PRIZE GIVING

Northern Advocate, 20 December 1919, Page 3

PRIZE GIVING

WHANGAREI HIGH SCHOOL

FUNCTION

On Thursday afternoon a very fair attendance of people assembled at the Hostel Recreation Room for the annual prize giving among the

visitors being the Mayor and Mayor-

ess, Mr and Mrs Dent, Mr W. Jones, Whangarei County chairman, the

Revs. Cruickshank, Lochore and Whalley, Mr F. Steele, member of the Whangarei Hospital Board Mr Sargent, , memlber of Whangarei School Committee, Mr Clarke, member of the Whareora Road Board, Mr Killen ex-chairman of the High School Board, and Mrs Killen, besides a large number of old pupils and visi tors.

Mr Carruth, chairman of the board, presided and with him were associated several members of the board. In opening the the chairman welcomed the visitors and stated that they had now come to a very important occasion in the year.; events—the breaking up of the school. He would first Call upon Mr Lupton, principal of the school, to read his report.

The principal's report was a s fol lows:—

The chairman, Board of Governors, Whangarei High School.—l have much pleasure in presenting my report of matters connected with the school.

The last function of prize-giving took place towards the end of the year 1917—a time of national stress and turmoil now happily ended. The past year has enabled us to get back to the routine and activities of school life. We were especially glad to welcome to the school again Mr H. E. G. Smith, our senior assistant. Needless to say ,Mr Smith who had been away at camp for the whole year, very soon settled down to the duties of his position: dutie s which he has always fulfilled so energetically and so efficiently.

Last year the school was closed early in November owing to the epidemic of influenza which devastated the country. Our work suffered of but I am very thankful to say that all members of the school who were stricken with the disease rcovered, and there are no gaps from that cause to be filled.

. Rolk —The roll - for 1919 shows 179 pupils, 101 boys and 78 girls. Of these 162 pupils held Government Free Places. It will be noticed that the relative number of boys and girls this year are unusual. In the past the number of girl s attending the school approximated to the number of the boys. The boys' hostel has been fully taken advantage of by pupils living in the remoter country districts. The hostel has been full every term.

Staff.—The staff has been fully maintained during the year. On the return of Mr Smith, Miss Aslin, a temporary teacher, left us. At the end of this year we are losing the services of Mr Shimmin, who has accepted an appointment elsewhere, and Mr Quinn, who ha s leave of ab senee for a year. It is quite in place here to record my thanks and grateful appreciation of the services of both gentlmen. Mr Shimmin and Mr Quinn have carried out the duties allotted to them with energy and enthusiasm f and I know with considerable success.

Sports.—The members of the staff resuscitated the school athletic sports during our first term. Parentg and {friends generously provided funds for a prize list, and the sports proved a great success. In future a sports gathering will be an annual event of the school life. A boxing tournament was held on Tuesday of this week for the members of the boxing class. I trust this will become an annual event. Mr Palmer, who has a wide reputation as an instructor of boxing, was in charge of the class and has expressed his satisfaction with the progress the members of the class have made. The school has not yet obtained a swimming bath. It has not been lost sight of. In view of possible future developments in connection with obtaining separate school buildings for boy s and girls, I have thought it best to leave, the matter of the school swimming bath open. We shall continue to use Mair' s swimming pool and the creek near the school grounds. Swimming is of such vital importance to girls a s well as boys that I feel I can confidently appeal to our numerous friends to assist later in obtaining a school swimming bath, where swimming may be enjoyed and be taught to the large number of girls who reach school by train or ride from a distance.

School Buildings.—Some ten years ago I stressed at every opportunity the importance of adding to the school a hostel for boys. Now I stress with equal insistence the necessity of increasing the accommodation at the Boys' hostel and of es. tablishing a hostel for girls and what is of more importance to take at once the preliminary steps for separate schools for boys and girls. It is indeed gratifying to know that the members of your board are unanimous in regard to the spirit of this movement. The tentative scheme for adequately caterng for the welfare of future generations of North Auckland boy s and girls may appear ambitious and almost impossible to carry out. The history of the development of the school has shown equal difficulties in the matter of the acquirement of land and erection of buildings for school purposes. The member s of your board were not faint-hearted and actualities resulted from their efforts and so in connection with the contemplated expansion I am of opinion the difficulties may be overcome. With the press and the people of Whangarei and surrounding districts behind you both fully realising the fact that a well-equipped school i s an essential feature for the welfare of the community and that the future of the Whangarei High School as a useful institution lies largely in their hands. I feel assured your board will overcome successfully the difficulties confronting them.

