SCHOOL VACATIONS

Otago Witness, Issue 2649, 21 December 1904, Page 35

SCHOOL VACATIONS

OTAGO GIRLS' HIGE SCHOOL.

The spacious hall of the Boys' Higlr School was crowded' to excess on Thursday; night on the occasion of the presentation of prizes to the pupils attending the Otago Girls' High School. Mr J. M'&ae Gallaway presided, and there were also on the platform Mr J. R. Sinclair (chairman of the High Schools Board of Governors,), Miss Marchant (principal of the school), the Hon. Sir Joseph Ward, his Worship the Mayor of Dunedin (Mr T. R. Christie), the Hon. T. Fergus, Mr J. P. Arnold, M.H.R., Dr Shand, Dr Church, Professor Gilray, Messrs M. Cohen, J. M. Gallaway, C. Macandrew, C Chapman. Apologies for non-attend-ance were read from Dean Fitchett, the Hon. A. L. Smith, M.L.C., Messrs D. B. Theomin, G. Fenwick, D. Reid, M.H.R., John Roberts, J. Allen, 3J.H.R., E. Ramsay, P. Goyen, O. R. Bossence, and C. D*. Richardson.

On the call of the chairman of the board the girls rose and accorded a hearty welcome to Sir Joseph "Ward, who, although" only arriving in town an hour before, had' I consented to come and take part in the proceedings by presenting the prizes. Mr J. R. Sinclair expressed the pleasure it afforded the governors of the school to meet the pupils and friends once more after a year of thoroughly good work. Miss Marohant was able to tell them that the school was never in a more satisfactory state than it was bo-day. They were now in a position, after two years of working, to offer an opinion as > to the regulation for free education, under which pupils might on certain conditions gain free admission to the school. All connected with the school, both governors and staff, considered that the ' system had been a thorough success.--—(Ap-plause-.) Before it c&rne into force the number of girls attending the school was 122, and now they had" 200, showing that the ./ usefulness of the school had been very l much extended. Of course, this largelyincreased attendance had pressed somewhat • upon the resources of the old school. He. -did not know whether -Sir Joseph was f aware, but it was not in the handsome and - palatial building in 'which they were, then t gathered that the studies of the girls were carried on. The largely-increased number ' of pupils had made it an absolute neces- • sity that the governors should provide increased accommodation for the teaching. Three large additional classrooms were re- •' quired, and the only way _tm's could be done was by taking a large number of the small rooms that were used as part of the boarding establishment attached to the school and converting them into classrooms. That work was now being put in hand, and it was hoped it would be completed by the time school reassembled adter the holidays. In consequence of these alterations the governors had been compelled to decide with great reluctance to give up the boarding establishment. He would like all those interested in the school to understand quite clearly that this alteration was only a temporary provision. The expenditure , in- j volved would be carefully looked to so that the work might fit in with the more extensive alterations that would have to be made later on. In the very near future ifc would be absoh-.tely necessary that the present building be pulled down and^a new one erected, or else the old one be reconstructed from top to bottom. — (Applause.) It was -40 years old, it was insanitary ; the rooms were quite insufficient — and would ■' be, insufficeni,, even with the extra accommodation being provided, — for satisfactorily doing the work of the school. It was hoped that during next session of Parliament they would get from the Government a. grant sufficient to enable them to build a really \vp-to-date school. — (Applause.) The^ Right Hon. the Premier a short time ago' went through part of the present .school— some of the passages were scarcely safe to carry his weight. — (Laughter.) The Hon. Mr Pitt had also been taken through the winding passages, and he » would also be very pleased to escort the Hon. Sir Joseph Ward over the building at any time ho would afford him the opportunity of doing so, because it was not safe to ask Sir, Joseph to go there alone. — (Applause.) Mr J. M. Galaway, who wa« cordially received on coming forward, then addro««^ the gathering. The speaker said that no doubt many an anxious parent had asked himself or herself the question, " How wils it benefit my daughter to send her to the High School of Otago?" With such inquiring parents he found himself in the warmestsympathy, because he knew very well the sacrifices that had to be made to enable their daughters to devote even two precious years to a higher education. The passionate desire that their daughters should enter the battle of life better equipped to fight than. * they themselves had been wa3 a sentiment s which did them infinite honour, and was the influence behind the power which had compelled the State to open the doors of secondary schools as part of its scheme of free education. In doing so the State was but taking one further step towards the fulfilment of ite duty to transmit to each new generation the privilege handed on by the past — to make the wisdom of their ancestors the knowledge of their children. He said one further step, because the goal would not be reached until the poor man's child had, of right, an education as full and ac complete as could be; furnished by the culture and research of the day. It might be admitted that most of. thorn with " experience of the world's hard* knocks would fain believe their daughter^ " might be spared, but, alas ! however ifc" might be if the world were a place where! women were- treated as beings apart and! sheltered from reality, it could not bo in this our prosaic twentieth century. " The most indigestible fact of our century." as it had been called — the movement tf women towards personal independence.— «

