ANNUAL PRIZEGIVING

Northern Advocate, 13 December 1928, Page 3

ANNUAL PRIZEGIVING

WHANGAREI HIGH SCHOOL

GOOD WORK DURING YEAR.

The culmination of the year’s work in the presentation of prizes is an important feature of any school’s activities, and last evening the occasion ot the annual prize giving of the Whangarei High School was marked with due enthusiasm and impressiveness on the- part of all present. The wisdom ■of following the practice adopted last year of using the Town Hall for the purpose was confirmed in the very large gathering of parents and friends, who, with pupils of the .school, packed the 'building to the doors. In fact many late coiners were disappointed. The chair was occupied by the chairman of the Board of Governors, Mr W,. A. Carruth, and with him on the stage were Messrs F. Higginson, H. C. Rishworth, H, W, Crawford, members of the board; H, G. Oarruth, representing the Old Pupils’ Association, Mr A. B. Charters, principal andi several members of the teaching staff. Applause greeted Mr Carruth when he pose to speak. Another, year, he said, had come round and it did not seem very long since' the last presentation of prizes. He was very pleased to see such a big audience. The prizegiving was a very important event in the school’s history, looked forward to by parents and children with curiosity and pleasure, the latter feeling being shared especially to those who were securing awards. To those who were not among that number he wished to extend a word of encouragement. In these competitive days it was not always the best who got to the top in examinations. A number of disabilities .combined to make this so, chief among them nervousness. Because they were not on the prize list, they had no need to bo despondent. Mr Carruth then narrated some of the vicissitudes the school had gone through during the year, notably the frequent staff changes, which were disconcerting to the Board and the headmaster, upsetting the order of things, and interfering with the smooth running of the institution. Some of the improvements that had been made to the school buildings and grounds during the year were also enumerated! by Mr Carruth. The Board in its efforts to secure heating, for the new school, and other vitally necessary improvements, had been invariably met with the reply “The matter is under consideration,” and nothing further was done, An example of this was the manual and technical school, which having proved a white elephant l to ’ the Education Board, had been handed on to the High School Governors. The Department had agreed to its removal to the High School ground, but the building was inadequate for modern needs. Room, hot stylishness, was required, and hO was sorry that the shifting had not been completed during Jus term.

After making reference to 'his resignation of the chairmanship, Mr Carruth concluded by expressing the hope that those pupils who returned next year, should come back after the holidays with renewed vigour, and that those who were going out to pluekily tight the battle of life would creditably uphold the honour of theif school.

The Principal gave a short resume of the school’s activities during the year, which from an .examination point of view had been better than over. Despite unadvised criticism the school had a fine scholastic record as was shown in the matriculation results. Persistently thh Whahgarei High School secured - an average of 60 pet cent, passes and yet the average for the whole of the Dominion last yeat was only 18 per cent. When a school maintained a record like this there was nothing wrong with it, not that he asked anyone to judge a school by its matriculation results only. Despite advice to the contrary many pupils insisted on becoming candidates before they were fully prepared for the exam, and thus lowered the numbers for the school. Also in examinations there were many things to 'be considered, and many brilliant scholars failed oh account of nervousness or other unpremeditated causes. No system of examination had yet been discovered which ensured that the candidate who' deserved to pass did pass. The Whailgarei High School seemed to be most unlucky in frequent staff alteration. When it was considered that during the present year there had been a Complete change in. the personnel among t the lady members, the position could be more readily realised. With the close of the present year two more of the staff wore leaving, one to get married, ami the other to take up a much better position. (Laughter).

Mr Charters reminded those present that at the similar function last year he had stated that the School curriculum was being enriched. Vocal music and art had been introduced during the year, both with excellent results. The School also had a part time instructor in metal work, and he hoped to see this service extended. Boys were not forced to take up metal work because they were too dull to learn languages, but because they were happier working with their hands, and were more suited for it.

