BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL

Otago Witness, Issue 4057, 15 December 1931, Page 25

BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL

PRIZE-GIVING CEREMONY. ADDRESS BY REV. W. A. STEVELY. As in other years, the Otago Boys’ High School Assembly Hall and gallery Were crowded for the annual breaking-up and prizegiving ceremony on Friday afternoon. Mr J. C. Stephenus (actingehairman of the High Schools Board of Governors) presided, and the principal speaker was the Rev. W. A. Stevely, who delivered an inspiring address on “ Playing the Game,” and who also presented the prizes. Referring to the enrolment of pupils, 3lr Stephens said that it might be of interest to mention that there was a tendency for the average age of new pupils to show a decline and for the average length of stay to increase. As the rector had pointed out in his annual report, the economic conditions prevailing during the last year had contributed to the rise of about two months in the average leaving age. Whatever the cause the result was gratifying, as he doubted whether much benefit was gained by •ending a boy to the school for a short period.

AN INSPIRING EXAMPLE. Mr Stevely thanked the Board'''bf Governors for its invitation to be present that afternoon and. to congratulate the rector, staff, and scholars on the fine work of the year which the annual report indicated. “This is a great school, with great tradition and great opportunities,” ■ he said. “ See that you make the most of these opportunities that you may be prepared for greater.” The speaker then proceeded with the subject of bis address. On the veranda of a large house in Virginia 68 years ago stood a group of white people looking down gravely on the darkskinned throng who stood tense with expectation in the square beneath. For months strange rumours had passed as if by magic from hut to hut—stories of distant fighting, tales of a leader who had resolved to set a people free, hopes for liberty'that was coining. Could it be true? ■ It was true. From the group on the ■ veranda one stepped forward, a parchment in his hand, and slowly and clearly, so that all could understand, he read aloud • the edict for the emancipation of the slaves. When he had finished a deep, inarticulate murmur swept over the crowd, and one woman standing near the front with her two little boys caught them in her arms and kissed them tenderly. They were free! “ Not one in that crowd ever forgot that moment,” Mr Stevely continued. “ least of all the elder of the two boys. His first name was Booker, but he had 1 no surname. Until that moment he had been of less value than a cow on the planta- . tion. His home was a log cabin, 16ft by 14ft, windowlcss; his bed a heap of rags on the mud floor. An old slave remarked one day: ‘There were five of us sold in one day—myself and my brother, and three ’ mules.’ The day after the emancipation the freed salves were more bewildered and helpless than the mules. But in their darkness one star shone brightly, one light burned intensely in their hearts — . the desire for reduction. In none did it burn more brightly than in little Booker. “His mother went to the salt mines, and there, in wretched surroundings. • Booker began to work. A school was opened at the village, and Booker eagerly joined the night school. The other boys wore caps, but he had none, nor had his mother money to buy him one. But she sewed two pieces of cloth together, and thus equipped with what he deemed the ■ badge of progress the boy took his place. Soon he found he had a want still greater than a cap. He had no surname. As the roll was called he felt very uncomfortable, and desperately searched his memory for a surname he might choose. Few famous names were known to the children of the slaves, but one he remembered. When his turn came the proud reply was ‘ Booker Washington.’ He lived to make the great name he chose still greater. “ At that little school Booker learned all that the teacher could impart. It was not much, for the freed slaves had to be content with very poor teaching in their first search for education. One of these teachers before his appointment was asked if the earth was round or flat, and replied that he was willing to teach which ever was preferred! Such instruction could not long satisfy a boy like Booker Washington. Fortunately for him. and for thousands more, General Armstrong realised that disaster lay before the country if the freed slaves were allowed to remain uneducated, or educated on wrong lines, and he founded the College of Hampton, and devoted to it his wealth and his life. “ Booker Washington resolved to go to Hampton. He had no money, but he tramped 500 miles to reach it, earning a few pence where he could. Sometimes he slept in the open. At Richmond he slept under an archway (as he recalled, when 40 years later he came to Richmond to receive the freedom of the city). He arrived at Hampton, foot- . sore, dirty, and in rags, and begged to be admitted as a pupil. The only’ reply made was a request to clean out the hall. Booker felt that his future depended on that cleaning. Three times he swept it. four times he dusted it, and then, his whole soul in his eyes, he asked the teacher to inspect it. ‘ You will do to enter this institution,’ was the verdict, for in Hampton hard work and a teachable spirit are as of great importance as learning. Booker had no money to poV for his fees, but gladly acted as janitor - during the term, and served in a restaurant during the holidays to pay for his classes. Every day he impressed General Armstrong and his staff ’ by his eagerness and his humility. "At length he graduated and went back to his native district to teach in a village school. With his earnings he sent his ymunger brother to Hampton. Soon he was called to a wider sphere. The classes at Hampton were overflowing, and a second college w’as urgently needed. It was decided that its Staff should be coloured, and Booker Washington was called to be its principal. As yet there was no land, no buildings for this college. He had to procure these.' With immense courage and faith he went up and down the States pleading for the children of the slaves in the name of humanity and of Christ. The College ot Tuskegee started in an old kitchen, a

