Song and Story After the Feast

Manawatu Times, Volume 59, Issue 271, 19 November 1934, Page 8

Song and Story After the Feast

JUBILEE BANQUET IS BRILLIANT FUNCTION. Tho jubilee banquet ou Saturday evening was a brilliantly successful function, several hundreds gathering in the Rosco tearooms. Again the gathering was fully representative of all years since the school began. Mr W. B. Tennent presided, and the spacious hall was taxed to capacity. It was a merry night—a night when some of the young lads —with a thick growth adorning the upper lip—might come forth in their true colours. And what boys they wcrel Mr Tennent said it gave him joy to see so mauy present. A noticeable feature during the afternoon had been the youth of the first pupils. Also notable was the patience with which the crowd had withstood the broiling sun and the long speeches. Mr J. A. Nash, M.P., said that for the pupils to foregather thus and exchange reminiscences was a rare experience. One had travelled as far as 400 mile to attend.

“In entrusting mo with the toast of •'The School',” said Mr Nash, “I feel that you have done mo a great honour. Wo have at this banquet men and women who were educated in the Terrace End school, and it is good to know that they are able to foregather and talk over the old schooldays. They have come fro-m far and near, and we are delighted to seo them. I know they realise all they owe to those who imparted education to them many years ago. One of the pleasant features about the gathering is tho fact that Mr Fairbrother, after 30 years’ servie'e, is here with us, participating in this function. Another I could mention is Miss O’Donnell, who has a record of 32 years, and our present headmaster, Mr A. W. Thompson, 16 years. This is surely something to be proud of. Miss J. Chapman also has a record of 26 years at the school.

Brilliant Teachers. “Lord Macaulay, in referring to common schoolmasters, spoke of them as 'discarded footmen and retired pedlars.’ English literature is full of terms of contempt for the humble pedagogue. Nothing of the kind can ever have been said of New Zealand teachers. The New Zealand teachers are a fine body of men and women and always highly respected in the community. We are prono to forget the great work done for our children by the teachers. They assume great responsibilities in laying out the groundwork and preparing the child for the future, and it is remarkable what a wonderful influence the personality of tho teacher has-—not only upon the character of his pupils, but on the environment of the school, and we know that elementary education lies at the foundation of our wliolo system and the schools set themselves to do no less than impart the elements of culture. They rely now upon English as a written language and a spoken tongue, and on the cultivation and training of the voice, hand and the eye. We can all remember the injunctions of our teachers, who devote their lives for the children.

Their Crown Of Glory. The school has tradition laid down in the early days by Mrs Fcnn, Messrs Nyo, Guthrie, Blaremberg, Fairbrother, and the present headmaster, Mr Thompson. Many of the scholars gave their lives in tho cause of freedom in the Great War, that we might live, and died crowned with glory. Others have plaj’ed their part as citizens of our country, giving service to tho community. Few, if any, have fallen by the way, and so those of the earlier days assembled here can look back with pride and joy on the days they spent in Terrace End school. While tho present pupils are being brought up in a totally different atmosphere, so much has been done by the school committees in the environment of the school, and tho advantages given in educational matters are such that the child of to-day looks forward to the hours spent at the school,” said Mr Nash.

Constant Co-operation. Replying on behalf of the school, Mr Thompson thanked all for their enthusiastic honouring of the toast. After 50 years the school was in a very healthy position. Its success was due to one thing—co-operation. In the first place, the teachers could not succeed without the co-operation of tho school committees. In its teaching staffs the school had been singularly fortunate; parents, and the ladies in particular, had given the school wonderful support. Thanks to tho efforts of all,’ they were able on this occasion to stand justly proud of the school. For years, too, Terrace End school had been blessed by a “good tone,” aDd this made for better achievement. . Forth To Serve. The motto of the school was: “Enter to learn,” Surveying the gathering before him, said Mr. Thompson, he felt confident that the second half of the saying was also being observed. It was: “Go forth to serve.” Serving Many Masters. Proposing tho toast of cx-pupils, Mr W. B. Cameron said that during his term of office on the committee ho had always aopreciated the \ceremony,

whereat the proficiency certificates were awarded. While sorry to part with its pupils, Terrace End always had been confident that its .pupils were of a fine type. Judged by the product, the school had a proud record. Mr. Cameron instanced many ex-pupils who had risen to eminence in New Zealand and elsewhere. The record of the school was indeed a worthy one. Pride in one’s school was a fine attribute, and on this occasion the committee gladly joined with ox-pupils in their rejoicings.No school had a better ladies’ committee than Terrace End, said Mr. Tennent at this stage. Replies were made on behalf of the five decades since tho school was opened. The Joy of tho Circus.

1884-1894: Mr. Manuel Anderson. Air. Anderson’s reminiscences were a gay miscellany of supplejacks, educational doctrines applied at the wrong end, and frogponds. Circuses also had their vogue in his day, and Terrace End scholars (among others) mado up for a lack of pennies by seeking faults in tho tent-pegging. But circus advertising was not all that it might have been; the circus proprietary used a parading brass band to make known the virtues of the show. And one day the circus broke loose in the Square, and the amateur rodeo hands made the town alive with lassoes. Air Andersen and company oven resorted at times to “borrowing” a few apples. One day they went through tho hedge to find that a welcome awaited them. “Where aro you going?”; “Back again?” But times had changed, said Mr. Andersen. That day he had been pleased to greet old pupils and seo the various shapes they had taken!