During the term the former pupils of the school met and established an

association of old boys and girls. It is to be hoped that all former pupils will rally together and make the association strong and influential. Such an institution may be of untold value to education in general and the school in particular. With the help of the association I can look forward to the establishment next year of a school magazine.

As to what the school has been doing I may now offer a few remarks concerning the parents of pupils and the work of the school as looked at from my point of view.

[ Again I emphasise that I seek the co-operation of parents in the training of their children, and if I have any word of warning to give to parents it i s to beware of allowing ex cesses in clothing and personal belongings in bringing up of their boy s and girls. We shall not build characters by over-indulgence; let us rather specialise in training our children to self-effort, concentration of purpose, and perseverance > to consideration and forbearance for others and to self-control.

| Boys and girls leaving school are at the beginning of life, and partly to the school, and partly to the home is the responsibility that the foundations of that life should be rightly and truly established. They should leave schopl strong physically and strong intellectually, they should be efficient—and to be efficient in whatevery walk of life they are called up on to take requires purpose and self, control. Correct habits of life are so essential to young people but are so often put aside in favour of drift and looking for a good time as one of the chief objects of life. By all means, let them seek and persevere to attain a cheerful, positive attitude to life for, by so doing, they will largely eliminate the disagreeable.

i Generally may I add as I have often stated before that the value of a school lies, not so much in the distinctions, scholastic or othewise it has won by means of a few of its scholars, but ,by the work achieved by the majority and the influence its pupils have in making better citizens. I can wish for no better credit than that which appertains to a very large number of country schools, often in remote dUstridfcs of Scotland which have won a reputation for laying the foundations of scholarship and developing the qualities of industry and perseverance and good citizenship in Itheir pupils which mark them all over the world. The ideal in regard to the work of the school is to so arrange a syllabus which will serve the average pupil, and give opportunities for those of superior ability to carry on their studies for future university work. And this we claim to give. I appeal to parents to help u s make our school work a powerful influence in training their children to be selfreliant and steadfast in grappling difficulties. I want them to insist on regularity in the matter of homework, to allot a time for such work and to encourage their cihldren to meet and overcome difficulties by their own effort.

In conclusion I wish to expres s my appreciation of the efforts of an exceedingly loyal staff. One and all of the ladies and gentlemen associated with me in carrying out our responsible duties have given of their best and spared neither time nor trouble in working for the benefit of the school.

The principal's report was greeted with applause.

The chairman congratulated the school on the excellent report given by the principal. It was, h e said, encouraging for the governors to go on working for the betterment of the insitution, when they knew that the staff were working so assiduously and enthusiastically, and parents were taking such a keen interest in its welfare. Speaking of the recreation j hall which had recently been opened, he believed the school would find it very handy and serviceable. For years the board had had' difficulties to contend against. Now they not only had this recreation hall free, but the school buildings and the ! grounds also, thanks to the public and the assistance given by the Government. However, they could not sit still. Greater efforts would have to be made to meet the requirements of the pupils. The buildings were now full, and he believed that next year they would have to provide accommodation for a large increase. If such were the case it would show that the school was gaining in popularity. He was told quite recently that in some parts of th e north it was not known that they had a school here. Now, however, the good work done at the hostel by the housemaster and the matron would have a telling effect, and it was anticipated that next year they would require an assistant house master. The board were also contemplating great changes in the near future. The idea was to hand over the present building and grounds to the girls > and provide another site for the boys. This was a big movement, but it had to be faced. In this connection he was glad to see that an Old Pupils' Association had been formed at the school. Such an association would be most helpful to the governing body in the carrying out of a big scheme.

In view of J.he contemplated change he thought it wise to defer the consideration of the erection of a new school building, or even to adding to the present one. The principle of the separation having been established, when it does take place they would build for permanency. He felt that it was only reasonable that the people of the north should expect them to provide proper accommodation for their children.

