OTAGO BOYS' HIGH SCHOOL

Evening Star, Issue 15481, 1 May 1914, Page 8

OTAGO BOYS' HIGH SCHOOL

THE SHAND. BUILDING. The ceremony of opening the S'hand Building, recently erected for the teaching of science at the Otago Boys' High School, was performed by the Mayor (Mr W. Dowaie Stewart) this afternoon The ceremony took place in tho school hall, in tho presence of the scholars and several prominent citizens.

The Mayor, prior to opening the new building, apologised for several members of the 'High Schools Board of Governors who were unable to be present. The chairman of the board (the Hon. T. Fergus) was away. They were fortunate, however, to have with them Br Brown, who was chairman of the board years ago. (Applause) The Mayor then read the following letter which the chairman of the board had received from Dr* Shand:

I havo already expressed to you verbally my profound sense of the honor which the Board of Governors of the Otago High Schools have done me in calling the new science building in the Boys' School after' my name; but it is proper that a more formal acknowledgment should be made of my gratitude for this •high distinction. Of the many compliments and honors which have lately been paid to me, and which have solaoed my retirement from active duty, this latest honor will be the most enduring ; and I beg that you will inform your colleagues how highly I value this distinguished mark of approval and esteem tendered to me by a hoard on which I am proud to have served for so many bygone years. It is somewhat curious to observe that the Boys' High School is to me reminiscent of the whole of my educational career. The motto of the school is taken from that of the Ayr Academy, in which I spent 10 happy years as mathematical master. The main building is a much more imposing edifice than that of the Edinburgh. Academy; but its arrangement*, as a school are largely borrowed from the latter building, so that to me it recalls the three strenuous years daring which I served as mathematical master in that well-known school before I came out to Dunedin. And now, by the generosity of the Board of Governors, the new science building has been mode commemorative of the educational work which 1 have been privileged to do during the 43 years in which I have occupied a chair in the University of Otago. Since I have had no share in the institution of the new building, I am at

liberty to congratulate the board, which I do most heartily, on this significant and important development of the work of the schooL It is sufficient evidence that the board and the rector of the school are not maintaining too conservative an attitude, but are making efforts

to keep the curriculum of studies abreast of modem requirements. W T hen, one reflects that more than half of the important scientific discoveries which now benefit mankind have been made within

the memory of persons still living, and that science is year by year advancing at a continually accelerated rate of progress, it will be seen how necessary and how difficult it is to adapt the course of instruction in our schools and colleges to the ever-changing needs of the community. I haii, therefore, with deep satisfaction the opening of the Science Building as an indication that the board and the staff of the school are following an enlightened educational policy, and I earnestly hope that the " Shand Hall" will for a long time to come fulfil adequately the purpose for which it was erected.

The Mayor added that unfortunately Dr Shand's health would not permit him being present, otherwise the board would have asked him to open the building. The speaker referred to the great disadvantages which the school labored under in the qld room upstairs, and explained that the growing requirements of the school rendered it necessary that some effective means should be afforded for the teaching of physics, chemistry, and other branches of science. The Board of Governors therefore resolved to erect the new building. No educational system, he said, could be complete that did not make provision for scientific experiment. The new building had cost the board £3,600, but if the results which they hoped would accrue from the teaching in it were realised then the. expenditure would be well justified. It was of the utmost importance that the school should give due attention to this subject, for the reason that they should all strive to assist the British nation to hold its own in the development and carrying on of scientific and modern in-' v-est'igations. The Mayor, in concluding, remarked that Mr Anscombe, the architect, who was responsible for the designing and erection of the building, had been good enough to give him a gold key, which was symbolical of the opening of the building. 'He then declared the building open in the name of the Shand Hall.

Mr W. J, Morrell, the rector, expressed his pleasure at seeing so many of the board members present. He was particularly pleased to see Dr Brown, a former chairman of the board, with them, also Miss Allen, the lady principal of the Girls' School. They were all very grateful to the Board of Governors for providing the accommodation they had in the new building. He only hoped that better work would be. done in it. He would ask Dr Brown to present a few prizes to the boys of the school.

Dr Brown then presented the prizes to the boys who were successful at the recent events'in the new Municipal Swimming Baths. He said he could not help thinking how very fortunate were the boys living in these times. Some 11 years ago the board were extremely anxious to establish swimming baths for the boys, but the furthest they got was to select a site. Th<jy had no money to go on with. The boys were living in better times now, and he contratulated them heartilv.