VACATIONS. THE GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1674, 22 December 1883, Page 22

VACATIONS.

THE GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOL.

The annual distribution of prizes to 'the pupils of the Otago Girls' High School" took place on Wednesday afternoon. The building was crowded for some time before the proceedings commenced, and when the chair was taken standing-room could not "be obtained. Most of those present were the mothers of the pupils, but a fair number- of gentlemen who are connected with or take an interest in education were also present.

The proceedings commenced punctually at noon.

The Rev. Dr Stuart, in moving that Mr J. Fulton take , the chair, said : I may tell you that Mr Fulton is one of the fathers of the province, and in that capacity — as I can testify from what I have heard and what I have seen —he has borne the burden and heat of the day without either fainting or murmuring. As a settler he identified himself very much from the very beginning with his fellow settlers, and gainod their confidence and their respect. I notice that as a country gentleman, wise and kindly, he gave himself to forward every interest relating to progress, to order, and to religion. He was particularly active on the side of education, and all along hps been an unfailing friend of our common schools, our intermediate schools, and our University. I am quite sure you will join with me in asking ' him to take the chair and preside on the present occasion. — (Applause.) Mr S. Fulton, M.H.R., on taking the chair, said : You have just had a sample of what tie chairman of the Board of Governors is • be gives us his orders, and we have to obey them From what you have seen of him generally' probably you think he is a very kindly man. He is nothing of the kind.— (Laughter.) ' I.xnay just say that as chairman of the Board- of Governors he is exceedingly imperious and tyrannical, because he laid it upon me to preside, and ordered me at once to consent to take the chair on the present occasion,— (Laughter and applause.) Well, at any rate, I have great pleasure in doing so, if it is only for this reason and no other, that I sympathise in a most complete way with our educational institutions, and not least with our Boys' and Girls' High School. On the present occasion I am glad to notice from the report that the examinations have been exceedingly satisfactory, and that good results are shown from the work done in the school. lam pleased to find from Mrs Burn's report that the school is prospering. The attendance is far larger than it used to be ; but of course that is partly due to the growth of the population of thß country. I am glad, also, to find that the ex-pupils are prospering and doing good work in the community. — (Applause.) I find that a very large number of them are engaged in teaching. There are three ex-High School pupils teaching in this High School, as the girls themselves will know. There is one, I find, teaching in the Wesley Ladies' College, Melbourne a number are teaching in private schools, and a very large number in the public schools of the Colony. Well, this is just as it ought to be, and it shows, I think, that wo have advancedconsiderably in our educational course when we are raising teachers for our own schools from amongst ourselves, and are not obliged to import them from elsewhere, The report

