SCHOOLS' BREAK-UP.

Evening Star, Issue 11115, 15 December 1899, Page 4

SCHOOLS' BREAK-UP.

BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL. Addressing the hoys at the break-up yesterday of the Boys’ High School. Bishop Nevill, who presided, said he would put before them that afternoon a few scraps which those who were wise amongst them might think it worth while to pick up. as they were thrown out for their use. The first scrap was “ The importance of thoroughness in work.” He was sure that the boys who were prizetakers had already appreciated the importance of that. JVithout thoroughness in work there could be neither interest nor success in studies. A boy often said “ I hate arithmetic,” or “ I hate classics,” and so on ; but perhaps they would not hate either the one or the other so much if they took the trouble to understand the rules they had to deal with in arithmetic and mathematics generally, or classical expositions. The grand thing was first of all to understand clearly what they had to do, and that involved a certain amount of thoroughness; they must not be slipshod, and trust merely to memory, instead of thinking what was the object and why certain methods should be followed for its solution. Ho in classical translations, a boy might think that he knew this word and that word, and try to make a sentence by guesswork, instead of remembering that he must look nut for the nominative and then the verb, and then the word governed by the verb. But he must not waste their time with illustrations--they all knew the mistakes that wore made because of the want of thoroughness in the work done. Another scrap of advice he would like to throw out was this: He thought that one of the most important things in a school of the dignity which they acknowledged belonged to the High School* of Dunedin was that the boys should set before them throughout the principle of honor. —(Applause.) If the hoys in a school such as theirs were deeply imbued with a sense of honor, they might hope that society and the generation to come would also be deeply imbued with that most important principle. They knew what he meant by that very well, because there was always a sense of honor among boys—almost more than among men. If there was one thing boys detested it was that character comprised in a word of three letters—cad. He thought boys generally hated a cad ; one who used to spy over his neighbor’s shoulder to see what he had done, and to save himself the trouble of finding out the problem himself. —(Applause.) A hoy of that character was disposed to loaf about the playground, and to circulate all manner of stories about some other boy. He hoped there were no such boys in the High School. This class of boy was generally despised bv his fellows. Commercial honor was something in which they should in after life stand firm and strong. As to national honor, he was delighted to see before him that afternoon so many in the uniform of the volunteers. —(Applause.) In this colony we had already vindicated our national honor by sending our own fellow-citizens to do the work in onr name in the war which, unhappily, had to be earned on in another country.—(Applause. The detachment to which we were looking to uphold the honor of our colony was led by an ex-High School boy—(applause)—and he was quite sure that if it was' necessary to send another detachment a little later they would have no difficulty raising it, and perhaps some of the exHigh School boys would be ready to volun-teer.--(Applause.) The speaker went on to urge the hoys to hold before them the highest ideals in their future life, and to remember that the knowledge they obtained in their school life was something which was not to be used only in mere persona! aggrandisement and selfishness, or to accumulate riches for themselves. No doubt getting on in the world was a very worthy object; but they must have higher views of the knowledge that they possessed than that. It was a trust they had committed to them for all. Knowledge was only a part of the communication to them of Him with whom they had to do—the Lord was a God of knowledge, and by Kim all actions are weighed. God was light and knowledge was light and was power: and therefore if thev obtained an accurate knowledge in this department they knew they might make use of it in their future life to illustrate not only the advantages of knowledge in whatever department of life they were called upon to work in, but they might hold forth that which really was in its essence a spark from the source of light; it was the scintilla, as it were, the offshining of that source of light. And; indeed, the. possession of knowledge, Ire it in a lesser or greater degree on their part, was a thing that must go on extending all their lives. They must be learners all their lives, increasing their days in knowledge, the principles of which they had obtained in school, and thus make use of it to set forth the glory of God. and to procure the welfare of their fellow-man.— (Applause.) The prizes were then distributed by the chairman. Mr 0. W. Rattray presented the Chamber of Commerce prizes for English and arithmetic, this duty being undertaken hy Mr Rattray owing to The unavoidable absence of Mr j. Moloney, president of the Chamber. These medals, said Mr Rattray, were originally given for handwriting, and he took the opportunity of saying that those boys who proposed to enter upon a commercial career ought to make themselves good writers.