stable, and a hen house has now 40 industrial departments, agricultural, academic, and experimental schools. “PLAY THE GAME!” “Booker Washington served more than his own race. He served the world.” said Mr ’ Stevely. ‘‘When he came, to Europe he was received by Queen Victoria as the most distinguished son of his race. On the monument to Booker Washington are these words: ‘He lifted the veil of ignorance from his people.’ What has been done can be done. Education is a preparation for life. Use your opportunities now in a way that will prepare you for greater possibilities in the future. I daresay you all know Henry Newbolt’e lovely little poem, ‘ Vitae Lampada ’ or ‘ The Lights of Life.’ There is a fine manly ring about it; something able to quicken aspirations and make our resolves lamps unto our feet. Recall the two pictures in the poem. The first is the end of a school cricket match, when there is breathless excitement round the ropes. There is an hour left for play. The pitch is bumping and the light is bad; it needs 10 runs to win the match, and the last man is starting for the wicket:

And it's not for the sake of a ribboned coat, Or the selfish hope of a season’s fame; But his hand on his shoulder smote — “Play up! Play up! and play the game.”

“ Don't you feel the inpiration of that hand and of these words? How it would bring to that ‘last man’ the warm feeling that takes away nerves, adds confidence. and helps a man to do his beet, while yet preparing him to accept the result, whatever it might be, like a good sportsman. For your school, your team, your parents, ‘ play up and play the game.' ”

lhe second picture showed them one of those awful moments wMien everything seemed to conspire to tempt them to surrender. The scene was a ‘ecrap’ at one of the outposts of our far-flung Empire. The desert was red with thp blood or the fallen. The only field gun was jammed. The colonel was dead. Why ’’waste" more lives? And England was far away. X'o one left to record the heroism. V\ by care? What was duty? Only a name.

But the voice of a schoolboy rallies the ranks— Play up! Play up! and play the game. Then for country “play up and play the game,” Mr Stevely urged. “And is there not a sense in which with all reverence we may speak of ‘ playing the game ’ towards God? There is a host of things which cannot be called wrong, but which may shrivel up the soul when they prevent us from religious duties and from giving Christ the central part in our lives. Here. too. ‘ play up and play the game.’ That will settle for you every occasion when suggestions of selfishness or safety or money or advancement would tempt you away from being true to your higher self, from being true to Christ, 'lake your path ip helping the sjTTritual advancement of the world. Let this phrase that means so much in some directions apply all round. Let its inspiration shine down all the passages of the temple of life.”

That was the deepest meaning of Ncwbolt's lines:

This is the word that year by year. While in her place the school is set, Every one of her sons must hear.

And none that hears it dare forget This they all with a joyful mind Bear through life like a torch in flame. And falling fling to the host behind: Play up! Play up! and play the game. THE DUX. A rousing haka followed Mr Stevely’s speech and the prizes were then presented. Mr W. R. Brugh presented the Navy League prizes, Mr T. C. Ross the Chamber of Commerce prizes, and Mr George Chance the drawing prizes. The proceedings were punctuated by the singing of a number of school songs. The dux this year is Walter Routledge Rodgerson, who came to the school from the St. Clair Primary School under the headmastership of Mr Coutts. In introducing the dux to the assembly the rector (Mr W. J. Morrell) said that he would like once again to take the opportunity of acknowledging the solid foundation that the boys brought with them from the primary schools. The rector outlined Rodgerson's scholastic achievements, and added that he was the company-sergeant-major of the Cadet Battalion, and had had the honour of gaining the Defence Department's prize as the best N.C.O. in the Southern Command. He congratulated his parents, his old primarv school headmaster, and Rodgerson himself. Mr Stevely also congratulated the dux on his merits and his industry, and the school acknowledged his achievement with an enthusiastic haka, followed by another from the old boys present. At the conclusion of the prize-giving ceremony Mr J. M. Fraser (president of the Old Boys’ Society) proposed a vote of thanks to the rector and the staff, and congratulated Mr Morrell on his 25 years’ service in the school. The motion was carried with acclamation, and the rector returned thanks on behalf of the staff and himself. The following is the special prize list: — DUX. Dux of the school: Walter Routledge Rodgerson (Board of Governors’ gold medal and Dux Association’s book prize). SPECIAL PRIZES. Gymnastics.— Senior Challenge Cup and medal: W. R. Carswell. Junior Challenge Cup and medal: A. J. Reid.