speaks for itself, and ifc may be for other speakeis to lay before you the results of the work that has been done in the school, but m Mrs Burn's report there are one or two things which specially attracted my attention, and upon which I must say a few words. \ou see a reference in the report to tho formation of two associations in connection with this school, and I am glad that I havo the opportunity on the present occasion to state how very sincerely I sympathise with these m >veinentß. The ladies generally take the lead m any good work of this sort, and they have taken the lead in the High School, for I think it is a very decided lead. I ahould have liked • to sco the boys of the High School forming similar associations, and probably they will do so now the example has been set by this scboo . —(Applause.) The two associations of which I amJpoaking are the Girls; High School Dux Association aad the ex-High School Girk Club The first is formed from all the previous dices of the High School, for the purpose of howing an interest in the school by .giving annually a prize for which they select the subject and correct the examination Papers. The subject this year is arithmetic *ot only this, but the ex-Hieh School Girls' Club, I think, deserves the very highest commendation and the warmest support. We have formed an educational establishment which is to have, 1 believe, a very large effect upon the Colony, because I look forward and see that not only the girls here, but tjhe girls in all our common schools, will in a few years have charge of the children of the Colony, both boys and girls. As the mothers of the iuture generation they will have to train up the little ones, and we know very well that the impress imprinted on the children at their earliest ages is, and ought to be, that which is carried with them longest through life.— (Applause.) Our State haß made ample pr^ision for the- carrying on of this school, and i am glad here to be able to know, and to state again, that this was the first established Girls' High School in the Colony.— (Applause.) But though the State has provided ample means, and though parents may provide whatever 1 ia wanting further for the purpose of sending their girls here, and though teachers may do all that they can to impart instruction to the pupils, after all on v the girls themselves, and on the, girls as they are associated together in this school, depends the future of their lives, and very largely the future well-being of the Colony. It is upon the habits they form here, upon the tone they give to one another, upon tha influence they exercise for good or evil, that will depend the future greatness of this Colony to a very large extent indeed. I would say to the girls of this school, as our worthy chairman said to the boys yesterday : " Set before yourselves a liigh ideal ; see to it that you avoid all untruthfulness, all meanness, everything that will degrade you." Seek to emulate those noble women of whom the world may well be proud, Mary Somerville, Florence Nightingale, Agnes Jones, and many others I could name. Why Bhould it be thought that girls come here simply to have so much instruction imparted to them which they are afterwards to forget ? See to it, girls, that in future life you all of you are ladies in the truest and highest sense of the word— be noble" women. Se9 to .it that you do not allow ycurselve'S to think that it is a matter of the instruction you receive above others, or of the dress, you wear that makes a lady ; but in kindliness of spirit, and in all the good qualities that grace noble women, seek to excel. It was mentioned yesterday that besides the instruction given in the Bchool in mental training, physical training was not forgotten. Probably I am taking the words from our worthy chairman when I tell you that we expect shortly a teacher of calisthenics, who, I have no doubt, will put the young ladies through their facings in the hall adjoining, which so soon they will have all to themselves. There is another matter which, perhaps, you will excuse me for referring to. I see before me a likeness of one of tho fathers of this institution— l might almost say the father of it.— (Anplause.) I am' proud to think that the girls havo decided upon obtaining a likeness of Sir John Richardson to grace the future hall of this school ; and I may say, speaking of him, that I think you cannot do better than emulate the high and noble qualities he possessed.— (Applause.) But there is another picture which I think 'the girls may well think of and make arrangements for— which ' would also grace the hall, — the likeness of your worthy principal, who has for so many yeare conducted this school.— (Loud applause.) Again,' because I like the girls of the High School to be proud of their school, and in future years to say "they belonged to the High School, I Bhould like to see tho names of the duces of the school in gold letters on the wall.— (The Lady Principal : " They are there above your head.")— l should like to see their names in permanent letters on the wall, so that in future years old pupils coming back to the school may see the names of those with whom they were associated; I am afraid you will say I have been giving you a sermon. Well, clergymen are not the only people who preach sermons ; but of course I admit they do it a great deal better than I do, but they also preach at.much greater length.— (Laughter.) I shall not detain you further on the present occasion. The Chairman then distributed the prizes. BEPOBT AND PBIZE-LIST. The following are the Lady Principal's report and the prize-list : — During the session just cloaed 78 jrirla have attendedtthe Girls' High School for tho first time, the total numlier enrolled being 213—112 in tho Upper, fc and 10i in the Lower School— an increase of six over w last •year. The numbers on the roll for tbe four quarters respectively have been 179, 194, 196, and 189. Of j.the 11 provincial scholars attending the school six are! seniors and five juniors. lam sorry to have to add that one of the latter, a girl of great promise, had to {return home early hi the year on account of ill health. " It is with pleasure I announce the arrival of Miss M'Kean, my vice principal, with reference to whose appointment I have inserted in my report the following paragraph furnished by the' Chairman of the Board of Governors: --"The Board, in- accordance with their- resolution to specialise, the subjects of tuition to a greater extent than formerly, requested Sir Dillon Bell, the Agent-general of the Coldnv in London, with the advice of Professor Sidgewick, of Cambridge, to select a lady teacher to take charge of the mathematical department, and to assist the lady principal in the important work of classification, &c,, The position ot mathematical ' teacher and viceprincipal was given to Mies M'Kean, -who entered on her duties in November. It is due to this Jady to state that her application was accompanied by the most satisfactory evidences of abil ty and professional attainments and experience. While giving the 'lady principal well-earned assistance, the Board is confident that the appointment of Mies M'Kean will strengthen the school in her department." Miss Steel, our dux' of 1881, last year obtained a New" Zealand University Junior Scholarship. Miss Forbes, dux of 1881, and Uies Duncan, laat vear^s dux, whose provincial scholarships have not yet lapsed, are still attending s hool, and doing a considerable amount of special work with a view to p oceed to the University. These girls, haying already taken the highest school honours, do not compete for class prizes. Mr Hutton reports : " During the past session the game course of in -traction has been pursued as heretofore - freehand drawing from blackboard exercise, freehand drawing from copy, firsb and second oracle ; perspective, model drawing, and drawing and shading from the 'cast. It affords me great pleasure to state that the progress of the pupils in the various' classes has been very satisfactory. "

