THE SCHOOL OF LIFE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19512, 16 December 1926, Page 14

THE SCHOOL OF LIFE.

I GIRLS AND THEIR FUTURES. ' GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S ADVICE. LESSONS FROM FAILURE. Some sound advice to girls about to leave school was given by the GovernorGeneral, Sir Charles Fergusson, in an address at the prize-giving ceremony of the Auckland Girls' Grammar School yesterday afternoon. Addressing those girls who had not gained prizes, His Excellency said that that was good discipline, because failure made them learn their faults and deficiencies and gave them a chance to repair them. They should not be discouraged by failure, because everyone could not be at the top. If they failed they should try again. "Speaking to those who have finished school and are about to go out into the world, I. would like to tell them that after all the wider life to which they are going is only a bigger school," His Excellency said. "School is only a miniature of life and what you have learned here will ba of great value to you in later life." Apart from their lessons, school had taught them to understand their, fellow creatures, to be unselfish and to work with the team. And so in life. Those who had success in life thought of others. One heard a great deal these days of the modern girl thinking of no one but herself, but ho was sure thefr training at school had taught them differently. The girls should remember the "underdog," those who had not made a success of life, and try to bring sunshine into their lives. When they left school whatever they did would be a judgment passed on the school. Its reputation remained in their hands. Old girls could be of tremendous help to the school. They should revisit it and. give the pupils advice and generally uplift the school.