ENFIELD GIRLS’ SCHOOL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19695, 23 January 1926, Page 20

ENFIELD GIRLS’ SCHOOL.

DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZES. SIR JAMES ALLEN’S ADDRESS. PREPAREDNESS FOR HOMS LIFE. LONDON, December 11. Sir James Alien, accompanied by Miss Kona Alien, went to the Girls’ County School, Enfield, to distribute th© prizes. The on air was taken by Colonel H. F. Bowles, M.A. (Chairman of the Board of Governors) The head mistress of this school is Miss E. R. Broome. M.A., who was educated in Now Zealand, where she is still well-remembered. On account of the death of Queen Alexandra, whose funeral had taken place in tho morning, the ceremony was not so long as usual, and was more subdued in its character. Miss Broome ,prior to making her report. on the school’s progress during the year, expressed her personal pleasure in welcoming the High Commissioner for New Zealand and Miss Allen. She remarked that she was a Now Zealander by education, for her schooldays were spent there, her university degree was obtained . there, and her early training and experience as a teacher. “I shall never forget,” she said, “all tho happy life and the beauty of that delightful country ‘the Land of Loveliness,’ or ce.ase to be glad that I had the interesting experience of seeing something of tho growth of that wonderful Dominion. I fool the truth of Kipling’s words: ‘What do they know of England Who only England know?’ “During tho Great War I discovered another link with New Zealand. Our school motto, ‘Onward Ever,’ was also the motto of the Now Zealand Expeditionary Force, who fought so bravely for the cause of right and freedom at Gallipoli and on tho other fronts.” Three of the girls had gained coveted scholarships for French, two others had gained senior county scholarships, while tho higher school and intcr-arts results were satisfactory, as in the whole of the Middlesex secondary schools only 14 other girls obtained the higher school certificates, and live that for inter-arts. This school, however, does not concentrate its efforts on work for examination only, but tries to give the girls varied interests in preparedness for homo life. This section covers needlework, elementary dressmaking, cookery, laundry work, mothercrait, andi a scheme for teaching the arrangement and ordering of a house. In fchoir work in civics the post-matriculation pupils study tho contribution women con make to the welfare of the State, first in tho home and then in public affairs. “I hope that all our girls will feel that their educational privileges are a preparation tor service to others, not merely advantageous to themselves,” said Miss Broome. Some of the old girls have outstanding successes to their credit, one having obtained the Oxford 8.A., with second-class honours; another the B.A. of the London University with second-class honours; another the London 8.50., while Miss Allen, L.D.S., R.C.S., lias been appointed dental house-surgeon at the King’s College Hospital. Sir James Allen referred to tho funeral service of the Queen Mother, which ho had attended in tho morning. Tho service itself (he said) was beautiful, and the ona thing they gathered from it was tho note Miss Broome hors elf had struck —“What a woman can do in tho work].’’ Of course, a woman in the high position of Queen had extraordinary facilities for helping the world and her own country, and Queen Alexandra did that fully. The same opportunities in a lesser degree were open to every woman, and girls passing through that school, when they passed out into the world, would have opportunities to follow in tho footsteps of the great Queen just gone from them, and also their present Queen. He was interested in some erf tho remarks made by Miss Broome on the work of tho school. Apparently from thoir applause the sports mistress was the most popular mistress in tho school. Well, he was not surprised. He thought from his experience in New Zealand, where at one time he was Minister of Education, and had something to do with the introduction of physical education in the schools, that there wore no more important branches of educational work than physical education, home science, and domestic art. He was glad to know they had been successful in those subjects at the County School, and also French, in which they had done so well. Ho hoped those who bad the benefit of the teaching at that school would carry away with them valuable assets which would bo of use to them in after life. They had enormous opportunities to leave the impression they had gathered ■ at school upon those with whom they would meet in tho outside world. He congratulated tuem upon the success of tho year’s work, and, wished for them in tho future continued and increasing success. PRIZE FOR ESSAY ON NEW ZEALAND. Colonel Bowles, in moving a vote of thanks, said that the visit of Sir James had added a link in the Empire to their school, and they wanted to make Sir James feel that his visit was not merely a passing ship in the night, but that ho had a further interest in tho school. Colonel Bowles mentioned that he would offer a prize of a wrist watch next year to the girl who wrote the best essay o n New Zealand. In that connection he would ask Sir James Allen to adjudicate on the six best essays. That would recall to his mind th© great pleasure lie had given thorn by his visit to the Enfield County Solixxil. At the suggestion of Miss Allen, that the school should bo given a holiday in honour of tho visit, the Chairman said ho would put tire matter before the governors. In due course needless to say, it was granted. Sir James, responding to the vote of thanks, said there was a groat connection between New Zealand and Groat Britain in respect to girls’ secondary schools. Enfield was especially so, because Miss Broome, the head mistress, was a New Zealander and took her M.A. degree there. Another New Zealand girl (Miss C. M. Taylor) was in charge of a school in tho Midlands. He hoped they would ever remember the link between the two countries. (Applause.) Sir James presented a copy of his son’s delightful phantasy, “The Ship Beautiful,” and this was awarded as a special prize for English essay. Miss Broome is hoping, in the not far distant future, to bo able to pay a brief visit to the Dominion.