BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 December 1924, Page 5

BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL.

BREAKING-UP CEREMONY, DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZES. <N ENTHUSIASTIC GATHERING. That the interest taken in the New Plymouth Boys’ High School by parents -and old boys is' something deep and real was illustrated in a remarkable manner last night, when, despite the torrential downpour which turned the streets into rivers and made home more than visually inviting, the assembly hall of the school was packed with an enthusiastic gathering to congratulate the boys and their masters on the addition of another successful year to the proud record of the school. How well the boys of the present day are maintaining and adding to the high traditions made by students who are now old boys was made manifest in the splendid school spirit that pervaded last night’s breaking-up ceremony, and *Jn the annual report of the principal (Mr. W. H. Moyes). It was this fact that led the Mayor (Mr. F. E. Wilson) to remark that he knew of instances of people making their homes in New Plymouth because of the renown of its high schools. Last night's ceremony, the fortyfourth, was presided over by Mr. H. R. Billing (chairman of the Board of Governors) and with him on the platform were Mrs. Billing, the Mayor and Mayoress, Dr. E. Marsden (AssistantDirector of Education), Dr. E. F. Fookes, Mr. L. A. Nolan, Mr. Moyes and the members of the whole staff. Interspersed with selections by the school orchestra and the school chorus under the baton of Mr. J. Dobson, the speechmaking and prize-giving ceremony of this year was a memorable one. Mrs. Wilson and Mrs. Billing were the recipients of pretty bouquets of sweet peas.

PROGRESS OF THE SCHOOL. An interesting review of the progress »f the school during the past year was , contained in the annual report of the principal (Mr. W. H. Moyes), which stated:—ln presenting the forty-fourth -annual report for the school, I have pleasure in stating that we can again claim to have had a successful year. On •opening in February it was found that the usual annual increase in numbers had been maintained, and that the School had been advanced two grades, necessitating the appointment of two additional assistant masters. The total roll number of the year is 449. Of these 180 have been boarding at the school and 209 have been day pupils. There have been several changes on the staff. Mr. Fowler resigned at the end of 1923 to take up a position in the South Island, and Mr. D. Saxton, an old boy -of the school, was appointed temporarily to fill the vacancy. During a portion of the first term the school was therefore under-staffed, but this defect was remedied by the appointment of Mr. H. Dyer, a graduate of the Duntroon .Military College of Australia, and of |Mr. J. Leg-gat, M.A., and Mr. R. Wilson, -jM.A., B.Sc., of Auckland. These appointments have materially strengthenvjed the staff, which is now stronger than **it has been for some years past. At 'the beginning of the third term Mr. G. ,jM. Pearson, M.A., was appointed as relieving master in place of Mr. Rockel. ■JTo him our thanks are due for the able in which he has carried out the Iduties allotted him. The results of the annual public exraminations were published early in the [year, and were, in every way, satisfactory. Of those pupils who remained at •school with a view to taking degree work, A. L Herdman passed the second section of the B.A. degree, while the first section was passed by M. J. Robertson and H. P. Metcalfe. During the present year no less than nine boys have been studying for their degree examinations. Of these J. D. Mackay. R. G.~ Webb, M. Bree and C. Strombom •were successful in passing their first terms and M. J. Robertson and W. Alexander passed second terms. With one exception all were extra-mural students of the Auckland University College. It ie gratifying to note that parents are beginning to realise the advantages offered by the establishment of these •classes. Many boys who. through lack of means, are unable to attend the University Colleges, are thereby enabled to take a degree with a minimum of expense. A Taranaki Scholarship was won by R. M. Dolby. Twenty-two boys passed the matriculation and allied examinations, while 13 gained partial pasaes. Senior national scholarships ■were won by C. E. Baunton, J. Galbraith and L. B. Watts. The Bayly Meme rial Scholarship was won by W. Penman. The preparatory department still continues to do excellent work, and it is to be hoped that whatever alterations take place in the organisation of the school in the future, parents will strenuously oppose any attempt by the department to do away with this section of the school. In their annual report the inspectors state: “This department is in a highly satisfactory state of efficiency, the reading especially being good. A fine working spirit prevails, and the pupils are excellently behaved.” During the year 16 boys in this department have awarded proficiency certificates and two have gained competency. SUCCESS IN SPORT. In the field of sport the school has .gain had a successful year. The Moasar Cup was retained after strenuous contests. Thanks very largely to the coaching of Mr. Bottrill, the standard of cricket is slowly but surely improving. Lack of adequate practice wickets, which makes it impossible to organise properly the junior cricket, is still a great handicap, which must be removed before this school can hope to compete on even terms with the leading schools of the Dominion. For the first time in the history of the school, the eleven holds the premier position in the first round of the senior grade fixtures for North Taranaki. I should like to express here our keen disappointment at the lack of interest displayed in cricket by parents and by the public generally. It is safe to say that 90 per cent, of parents are always present when a Moascar Cup match is played, even in pouring rain, yet an in ter-collegiate cricket match arouses practically no interest. r In my report last year I mentioned '"that owing to the fact that conditions umiler which some of the challenge trophies were awarded were becoming un•riekfiy. the school would probably be oompeiied to drop out of some compe-