Miss Holmes this year announced at Ihe bediming of the ses3ion that her prize would bo given for fonV fd aw nits— a design for a tile and for a fan, a drawing rot jtill life, aud a perspective or original drawing. I must; not pass over in silence two associations conmcfed with the school which h.ivo just into bairnr. Tne ihsfc of those is called the Girls'* High School Dux Association, and is comprised of all tlie old head girls, and hits b^en formed for tho purpose of showing interest in tho echool by giving- an annual prize, for which they select a subject and correct ibe examination paoaw. The subject of examination Ui.s year is arithmetic The other is known as the ex-Histh f-'chool Girls' Cluo, and its object ia to promote social intercourse between its members by means of both intellectual and physical pursuits. The girls -till continue to send flowers to the Hospital every week during the ses-ion, a practice that ha 9 been in exiacer.ee for the last live yejrs. I thank many friends f -r renewed gifts to the school -Mrs Holmes, Miss Holmes, Misa Dalrympto, V)c Siuirt, Or Mnudonaid, Mr .A Wilnon, Mr Oeorgo Tjrnbull, Mr Maurice Joe), Mr J v Wilkie, Mr Livinghtoa, Measra Wi-ie, Oafiin, and Co westra Brown, E*-in« and 00. have attain given their silver medal, the Shakespeare Club their prize for raiding, and the newly-formed Dux Association its first prize. PRIZE-l-BT. LOWER SCHOOIy. Form I. — Elizabebh Ander.-on, dux ; Ethel Benjamin and Eva Orkney (equal), 2 ; Mary Hoeg, 4 : El en Ritchie (Miaa Douglas' prize), 5. Writing— Frances Catomore Form II — Jane Henderson and Emma Weldon (equal) duca * ; Lilian Jool, 3 ; Louisa Poturi, 4 Pioncb— Division 1: Jano Hend(-raon. Division 2: Louisa Peters. Steady work throughout the halfyear : Annie Marks (Miss Little's prize). 1 Writiniy : G -endoline Roberts.

Form lll.— Dux (Board of Governors' silver medal), Anna M'Noill ; Ellen Longford, 2 ; Anmo Mason, 3. Mental arithmetic — Annie Bariin (Miss Gillies' prizo). French -Anna M'Neill. Writing — Ellen Scoular. Mapping — Florence Irwin. Form IV — Florence Brown, dux ; Annie Park, 2 ; Anna Copland. 3 English — Annie Park French — Division 1 : Vtra Maitland (Mrs Holmes' prize), F.ench Division 2 : Edith Blyth. Form V. Ellen Farnie, dux ; o'iie E Maekonz-'e. 2 ; Isabella Matheson, 3. English— Christina Longford. Latin — Division 1 : Ellen Farnie. Division 2 : Ada Howison. German - Katherine Cutten (Mrs Btl'au's priza) French — Christina Longf .rd French— Division 2 : Edith Pearce. Chemistry — Onie E Mackenzie

Form Vl.— 'English dux (Mr Joel's prizo)— Lucy Ralmond. Mathematical dux (Mr Wilkie's prize)— Katherine Walker. Mathematics— Division 2 ; Katharine Moss. Latin dnces (Dr Eu'aus prize) -Marion Angus Ferguann ; (Dr Macdonald'u orize), Isabella M'Landress. German dux (Dr Blllau's prize)— Lucy Ssilmond. French dvx — Lucy Salmond. .Science dux - Marion Angus Ferguson. Third place in class work, Isabella M'Landre->8 ; second place in class work Wilson' 3 piize), Katherine Walker ; dux of school (Board of Governors)' gold medal), Marion Angus Ferguson. Messrs Brown, Ewing, and Co.'s silver medal for excellence in English, Arithmetic, and Geography.— Marion A Ferguson. Dux Association's prize for Arithmetic- Katherine Walker. Shakespeare Club's prize for the best Reader in tho School -Elizabeth Platt-. Second best Reader (Dr fctuart'S prize) —Blanche Joel. Mies Holmos'prize lor Special Drawings.— Margaret Hartley. Mr Turnbull'a prize for the best Writer in the School. — Florence Browne. Mr Livingston's prize for the second best Writer in tho School.— Lauta Kennedy. Miss Dalrymple's "Victoria" prizes for Dilijrenca, Order, and Punctuality. — Upper School : Violet Turton. Lower School : Annie Alason. Mis Holmes' prize for Steady and Satisfactory Work.— Uppar School: Christina Binnie. Lower School : Mabel Macandrow