! The rending prize was awarded to S. i Foster, who at the direction of the rector mounted the platform and proved his title to the prize by reading ‘The Leper’ in a manner which the Bishop was pleased to say was highly satisfactory in regard to enunciation, and also in that the sentiment was well expressed without any set attempt at dramatic effects. . ? ■ I In calling upon the dux of the school, Arthur C. W. Standage, . The Rector stated that this boy had come to the school about two years ago. He received his public education at the Woodend Public School. North Canterbury, where he remained three years, and took a junior scholarship. He went to the Christchurch Boys’ High School, where he stayed three months. From there he went to linwni, where he spent four years, and he bad been jihout two years in the Boys’ High School.. The boy was particularly well deserving of ' the duxship. He did not come into competi- ' tion with last year's dux, but he was first in everv subject with the hoys lie had competed with. His character had been all that could possibly be desired, and the speaker had no doubt that afterwards he would not 1 only do credit to that school, hut to all the schools with which he had been connected. ' (Loud applause.) 1 Mr James Allen, M.H.R., moved a hearty vote of thanks to the Board of Governors. Eiqwriencc had taught him that the Board had their times of trouble and anxiety, and i he had no doubt the boys would join with him* in an expression of thanks to them.— (Applause.) He had no doubt they would join him also in even, if possible, a still more hearty wav, in a vote of thanks to the staff ! of the school. When he was a boy he 1 thought that holidays were only for boys, : hut he had since learned to recognise that 1 the Aulf appreciated the, holidays just as much as the boys.—-(Loud applause.) Mr Wilson acknowledged the compliment with a few remarks, in which he gave some words of advice to those of the hoys who were leaving school finally to commence the battle of life. He considered himself very fortunate in being associated with colleagues who had, one and all of them, always given him the most hearty and cordial assistance in whatever he had found to he necessary for (lie proper working of the school.—(Applause.) Dr Brown, on behalf of the Board of Governors, thanked the boys for the vote of thanks just- passed. A vote of thanks to the Bishop was carried with cheers, and after cheers for the rector and staff the proceedings terminated. There was an exhibition of mechanical drawing by Mr Shcrriff’s cliss, and in connection therewith we have received the following note from the rector; —“ I should be indebted to you if you would allow me to make good an omission which I regret having made in the course of the prize distribution at the Boys’ High School yesterday. I had intended to draw the attention of visitors very specially to the fpscimens of mechanical drawing done by Mr Sberriff'a class during the year, and exhibited on the walls of the hall. The class had a largo increase of pupils during tho past year. Nearly twice the usual amount of work was shown, and though the work varied in onality much of it was excellent. This I intended to mention when the prizes for mechanical drawing were presented, but by inadvertence I omitud to do so. I regret, the omission, partly because it was an injustice to Mr Sherriff, whose enthusiasm in his work is beyond all praise, and partly because this is a practical side of tho school work which I wish to emphasise and hope next year to extend. To those specially intsrested in this kind of work the drawings, of course, spoke for themselves, but it is the kind of unobtrusive work that is apt to escape general notice unless special attention is drawn to it.” MISS REES’S SCHOOL. Miss Rees’s private school broke up for the Christmas holidays yesterday afternoon in the presence of a large assemblage of j parents and friends of the pupils. Prior to 1 the presentation of prizes a thoroughly eui joyahlo programme was rendered. Miijs 1 Tattle played two pianoforte solos, Mjj>s i Alice Woodhouse gave a French recitation, Misses Laura Turton and Lily Day played,a piano duet, a dialogue was given by Misses | C. Ogston, K. Osmond, and K. Bridger, i Miss Margaret Sale gave a, recitation, whilst ! a part song and a chorus were contributed i by the pupils collectively. In addition to ; these items, the French comedy ‘La Manucure’ was performed, the respective parts : being- very creditably sustained by Misses j Margaret Sale, Kathleen Ulrich. Daisy Sutj ton. Vera Chapman, Isobcl Pirn, and Viojet Williams. The acting was' very good, and the French pronunciation was distinct and i firm, and highly satisfactory. ! Dr Hocken, who presented the prizes, congratulated the prize-takers, and expressed the hope that the success they had attained would be an incentive to their working for future success. There was no doubt that ability amongst people differed very much, and success depended to a great extent upon ability ; but he would like to, impress upon them that there were other virtues or qualities, such as perseverance, which were largely answerable for the success attained in, a school. To those who had not been .successful he did not feel called upon to offer sympathy. There were many causes for failure, such as illness, and he knew that many girls had not been able to attend school from this cause. Then the fortunes at j school were like those at war—various— j and he dared say that had an examination j paper been set there would have been coming forward for their prizes many of (hose who were unsuccessful, and that some of those who were successful would have retained their seats. However this might be, he could only insist