HIGH SCHOOL BREAK-UP

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 7098, 21 December 1929, Page 8

HIGH SCHOOL BREAK-UP

AN OLD BOY’S CRITICISM. To the Editor. Sir, —May I make use of your columns to mako public a matter which has caused me some concernf

As an Old Boy of Palmerston North High School I went to some inconvenience the other night to attend the school break-up, principally because ox the school’s Moascar Cup success this year. For several reasons I was intensely disappointed. Firstly, the Moascar, to mo the principal attraction of the evening, was not mentioned except for two casual references by the speakers. Now, I think to most old boys and people interested in the school, the possession of the Moascar Cup represents the culmination of many years of striving. At at least on three occasions the school fifteen has had the hardest of hard luck in not gaining the trophy. The dissatisfaction caused by the Christchurch and New Plymouth games with the famous 1920 and 1923 teams has long rankled in the minds of school supporters and the defeat of the 1927 fifteen by To Aute after its previous victory only made tho position more tantalising. Thus the 1929 achievement has been hailed everywhere, especially among old boys, with exclamations of “At last!” and it is with very proud feelings that we think of it. I remember one prize giving some few years ago when the old boy representative, Mr Doug. Vernon, said he was looking forward to the ceremony when the great New Zealand secondary school football trophy would be among the eups on the platform. Had he been present on Wednesday night, the occasion he predicted, i think he would have been very disappointed, as many of us were, in the -scant respect shown to this cup. Secondly, the last break-up for the third time was a mixed affair. It was the girls’ school break-up as well as the boys’ and consequently I think the Board of Governors should know it vary much resembled a primary school function or ait the best a district high school. Palmerston North is one of the leading schools of the Dominion. Although, perhaps numerically inferior to such schools as Auckland Grammar, Wellington College and Christchurch High School it is superior scholastically, athletically and school-spiritedly to any other such institution in New Zealand and I submit I am completely justified in making public my resentment at this lowering of the school’s status. No other school of tho same size is subjected to the same humiliation and should the conversation turn to break-ups with an old boy of another school in fu'.ure I shall foel my school is inferior —a very unpleasant feeling I can assure you. I do not know what the objection is to separate functions. If it is expense, I think rather than continue with the combined ceremonies tho Old Boys ’ Association would make a contribution. If it is a matter of inability of the Board of Governors to attend more than one affair it is time the present control of the three post primary institutions was scrapped and a separate board instituted for each school. I am not quarrelling with the Girls’ High School. Indeed if they -have any school spirit they will take the same attitude as I do. I think those who arc especially interested in one of the schools will heartily agree with me that we want our breakups to ourselves so that we can feel that the whole function is in honour of our school and not merely half of it. It is details such ao this which greatly effect school morale.

Thirdly, there was the matter of singing. The girls’ and the boys’ choir both gave items which for their vocal value wore very fine, but might I suggest that at a breakup singing by the whole school would bo more appropriate and that this singing should consist of such songs as “Gaudeamus Zitur’’ and “Forty Years On.’’ It is a matter of regret to me that Palmerston North Boys’ High Schol not a special song of its own and I hope that soon it will have one, for school singing is a big factor in establishing school spirit. An attempt was made to sing “Gaudeamus” on Wednesday night, but the boys did not appear to be familiar with the w r ords. AlsA, surely during the singing of the worldfamous student classic, aLI the staff might be expected to stand. Lastly, I suppose it is expecting too much to ask for a uniformity in the dress of the boys (such as everyone wearing collar and tie and no open neck shirts, but I certainly think it is an ideal to be aimed at. I do not make these objections, sir, from any desire to find fault but rather because I am genuinely concerned with school activities and I honestly think the last break-up was far from being worthy of the school iu whose honour it was held. By making this matter public the opinion of at least one old boy (possible more) will be made known and perhaps those responsible may consider altering the conditions for next year.—l am, etc., AN OLD BOY.