Juui taken firm root and spread with snob great strides during the last decades that even its most vigorous opponents must be content to make the best of it. For him- " self, he had always felt the deepest, Warmest sympathy with that yearning of \_ our sisters after a life of personal mde§denoe. Every opportunity which was ted within their, reach to make that indedence a privilege to themselves, a blessto mankind, had his support, and he esteemed it a high honour to be there that jB-vening presiding at a function which had lor it* object to do honour tcour daughters who so soon would start out in the race of actual .life. It was within the grasp of -- every girl attending- the High School to . attain some further steps in the knowledge of her own language and its literature, in - * acience, and - a foreign language. There •he might also acquire the useful arts of cooking, dressmaking, and drawing, and, - -because her physical welfare was of even ' greater importance than her mental equip- " .ment, she was carefully taught by his highly- - ~ xespected friend, Mr Hanna, in those exer- ---- cises which not only tended to keep her ~ _body equal to its mental strain, but to add t" %o the grace which went to' make her a - • jthing of beauty and a joy for ever. — (Ap- -- jplauset) They "would not care to listen Jtfer* he to enumerate the various subjects - which were efficiently. - taught in the school. ~ (Were they Tiot written in the 1 'syllabus,' .* which was at their disposal? Careful con--jfderation of that imposing -document would, \-_ or "ought' to, impress upon parents the ~ = obligations which they owed -to the prin- ■--. ctpal and her'etaff. He -desired to-empha-' : - BM5©- this need of sympathy;, because, as % - member of the board, instances had -come ■ v under his notice where -a parent's sympathy , had not -been wide enough to- embrace both '"- teacher and pupil. There wae one great " danger in the. 'scheme of secondary education '"-which he desired to point out. . The Sixth .-- Standard was the door to the High School. :- He hacl no .hesitation in stating, his firm - > conviction that because a pupil passed . the "--Sixth Standard it did not .necessarily follow 7 ' that she would benefit by coming , to the • High School. If she did not benefit her- - .self, she was -a let and hindrance io the -other pupils. It was too early "yet to say , of what thei stepping-stone from primary to .' secondary education should consist, biit,£ -; personally, he - felt that in the light of - ' further experience these children only would '• . be selected who might be expected to be r "» credit to the institution. He hoped the ~'d*y was not far distant when mere money would buy no place in .the High. School, v -when to be~a pupil "there would, in itself, ;be_ a coveted, distinction. "Parents should \ know that that -was no place, where their daughters " must" Uearn. If the desire to ■^ learn was lacking,, it •, were better for -daughters and parents alike, that some other method of spending two such precious years ''• were found elsewhere. .' If, nowever,_ the _ girl vai in earnest, she could -not obtain a _ better -education, in the colony than in the. 1 Sigh School of -Otago. — (Applause.) To few - it was. given to Attain high place in the' ■ High . School. Speaking " generally, there ; could be only one dux. Her -position was • .proud one, and both she and her parents - were to be congratulated upon _ her achieve--"'-ment;. but- he would not have it thought '- Jfchafc those -others who gained, no prize had .wasted their, own and their -parents' time. = '- -Ear from it. Often the pupik who was -- most brilliant at school was in after-life a - disappointment ; often the 'pupil who made Do, name for herself in her schooldays developed into a brilliant scholar, or, what - was even better, a good and useful woman, |t to take whatever might become her place in -the scheme of life with credit- to herself ; and benefit to her friends. The greatest benefit to be derived from the 'school wag the use of the aids which were provided to rtimulate a genuine desire io learn, not the -".mere" acquisition of facts. — (Applause.) To — ' th*~girls who were leaving school to continue their education at I;he University he - would say that in their careers the school .would eagerly watch for the fruition of it* teaching. To those others who were leaving V school to take part in the active battle of life he would say that they might find it' - difficult to get a start in the race ; but they ' - should take whatever they could get, and - prepare themselves for something higher. The starts in life which seemed the easiest' .and most desirable were ofttimes the ones 6hat led to little or nothing. They might >.be sure of it that, however humble the first - -rung of their ladder might be, if they had 1 really taken advantage of their bpportuni- -- ties, the next one would be easier of attain- '•- ment ; and if they continued to desire to , learn, they would find that each step higher would leave them with fewer competitors. .There was always room for brains on the* ..top. Again, if they found that the storms of life were hard to bear, that their courage was ooting, out, let them' call to mind the. : ficible thoughts of those whose footsteps they were but following. - If the realities of life < were unduly pressing, .let them escape into - the realms' of imagination, and people their 1 iworld with the charaoters.of wjhom-they had - read and learned to love. Thus would they turn to best advantage the learning they had „ themselves acquired by the methods which they had" been taught in the Girls' High .School. If, as the years rpllod by, it was - *3»eir destiny to become a good man's mate, ♦be mother of his children, their training -.would enable them -to into hi? duties, to- sympathise with his cares, and theirs would be the privilege to hand on the r wisdom they had attained — to train another ~ generation to remember Great Britain's fceroio deeds, to tell them of the growth and loyalty of the Greater Britain, but, above -- ii.ll things, to teach them to strive after that -Greatest Britain reverenced by all nations:. ~ the "truest and most just, the grandest and ' mtiost noble Empire this world would ever »cc. — (Applause.) TRIZE LIST. •*. 'Sir Joseph Ward then presented the prizes -knd certificates, the list of which is as follows: — CERTIFICATES. .finglieh.— Form IV (c), A. Oawin; IV (b), A. -- Sotting.; IV (a); C. Evans; V (c)— Eva, WilZfaßßonand R. Neil; V (b), V. Stevenson; V X*^-Gr. Allnutt, -H. Clyde, S. StevenßOn (Jbi«- _ %ory); VI (b), C. Mahoney.; VI (a), 0. Murray. Form IV (»), J. Hoy.; IV JW, M. Rhodes; -V -(c), A. Wood; V (b), V. ? Stevenson; V (a), Division "TI, D. Johnson; aWviaion I, E. Whitehead: VI (b), G-. Cameron; ,jVI (a), A. Steel. 1 I*tin,— Porm IV (a), E. Prt>ut; V (c), Eva . MiUanso'n; V(b)— l. liaycock (Lower), Mary Banrael (Upper); V (a)— H. Clyde (Lower), M. 4Wai* (Upper); VI (b), &. Cameron; VI (a), E. Smith.

