High Schools' Prize Night

Southland Times, Issue 14814, 15 December 1900, Page 2

High Schools' Prize Night

The annual distribution of prizes in connection with the Southland Boys" and Girls' High Schools was held yesterday evening in Ashley's Hall, and the commodious building svas found to be not more than sufficient to scat the large number of parents and friends of the pupils, ex- scholars* and others intercntod in the institution who were prc-f-eut. The Kcv. (icorgc Lindsay occupied the chair, ami the Vm. An-hdeanon Stocker (chairman), tho Rev. J. (iibson Smith, and Messrs W. Macalister and .1. L. Met;. Watson, members of the Board of Governors, were also on the platform. The Yen Archdeacon Stocker, in opening the proceedings, said that for the last year or two they had found the long-room in the Hchool insufficient for such an occasion iv« the present, ami therefore the Board had invited them to this hall. Last year he had said that the must important event of the year had Ihjou the acquisition l>y the Board of the land in Tay street. Mr Macalister had corrected him and said the most important ovent was the admission to the High School at half fees of pupils who had passed the (ith Standard under the age of 14 years. There was no doubt that that was a most important event and another step towards extending the advantages of the High School as widely as possible. Thcv could claim that po High School in New Zealand afforded such advantages to the residents in itfc district rs our own, and no school gave a wmmler or a better education. N\.-xt yeai- tlu-y would meet Ulldcr new regulations of the Education Board, and while, on the one hand, High School pupils would be debarred from competing for scholarships, yet they hoped tho Board' would be able to increase the nutiilier of scholarships, and that would be a groat benefit to the school. They would iUo come under the influence of the new Technical Classes Act, which would lie very wide-spreading in its effects. Pic was sure the Education Board would do all in their power to carry out the provisions of that Act, and it would be the ditty of the High School Board to take advantage of it as far as lay in their power. They would beyin the new year with a change in the staff. Miss Ishcrwood had done very good work in the school and would carry into her new home the good wishes of till of them. (Applause). The Board believed they had made a wide choico in appointing a successor and hoped Miss Brown would display the same brilliant qualities she had shown during her school and college career. He wished to thank Mr Vernon for the zeal and energy he had shown in connection with the cadet coqjs, and he had a very able assistant in Lieut. Foote. He was glad that the games were going on satisfactorily. It was good far the pupils, both morally and physically, and they were assured it would not bo ovwjdono so long as Mr Fowler was rector. The Board had lost a very good member in Mr Rorsa, who took v greut deal of interest Ln the school. His knowledge of iletails was of great assistance, and he gave his time and knowledge unsparingly. The whole work of the school depended on the headmaster. Tho Board wished to thank and compliment the rector and the staff on the very efficient state of tho school at tho present time. The public could take a legitimate pride in the High School. It was doing good educational work, and long might it continue under the same management, The rector then road his report as follows : — " Tho names on the roll for the three tornirf of the past year havo numbered 96, >S4, and 7*S giving an average of 86. There hay been very little fluctuation on the girls' side, but a large number of boys have left school on obtaining employment. Fiftysoven neu- pupils— 34 boys and 23 girls — have been admitted. Some part of this large addition has been due to a regulation introduced at the beginning of the year, hy which pupils of primary schools, under 14 years of age, if they 'entered the High Schools immediately after passing the Sixth Standard, were accepted »t half the ordinary rate. About a quarter of the whole number in attendance have enjoyed this concession ; one-half made no payment at all, holding Scholarships granted by either the Education Board or the Governors of the High Schools ; and the remaining quarter only have paid the full fees oi.i'lOper annum. The usual proportion of pupils sat for the University examinations, out for tho last two years there have boon very few entries fov the Junior or the Senior Civil Service. One girl passed the Senior Civil Service examination ; five girls and five boys passed the examination for matriculation ; of three boys who competed for tho tirst time for Junior University scholarships, one obtained " credit," and the other two qualified for matriculation. Four boys and two girls obtained Education Board scholarships. As the ago limit for these scholarships has for sometime been fixed at 15 years, it was necessary that pupils should be allowed to compete after oeing admitted to tho High Schools, or else, in many oases, be kept at a primary school long alter passing the Si xthj Standard and being ready for a course of soeondaiy education. Next year, however, new regulations riv to be introduced by the Education Board, lowering the age limit to 14 years, undor which circumstances it will not be inequitable to debar High School pupils from competition. The girls' playground and tennis court were ready for use at the beginning of the year. I have been disappointed to find that full advantage has not been taken of thorn, but I hope, that next year a larger number of girls will be encouraged to stay after school hours and take some

