SCHOOL CONCERT.

Evening Star, Issue 12068, 14 December 1903, Page 2

SCHOOL CONCERT.

The annual concert of the Sawyers Bay School was held on Friday evening, when there was a large attendance. Mr D. Marshall, chairman of the School Committee, occupied the chair - . It has been the custom for some years post for the school children to provide the greater part of the entertainment. This year, however, the work of the school bad been so much hampered by irregular attendance, consequent upon so much sickness, that it was deemed inadvisable to make further demands upon the children’s school time. The Chairman drew the attention of parents to the fact that a new syllabus was about to be introduced. The introduction of that syllabus meant not only an increased expense to parents, but also an increased strain upon the children and teachers, who were already grappling with more work than they could properly undertake. In his opinion the time had come when parents from one end of the colony to the other should demand that such over-straining should be discontinued. Solos were contributed by Misses K. Sinclair, N. Munu (both of Dunedin), and Miss Weir (of Port Chalmers), and by Messrs Black and W. M'Kenzie (of Dunedin) and Mr F. G-. Cray (of Kavensboume). Other items which were also much appreciated included a violin solo by Miss Rae, two recitations by Mr G. W. C. Macdonald (of Ravensbonrne), a cornet solo by Mr E. Schnack, and a- cornet duet by Messrs A and E. Schnack. Mr Black also played a piano solo. Misses Morton, Weir, and Rae and Mr F. Thomas Aiade efficient accompanists.

Air C. Duke, in moving a hearty vote of thanks to the performers for their excellent entertainment, at the same time deprecated the fact that the school children had not taken part as usual. The chair-man had remarked that our school inspectors were complaining that the time spent in jjractising for school concerts was disorganising the ordinary time-table work of our schools. In spite of that fact, there was such a simplicity and charm abonr the children’s entertainments that ho hoped the time would never come when such entertainments as they had listened to in previous years would be discontinued. Mr Flamsmk said that no one enjoyed a children’s entertainment more than, ho did. At the same time their reputations as teachers depended not upon their ability to train children to provide suitable entertainments, but upon their ability to train children in such a way as to receive the commendation of the inspectors. He was willing that the children should take part- so long as parents were satisfied with listening to items prepared for the annual examination, but in future he intended not to allow the preparation for school concerts to in any w.vy encroach upon the organised work of tire, school. The proceeds of the concert are to be devoted to the annual school picnic.