ON SCOTS TRADITION

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 521, 26 November 1928, Page 13

ON SCOTS TRADITION

CHURCH COLLEGES REPORTS TO GENERAL ASSEMBLY Scottish tradition of an all-round education on a sound religious foundation was being carried on in eight schools, stated the report of the Board of Education to the Presbyterian General Assembly today. Not until 20 years ago did the Church set about establishing schools, said the convenor, the Rev. W. R. Hutchison, and now it had St. Cutlibert’s, Auckland; lona, Hawke’s Bay; Solway, Masterton; Queen Margaret’s and Scots, Wellington; St. Andrew’s, Christchurch: and Columba and John McGlashan, Dunedin. “The colleges will not be fulfilling their mission until they have completely the right kind of staffs,” said the Rev. W. Bower Black. He said he could see no reason why young people should not give their service to the colleges in the same way as they gave them to the ministry. They might, worthily serve the Master in the schools. Unless the staff could be fully equipped in a Christian as well as an academic standard, the colleges would be not better than the public schools. “The schools are taking an honourable place among the secondary schools of New Zealand in scholarship, in athletics, and not least in character building,” stated the board’s report. The burden of debt upon the college boards was still heavy. The Church should raise a substantial endowment fund for their relief. The report recorded its appreciation of the services of Miss Margaret Mollison, the lirs?t matron of Knox College, and of the Rev. Dr. James Gibb, who recently retired from the chairmanship of the two Wellington schools. Assembly decided to express its appreciation of the work done by the colleges, and to convey thanks to Miss Alollison and Dr. Gibb. The Moderator, Professor Hewitson, pointed out that the Minister of Education had recognised the necessity of church schools. Speaking of Dr. Gibb, he said: “He astonishes me with his energy and capacity in a great variety of ministerial works, and by the high standard ho maintains.” (Proceeding)