Messrs Wise, Oaffln, and fio.'s prize for Steady and Satisfactory Work. -Anne T.umati. Aiapping —Minna R'hberj;. MUSIC PRIZES

Mrs White** prizes.— Upper divis'on : May Eva and Katherine Cutten. Lower division : Lily Mitchell, Alice Wilson, JLiiian .Tod, Helen Main, Nollio Sc ullar Mrs Wilmot'd prizes.— Anna Oop'and, 1 ; Mary Murcott and Margaret Chiaholm (equal), 2 ; Lizzio Gordon, 3. , Mrs Spooner'B prizes.— Jane Thomson, Ella "Wales. Aunio Mason.

CERTIFICATES OP MERIT.

' Form I.— Clasi wotk, Jmo Grey, Evnroa Peters ; English, histiry, geography, and object 'lessons, Frances Catomore and Ellen Rit hie ; English history, ge graphy, and arithmetic, Thyia Arthur; Englibh, history, and geography, Edith Shand ; English, geography, and object lessons,. Euphemia Inglia ; English, geograph) , and arithmetic, Ethel Roberta ; Eug'ish and geography, Edith Farquhar ; geography, Florence Lewis ; history, Minnie Street and Mabel Alves.

Form ll.— English, geography, object lessons, and French, Annie Marka ; English, arithmetic, find French, Lilian Brent; English, object lessons, a'>d French, Rachel Marks ; Knglish, object lessons, and history, Annie Shand ; English and object lessons, Lucy Hovylison, Mary Huds n, and Mabel Salmopd ; English and arithmetic, Ellen Murray ; Eng'ish and French, Ada Macrae; English, Caroline Burns and tflanche Gregg; arithmetic, Gwendoline Robert*; o\i ct lessons, Edith Klrkby ; French, Lilian Joel and Elizabeth Sheet.

Form 111 — CUvbb work throughout the year, Emma Beckingeale, Katherine Barr, lillen Barron, Margaret Burns, Johnina Dods, Elizabeth Gilcbrist. Ipaballa Gleudining, Annie Howliaon, Florence Irwin, Mabel Mac;ndre\v, Janet Ramsay, Ellen Scoular, Ella Wales, Ali 'c Wilson ; English, Amelia Wise.

Form IV.— Class work throughout the yoar, Helena Baxter, Florence_ Muir ; English, history, and geography, Kva Daniel, Grace Irwin ; Lain, Marie Eiiiau, Gertrude Williamß; arithmetic, algebra, and physical geography, Elizabeth Waters.

Form V. — Arithmetic, algebta, chemistry, and Latin, Margaret Comrie, Barbara Watt ; English, history, and geography. Katherine Cutten, Christina J.ongford, Emilia Moore ; arithmetic, algebra, and chemistry, M-Mgares Hartley ; Latin, Christina Binnie, Oona Burton, Margaret Chisholm, Elizabeth Platts, Violet Turton, Grace Wright ; German, Blanche Joel.

Dr Stuart, in presenting the Board of Governors' gold medal to Miss Marion Angus Ferguson, the dux of the school, said : The Chairman has asked me to present the medal to the dux of the school. It is an extremely pleasant thing to see a boy or a girl— especially to see a girl— very healthy-looking, coming out as dux of the school. It shows that you are taking good care of yourselves. I suppose you go early to bed and rise early, and that partially explains your success. I have very great pleasure in presenting to you the Board of Governors' gold medal for being the dux of the school.