The # next aspect dealt with by Mr Charters, was the disappointing number who on finishing the Junior High School last year, had continued at the senior school. Out of 176 proficiency holders onlv 104 came forward. He at-

tributed this to the slump period but when the Director came round, and was informed of the position, lie said that Whangarei was differently situated from most of the schools, where the distressing times had caused parents to keep their children at school, rather than let them walk the streets without work. To his own personal experience a number of parents in Whangarei had preferred to let their children seek unsuccessfully for work, while holding proficiencies, instead of allowing them to continue at High School until positions were found. Some parents on being approached said they had withdrawn their children as the cost of books was too high. Actually the Whangarei High School, through a local firm, imported its stocks cheaper than any other school in New Zealand, the total cost of supplies for a third, former being 18/(5 or about 0/ second hand. To further disabuse this excuse the Board of Governors had circularised parents that if any could not afford books for their children the Board, under the utmost secrecy, would procure the sup-

ply. Only one parent took advantage of this offer.

At the 'adolescent age children were quick to learn and equally quick to forget so that directly they left the school they slipped back. This was partly checked if evening classes were attended, but only half of the 72 who had left after gaining proficiencies, had joined up with these. After several lessons these discontinued attending, without, in the 'majority of eases, having notified their teachers. The discourtesy on the part of some parents was also marked in the senior school, where at least a dozen names of pupils remained on the roll, as no wore! had been received from parents although their children had been absent in 'some eases for as long as six months.

Mr Charters then touched upon the difficulty of finding suitable avenues of erhployment for boys leaving school, and assured any parents requiring it that he would be quite prepared to give his advice on such matters. The list of prize-winners is as follows:—

LOWER SCHOOL. For.ni TO.—Girls: Gwe.nyth Hoey; Proximo Accessit; Elsie Thorpe. Boys: Charles Bell; Proximo Accessit: G. Shiarman. Form IB.—Girls: Jessie Bhankland'; Proximo Acecssit; Mavis Lewis. Boy,:: Alexander .Main; Proximo Aecesjsit:

Philip Prior. Form IA, —Girls: Francis Mary Nicholson; Proximo Accessit: Catherine McRae. {Boys: David John Logan; Proxime Accessit: Brenton Cleverley. Form II Modern. —.Girls: Joan Shepherd; Proximo Accessit: Eva Greig. Boys: Hugh Gillxgan; Proximo Aecessit: Cyril 'Clarke. ’ • Form II C.—Girls: June Foote; Proximo Accessit: Valarie Wiles. Boys: Sydney Robert Bell; Proximo Accessit; Robert Hillton. Form II 8.-r-Girls: Leslie Foote; Proxime Accessit: Gladys Shandlcy. Boys: Edgar Simons; Proxime Aecxssit: Cecil 'Graham. Form II A.. —Girls: Pearl Larson; Proxime Accessit; Betty Jack. Boys: Dewar McCormack; Proximo • Access!!: Colin Jackman. WOODWORK. Special prizes donated by Mr Solomon: — Form I. —Ist Prize, Laurence Parkes; progressive- prize, Wilfred Robinson. Form. 11.- —Ist Prize, Reginald Shaw; progressive prize, Jack Symons.

COOKERY. Special prizes donated by Mr Rishworth:— Form I.—Catherine .Mcßae; Proximo Access it, Gwen. Hoey. Form IT. —Lesfiie Foote; Proximo Aeces'sit, Aileen Price. DRAWING. Special prizes donated by Mr Rishworth:— Girls. Kathleen Allen. Boys. Dewar McCormack. UPPER SCHOOL.

Form Hi B. —Boys: English, French. —Lewis Le Yaillaait; Prox. R. Kirkwood. Maths .and Science.—;Cecil Steers; Prox. Harry Roberts. Girls: English and French.; —■Edith Jones; Prox. J, Johnson, Maths and Laeucc. —Betty Baines; Prox, M. Gillingham.

Form 111 A. —Boys : English ait 1 French. —J. E. Hill; Prox. ian Donal sob. Maths and Science. —A. Harlo-., Pr,ox. J, E. Hill. Girls: . -English an: French. —tAlice Hirst; Prox. Queevn.e Henry. Maths and Science. —Chloris Yates; Prox, Joan Clarke. Form IV. Special.—English nod French.—Enid Brown, D, Lee lure; Prox. G. Keene. Maths and Science.--Enid Brown; Prox. Peter Reynolds. Form IV B.—. Boys: English and French. —?M. Jones; Prox.' A. Logart. ■Maths and Science.—B. Gordon; Pro.t. M. Jones. Girls: English and French. Gwenyth Bell; Pirox. Muriel Rossiter. Maths and 1 Science. —Qwenyth Bell; Prox. Doreen Blumihardt. ■

