THE OTAGO GIRLS’ HIGH SCHOOL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18156, 29 January 1921, Page 6

THE OTAGO GIRLS’ HIGH SCHOOL.

AN HISTORICAL SKETCH,

HI. (Specially written for the Otago Daily Times.)

This sketchy history has hitherto dealt a good deal with dates, and the writer has been warned that ladies don’t like dates which concern their own particular period, however much they may appreciate them where other people are concerned. As far, however, as the earlier years of this record are concerned it is hardly likely that any of the ladies named care for such a trivial matter. But as w© come down the years and approach more recent times, the affair becomes more critical, and one must tread cautiously. Specific dates must be avoided as far as possible, and we must deal with facts in general, wherever the ladies are involved. At the annual break-up of the school in 1886, Dr Hislop, who presided, made the interesting statement that the Otago Girls’ High School was the only Girls’ High School established by a Provincial Government in New Zealand, and that when the provincial system was abolished in 1876, it was still the only school of the kind in the colony. Ho added:

At the close of last year girls* high schools Trcre in operation in life following places:— Teachers. Pupils. Auckland 13 193 Wellington 8 126 Napier 8 67 Nelson 13 9X Christchurch ... ... ... 12 125 Invercargill 4 33 Dunedin 13 181

In this same year (1886) the Girk’ High School Magazine was started. Tho first numbers were written out by hand and cyclostyled by the girls themselves. Tho first number, which lies before the writer of this notice, opens with those lines, written by that best-known of “Anon” : We launch thee, little berk, upon the breast Of Time’s wide sea with many hepes and fears. The breakers’ sullen roar is in our ears. And lurid storm-clouds threaten in the west, But all thy crew, with youth and courage blest, Trust in thy strength to battle with th§ gale, And hope lor favouring winds to fill thy sail, And waft thee safely to thy haven's rest. Fly far across the seas, 0 little boat, Baden with girlish thoughts and simple rhymes Bearing to those our friends in other lands Kindly remembrances of days remote, Making them sigh and smile o’er bygone times In which they shared our joys and clasped our hands.

Like all such periodicals the magazine has had its ups and downs. It is perhaps safe to say that at the present tune, m common with many other school magazines, its tone is not as high as it ought to be. There is too much petty personal gossip, and the literary standard tails short of what u school with the distinguished history of the Otago Giris’ High School should achieve.

Gymnastic training was introduced into the school by Mrs Burn in the seventies. Its effect on the girls was early noticeable, and time and again it was remarked that the best pupils, and frequently the duxes were among the best gymnasts of their year. Cooking classes were first started in 1887, under Mrs Macoberson. The school did not possess, however, any special facilities for training in practical for many yeais, and the classes were carried on ■finder considerable disadvantages. Modern languages were mainly taught in the earlier days by foreign teachers, though Mrs Burn, Mr Pope, and others were excellent French scholars. The question is often asked why so .few foreigners can control classes of British nationality. They often teach remarkably well, but the discipline necessary in handling a class is frequently wanting. Probably the cause is associated with their want of humour. The French are witty, the Germans more frequently ponderous and lethargic, but neither possess humour. Both nationalities have been represented on the school staff from time to time, and they furnished a good deal _of interest, especially to the more enterprising of their pupils. When the language class was being held in the science room, where the Sixth-Form girls were at the same time doing practical science work, one favourite device was to leave a bottle producing sulphuretted hydrogen in full action for the benefit of the succeeding class. Another was to saturate a damp duster, with chlorine,, and leave it lying about “promiscuous.” One teacher, wno was particularly fond of cigars of a strong brand, and who had a perfect mania for shutting out draughts by closing every orifice in the room, used io have his class working in an atmosphere which would have. asphyxiated a horse in a short time. It was only self-defence to add some disinfectant smells to such an atmo--sphere. To use an Americanism, the teacher in these cases seldom “tumbled to” the trick which was played on him. In later years the teaching of French has been made a specialty, and practically every class teacher is expected to be able to undertake the subject. Whether the accent would satisfy a Frenchman is problematical in rtnne cases. On or.s occasion a teacher was instructing a class in French, when some of the pupils protested: “Please, that is not the way Miss pronounces that word.” The reply was: “Miss Blank’s pronunciation is most correct French; mine is pure Parisian.” There was no teaching pronunciation by a phonograph in those dark days. Much as women have advanced in these days of freedom and independence, they are still apt to retain some feminine traits. One day, when a big class was being 'taught in the large hall of the school, a ridiculous little mouse crossed the floor. There was a general shriek or squeak; the teacher promptly lifted her skirts- and stepped up on a chair, and nearly all the class followed her example and got up on the forms Unfortunately the lady lost her balance, anc j in coming down somewhat heavily sprained her ankle. It is wonderful what an effective little animal a mouse is! It is said they have been used with advantage to break up suffragette meetings. No doubt the dread of the little creature taking refuge in the skirts y, 'as formerly a cause of scare, for dresses used to sweep the floors in those unhygienic days. But to-day, when the' length of a lady’s skirt is anything but long, the excuse does not hold, and some ladies still jump at the mere hint of a mouse on the floor.