He would like now to say a few words to the boys and girls of the present time, He felt that generally they were inclined to be extravagant, especially in dress. During the war period everything was considered on a big scale, and economy, to an extent was neglected. Now that the war was over he thought they should give more attention to economy, and

boys and girls should help their parents in this matter. He deprecated for instance the common desire to emulate others in the matter of fine clothing. Unfortunately this was an age when everyone was endeavouring to get the best and, richest of clothing. In the days of his boyhood it was thought no disgrace to wear plain clothes.

Others, again, wanted fine houses. This was alright, providing they had the money to pay for them, but it was a great mistake to gio in for things they could not afford. He would like to congratulate the staff upon the excellent progress the school had made. H e also wished to congratulate the housemaster and matron for the fine manner in which the house had been managed. He believed there was ar> excellent spirit at the hostel. In fact he understood that some of the boys would rather live there than at home. Prizes wejre then distributed as follows:— Form Vl—Languages: Mora McLean. Mathematics: D'Arcy Haskell. Commercial Work: Marjorie Reed.

Form VA.—English: Fred Macken. French: Mary MacLeod. Mathematics: O. Doel. Science: Fred Macken.

Form VB.—English: Victor Macken. French: Douglas Stewart. Mathematics: Roy Lovatt. Science: John Nesfield.

Form IV.G.—English and French: Katie McGeahan. Mathematics: Katie McGeahan. Science: Amy Crisp. Form IV.B.—English and French: Gordon Dent. Mathematics: Alfred Dunn. Science: Arthur Sargent. Form 111 A.—English and French: Ena Steele. Mathematics: O. Bauman. Science: Home Science: Norma Moore. Agriculture: O. Bauman. Form lllG.—English and French: Violet Williams. Mathematics: Violet Williams. Science: Violet Williams. Form lllß—English and French: Murdoch Mcßae. Mathematics: Alex. Clarke. Science: T. Rockel. Latin.—Form V.: Mary MacLeod. Form IV.: Gordon Dent. Form III.: Ena Steele. Bookkeeping and Commercial Correspondence.—Form IV. Girls: Eva Devlin. Form IV. Boys: Alfred Dunn. Form 111. Girls, Rene Weaver Form 111. Boys: Murdoch Mcßae. Mr R. Menzie' s Priz e for best footbailey i.e., player of most general assistance to his club: Arthur Lamb. Mr Carruth, the chairman, referred to the boxing class as being a splendid thing for the boys. He was glad that they had such a capable instructor in Mr Palmer, and very pleased that so many boy's were taking it up. Boxing was a very fine training indeed, for boys especially, as it taught them the great lesson of "keeping their temper." While he congratulated the various prize winners of that afternoon he urged the others not to be discouraged. In many cases there may have been only a point or two of difference between the winners and the runners-up. Then for those at the bottom, he reminded them that often in the battle of life the boys who were at the bottom at school pften worked themselves up to positions of importance in life. He urged all to work with earnestness and sincerity while they worked, and to play with equal keenness while at play. He was glad to see that many of the prize-winners in scholastic attainment were also prize winners in athletics. This was what he wanted the boys to be, good all-round men. He then trusted that all would have a , happy holiday, and wished them a Merry Xmas.

The Rev. G. C. Cruickshank being called upon by the chairman to speak, referred to th e Board of Governors as being,in a measure in "loca parentis" to the school. Few people had any conception of the work the board did, and especially of the devotion to th e cause of the school of the chairman Mr Carruth. "If the board

are fathers," said he, "Mr Carruth is the grandfather" (laughter).

The school was now passing through a most crucial stage. It was advancing from the state of childhood to that of adult, and it required most careful guidance.

The end of this year had been reached, and the time for leaving by some of the old pupids was at hand. The motto of the school, "Fideliter," had a great significance, and just as the governanc e of the school depended upon the best ability of the governors, so the fulfilling of the motto of the school depended upon the pupils, and would be effected for good or for bad by th e type of companions they kept and the manner in which they conducted themselves.

"Let boys be boys, and let girls be girls," said he. He did not like the masculine girl of effeminate boy. Each sex had its own natural characterists.

He did not want to see boys and girls apeing fops. There were, too many in this town already, and he charged his hearers not to allow themselves to be added to this already too long list. "If a boy is going to be a farmer," said Mr Cruickshank, "let him be a farmer and a good one, and the same applied to boys and girls who took up" other callings. One of the great lessons of the school was the observance, throughout life of their fin e motto, "Fileliter." This brought the splendid function to a close, and the girls of the school dispensed afternoon tea to the visitors.