healthy exercise instead of returning at once to thefr homes. There will be a change in the staff next term, owing to the resignation of Miss lahecwood, who has held tbo position of junior mistress for two years. Miss Edith Brown, 8.A., ein old and distinguished pupil of the school, has been appointed in her place." He also drew attention to the honours list, which was us follows :— University Junior Scholarship Examination : V. Ball, gained "Credit." E. Lindsay and A. Acheson qualified for matriculation. Matriculation Examination : Passed— Misses J. Kennedy, E. (irecr, M. Maud, T). Vyner, C. PilcheV, and J. G. McKay (former pupil), W. Scobio, O. Webber, I). Campbell (former pnpil), A. Rowlands, A. Bain, R. Christophers. Senior Civil Service : Miss B. Helb)'. Education Board Scholarships : Misses H. Jamieson and C. MacLeod, and S. Brown, F. Melhop, R. MacOibbon, B. Lindsay. The rector also remarked on the work being done by ex-pupils attending the Otago University, .and instanced the following honours gained at the last annual examination:—T. A. MacGihbon, first class in practical physics and first class in biology ; C. P. Brown, lirst class in coust. history and law and first class in English : J. H. Baird, first class in practical chemistry and first (•lass in /.oology ; 8.A., Miss E. Brown, T. A. MneGibbon, A. T. Thompson; B.Sc, J. A. Cowie, B.A. : M.A., L. Thompson. The prizes were then distributed by the Rev. Geo. Lindsay as follows : — Hoys— English : K. Lindsay, W. Scobie, F. Melhop, S. (ieorge. Latin : E. Lindsav, R. McKay, K. Melhop, H. McKay. French : E. Lindsay. B. Baird, R, Mac Gibbon, J. Mehaff'cy. Mathematics: A. Acheson, S. Brown, R, Mac-Gibbon, N. Gilniour. Science : A. Acheson, W. Scobie, O. F. Melhop, N. Gilniour. Book-keeping: R. MaeGibbon, F. Melhop (equal), H. Clark. Shorthand : H. Cowic and J. McPhail (equal). Progress : B. Lindsay, E. Selby. Duces : E. Lindsay and A. Acheson. (Jirls— English: Misses M. Lind, M. Fiiirhairn, K. Mnrgan. F. August. Latin : Misses. l. Forrester, K. Morgan, A. Kennedy. Frt'iuh -. Misses J. Kennedy, M. Fnirbairn, K. Morgan, A. Kennedy. Mathematics : Misses R. Vallance. I'lilnn-r, B. Dallas. Science : Misses M. Fairbiiirn mid F. August. Sewing: Miss B. Dallas. Drawing : Miss A. Ball. Porgross : Misses E. Harrington and C. MacLeod. Dux : Miss J. Kennedy. Mr Lindsay said the distribution of prizes this year was fraught with more interest than on previous occasions. It was the last time they would meet as a school this eentur\% and it made them look back and observe the progress that had been made in agriculture, commerce, science, literature, and all the branches of industry and education, and education lay at the foundation of all these. They could see what vast progress had been made during the century. At the beginning of the century not half the people of England were able to road or write. In ISlSonly IJn 17 attended any educational institution or school. In 1832 the British Government gave their first vote of £20,000 for education purposes and there svas a great rise in the percentage to 1 in 11. Then in IS6I the revised code came into operation and great progress' was made. There were three conditions in that code, viz., that the school should bo under a certificated tfeaehor, that the pupils should have a certain number of attendances, and that they should be individually examined in reading, writing and arithmetic. Still it was only in 1 870 that there was anything like an educational system in Englana. In that year they set about it in real earnest, and spread the advantages of education to tho masses. Matters were somewhat different in Scotland, where there was an educational system as far back as the 17th century, carried on under the Presbyteries. It was, however, only in the beginning of the present century that any rapid progress was made in reaching the masses. From then progress was rapid in Scotland, specially in 1843, when the number of schools was almost doubled. In IHT2 the English F>3'stem was applied to Scotland. Now millions were annually granted for education. In the early days, specially i" tlic voluntary school, any kind of porsun was looked upon as capable of teaching — a cripple, an invalid or a soldier. In Scotland the teaching was much better, ami teachers were admitted by examination. Men of culture and college men were en gaged in teaching. Comparing the ond and the beginning of the century we saw what immense progress had been made, and the advantages we enjoyed to-day. The boys and girls of to-day should he better men and women than their fathers* and mothers; He hoped thej' would do credit to the High School and the primary school through which they had passed. He agreed with the words of commendation that fell from Archj deacon Stacker in reference to the rector and stair. They were all doing work that would reflect great credit upon themselves in years to couic. He hoped those boys who were leaving the school would remember those from whom they had received their education, and that they would do their utmost to prove themselves worthy of tho school in which they hail received "their education. (Cheers). The Rev. J. Gihson Smith said he would have liked to see the hoys and girls taking a more prominent part in this annual function. He would suggoat their giving tv few acts from a play, and in that caso they would have to hold tho function in the theatre. He urged the girls and boys to make full use of Cheir opjwrtunities for outdoor exercise, as the health of the mind depended on the health of the body. Mr Smith continued his short address in a humorous strain that pleased the audience, and he also said much that tiie boys and girls would do well to bear in mind. Mr R. Gilniour also enlivened his hearers in a particularly happy speech, and hearty laughter punctuated his remarks all through. ' He referred to the incapacity that people frequently exhibited hi putting their thoughts into words, and their articulation was often a mere mutable. He gave practical illustration that convulsed the boys and girls. Ho concluded by offering to the boys a prize of £1 Is for tho best report of the next annual distribution of prizes ; the report to cover about threequarters of a column of tho Soutilla> % d Times, and to be ready for the next mornin b'- | The Rector, boforo the proceedings termiuated, replied to the other speakers, and thanked those who had given prizes, making special reference to the Rev. G. Lindsay. He hoped that next year others would give j tangible expression of their appreciation of the school. He had prizes to give Acheson and Scobie, who were tirst and second respectively in the shooting match, and also to Earle, whose shooting in the junior division was exceedingly good. Prizes for tennis for the girls were given to Miss Jamieson for singles and Misses Fairbairn and Ball in the doublet He thanked Mr Lindsay for presiding and three cheers wore given for I tho chairman by the bo3 r s. Tho proceedings, | which had been very interesting and enjoyable, then tenniuated with three cheers by the boys for their rector and his assistants.