Another lady teacher —a dear young thing —had an especial horror of spiders. The only time she was ever known to bo angry was whep a friend attempted to transplant a spider on to her garments. But all girls are not so constituted, and more than one of the . past pupils of the school have proved to be good and most competent entomologists. During the eighties, pupils who elected to take Biology as a subject for Junior University examination, had to do a good deal of practical work. On one occasion a very large crayfish had been chloroformed and was being examined in detail. The great carapace was removed by bone forceps ; the heart and its various vessels had been seen in action, had been drawn and removed. The liver was removed, and the alimentary canal had been carefully dissected and removed. The viscera were all out, and the animal was as dead as Julius Caesar. The nerve chord with its ganglia was exposed, when one of the girls touched the last one of the chain, with the result that the tail gave a tremendous wollop under the rest of the body, and the crayfish jumped nearly a foot along the table. Tableau! The young lady all but fainted, the rest of the class became pale with fright, and the further examination of the crayfish had to be temporarily suspended. These are only some of the little incidents which add interest to reminiscences of these early schooldays. Mr Wilson remained at the head of affairs in the school until the close of 1895, when he was appointed rector of the Boys’ High School. The board selected as his successor Miss Maria Elsie Allman Marchant, who filled the position with credit to herself and the school for sixteen years, ret’Ting at the close of 1911. Miss Marchant was tho eldest daughter of the late Mr J. W.. A. Marchant, formerly Surveyor-general and Secretary for Crown Lands. She was educated at the Misses Greenwood’s School on Wellington Terrace, and the Wellington Girl’s High School, becoming gold medallist of the latter in 1887. Though unable to attend University College lectures, she obtained her degrees of B.A. and M.A. of Canterbury College in 1892 and 1894. She began work as a teacher in Miss Swain sin's School, and later joined the staff of the Wellington Girls’ High School. During her long tenure of the principalship of the Otago Girls’ High School some important changes took place, the most radical being tho extension of free education to pupils of secondary schools.

At the close of 1896 a portrait of Miss Da'rymple, subscribed for by her former friends and admirers, was presented to the school by Mrs W. H. Ttoynolds. who ga.ro on the occasion a very interesting account of the difficulties met with and overcome be the early rromoters of tho school. In 18.07 school sr>nrl« wore, held for the first time, end lilkvn become an annual fixture over since. They mark tho evolution of the athletic girl

In 1902 free education was offered to the high schools. At the breaking-up ceremony of the suoeeding session Miss Marchant said in regard to this subject:— This has been the most eventful year in the school’s history, for the Board of Governors has accepted the Government’s proposals of taking girls free, the only two important conditions being that the pupils must have passed the Sixth Standard, and must not be more than

14 years of age at the end of the year previous to their enrolment. Under these conditions we entered in February about 70 pupils, and wore at once compelled to engage another teacher. I found that these girls, though apparently on an equality, having all passed the same standard, were in reality in three grades, and I classified them accordingly, and they have taken part in the regular school work.