• French.— Form IV (b), A. Bishop; IV (a), J. ' JP«rlc* ; V (c), R. Bagley ; V (b)— V. Burnard ~ [Lower), E. Roberts (Upper) ; V (a), M. Milne ; .VI <b), B. Muller; VI (a), A. Steel.

Science.—Form IV (b) — E. King and J. Hoy ; JV iA), C. Evans; V jfe) t M. Snier^y & ft

j Gilbert; V (a), E. Whiteh«ad; VI (b), E. 1 Sha-w; VI (a), C. Murray. ■ German. — Upper, A. Steel; Lower, D. Dall. ' Drawing. — Form IV (b), B. Co-ates; IV (a) — I. Hills and E. Kempton; V (c) — J. Shennan and Eva Wilkinson; V (b) — E. Egley and V. Burnard; V (a) — B. Cameron and M. Davey ; VI (b), G. Cameron. Easel Class, E. Lomas.

Sewing.— Form IV (b), C. Barren: IV (a), G. Wattson; V (c), Eva Wilkinson ; V (b), E. Gilbert ; V (a), R. Fish ; VI (b)— B. Muller and L. Palmer.

Sports Prizes. — Fives Singles: M. Newman 1, M. Miller 2. Fives Doubles : R. Shand and E. Smith. Tennis Singles: M. Newman 1, W. Shand 2. Tennis Doubles: R. Shand and M. Newman.