The Chairman, in presenting the Dux Association's prize, said that he hoped to see a fund provided by the duces of the Girls' High School, so that in place of a prize being given a scholarship would be founded.

DrßiiLAU^the vice-president 'of the Shakespeare Club, presented the Club's prize for reading, and in doing so remarked that he had been present at the examination, and could testify that the reading was excellent.

Dr Stuart intended to say very Httle, but he would begin by remarking that the school had rendered valuable service in the past. The Board, however, being particularly anxious to increaseits efficiency, had been specialising the instruction. In carrying out this object, Miss Freeman had been appointed the English teacher, and had rendered good service for 18 months, at the end of which time she had left in order to complete her studies at the University. As a successor, the Board had appointed Miss Grant, an ex-pupil of the school, who brought to the work considerable ability and experience. The mathematical department was also to be put under one head, and had been entrusted to Miss M'Kean, who would assist Mrs Burn as vice-principal. It was not necessary that he should speak of tho services Mrs Burn had rendered for many years, for it was generally known that Mrs Burn had founded the school, and had made it the leading institution for the education of girls in the Colony. Ho hoped that the boarding establishment for girls in connection with

the school would soon be resumed, bo that the bonnie country lasses, when they came to Dunedin, might have a cheerful home close to the classrooms. He wished to mention that Miss Annie Forbes was still in attendance at the school, bul; that, having already been the dux, she was precluded from competing. He had, however, the authority of Professor Macgregor (the examiner for the school in Latin) for saying that Miss Forbes' Latin paper was one of the best he had ever examined ; and he (Dr Stuart) was glad to say that Miss Forbes had beaten the whole school — boys and girls — in Latin, [n concluding, he expressed the hope that the pupils would enjoy the holidays and return to their labours in good health.

Mr Ramsay said : Ladies and gentlemen, to me has fallen the pleasing duty of proposing a hearty vote of thanks to the management of the Otago Girls' High School. We are all much indebted to the Board of Governors for their services during the past year, which, as usual, have been well and pleasantly discharged ; but, on an occasion such as the present, our thanks are more especially due to the lady principal Mrs Burn, and her staff of assistants for the excellent results of their year's labours. I am no advocate of " women's rights " in the sense that our young ladies should be educated here or elsewhere with a view to their taking their share with the sterner sex in the management of our local or public affairs — whether municipal, social, or political. I have no desire, for instance, to see our young ladies members of the City Council— (The Chairman: "Or Harbour Board 1 ') — or in the Harbour Board, as Mr Fulton says, or on public platforms addressing mixed audiences, or occupying our pulpits, or on the floor of our Houses of Parliament as M.H.R's or M.L O's.— (Laughter.) Women's ini3sion, to my mind, Is not in any of those places. I am, however, an advocate of their receiving as good an education as our boys and young men, and I rejoice that such an institution as this Girls' High School is open to them, and that its benefits are so largely taken advantage of ; and farther, that if they are so inclined they can enter our University on terms as favourable as our young men can do. — (Applause.) I have no sympathy with those who tell us that in many cases the higher education of women is thrown away unless they follow some profession. They may just as well tell us that a good education has been thrown away on the thousands of young men who are never heard of beyond their own homes or their own social circles, to whom it has nevertheless proved apriceless boon, enabling them to become good citizens, and affording them a means of intelligent enjoyment throughout their lives which nothing else could ever have given them. And it is not too much to hope, sir, that the liberal education " received in this school by so many girls and young ladies will to one and all of them, in the time to come, prove a priceless boon, whatever their station in life may be, or under whatever circumstances their lives may be spent ; nor is it too much to hope that they may look back on their school days with a feeling of gratitude to those who have so faithfully and well laboured in their behaif. —(Hear.) It must be gratifying to Mrs Burn and to those associated with her to find that their labours during the past year are so much appreciated, and I am sure that it will add to the pleasure of their holidays that they carry with them from the school to-day a very hearty vote of thanks. — (Applause.) I have very much pleasure, sir, in moving a hearty vote of thanks to the management of the Girls' High School. — (Applause. ) Dr BiiiiAU, on behalf of the lady principal and her assistants, acknowledged the vote. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings. [For report of Boys' High School break-up see page ' 27 and 28.]