YEAR OF PROGRESS

Manawatu Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 2560, 18 December 1924, Page 6

YEAR OF PROGRESS

Boys 7 High School PrizeGiving ACHIEVEMENTS IN FOTJM AND FJ ELD A year of satisfactory progress was reported at the annual break-up celebration of the Palmerston North Boys’ High School, which was held in the Opera Mouse last evening- Mr .f. A. Nash, M.P., chairman of the High Schools’ Board of Governors, presided while there were also present members of the Board and a fair gathering’ of the public as well a-s students of the school, old boys and parents. During the evening - an address was delivered by Dr. A. B. Filt. Professor of Education, Auckland University College.

In Ids opening remarks, the chairman congratulated those responsible for the rapid growth of Hie school during the past few years. .11 was but a short while ago that secondary education had been commenced in Palmerston North, but 11 had been found that the accommodation was at the present lime nol 'sufficient. The policy of the school had been to teucit courses which suited the average boy —to lit. him for various walks of life, and above all, to turn him out a good citizen. Character building was. a feature .in the,tuition at the school, and lire speaker recalled that a great deal of credit for a, high moral lone at the. institution had been due (o the late rector (Mr Vernon.) Ho commended tii'c establishment of the Parents’ Association, and wished that (he full support of the people would be accorded it. Prior (o reading his annual report, (he rector congratulated the High School cricket eleven, captained by Clallieha.n, which had defeated Napier assuring litem that, the school was proud of their performance. The Board of Governors was accorded the thanks of the parents, pupils and staff, on the motion of Mr K. A. Fuller. The Year at School. In his annual report, the rector (Mr John Murray .M.A.), stated that the nominal roll for the year reached 321, the average roll being 311, and the average attendance 2S(>. The numbers taking the five courses of the curriculum were: Professional GO; commercial f>S; general 131; short general 4; agricultural 43. In the various Public Examinations for 1323 the results were as follows: Passed wi(h Credit: University scholarship 3, /University terms 1 higher leaving certificates 0, Teachers D certificate group I. C, matriculation etc., 32, accountants’ preliminary 2, Senior national scholarship 2, junior national scholarship 2,Public Service entrance 8, senior free places 70, junior free places 2. In the important branch of outdoor activities, the various sports of the School —foolbal\ hoqkoyf, cricket, tennis and swimming had continued (o bo carefully graded and supervised, giving all boys an opportunity of benefiting from participation in them. In (bis connection the school was much indebted t.oth G Borough Council and the A. and P. Association for the nsc of extra playing areas, when the 300 boys of the School were simultaneously taking part in their weekly contests.

The first fifteen —the All-Whites of t h, : . School —although not equalling the record of some years in actual matches won. had enjoyed a very fair measure of success.

The work of the cadet companies had been directly under the charge of Captain Thompson and Lieutenants Kerr and Skoglund. The company's success in the year’s shooting, in addition to many individual honours, included the winning of the Goldingharn Cup, for the teams championship, and of the Toxward championship cup and gold medal, and the silver modal for runner-up in thro cadet championship matches. Class-room and intcr.club debating bad again been made -a feature as part of the English programme of the School, and in the annual contest with Napier High School the Palmerston North representatives added another win to an unbroken succession oi victories.

Passing mention was made of two other activities—the field Club organised by Messrs Siison and Werry and (he orchestra, under the baton of Mr Werry.

The Parents’ Association hold a second and very successful reunion in July and had now a duly constituted membership and a number subscribing donations to the funds of the School.

“Present economic conditions,” the report concluded, “render it increasingly difficult to give a boy a University education, and this in particular refers to a town such as our own. which is not a University centre. But (he expense may be considerably h s. sound if a boy remains in the sixth form, presenting himself for University terms and a section of his degree as an extra-mural student. This not only reduces the cost of his University course, but also ensures a good start for him at the University. It enables boys to be kept under home influence for another year, and with more mature minds to receive greater benefits whtm they actually enter the University. The school has in the past obtained excellent results with its terms students and parents may well consider the advantages of the facilities provided for their boys in this respect. In any case, whether a boy is going for commerce, agriculture or the professions at least a year in the sixth form, will prove of great value in his futur e life, making him a more efficient man and potentially a more valuable citizen.” Rewards of Effort. The prizes were presented by Or. Fitt, as under:— Dux of School. —D. Scott. Form VI.; Aggregate. D. Scott 1. E. Pasley 3, R. Deidorich 3; Latin, K. Westmoreland; French, IC. Collinson; Accountancy (Mr Cooper’s special prize)' It. Haddon. Form Va. —Aggregate, G. Crossley 1, A. Dawick 2, J. Somerville 3; French and Latin, K. Holller; book-