THE BOYS' HIGH SCHOOL

Evening Star, Issue 12381, 20 December 1904, Page 1

THE BOYS' HIGH SCHOOL

We referred on Saturday to the successful working of the new rules respecting free education at the Girls' High School Ihe favorable results at- the Boys* nigh School are still more noticeable, the numbers actually having risen in the course of two years from 161 to 305. Mr Arnold declared on Thursday that there had been no social friction or uneasiness in connection with the development at the one school, an d [though this particular aspect of the matter was not mentioned on Friday afternoon) we invo good reason to believe that similar happy conditions prevail at the other. Not that we looked for any other re ß ult: snobbishness is not the besetting s in of colonial boys and girls; but it is satisfactory to know that pessimistic predictions have been falsified. It is right to note, however, that the Rector of the Boys' School is not altogether satisfied with the general results of the new system. He had hoped to see a larger proportion of pupils desirous of continning the period of free education beyond the second .year., Borne do not remain beyond the first year; and though Mr Wilson fully appreciates the economic conditions which appear to necessitate such withdrawal, he does not disguise his regret.

Many of the most promising of our last year s enrolment have either left the school for offices or workshops during, the currency of the school year, or intend to do so at the end of the year. In the case of even the .'best of these boys I think they would have been much benefited by a third.year at the school,' but they can hardly be expected to-remain four years that is, if they intend to tahc up commercial or industrial pursuits. Further the somewhat vague idea it has been pus! sible to form of the severity, of the. test ' which pupils must, satisfy, in order to qualify for the continuation of their privileges has, I think, deterred some* boys from offering themselves for examination. And the Rector adds a definite expression of opinion that, the junior Civil Service examination is not an ideal test for determining whether pupils shall be allowed' to remain for a second period of two years. Admirable as the new system is in its main tendencies, the disinterested (or perhaps we should say the wisely interested) criticisms of Miss Marchant and Mr Wilson indicate salient imperfections which require -prompt attention; and it is to be hoped that official apathy will not allow grievances to remain unheeded from year to year. -. .. . The speeches on Friday were sound and substantial—perhaps a shade tod substantial. The trajl of the preacher was over them all, and we could not help regretting that the Hon. Thomas Fergus (who has the knack of delivering a capital after-dinner speech) should hava thought fit to adopt the role of "heavy father" on this occasion. This sorb of criticism may appear to be rattier ungrateful, but it must be borne in mind that for years past we have deprecated the prevailing style of oratory at the prkegivihg celebrations, and we bring ourselves to confer high praise upon moral platitudes, eked out with quotations from divines and Holy Writ. Once again suggest to the Board of Governors that the pupils should take a prominent part' in ihi proceedings, as is the custom in the English public schools.

Mr Wilson's elaborate report furnishes a lucid epitome of the year's work. We are glad to, hear (and to know) that' the cricket of the school has improved under Mr Graham's .masterly tuition; and we devoutly hope that the Eleven will not-let us down •by losing their match against Christ's College _ to-day. All the regular sports and physical exercises appear to be flourishing at the school, and we have no fear that under Mr Wilson's sagacious supervision "overatldeticism" will be allowed to creep in. For our own part, as our readers know, we do not hold the/ "flannelled fools" doctrine. Rather do we agree with Mr Webb, who observed on Friday that "he was always sorry " when he met a High School boy who told "him he did not play football or cricket." The Navy League prizes represent a new feature which must not pass unnoticed. To quote Mr J. A. Johnstone's wisely-measured words: 'w" The Navy League recognised that "boys were the most promising portion "of "the British public, so they had come to "back up the teachers in their endeavors to "make of them worthy and.enlightened citi"zens of the greatest of modern nations. "Jingoism was not part of their creed; patriotism,was. It 'was to inculcate in them " the spirit of self-sacrificing effort that they "asked the boys .t§ study the history of "our naval heroes and .their times." The Otago Boys' High School has already paid its tribute of service, usque ad mortem, to the Empire, arid very sure we are that the lesson taught by the memorial on the wall will never be unheeded. -