upon it —that success in the schoolroom and in life depended in a great measure upon ourselves in exercising (he qualities he had referred to. With these almost alone did success stand. He would not detain them further than to remind them of what >St. Paul said: “Gird your selves; run so that you may win fhe race i that is set before yon.” He would now have \ much pleasure in handing- over the prizes. ; One word he was going to say was that Mjss 1 Rees had already won her spurs. She aiid her father had edited the Life and Times of our most eminent- Governor—Sir George Grey—and therefore deserved a great place in their esteem. —(Applause.) : The prizes were then distributed by Dr Hocken, each recipient being warmly applauded on coming forward, and the company dispersed. The full prize-list appeared in last night's issue. i Miss Rcr.s .is assisted in her teaching by I Miss M. Smyth, M.A., and Miss Boyle ' (French and German). i WALKER STREET KINDERGARTEN. I The pupils attending the Walker street' Kindergarten were dismissed yesterday for their summer holidays. Mr James Allen, , M.H.R., Mr M. Cohen, Mrs W. 11. Reynolds, and others who take an active interest in kindergarten work were present on the occasion, and watched with much pleasure the exercises that were taken part in by the little ones under the guidance of their teachers, Miss Landels and Miss Peake. Each of the juveniles was presented with a packet of sweets, a toy, and a Christinas card, with which they appeared to he very pleased. In a short address to the children and to those in attendance, i Mr Allen said it was a pleasure to any public man to go to a meeting of that kind and to meet with the surprise he had met with that day. Undoubtedly, there was abundant evidence before them of the necessity still for the school. —(Hear, hear.) To the two teachers he could only say that the public sympathised with them in the good work they were doing, and that the public valued that work, and be was sure the teachers would themselves reap a reward in their inner consciences when they recognised what a valuable -work it was for the whole community.—(Hear, hear.) It was over ten years since these schools were started, with ; a class of about forty, and they had been going on ever since, doing good and great work. There had come to the school, hpw-. : ever, as there must come to everything, I a time when a break occurred in the con- ; tinuity of its work, and the break the school | had experienced was this: that, unfortunately, Mrs Reynolds, who had been the head* of the movement since its start, was about to leave them for a time. They would feel her loss, and the institution would feel her loss very severely. Mrs Reynolds’s work had been one of self-denying effort with a good purpose in view, and she and those working with her had kept these schools going, it was true, with the assistance of the public, for tea years. That

was one of the losses the schools were about to suffer. But they had another. Miss Wienecke. was also leaving. She came in the early days of the'institution, and had done capital work in carrying on the schools and in training -teachers who would carry them on in the future. These two losses were severe, and in consequence of them there had come upon those who had the, conducting of the institutions an idea that they had perhaps done their work and that the schools should he abandoned. The Advisory Committee, who consisted of certain gentlemen, were asked to advise on the position, and they came to only one conclusion : that the schools ought to be continued, both in Walker street and at Albany street, and that conclusion, he thought, would commend itself to those who were -interested in the movement, and to those who were in attendance that day, and who saw for themselves the material upon which they had to work. It was hoped, therefore, to keep the schools going.—(Hear, hear.) The matter of funds was not a serious trouble. Some money was collected a few years ago, of which about £6OO still remained. That sum would carry the schools on for perhaps two or three years, hut he did not know whether an appeal ought not to he made to the public for subscriptions even this year, and in these times of prosperity, when everybody was doing well, rn appeal made to the public would be heartily responded to.—(Applause.) He hoped, therefore, that the ladies interested in the movement would accept tile encouragement that every public man could offer them in that way. He believed the public, quietly perhaps, hut yet earnestly and sincerely, recognised the need there was for the schools, and recognised, too, the good work that had been done by them during the past ten years. He did not know that they could calculate the extent of that work, but he was certain that when one came to;sit down and think it out it was almost be-yond the power of calculation to say what had really been acomplishcd in those ten years. How many had been brought up in the community with better and happier prospects of life before them? Who could say? When one looked at the work of the school in that light it would appear that the advantages accruing to the. pupils and to the State were really beyond calculation. Although it was only a, few who were being dealt with, it meant that they were dealing with a few of those who required to be dealt, with, and (he fact that the number might be small should not lead anyone to think there was no nceessitv for a school of the kind in Walker street. There had been a movement. during the past few years to get the education boards to take these schools over. IHe was afraid, however, the Boards- woidd not he able to take, them over, nor was he sure that-,, if they did take them over, they would be able to work on material such as the teachers in that institution were now working on.