Premium Ou Beefsteak. 1894-1904: Mr. Geoff. Tremaine. The history of the school had been well threshed out, but ono impression had been given wrongly. Tho teachers were held up as paragons who said “That’s wrong; don’t do it again.” Mr Tremaine’s recollection was: “Is that you, you rascal? Come to the office.” Mr Tremaine recalled also the pits, which were often theatres of war, and beefsteak was sometimes at a premium. Mr Tremaine learned as one of his lessons tho art of robbing an orchard without being caught. Mr Tremaine also had circus memories. He saw a horse drop dead at sight of the elephants, “Quite true!” nodded the old brigade round the table. 1904-1914: Mr. Jack Bennett. Mr, Bennett had some kind words to say for tho organising committee and its secretary, Mr H. Blackwood, who had been a tireless worker. His decade honoured and respected those set in authority over them, and realised their debt to Mr Fairbrother and his band. The lessons had been moral as well as educational, and had endured into postschool life. Hundreds recalled with thanksgiving their days under Mr Fairbrother. Revisiting the school today, he had been astounded at tho progress made, and others had been full of admiration for the high quality of the present scholars’ work. To-day relations between pupils and teachers had also changed, and scholars were less difficult to control. Education had progressed miraculously in the last 35 years, and sympathetic understanding was doing the supplejack out of a job. Schoolchildren now ran to school —they were not driven.

1914-1924: Mr Bert Reynolds. This speaker also counted it a blessing to be present. Even since his departure the school had grown in every way. The experiences of the day had been rich ones, and gratitude was due to those who had made the arrangements. The school and those who taught, in it were such as to make all pupils proud. Pageant Of Loyal Service.

Ex-teachers and cx-committeemen were honoured at the call of Mr A. E. Mansford, who claimed an association with Terrace End both interesting and painful. It was there ho made his llrst public speech. The Mayor recalled the names of some of those who gave early service at the school, mentioning Mr Fairbrother as one whose term had been particularly long and fruitful. His retirement had ended a notable epoch. Many of the assistants had co-operated with their respective heads to make the name of the school respected by all.

Teachers of the future would have an even greater future. Vast possibilities of learning were now being opened, up. What greater tragedy was there than the one of boys and girls leaving their school without employment offering? Education of the future must be education for wealth. The committeemen, continued Mr. Mansford, had also rendered conspicuous services, and foremost among them w T as Mr J. A. Nash. Thanks largely to them, the school had grounds of which any school might be proud. Pitiful Experiences. Rising to reply, Mr Fairbrother was welcomed tumultuously. After seeing the ex-pupils and hearing their stories, he felt that his work had not done all the good it should have, said the speaker. Sometimes he had had a difficult task to perform in " straighten-ing-up' ’ his pupils. The scholars were far bigger than would be found in the modern primary school. Mr Fairbrother said that the experiences of the iirst teacher, Mrs Harvey, must have been

pitiful. How sho ever taught anything was a miracle, and her trials as a schoolma’am were partly responsible for her death. Mr Guthrie and Mr von Blaremburg also had severe trials to face. The first building—ill-lit, unfloored, and unheated during the winter —was a very rudimentary place. Most of tho teachers who served under him were loyal to the school. Many of the pupils had shown exceptional ability, and one might have held the highest post in the land, had he chosen. The scholars had shown intelligence equal to the best produced by the schools of the Empire. They had ben mostly wellbehaved; those who did not know were soon shown the way. Mr Fairbrother also made reference to the very valuable and willing assistance always rendered by members of the staff throughout his period of years, without which his services, though long, would not have resulted in the great success achieved. He mentioned his lifelong gratitude as well to all those very willing parents and friends who stood to the school in all its activities and helped to make its surroundings and interior more fittingly equipped for the proper training and education of the pupils. The most distinguished toast of all,” claimed Mr S. H. Snell in calling upon tho menfolk to honour the ladies whose intellect and ability had now finally disproved the epithet of ‘‘the inferior sex.” He asked old boys of Terrace End to toast the queens of other days.

What Bluff Can Do Representative of the committeemen, Mr G. H. Bennett also replied to the previous toast. The committees of former days had been fine bodies, serving long and loyally. Their final choice of teachers had proved its wisdom by results. Mr Bennett recalled the names of the valiant band who had served with him. Mr Bennett detailed the “bluff” used to secure new accommodation for the infants, who were at one time painfully overcrowded. The case was broadcast through the country and the Government took prompt action to remedy the deficiency. Palmerston North and district had been well served by the Education Board, of whom Mr Pirani had been a notable chairman. To-day, thanks to co-opcra-tion of committees and the board, the schoolgrounds in Palmerston North presented environs that were unrivalled in any town in New Zealand. Mr W. L. Macpherson responded for the ladies. lie reminded the gathering that none of the improvements effected at the school in recent years, and they had been many, would havo been possible but for the ladies, who consistently raised large sums to finance the good works of tho men. During the evening items wero contributed by several artists. Miss Joan Paton, a former pupil, contributed a 'cello solo, Miss Ferol Howley, another ex-pupil, played the violin, Mrs J. Davidson gave a vocal solo, Miss N. Whalley also sang, and Mr 11. Lyall contributed a solo. All were applauded generously for adding to the pleasure of the evening.