Gymnastics.— Form IV (b), B. Coates; IV (a) — Mary Farra and B. Turner (equal) ; V (c), G. Paton; V (b), A. Wilson; V (a), W. Spedding.

Hygiene.— Form IV (c), C. Uarrett; IV (b), I. Hills; IV (A), Ruth Stevenson; V (c), I. Laycock; V (b), M. Hare; V (a), H. Carriok.

English including History and Geography. Form IV (c), M. Thomson ; IV (b), B. Morris ; JV (a)— E. Prout, C. Clayton (special); V (c), M. Spiers ; V (b) — V. Burnard, M. Samuel ; V (a)— A. Hastings (History), J. Bennett; VI (b), G. Cameron; VI (a) — M. Newman 1, E. Smith 2. o

Mathematics. — Form IV (b), B. Minn; IV (a) — C. Evans. A. Arnold (special) ; V (c), EvaWilkinson; V (b), V. Burnard; V (a)— S. Bayley (Div. 2), G. Allnutt (Div. l)j VI (b), E. Shaw; VT-(a), C Murray (Messrs Brown, Ewing's medal). Latm.— Form IV (a), C. Evans; V (c), E. M'Mullan; V (b), A. Treurn: V (a), Lower — ,E. Whifehead and G. Alinutt; V (a), Upper— W. Stokes; VT~(b), L. Rutherford; VI (a)— M. Newman 1, D. Dall 2. French.— Form IV (b), A. Botting; IV (a), C. Evans;' V (c), E. M'Mullsin; V (b), May Faira; V (b), Lower— H. Clyde; V (a), E. Whitehead; VI (b), L. Rutherford; VI (a)— M. Newman 1, E. Smith 2.

Science.— Form IV (b), A. Botting; IV (a), C Clayton; V (c), M. Macdonald; V (b), V. Burnard; V (a) — E. Lomas and G. Allnutt (equal) ; VI (b), G. Cameron ; VI (a), D. Manson

German. — Upper — M. Newman 1, B. Muller 2; Lower,. E. Smith.

Sewing.— P7 (b), B. Coates; IV (a). E. Christie.; .V (c), Evelyn Wilkinson; V (b), H. Weir; V (a), J. Bennett.

Drawing.— Form IV (b), H. Umbers; IV (a)— o. Clayton, E. Jcan-s; V (c), M. Spiers; V (b), H. Lyders ; V (a)— V. Davie, M. Duke ; special, H. Clyde; VI (b), M-. Samuel. Easel Class: H.jCarrick, L. Rutherford. Brushvcrk: J. Bennett, A. Hastings. SEECIAL FRIZES. Shakespeare reading prize — M. Foster. Mr Hanlon's special prizes — H. Umbers 1, Gr.-Sunderia.nd 2. Field Club's prize, botanical collection— C. Clayton. Otago Art Society's 'medal for drawing — M. Adam. Mrs Joachim's prize, brushwork design — C. Clayton. . . ' * -Boarders' sewing, Miss Bicknell's prize — S. M'D6ri*ld'. • • . - Boarders' neatness, Miss Shand's prize — A. Louden. - Music prizes : , Miss Longford's pupils — Practical, Evelyn Wilkinson; theory, O. Laidlaw.' Mr ' Taylor's pupils— Practical, Jj. Rutherford; theory, D. Mackie. Dux of the School — May Newman. -HVXES OF THE SCHOOL. 1871 Flora Muir 1872 Isabella Siiand 1873 G-eorgina Tewsley 1874 Wilhelmina, J. Maekay 1875 .. Isabella J. Hislop and Annie M. Burn (equaj) 1876 ...,.,. Isabella L. Gillies 1877 Mary Montgomery 1878 Margaret Alves 1879 ; :-. Flora, Allan 1880 Marion Steel 1881 • Annie Forbes 1882 Isabella C. J. K. Duncan 1883 Marion Angus Ferguson 1884 Isabella M'Landress 1885" i Catherine Moss 1886 Sylvia Esther G-ifford 1887 Barbara Mary Watt 1888 Edith H. Pearce 1889 Emma M. Rainforth. 1890 Margaret N. Gellatly 1891 .. Christina M. Cruickshan_k and Marga- > ret B. Cruickshank (equal) 1892 , Edith A. Barclay 1833 Catherine Cameron 1894 Annie Bauchop ' 1895 Violet M. G-reig 1896 Flora J. W. Hodges 1897 Sussanah C. C. M'Kniglit "1898 Ada, G. P*terson 1899 Alice Budd 1900 " Phoebe Jones 1901 .. Annie H. Cox and Alary Webb (equal) 1902 Minnie Paterson 1903 +s. ' -. Helen P. Kerse 1904 '.. :'. May NewmanIn presenting .the medal to the dux of the school' for this year (Miss May New- j man),,, Sir Joseph said that it must be ' recognised that such an honour had not been . gained without exceptional ability or certainly zeal and devotion to work, and he was sure all would join with him in very heartily congratulating the successful pupil. The response in the way of applause .from those present was decidedly emphatic. PBINCIPAI'S BErOBT. * The following is the report for the year of the Principal (Miss Marchant) : — The number of pupils enrolled this year has been 232, 70 being new pupils. There were 203 the first term, 193 the second, and 204 the third term. The largest enrolment of new pupils was at -the beginning of the year, but 26 girls were entered in the third term. The number of boaidera has been 10, 9. and 9 fox the three terms. We have had 11 junior and 21 senior scholarship holders, 2 national- scholars, 7 girls holding Board of Governors' free places, and 135 free scholars.

