Avele, School, which specialises in. the training of Samoan youths in! agricnlture and in experimenting with.' new food ' products and ' improved methods. The visit was mado the oc* casion of a garden party, which was attended by the leading .officials and, citizens of Apia, including the"Admins istrator (General Hart) andi.ltrs. Hart. After the formal reception, the boys proceeded to entertain their guests with ' exhibitions of games, • including Samoan cricket, in which there are about' one hundred fieldsmen. No batsman can last long with such & field, as his Excellency and Commodore Barges Watson discovered when they; tried their 'prentice hands with the1 bat or club. A choir of boys sang some old English melodies, revealing a surprising aptitude in imparting light; and shade to' their interpretations. Their expression generally, was excellent, with just the'right touch of emotionalism. The visit to this school' furnished a revelation as to-.what is being attempted and aecomtilished ia. the training of Samoan yoathg. The Marist Brothers' School is situ* ated in the town, and is presided overt by Brother Bernadine, a New Zealand member of the teaching Order. Thai school is a very fine one, and its headmaster is held in the highest esteem byj the whole community. He has given; an extraordinary impetus to the cultivation of school traditions in Samoa^ and also to the growth and direction' of the sporting instincts of the Samoan1 youth. The result is that the boys feel that they must not let their schools down,- and that they mus* "play the game" both on and off th*; field. His Excellency was given a finf reception at the Marist School by thj* teachers and staff, and in the coursM of his address he cordially commended the great work for Samoan youth whicfj was being done by the teachers and th#i school. In the course of a drive to Wester* Upolu, their Excellencies called at th# Wesleyan Girls' School at Taleula, andj the L.M.B. (London Missionary; Society's) School at Malua. Thesa are important institutions in the edu-> cational life of the Islands. They are! situated some distance from Apia,} amid beautiful and.well-kept surround" ings. At each of these schools the) visitors were given loyal and hospitable receptions, and his Excellency, in hit addresses, struck patriotic and prac« tical notes. The visits to the schools were made' under fine weather' conditions, and in' every case their Excellencies were most, cordially received. The impression' made on the visitors was that a great work was being faithfully done in the interests of the youth and future off Samoa.