The effects of this radical movement have been far-reaching. The most important is, of course, that it brings .within the range of every child of sufficient capacity the possibility of obtaining free education from the kindergarten to the university. It has thus to a considerable extent opened the door to meritorious children irrespective of the rank and position of their parents. Among other results which have followed have been two especially conspicuous. The first is the strengthening of the feeling among the rank and file of the community that the Government should do everything for them. The s-ense of the necessity of individual effort is distinctly lower than it was 30 years ago. Associated with this, and perhaps more important still, is the relaxation of the sense of moral responsibility of the individual to tho community. These effects are deep atid far reaching, and form part of tho moral problems of the. present day which statesmen and philanthropists are trying to combat. The second effect is the tendency on the part of parents to consider that their girls are coarsened by contact with all and sundry in public schools. This feeling, which may be held quite apart from any snobbishness, is perfectly natural, and it certainly has strengthened and increased the number of private schools for girls which are in existence. It will be found, however, that the tone of the Otago Girls’ High School gemains as high to-day as it ever was, while the standard of scholarship is necessarily and distinctly higher. Few parents seem to realise that girls and boys alike take their tone and their moral standard more' from the home f Iran from tho school.. The teaching of our primary and secondary schools, though classed by some as irreligious, is, on the whole, highly moral and good, and where tho home teaching is also on a high plane tho products are fine, pure-minded girls and boys. At the-time of coming into force of the free place system the number of pupils attending the school was only I£2; alter two years it had risen to 200- Other results followed.

At the close of 1904 the boarding house was closed. Miss Marchant said on the subject: “The school has already encroached upon it, and will again, encroach so much that there will be no proper accommodation for a household. This being so, the board has arranged as a temporary measure till a now school can bo obtained to use most of the house space for school purposes.” At the break-up in chairman stated that onjly IX paying pupils were attending the school. ‘ _ Mr Wilson, in his interesting no", referred to the professions ot Med .cine and Law as subjects in which girls might find openings lor their energy and ability. The former especially has attracted a number of ex-pupils ot the Girls’ High School, many of whom have made quite distinguished names for themselves. One can mention hero only a few of the earlier graduates in Medicine. In 1896- Margaret Cruickshank, wiio was dux of the school in 1891, jointly with her equally distinguished twinsister Christina (now principal of the Wanganui Girls’ College), graduated M.E., Ch.B., the first lady doctor to take her degree in New Zealand. She gained her M.D. in 1905. As partner ot Dr Barclay, tof Waimate, and during his absence at tue Great War as chief medical practitioner in the district, she won golden opinions' not only by her skill, but by her 'beautiful obaracter uud disposition. Her death in 1919 was very keenly felt by a large circle of friends and admirers, especially by her former school and college oompamnos, who cherished' the happiest memories of her as a noble girl and woman. In tnu same year (i89o) Emily Ss:d6berg graduated M. 8., (Jn.B., taking the lurther degree ot B.Sc. in 1801. Sine later studied and increased her knowledge at Edinburgh University. Later graduates were Jane Kinder and Daisy Platts (Mrs Platts-Milis, of Wellington) in 1900, Eleanor S. Baker (1903), Winifrede Bathgate (who had previously graduated B.Sc. in 1900), Agatha Adams (Mrs Monfries), and Emily Ridley (Mrs Nces), all in 1804, and Ada G. Paterson in 1906. Many more ex-gir;s have graduated in more recent years. Some are -in active practice, while several are acting as medical inspectors under the Education Department.