Last year 10 girls passed the matriculation examination, 5 qualifying for the solicitors' general knowledge test; 3 girls gained places in the credit list of the University junior scholarship examination; 1 girl qualified for matriculation on the scholarship papers. In the junior examinations for the civil service we gained great distinction, one girl came second for th* whole colony, another fourth, and four others "passed welL One girl also passed the senior examination. In the Education Board -examinations three girls gained penior scholarships and five qualified for free education as granted by the Board of Governors.

The importance of all young people being taught the true facts about the necessities of life, sucbi as proper food and clothing, fresh air, exercise, also health and disease, and elementary ideaambout the human frame is now so universally recognised in theAxt^rioan »nd the Old World systems of education that I felt ii> was desirable that our girls should have the advantage of some such teaching from those who were qualified to speak with authority on such matters. My suggestion that they should help in this: -vrojk was cheerfully and enthusiastically taken up by many of our doctors, and I wish to publicly thank therm for their great kindness 1 . The lectures given wero^ "PersojnaJ Heaitlu" ,'

by Dr Emily Siedeberg; "First Aid," by Dr Agatha Adams ; " Sick Nursing, ' by Dr Chuicli; " Food and Clothing," by Dr Marshall Macdoiiald; ""Water," by Dr O'Neill; '"Air and Ventilation," by Dr E. Williams ;■'" Infectious Diseases," by Dr Hall; and " Cliildlen's Food." by Dr Stanley Batchelor. At the end of the course an examination was set by Dr Agatha Adams, who in her report says : " I have been veiy satisfied with the results. The questions were in most cases very well answeied, showing that the girls had taken an intelligent interest in the lectures, and had remembered *h« most important part 3of them. '

I regret that the date of the Sixth Standard examination has not yet been altered. The winter examination of the town schools is a very severe handicap for the clever pupils, who have thus a broken period of aboixt six months at a critical sta^e in their training. As soon as Ibese children Lave passed the Sixth Standard they are eligible for admission to the High .Schools, and are at an age when they should begin their secondary work. Under the present system, however, it is not thoiight advisable that they should come to the High. Schools till Lhe beginning of the school year, because under the Government regulations this portion of the year would be counted ns a whole one, or, in other words, the pupils would lose several months of their free education. It must be seen that had their examination been held late in th-e year, ond had these children come to use fresh at the beginning of the new year, there would be no unnecessary wasta of time or dislocation of their work.

Then again the admission of some pupils in September, those who would be over age at the beginning of the following year, is a cruel kindness: As I have stated before, these pupils are regaerded by the G-overnrneiit as having been present for the whole year, instead of for three or four months, and are expected to sit in 15 months' time for the same test examination as those who have been in the school for two whole years. It has been decided to close tire boarding house. 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, aB a temporary measure till a new school can be obtained, to use most of the house space for school purposes. It is hoped in this way to provide for a large science room, a sewing room, a, spa-oious class room to accommodate a large class, and probably rooms for the studios can also be found.

