TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 16 August 1924, Page 7

TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL.

DEBATE EVENING. VALUABLE TRAINING. The idea of accustoming young students to rise in a public meeting and express themselves on a subject of local or national interest adds a very valuable side to the work done at a school. The notice, therefore, of an evening when the boys, and girls of the Technical High School would give expression to their views on subjects chosen for them drew a large number of parents and friends to the school. That they were very pleased, interested, and amused by the opinions of the young people, and their methods of expression, was quite evident. There were so many people present that the room used was much too small to accommoedato them. There were two subjects chosen, and a team of six in each case took the affirmative ’and six the negative. Mr. P. O’Dea kindly acted as judge, and his commendatory remarks were much appreciated, and should encourage the students to read and study so as to develop the faculty of public speaking. The first subject Was: “Was the British Government justified in abandoning the Singapore base scheme?” Six engineering students suDported the motion, and six literary students the negative. All'' spoke fairly well, and some were specially good and made and put their points well At the conclusion Mr.' O’Dea congratulated them on their general good, work, and said he regretted very much th|t the school had not a larger and move suitable room in which to hold such meetings. He remarked that most of the boys were inclined to read written notes, instead of addressing the people who were listening to them. Some of the boys were very natural and graceful in their manner. He awarded the points as follow: —Negative: F. Ching 85, J. Sargent 78, P. Coleman 84, C. Harrison 75 W Salton 84. Affirmative: V. Walshe 85, R. Beatson 70, F. Quin 82, C. Allen 82, R. Rifhards 82. The totals Mere 406 and 401, so that the proposition was negatived, although the general standard of the latter was move even.

The second subject was one that interested hoys and girls, and therefore a team of each was selected. It was as follows: “Should boys he taught domestic work?” The judge specially commended some of the girls for their clearly expressed statement of their case, and said that generally speaking the girls were better. He gave special praise to Mary Quin, and awarded her the best marks of all competitors. The awards were as follow:—Affirmative: M. Quin 90, D. Bell 78, K. Quin 78. M. Kirk 78, O. Harding 78, R. Sanson 76—total 478. Negative: E. Owen 86, R. Beatson 84, C. Sturrock 80, A. Brett 74, J. Beauebamn 74 W. Phillips 74—total 472.

The headmaster (Mr A. Gray), in thanking Mr O’Dea for judging, said it was no easy matter for young people to get up and. face an audience. He honed that one result of the debates would he an inducement to the competitors to take up serious reading, which he considered was becoming largely a lost pastime. He hoped it would encourage the right class of reading, which would he very useful and a constant interest in the days to come. He said the school librarian would always welcome any donation of books to increase and improve the library. He in conclusion expressed his pleasure to see so many parents and friends present, and to note the interest they had taken in the debates. He again thanked Mr O’Dea for judging, and also for the excellent advice given to the young sneakers. Thus concluded a very interesting and profitable evening, for arranging which the headmaster and staff are to he heartily congratulated.