ALBANY STREET SCHOOL

Evening Star, Issue 18715, 18 August 1924, Page 9

ALBANY STREET SCHOOL

JUBILEE DINNER.

LARGE AND ENTHUSIASTIC GATHERING.

SOME STING IN SOME SPEECHES.

One hundred and ten people, all looking happy, sat down to cat of good things in the Art Gallery Hall on Saturday night, tho occasion being a dinner to mark the close of the celebrations in connection with the jubilee of the Albany Street School. The affair was a thorough success, and it will long linger pleasantly in tho memories of ex-pupils. While the dinner was essentially an event of happiness, tho happenings of the past few years, which have made so many and so great changes in all departments of life, were not forgotten, and one of the most impressive features occurred when, following the singing of the National Anthem, the company stood in silence for a few moments in memory of the dead. Then, sounded by ex-Bugler W. B. Fowler, came the poignant strains of the ‘ Last Post.’ It was a minute pregnant with memories bitter-sweet.

Another memorable touch came at the close of the proceedings, when the company joined hands and sang ‘ Auld Lang Syne, without which no such dinner would be complete. Mr Magnus W. Johnson was chairman. Apologies were received for the absence of Messrs J. E-. Bartholomew, S.M., J. 11. Wilkinson, J. Aberncthy, and E. Howlison.

Those responsible for the progamme bad prepared it well, and items of an entertaining nature were judiciously sprinkled between the speeches. Those responsible were Mr H. W. Hunter (recitations). Miss Alice Wilkinson and Mr W. K. Sinclair ducts), Miss West (songs), Mr A. Robertson (songs), Miss Lorna Smith (songs). Mr A. Dempster (chairman of the Jubilee Executive) expressed his pleasure at the presence of the ladies. Ho thought that, this innovation should bo followed in the future. Mr Dempster added that it had been thought right that on this occasion he should vacate the chair in honor of an ex-pupil. In the course of his warm words of welcome to those present, Mr Johnson spoke feelingly of the benefits conferred upon their pupils by the teachers of Albany Street. The teachers were still doing their part to prepare their charges for Uie responsibilities of life. (Applause.) Johnson called upon tho teachers, past and present, to stand, and on his call they were greeted with cheers and the singing of ‘They Are Jolly Good Fellows.’ Ex-pupils from other parts of the country had a similar enthusiastic greeting.