Our best thanks are tendered to Mrs Beaumont, Mr& Sinclair Thomson, and Mrs J. Wright, for judging the sewing; to Dr Scott, for deciding the winner of the Art Society's medal; to the committee of the Shakespeare Club, for awarding the reading prize; to Dr A, Adams, for examining the hygiene papers; and to Mr G-. M. Thomson, for judging the botanical collections.

Wo acknowledge with gratitude the receipt of prize contributions from Messrs Brown, '. Ewing, and Co., silver medal for mathematics ; j the Otago Art Society, silver medal for draw- ', ing; the Shakespeare Club, prize for reading; i the Otago Institute,^science prizes; the Dux Association, Mrs Beaumont, Mrs J. R. Sinoiair, Mrs J. M. Ritchie, Mrs Joachim, Dr A. Adams, | Mr A. Wilson, Mr Newman; Mr Hanlon, two ' reading prizes. [ I have not this year reported on any special S parts of the ordinary school -work. The members of the staff have, one and all, worked | most earnestly and loyally in carrying out the new regulations, which from their novelty have not always been very easy to put into effect, | and .to them is due any measure of success the girls may attain. ! lam pleased to he able to report that the ! conduct of the girls has, on the whole, been good. The work, though, new' to most of them, has been done in a satisfactory manner. As the new conditions become better understood, I am hoping to see _a greater continuity of purpose and "a determination on the pupils' part to work with the" object of gaining a renewal of their free education for two years more, and so fitting themselves for some useful work in life. Sir Joseph Ward, who was received with prolonged applause, said he felt it a pleasure and privilege to be present that evening to present the prizes, and he recognised that there was no greater day connected with the history of any .school or one that" left a more indelible impress on those taking part, many of whom were perhaps going from school for the last time, than an occasion such as that which they were that evening celebrating. He had heard from the chairman of the board that the Girls' School— 40 years old he understood it was — was now in such a happy position that it required either to be rebuilt or reconstructed from top to bottom, and he would just say to the girls that if they had that influence in private life that they should have, they shotild see that those who were responsible realised that a. school in that condition should be absolutely annihilated and swept out of existence. Mr Sinclair's remarks had been based on the possible disappearance of the Premier of the colony through a rotten floor — (laughter), — and there was the collateral invitation to himself (the speaker) to go over the building, and he could only assume that Mr Sinoiair had some improper motives "in the suggestion. — (Laughter.) Joking apart, however, he could only assume also that it was high time the building disappeared, andf he would express the hope that his own assistance, with that of others, would help them to get a new school in its place. Regarding the amended regulations that he was glad to hear had been the means of such an increased attendance at the Girls' "High School, when they were first brought into operation there ■ was a. great diversity of opinion as to whether th© change would be a successful one or not, and it was a very happy augury indeed to find in the second year of the existence of these regulations that the people immediately concerned recognised that the old and some- ' what restricted conditions that closed the doors of the High Schools to many deserving pupils had been superseded by a more liberal condition of affairs, that would no doubt have the effect of allowing the poorest of the poor to enter those doors and obtain what was so essential to them in after life. To the girls themselves he would say that in after life, whatever their work might be, a-" great responsibility must devolve on them. Nothing made a. more marked impression on the life of a nation j than the HSrne-life of the women of that nation, and if there was real home-life in this or any country it might be depended on that it bore the impress of th© teaching of school days. It was the nation that was going in for the best, most effeotive, and most extended system of education that was able to hold its own with its competitors, and what was taking place in America, Germany^ and Japan was the result of specialisation and the determination not to be second. Th© girls of to-day would he the women of to-morrow, with their controlling influence, and he emphasised the desirability of a highly-trained woma.nb.ood and manhood in this or any other ooun*!3-_ £* pfoOTSifc whj£ jgjrlg opulj dj?^

