PUBLIC SCHOOLS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21888, 25 August 1934, Page 11

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

TRADITIONS OF ENGLAND: GATHERING* OF OLD BOYS Old boys of over 30 public schools ol Great Britain attended the first annual dinner of the English Public School Club, Auckland, last night. The presil dent, Mr. H. S. W. King, Among the guests were the Rev. Jaspef Calder, president, and Mr. G. H. Bat>» ger, secretary, of the King's College Old Boys' Association, Mr. S. Wj Nicholson; representing the Auckland Grammar School, Mr. 0. S. Hintzj president of the Mount Albert Gram} mar School Old Boys' Association, MrJ F. B. Venn, representing the Australian Public Schools, and the Rev. H. Ki Arclulall, headmaster of King's Colleger The part played by public-school men in the affairs of Great Britain and oi tho Empire was touched on by several speakers, and, in proposing'the toast ol the club, Mr. Archdall sounded a call for leadership. There was no reason, lie said, why the public school spirit and traditions should not become as firmly entrenched in the schools of tha Dominion as they were in the great English schools.. He quoted from Dr. Norwood, formerly headmaster of Harrow, on the essentials of the public school ideal, enumerating as principal features religion, discipline, culture and athletics. But, above all these elements was the demand for service. A public school education relied on an understanding of the corporate, sense _ and those who enjoyed it were asked in re- , turn to provide leadership. Mr. Calder, in replying to the toast of kindred associations, referred to the efforts being made to produce a "colonial edition" of the English public school spirit It was a goal • we'! Avorth striving for, he said, as materialism in education soon defeated its own ends.

The following toasts were honoured: —The Guests, proposed by Mr. W. A. Donald and responded to by Mr. E. C, Be.tie: Kindred Associations, proposed by Mr. .T. F, Fwen and responded t" bv Mr. Calder; public schools of tK British Empire, proposed by Mr. P. X: Johnson and responded to by Mr. N. E. Heath, representing: the New Zealand Association of Public Schools of Greut Britain, and by Mr. Venn: and th< club, proposed bv Mr. Archdall au<f responded to by Mr. King.