AUTHORITIES’ WANING POWER. Tho toast of “Educational Authorities” was in the hands of the deputy-mayor (Mr J. S, Douglas), in tho absence of the mayor (Mr H. L. Tapley), who sent his apologies and greetings. Ho referred particularly to the value of training on school committees as a preparation for work of a wider nature. Some of the men occupying the most prominent positions in the public life of the dominion had received their early training in the thankless role of committeemen. Mr Douglas also spoke of the importance of the functions of the education boards, and he declared that the public owed a great debt to the teachers and inspectors of their schools and to the professors of their universities for the way in which they had moulded the young plastic minds given to their charge. (Applause.) There was more than a shade i«pf the “political” in the first speaker to*reply to the toast, Mr J. Wallace, chairman of the Otago Education Board. Education authorities now bad not tho power they had formerly, he said, and he thought the parents should regain gome of the “ say ” that they exercised in the past in tho control of the schools and tho appointment of teachers. To-day, under the grading scheme, appointments were made more in tho interests of the teachers than in the interests of the schools in some cases. There were “ duds ” in the teaching profession, and length of service should not bo the only thing to put a teacher into a position. Men went on the Education Board, he continued, not because they were looking for limelight, but because they felt that they wore doing something for the good of the community, however small the contribution. And it would be a. bad thing for education in New Zealand when local interest ceased to__ affect its i course. (“Hear, hear.”) The school | committees and education boards supplied ' a good deal of common sense when it came to facing problems—an element that was sometimes lacking in departmental regulations as they were brought down. Under the present system education bodies were placed in a somewhat invidious position. He thought that there should be one education authority for each district, to which would be allotted a certain sum, with power to expend it as it thought best. He was sure that it would be spent Judiciously. (Applause.) Speaking on behalf of the school committees, Mr A. Dempster raised a laugh by remarking that most people thought the duties of committees consisted of paying the janitors’ wages. But committees were responsible for something more. For instance, the Albany Street Committee had agitated for a new school, and they were going to get a new school. (Mr Wallace : “ Quite right.”) Ho would not say whore the school was to be built, as that was something of a controversial matter. (Laughter.) Referring to the loss of committees’ powers, he offered tho view that the opinion of nine men with common sense was of more value than tho opinion of any inspector when it came to appointing teachers. He was certain that some of the appointments made under the new scheme were not so satisfactory as those made under the old method. (Applause.) LOVE OF SCHOOL. Mr G. L. Stewart, a senior dux of the school, and subsequently a member of its staff, who is now secretary of the Wellington Education Board, proposed the toast of “Albany Street School.” He classed Albany Street as one of the finest schools in New Zealand, attributing its exalted position to tho teachers it had been fortunate in possessing, to the class of pupils that had attended it, and to their “great parents.” One of the reasons ho loved Albany Street was that it was there he first found a man who understood the nature of the boy. This quality of understanding was the most important asset, and the man or woman who did not possess it had better take some calling other than teaching. (Applause.) Mr Stewart gave some recollections of the characteristics of the school’s teachers in bygone days. Whoever was responsible for tho school motto had genius in him, for at the school, as he had come to know and love it, “honor and honest work” were practised with a will. And in that atmosphere he had found his truest friends. (Loud applause.) At tins stage there was a break in tho proceedings to permit of social intercourse, the chairman putting the announcement thus: “I notice that the gentlemen are sitting next to their wives, and doubtless there are friends of the other days they and their wives would like to have a talk with.” “ESPRIT DE CORPS.” On speechmaking being resumed, Mr J. Rennie, until lately head master of the school, replied to the toast. Mr Rennie, who had a rousing reception, said that the school ha-d been an inspiration to him. Referring to the motto which he had had the honor of instituting, he reminded them that “ virtue ” stood for valor and courage as well as for honor. Since 1914 they had had terrible but splendid evidence that the boys who had passed through Albany Street were not lacking in those qualities. (Applause.) He would like them to associate with the present occasion those who went to tho war, and especially those who

fell The response to the call made by the old boys of the school had been but an example of the esprit de corps that had prevailed in all departments. Of course, in this connection they could scarcely compare with the great schools in the Homeland, but they had to make a beginning. They could not hope for the best results m a school unless there were esprit do corps, and he could honestly say that it had characterised the roasters and pupils ox Albany Street. And this influence had not ceased to exist after the school was left behind for oher fields of endeavor, as was shown by the formation of old boys’ associations in Auckland and Christchurch. (Applause.) “THE MOTHERS OF ALBANY STREET.”

His name was associated with Mr J. H. Wilkinson In the reply, but Mr Mukinson was unable to attend. He would have liked to have seen him there because of the work, ho had done in connection with the jubilee. Mr Rennie went on to speak of the value of the work done by school committees. Ho had been privileged to attend the meetings of the Albany Street Committee, and he conld_ testify to the (great help that a committee like that one was in running a school. They had been a happy family, without any difference of opinion. The speaker mentioned some of those who had given long service to the committee. Speaking of the staff, he said that the men and women did their work loyally, and all were anxious to uphold the good name of the school. Hot any staff in Australasia had been so harmonious as the Albany Street staff, in the speaker’s experience. And he would like to pay & tribute to the mothers of Albany Street. (Applause.) They wore not people who handled a great deal of money in the early days, but they had the interests of the children, and, therefore of the school very much at heart. As an instance of this he remarked that when he wanted money for uniforms for the school band £l5O was raised in an afternoon and evening. (Applause.) He look that opportunity of honoring tiro parents who had sent them to school. Of his pupils he always felt particularly proud of the girls in the choir or competitions squad. (Applause.) They carried themselves in after life in the way that was expected of them at Albany Street, The school had made wonderful strides educationally, said Mr Rennie in conclusion, and undoubtedly it would go on to greater things. (Prolonged applause.) OTHER SPEECHES.

Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., being out of town. Mr James Brown proposed the health of “ Pupils Past and Present.” In a particularly happj speech, which contained much to anTuse, Mr Brown conveyed kindly and apt greetings to the old, middle-aged, and young ex-pupils and to the boys and girl’s at present attending the school.