' the speaker explained the circumstances under which the previous evening at liiver-cai-gill he had presented the prize to a girl who was entitled justly to be- called the dux of the Boys' High School there. He knew that the lady principal of the Dunedin Girls' ~agh school and her staff must have necessarily had during the year many difficulties to overcome, but he felt sure he was justified, on behalf of the parents present, in expressing their appreciation of the services rendered "by the teaching staff during the past 12 months. In concluding, Sir Joseph referred to the excellence of an all-round education, which the distribution of the prizes had showed him was imparted in ' the Girls' High School at Dunedin, and assured th© pupils that they had much to be thankful for when they considered what was available for their mothers and ' fathers in New Zealand, and expressed the hope that their recess would be a pleasant 1 lime for all, that they would spend a very Isappy Christmas and New Year, and come ! back "next year to school reinvigorated and j determined still more to obtain that store ! of knowledge their teachers were so ready I to impart, so that when, too coon, alas ! they became the women of New Zealand they would show by their modesty and attainments that the result of the teaching in the Girls' High School of Otago had been sound and good in every respect. — (Applause.) Mr J. F. Arnold, M.H.R., proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the lady principal and staff of "the school, ancl also to- the Board of Governors. Very many of them who for many years had been of opinion that education, for those who had the ability to earn it, should be free from the primary schools right up to the University, feared, when free education at the High ' Schools was granted to tho^e who passed the Sixth Standard, leet the change from' what had previously been a class school to a school where the masses might come in and receive education froe should cause a certain amount of feeling and ' a certain amount of jealousy and strained relationship between the various girls which would prevent the reform meeting with that success which was hoped for it. He was, however, glad to be able to affirm positively from close observation that there had been no such result, and that the system -was working admirably. — (Applause.) Many people considered that in faithfully discharging their duties teachers were only doing that which was required of them, but it was impossible to escape from the faot that the staffs of all schools were greatly encouraged, and the work more efficiently performed, when the teachers had with them the sympathy of the parents as well as the good feelings of the pupils. — (Applause-.) ' The motion was carried by acclamation. Miss Marehant, who was received with applause, said she had great pleasure in reporting that th© free education scheme had proved a workable thing in the Otago Girls' High School at all events.—(Applause.) There were many different sides to the question, a few of which she. desired to touch upon. It had' been said that no nation could become great without education, and that a nation might be ruined v/ith'out it. Sir Joseph Ward had drawn attention to the wonderful progress that three nations of the world at the present time were making — the three nations that were causing the British people to draw their breath, and perhaps prepare to meet these different people on their own ground — Americans, Germans, and Japanese. In each instance these nations put education in the front rank of their national policy. Referring to the American system of education, Miss Marchant said that the great advantage of it, to her mind, was that it was not only free — in many cases ev&n to the colleges and universities, — but that under it the pupil was passed on from one set of schools to another by an accrediting system, and not by the harassing methods of examination. — (Applause-.) The universities, for instance, recognised that the teachers and directors of the secondary schools knew the mate-rial they were training, and allowed them to send on to the university all those who had reached a certain step in the college work; and the same was done with regard to advancing pupils from the primary schools to the colleges. That was one thing we might in New Zealand learn from America. There was too much examination in New Zealand. —(Applause.) Dealing with the New Zealand system of free secondary education, th© speaker pointed out that a girl must pass the Sixth Standard and gain a certain percentage of marks in specified subjects — not a high percentage. If the child was not more than 14 years of age in the December of that year, she was eligible for admission into the High School at the beginning of the following year, and yas kept at the school for two years. If, however, the girl was 14 before the December of that year, she must go to the High School, as the regulations were at present, in the September term. This was where a great injustice was done to these last-mentioned pupils, for that one term, was counted as a whole year, and consequently, a* the end of the following year, these girls, had to sit for the continuation examination — which was the pioneer civil service examination — with the girls who had come to the school at the beginning of the previous year. The examination was too severe *>r girls who had only had four terms, and some modification would have to be found. She would like parents to come and see her when the ohildr-en were enrolled, and also impressed on them the necessity of advising the teachers or herself when a child wae taken away from the school during the year. Miss Marchant thanked very heartily the members of the board, Sir Joseph Ward, and Mr Arnold for the very kind things they had said about the school, and expressed her warm appreciation of the co-operation she had received from the members of the teaching staff in the oonduot of the school ; and, in conclusion, wished the girls a happy Christmas, pleasant holidays, and a very prosperous New Year.— (Loud applause.) A pleasing break in the proceedings was made prior to the presentation of the prizes, this taking the form of an animated French comedietta effectively performed by a number of the girls. Votes of thanks to the chairman and to Sir Joseph Ward, and hearty cheers by the girls of the school for the lady principal and staff, for Sir Joseph and the iD«mb#rs of the board, brought the function to a close, Mr J. R. Sinoiair intimating that the holidays would extend till February 7.