Swimming. — School Championships: Senior Challenge Shield, cup, and medal, G. R. Geddes; Junior Challenge Cup and medal, A. J. Mackintosh.

Boxing.—School Championship: J. M. Meek, list and under: Herbert Martin. 9st 101 b and under: R. C. Cotton; 9st and under: J. R. J. Moore. Bst 71b and under: R. F. Hay. Cadet Prizes.—Drill: Challenge Shield for most efficient platoon, No. 4 Platoon (A Company), Senior-sergeant F. B. M'Laren, Sergeant J. F. G. Lawson ;challenge bowl and medal for most efficient N.C.0., Sergeant A. F. Marshall; sergeants’ prize and challenge cup, Sergeant J. F. G. Lawson; corporals’ prize, Corporal L. F. Thomas; buglers’ prizes—seniors. Sergeant R. J. Lamond; second year, Bugler R. W. T. Whittington; juniors, Bugler

E. T. Dick; drummers’ prize, Drummer F. L. Dolamore; machine gun section, Corporal W.. N. Evans. „Artillery sections prizes: Best sub-section, B Subsection (Sergeant J. B. Paterson); sergeant's prize. Sergeant J. B. Paterson;’ gunners’ prize, Bombardier C. J. F. Sim-, kin; gunlayers’ prize. Sect. Cr. M'Caig; signallers. Bombardier A. N. Nelson; recruit signallers, Gunner L. G. Lilly. SHOOTING. Challenge Cup and Hislop trophy: R.Q.M.S. C. C. Byer. Junior Challenge Cup: Cadet J. F. Moodie. Old Boys’ Match: Old boys’ team,’ Colonel J. H. Moir (1881-85) ; present boys’ team, Cadet J. r. Moodie. School matches: Sergeant J. R. Neill, S.M. W. J. Boyd. Company challenge cups: Seniors. Sergeant J. R. Neill, Sergeant R. T. M’Kelvey; juniors, Sergeant J. G. Hodge, Corporal W. J. Keen. ATHLETICS. Challenge Cup and prize: R. E. Naumann. Junior Challenge Cup and prize: G. M. Spence. Challenge Shield for relay race: Mod. I b Form. Stuart Hawthorne Shield for junior relay: IVd Form Form championship banner: Form VI. Half-mile Challenge Cup: A. R. Craigie. Cross-country race: T. H. Pulla r. Football.—Challenge Cup and prize: Herbert Martin. Association Football.—Challenge Cup and medal: A. N. Nelson. Hockey.— Most improved player: Haldane Johnson. Fives.—Open Singles: T. P. Ryan. Junior Singles: D. W. G. Smith. SPECIAL SCHOOL PRIZES. Good Work.—Seniors, J. G. Shearer; Fifth Forms—D. V. Gilmour, Maxwell Fyte,, L. K. Donovan; second year— W. N. Etheridge, Rex Cassey, J. A. A M'Kenzie; first year— W. J. W. Roseyear, J. M. H. Highet, R. S. Dick. Drawing: Seniors. Richard M Caig; third year. A. J. Black; second j-ear, S. L. Portman; first year, C. G. Andrews. Writing: Senior, V. J. Joseph; junior, V. J. Salmon; first year, J. W. C. Cuthbertson. Reading: C. H. N. Howell. H. E. Moller. Debating: Senior. K. W Stewart; junior. J. G. Norman. English essay: P. M. Lusk. Mill medals: A. F. Marshall and Harold Silverstone (proxime aecesserunt to dux). ATHENAEUM PRIZES. Fo ” m VI: Harold Silverstone. Upper V.: R. w. Munro. V: A. T. Pitts and K. W. Stewart. Lower V: Adam Maleolmson Mod. V: R. E. Naumann and A. E. Valentine. IV: John Elvidge and R. T. Clarkson. Mod. IV: C. L. Nees and F. L. Dolamore. Ill: L. G. Geering and K. W. Jakewav. Mod. Ill: W. C. Bates. NAVY LEAGUE PRIZES. Form VI: W. R. Rodgerson. V: E. M. Prichard. Mod. V: J. G. Hannah. Lower V: Adam Malcolmson. IVa: H. E. Moller and L G- Hay. IVd: D. M. Smith. Mod. IV: T. B. Campbell. Illa: J. D. Reid. IHb: G. W. Robertson. I He: L. J Joel. Mod. HI: Alexander Brownlie

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PRIZES. Senior: Richard M'Caig. Middle school: H. J. M’Clymont and R. S. Roxburgh. Junior: H. E. Moller.