Form IV A—English and French.— Clifford 'Griffiths; Prox. Gordon Harnett. Maths -and Science-.—-JOliffortl Griffiths; Prox. Gordon Smith. Form V B. —English and French.--Vera. Courtney; Prox. Victor Barker. Maths and Science.—Vera, Courtney; Prox. Annie Smedley.

norm V A. —Boys,: English and French. —E. H. Garion, J. G. Wrighv,! equal. Maths and Science. —R. M. Barge; Prox. M. Fairach. Girls: (English arid French.—Gwen Gager, Rita Griffiths, equal. ' Maths -and Science.— Rita Griffiths. , Form Vl L.—" Languages: Basil Wakelin. Matihs and Science. —Ellen Draper. Forrii VI IT—Languages.—H. Brainsby. ( Maths and Science. —(Sec Luptoh prizes). Dux. —A. Dirties; Form YI U. COMMERCIAL WORK. Form ill.—Beys: lan Donaldson; Prox. Albert Fergus. Girls: Eileen Wilute 1 ; Prox. Gwen Gillingham. Form IV— Boys: Kenneth King; Prox. C. Carr. Girls: Phyllis Wharfe; Prox. Grifee Boswell. ' LATIN. Form V.—J. N. Otway;. Prox. W. Edwards. . Form IV.—Clifford Griffiths; Prox. Eric Marin, Form IV: Special.. — Enid Brown; Prox. Ruby Leeky. Form lll.—Queenie Henry; Prox, Alice Hirst. SPECIAL PRIZES. WOODWORK. Presented by Mr Benjamin.—Warwick Parkes; 111.8. Presented .by Mr Scilioriion for progress.—Warwick Parkes. Proxime Accesslt,: Chiaries Lewis.

1 ‘Roger Lupton” Prize -for mathematics.—A. Bkties; Form Vl.' U. e‘ ' Grace Lupton” Prize for Home Science.' —-Alice Reid,

Mr Magnus Fraser’s Special. Prizes for best all-round boy or girl in- class.--Fotrm lift A—Boys; Albert, Fergus. Girls: Marjorie Po,well.

Form IY. iS. — Ruby Lecky. ■. Form IV. A.—. Boys: Clifford ' Grif- ’• fiths. Girl's: Seftwyn Wiggins. ■ Form V. A.—Boys: R. M. Barge.' Girls: Rita Griffiths. Borough Council’s Special Prizes.— Form VI. L.—Boys: , Peter Lane. Girls: Grace Wiggins, Form V. A.—Boys: Keith Edge. Girls: Doris Hawken. Form IV. A.—Boys: 'Clarence Mid- 1 dleiton. Girls: Maud Hawken. Mrs Armstrong’a Prize for leadership, etc., amongst giirls.—Vita Kelly. Mrs Brigg’s Prize for prepared- and impromptu • speeches.—Jean Reid 1; Qneeiiie Henry 2; Joy Johnson 3. SHOOTING PRIZE'S. Lady God-ley Cup.—Cadet B. Yates. Bain Shield.—Corporal E. Bird. Goring Shield. —Sergt.-Mhjor L. Mur-, ray.' , McKinnon Shield. —Cadet M. Worsp. ' Wilkinson Cup for interhouse competition.—(Hawked House; A. / Eirtles, Captain. • ,-/> , ' STEEPLECHASE PRIZES. Senior Champion (Woolley Cup and, Old Pupils’ Miniature). —W. Mullins i; E. Bird 2 (Bronze medial). , ; ’ Junior Champion. —A* Rush 1, (also won handicap cup); ,N. Hollows 2. Winner on Handicap.—Senior: T„ Beatson 1; -N. Willson 2.- ‘ ' , 4 Junior.:—A. Rush 1; J. 'McKenzie 2, - Cup for Junior 7-aside Rugby. —L, - Murray. 1 Bat given by Dr Hoeken for mo si '. improved school cricketer. A. B. : Campbell. ■’ Fisher Medial, for most improved player of Wiharigarei. Cricket Association. —John Buiieh, ■ ■