The legal profession has not proved so attractive, but Ethel Benjamin (Mrs De Costa) was the first lady barrister in New Zealand. She has not, however, continued in practice since her marriage. Training in art has always been recognised as an important branch of girls’ education, in order that the aesthetic side of their nature should receive -as much scope for development as the practical. For many years classes were conducted in the school by Mr David Hutton, director of the School of Art. During Mr Wilson s tenure of the rectorship greater attenton was devoted to the subject, and Miss Fanny Wimperis, a lady with excellent European training, and of the highest artistic capabilities, was appointed whole time art mistress. The effect has been excellent, and the high standard established by her has been maintained by her successor, Miss Margaret M'Leod, who_ succeeded her in 1906. \ Miss Merchant's remarks about the crowding out of the boarding establishment, and the encroachment of the class rooms on the house, only prefaced a more important development—namely, that the whole building seemed to bo going to pieces, and required renovation. In 1906 it is stated in her report at the close of the session that “ a new school seems as far off as ever, but we hope a grant will soon be obtained for it. The waste of time and energ- in our present quarters, with four staircases and useless passages, is no inconsiderable drawback to the work and organisation of the school. Besides, the ventilation is most primitive and the heating quite inadequate. The school furniture, too, is of an antiquated design, but no improvement can be made •until we have the grant for a new building.” The following year Dr Mason (Chief Health Officer) visited the school, and the lady principal stated: “After his inspection and at his suggestion, several rooms were shut up altogether, and we are working again in one of the# abandoned sheds in the grounds, while our classes are scattered far and wide over this rambling edifice.” An advance was made in 1908 when the Government placed the sum of £4OOO on the Estimates for the new and promised another £SOOO for file continuation of the work. ' . Meanwhile, a slight new _ departure had been made which was of interest to the school and to all who were keen lovers of their country and of its great part in the world. A branch of the Navy League was founded in the school, and the girls entered rpadily into the competitions for the prizes which the league offered. In 1908 the school, for the second time, carried off the first prize for the best essay from the scholars of the girls’* secondary schools in Dunedin. . ' In September, 1909, a beginning was made with the erection of the new school buildings, part of the old .structure being removed to make room for' them. Meanwhile a house was rented opposite the playground, and the front rooms were used as class rooms, the janitor occupying the other part. The old sheds in the playground were used for science and art rooms, and some of the disused portions of the old building still standing were re-opened. While unsuitable quarters do not do for a permanency, it is wonderful how for a time they can stimulate teachers and pupils alike to rise to the emergency. By September of 1910 the last of the old building was completely removed, and the third term of that year was opened in the new structure, _„o change was a delightful one <or all concerned, though the building was in a very incomplete state. The new school hall was completed and opened at the commencement of the second term of 1914. Four new class-rooms adjoining the gymnasium were opened in May, 1918, and in the session now about to open the school will bo complete. Judged by the past history of , most educational institutions, it will ha long before additional accommodation will be called for. The old school with its sheds and outbuildings has been swept away to make room for the new and commodious—though somewhat staring—structure which now occupies the site. For all its size—and one of its blocks rose to four _ storeys—it was rather cramped and yet wide-spread, with several useless and poky little rooms, and many of the class rooms were from a modern point of vievV quite unsuitable. But what a host of happy memories hung round the old place! It is one of the blessed phases of memory that it preserves so much that is pleasant and lovely and humorous. Many a novelist pictures his or her characters as preserving in the keenest manner the memories of horrible events or sad happenings, and as retaining the sorrows of past decades as keenly as when they wore first experienced. Such pictures are not true, or are found only in morbidly sensitive characters, Memory tones down and

softens the outlines of the past. The events of the passing ' years deaden the Eains and griefs of former times, but the appy and bright things remain longer clear. So the old school is still associated in the minds •of former pupils with happy days, with merry games, with tricks played on each other and on teachers, for girls do occasionally play tricks —but also with friendships deep, strong, and abiding, both with former schoolmates and between teachers and pupils. The holding of this jubilee, the interest and the spirit with which it has been entered into show that there is a strong esprit do corps among former pupils, and it is one of stile most hopeful signs for the future that those who have been through their school days within its old walls retain for the place keen and happy memories. Such, too, will grow round the new building, and will mellow as its stones and bricks mellow with age.