Suitable replies were made by Messrs J. W. Shaw (vice-president of the Dunedin Club, Auckland), J. G. Bobb (representing ex-pupils living in Christchurch), and D. J. Simpson (who replied on behalf of the present pupils). Proposing the toast of “Teachers Past and Present,” Colonel J. 11. Moir said that they might divide the period, sofar as the head masters were concerned, into “the Ferguson reign" and the “Ronnie reign.” Those men, like tlre others who had been associated with the school, threw their heart and soul into the work. (Applause.) Colonel Moir mentioned that ho did not agree with Mr Wallace regarding the grading system. Mr C. Rawlinson, head master, responded to the toast in happy style. Mr A, Crawford, inspector of schools at Wanganui, a former master at Albany street, and Mr W. Thomson, an old pupil and teacher, were asked by the chairman to speak, which they did effectively. The health of “The Ladies" was proposed by Mr W. K. Sinclair, and responded to by Miss Andrew. CHURCH PARADE. A church parade to Knox Church yesterday afternoon proved an impressive climax to a memorable celebration. Showery weather ami conditions unpleasant underfoot notwithstanding, a large number of ex-teachers and teachers and pupils past and present assembled at flicschool, and were marshalled in decades by Colonel Moir. To the music of the school baud at tiro head, (bo procession moved off, each decade indicated by an inscribed shield, and punctually at the appointed hour.filed into Knox Church, : comfortably filling the seats on the ground floor. The gallery had previously been occupied by interested persons. Rev. Her tor Maclean, an ex-pupil, conducted the service, associated with him- being (he Revs. Tulloch Yuille and Knowles Kempton and Mr Duncan Wright. Well-known hymns heartily sung, Scripture reading by the Rev. Knowles Kempton and Mr Duncan Wright, prayer by the Rev. Tulloch Yuille, an impressive address by the Rev. Hector Maclean, and a fine rendering by Miss Alice Wilkinson of Dudley Buck’s ‘ Fear Ye Not, 0 Israel ’ comprised the order of service. Mr Paget Gale was at the organ. EX-PUPILS’ RALLY. The ex-teachers and ex-pupils gatherer again on Saturday afternoon ns they hat! assembled on the Friday, refreshing thc-ii memories most intimate with the school and renewing old acquaintances. On Friday afternoon over 300 signed the jubilee roll book, and the number who attended the Saturday rally probably exceeded that. Men who hud been at the school in the later years of the nineteenth century foregathered in the classrooms, and smoked their pipes, while they looked with interest at photographs of the children of their day; women of various ages flocked to read the congratulatory letters, or conversed untiringly upon the one topic ol interest. The ladies dispensed afternoon tea, and altogether tho function was a very enjoyable one. REUNION IN CHRISTCHURCH. [Spkcju. 10 THU ‘ Stati.’] CHRISTCHURCH, August 18. Ex-pupils and ex-tcachers of the Albany Street School, residing in Christchurch, held a reunion on Saturday night in connection with the jubilee celebrations. Tin attendance numbered about seventy. Mr A. 0. Wilkinson presided. Among those present were Mr Strachan, head master, ftangiora District High School, and patron of tho association, who was formerly on the teaching staff at Albany Street School, and Mrs Moroton, who when her name was Amelia Rose Woolley won the gold medal for dux in 1884. In. order that those present might find out who each other was, each stood up as his or her name was called, married ladies etatingtheir maiden names, and the men the nick names by which they had been known at school. Two JTadies, who had not seen each other since they were girls at school in the early eighties, thus met again, inn cl others discovered that among those present were brothers or sisters of friends they had lost touch with on leaving school. Three members of one I’ffmily were present, sisters, all of whom arc living in Christchurch. The Chairman, in proposing tho toast of the “ Old School,” said that Dunedin was known as the' dominion’s seat of learning, and it was rather remarkable' that now Dunedin, of which the great majority of those present wore ex-resi-deut-s, contained most of tho educational institutions of the dominion. Mr Strachan responded on behalf of the ex-teachers, and Mr W. Lloyd on behalf of ex-pupils.