- (Hear, hear.) It was a material that could, perhaps, be better assisted by private philanthropy than in any other way, and he hoped the time would never come when such a change would be made, as had been suggested in some quarters. He could not conclude his remarks without especially thanking Mrs Reynolds for her efforts for over ten years—efforts of great labor, no doubt, and great self-sacrifice, nor could he finish his short speech without thanking all the other ladies who had so nobly assisted Mi’s Reynolds, and most of all, perhaps, ought they to thank those young ladies in the community who had come forward to be trained, who had been so well trained, and who were doing good work on material that was somewhat difficult to deal with. He was sure they would take from him the thanks of the public and an assurance that the public were in sympathy with them and their work, and he hoped they would be encouraged by that assurance to continue on and to make still further efforts. By-and-bye they would get their reward in seeing grow up amongst them young men and young women who were to take their part as citzens of the State—worthy to take that part amongst them, having been trained up to it from small beginnings like that school. —(Applause.) Mrs Reynolds conveyed to Miss Landels the thanks of the Committee for her untiring efforts since she had taken charge of the school. For many weeks she was singlehanded, and she had surprised everyone by the success she achieved in carrying on the school. She had shown a beautiful spirit of love and tenderness to the children, and had undoubtedly been of great assistance to the school. It was Miss Landel’s intention to proceed to England shortly to further prosecute her study of kindergarten work and teaching, and it was hoped that, after she had gained a store of knowledge on the subject. she would return to the colony and give to the children of the kindergartens in Dunedin the benefit of her wider knowledge and experience.—(Hear, hear.) Mrs Reynolds also said she wished to (hank Mr Alex. Wright for giving the children a bag of sweets everv Monday throughout the year, and Mr D. G. Davidson for gifts of toys to all the children.—(Applause.) She felt that she had not done much herself, but what she bad been enabled to do she had done willingly. She wished to thank Miss Kelsey for ably assisting her in all her work.— (Applause.) We may mention that the kindly manner of Miss Landels to the children showed itself in a practical way in a little incident that perhaps escaped the attention of some of the audience. When handing round the dolls to the girls. Miss Landels found that, after all had been supplied, one doll remained, and her kindness at once prompted her to forward it by one of the children to a little one who was prevented by illness from attending the break-up. Specimens of the neat work done by the children were shown on a table, and were examined with much interest by the ladies and gentlemen in attendance. ST. CLAIR PRIVATE SCHOOL. The “ break-up ” was held in the gymnasium and attended by a very large number of the pupils’ relatives and friends, besides many residents who take an interest in the school. As in previous years, the Misses Alexander had as chairman the Rev, Dr Waddell, who did not make a speech, but helped to make the proceedings lively by his running fire of words in season addressed to seniors as well as juniors. The rev. gentleman also had the duty of presenting Miss Alexander, on behalf of the pupils, with a case of silver teaspoons, the gift being a token of respect and affection towards a voung lady who well deserves the honor. A capital programme, 'suitable in every respset, had been thoroughly prepared, and the children went through it very successfully, some of the wee ones especially distinguishing themselves by their earnest attention to the business on hand. The items were as follow Dumb-bell drill; action song, ‘The jolly little crew’; recitations, ‘A Fellow’s Mother,’ Edwin Smith, and ‘Pearl’s Lesson,’ C. Houston and Pearl Young; dialogue, Eileen Shields and Doris Price ; action song, ‘The porpoise and the snail’; scene from ‘ Alice in Wonderland,’ Ryda Thornton, P. Fotheringham, Nora Fenwick, and Vera Stronach ; quick march and club swinging ; action song, ‘The soldiers’; scene from ‘ Alice in Wonderland,’ Ruth Smith, Ivy Ibbotson, and Dorothy Sim ; action song, * The seasons,’ Ryda Thornton, Doris Price, Ruth Smith, and Eileen Shields ; battledore drill; scene from * Hamlet,’ Dolly Morrison, Ethel Smith, Flossie Fisher, and Joyce Cogan ; wand drill; ‘Rule, Britannia’ and ‘God save the Queen.’ The list of prizes was as follows : Class Marks.—Senior Division: Class 111., Ethel Smith; Claes 11., Dorothy Sim; Claes 1., Ruth Smith 1, Flossie Fieher 2. Junior Division: Class VI., Vera Stronach 1, Rvda Thornton 2; Claes V., Doris Price; Class IV., Edwin Smith; Claes 111., Eileen Shields; Class 11., Clarence Houston. Conscientiousness.—Pearl Young. Essay prize,—Senior Division, Dolly Morrison; Junior Division, Ruth Smith. Consideration for Others (by vote of school).— Senior Division, Ethel Smith; Junior Division, Ryda Thornton. Improvement in Composition.—lvy Ibbotson. Drill.—Dolly Morrison. Arithmetic.—Phyllis Fotheringham. Conduct. - Eileen Shields. General Improvement.—Flossie Fisher. Sawing.—Senior Division, Joyce Cogan ; Junior Division, Vera Fenwick. French.—Senior Division, Ethel Smith and Dorothy Sim (equal); Junior Division, Ruth Smith I, Vera Stronach 2. Music.—Practice: Senior Division—Jessie Pope, Dorothy Morrison, Dorothy Sim, Ernest Jones; Junior Division—Ryda Thornton, Edith M‘Kay, and Llewellyn Jones.