At the close of 1911 Miss Marchant resigned from the position of lady principal. She had long decided to study tho various religious, educational, and benevolent institutions and organisations which had been established in .Great Britain under the auspices of the Church af England, with a view to the introduction and development in New Zealand of similar measures. During her period of service at the High School she had made a visit to tho Old Country and Europe and subsequently made two more. After her return to the dominion die, by special request of the Church .of England authorities, reorganised, and for a time managed tho Anglican Children’s Home at Ponsonby, Auckland. She then proceeded to Stratford, and founded and directed for a time the Diocesan Girls’ School there. Eater she accepted a cedi to Christchurch, where she directed the arrangements for the conversion of Bishop’s Court into a hostel for • school teachers; and lastly she acquiesced in an urgent appeal to assume the position temporarily ot head mistress of St. John’s Church School, Invercargill, pending the expected arrival of the lady principal, who was detained in England owing to the war. ■ She had almost closed her connection with this school, and was concluding other works and duties which she had undertaken, with the intention of returning to Dunedin, where she had every expectation that at last her desires would be fulfilled by the establishment of a religious community and a teaching order in connection with the Church of England, when she contracted a mortal illness, and died on November 15, 1919. Miss Marchant possessed a strong personality, and she faced difficulty without a murmur and without flinching. She had a high sense of duty, and she sought earnestly to instil the same into her pupils, realising her great responsibility to the girls committed to her care. One who knew her well and worked under her for years has said that she neyer spoke an ill-natured word, oven of those from whom she differed in toto, and from whom she often met with much opposition. She was strong enough to bear disappointment without wincing, and she steeled herself for her duty with a noble self-respect. Her old friends and pupils recall her gracious and attractive presence, her fine melodious voice, her clearness of expression and command of excellent language—qualities which made her .a fine public speaker on srch occasions as she had to appear at public functions. In the school she was a good disciplinarian without being either severe or harsh. While mention has been made of some of the earlier teachers of tho school,- and especially of those who have been at the head of affairs, it has been found impossible to mention the numerous able teachers who have served on the staff, and a . selection from their names would only be invidious. Fortunately the majority of them are still alive and well, and many who Ijave retired are still doing various kinds of active useful work in the community. Their names and their records are remembered with gratitude and admiration ,and they have helped to bring credit and lustre to their old school. But it is pardonable to recall one who was formerly a pupil., and quite recently a member of tho staff of the school, Miss Jessie B. Reid, whose lamented disappearance in a snowstorm on the Milford track little more than a year ago, cast a gloom over past and present pupils and over the whole community. . • There has been for several years a desire to interest the girls of the school in phmmthropic work, and 'this was greatly strengthened during the war by the strong patnofic sentiment which prevailed throughout the country. At 'the very outset the help of the girls was sought by the Women s Association, and a ready response was made of useful gifts for jho men of the- First Expeditionary Force* Throughout the war gifts of money were contributed tor Belgian’ children,-lor the Portsmouth Fund, the Bed Triangle Fund, the Bed Cross, the Belgian Red Gross, the French Widows Fund, and the Mercantile Marine Fund; of French books for the men on the troopshioa, and especially of parcels for our troops on‘active service. More recently the Young Helpers’ League has been active in raising funds for the Barnardo' Homes. The Students’ Christian Union soon alter its establishment in Dunedin formed a branch in the Otago Girls High School, and this institution has been well supported by the pupils. Among outsiders who have come in to assist its work may he mentioned two former pupils—Annie P- Hancock (of the Canton Village Mission) and Joan Begg, who have done and are doing noble work in the mission field. Our schools do not profess to give instruction in religion, but they do cultivate a truly Chnswho have followed this sketch will have noticed hoyr much the curriculum of the school has changed during tho last half century. Originally a finishing school for girls, it ‘gradually, like all other high schools, became largely a preparatory training ground for the university. In later years flic tendency has been to make it more and more vocational, and domestic economy and commercial subjects have bulked more largely in each succeeding annual syllabus. At first physical training was ignored; now it enters largely into the school course, and itr occupies a considerable share of (the thoughts and aspirations of the girls—tennis, hockey, fives, net.bqll, and swimming dividing the'honours. What will the next fifty years see? It is impossible to forecast the future. But of one thing we may be sure: that the bases on 1 -which this Otago Girls’ High School were built were strong and sound. The women and men . who laid the foundations and those who helped to erect the superstructure were animated by high ideals, and strove to carry these ideals into practice. The pupils of the early days came nearly all from homes where sound moral and spiritual teaching Was the rule; their successors in more recent days have been the pick of the young people of Otago; and there has grown up in the school a fine spirit of pride in its history and its achievements. Whatever new developments may arise during the increasing applications of science to the concerns of everyday life —and r (Jho changes in the next fifty years will certainly be even greater than they have«been in the past—the things which really matter will remain. Its wellwishers are safe in predicting that as long as the Otago Girls’. High School stands for good and true. training its girls will exercise 4 the finest influence on tho future generations of this fair city and province.