A SCHOOL BREAK-UP

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27570, 12 December 1950, Page 8

A SCHOOL BREAK-UP

Sir, —I should like to draw attention to a school-closing ceremony that took place last Friday. At this function there were no prizes for excellence in English, history or arithmetic, no medals for prowess in sport, for they would have been out of place. Any commendation the pupils received came from parents who could see distinct improvement in the speech of their children, in the manipulation of their fingers, or the free movement of their limbs, the things we all take for granted in life. The children acted in a short play about Father Christmas being stuck in the chimney and waking them up for advice on what to do next. Their achievement in this direction wai a tribute to the work and the ability of the teacher, Miss Macadam, and the therapists in speech, handwork and physical culture. The opportunity was taken at the close of the gathering to thank them for their patience and care of the children during the year and the progress made. In behind them, of course, stand the Crippled ’ Children Society, the Otago University Students’ Association, and the citizens of Dunedin who, with a few private benefactors, have given so generously for the support of this work. I feel that some such public acknowledgment as this ought to be made expressing the thanks and deep gratitude of parents, friends, and all interested in what has been done.—l am, etc., , (Rev.) A. R. Harper.