titions in which it had hitherto been engaged with marked success. I regret to say that this has been the case with shooting. To compete in the Imperial Challenge Shield competitions it would have been necessary this year to coach | and train over 400 boys. It is obvious this cannot be done without seriously interfering with other important outdoor activities and even with the work in school. Moreover, the expenses in connection with this competition are so great that the school funds are continually being depleted to purchase suitable rifles and other equipments We have therefore reluctantly decided to withdraw from this competition. It will, I feel sure, be found that the other large schools in the Dominion have acted in a similar manner. The ordinary shooting has been carried on as usual, and the boys from this school again did exceptionally well at the annual group rifle meeting. In this connection my sincere thanks are due to Mr. Bertrand, ■who has devoted most of his leisure to coaching those interested in this branch of school training. Swimming and life-saving have again had many adherents. Under the supervision of Mr. Eggleton classes have ’been held regularly throughout the year, and many boys have taken advantage of facilities offered for this pastime. In life-saving boys from the school have qualified for the following:—d, honorary instructor’s certificate, 1 teacher’s certificate, 22 bronze medallions, 25 proficiency certificates, 32 elementary certificates. In addition to these 22*8 certificates have been awarded for swimming, the distances- covered ranging from 200 yards to 4J miles. The necessity for more attention being paid to music was stressed. This, being a boarding school, is fortunate in being able to have on the staff a resident music master, and I wish to take this opportunity of complimenting Mr. Dobson on the really fine work he has done during the year. Altogether 67 boys are learning music. Ten boys eat for the Trinity College examinations, five passing the advanced junior division in theory, two the junior division. Six ■boys sat for the associated board examinations, two passing the theory examinations in rudiments of music and four the practical examinations. Four boys took the theory of music for matriculation. You will see, therefore, that music is beginning to take an important place in the school curriculum. In this connection I wish to thank Miss Young and Miss Dowling, who have been associated with Mr. Dobson during the year.

RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION. An important innovation at the beginning of the year was the appointment of the Rev. E- Strong to a position in connection with the boarding department. I wish to make it quite clear that such an appointment was made possible by the parents of Church of England pupils attending the school, and that it- is in no way an attempt to make this a church school. Boarders belonging to other denominations attend their own churches. Of the boys ir residence at the school 80 per cent, are Anglican, and it is surely necessary that proper provision should be made for these, who, during four or five years of their lives, make this school their •home. Throughout the year Mr. Strong •has, in addition to associating himself with all phase# of school life, conducted a special school service in St. Mary's at 9.30 on Sunday mornings. This, I am sure, is looked upon by the boys as one of the most pleasing features of their school life. My sincerest thanks are due to those who have assisted the school in thia connection and who have made it possible for the boys attending here to be on an equal footing with those receiving their education at tlie older and better known institutions in the Dominion.

Mr. Moyes concluded by expressing thanks to all who had assisted the school and his keen appreciation of the work of the staff. He added:—ln addition to those I have mentioned a special word of praise is due,to Mr. Papps for the success that attended his efforts on the football field, to Mr. Wilkie for the able manner in which he has managed and edited the school magazine, to Mr. Diprose for his efficient management of school athletics, and to Mr. McDonald for the interest he has taken in the school library. I would point out, however. that those mentioned have been ably assisted in their dirties by all the other members of the staff, who are therefore entitled to their share of praise for successes achieved. I have again to thank the board of governors for their kind assistance and co-opera-tion. and the Press for the keen interest •they have taken in the school. I wish particularly to tender my thanks to the head boy of the school, S. Fookes, who has carried out his duties in a manner deserving of the greatest praise, and to the prefects who have supported him during the year. LAYING THE FOUNDATIONS. The pleasure it gave him to preside and assist at the function was expressed by Mr. Billing, who, after announcing a number of apologies, expressed the opinion that the annual breaking-up ceremony formed a valuable connecting link between school and home life. When their boys reached the age of high school boys they were at the period of life when they were turning from boys into men, and the functions such as they were holding that night gave them the opportunity of meeting, as it were, on. equal terms. Speaking to the boys who were leaving school this year, Mr. Billing said that as they had worked at school so they must work in after life. School gave them the foundation on which to build their lives, but it was the boys themselves who had to build the framework that made for success. They were living in a great age of scientific development and progress, but they must realise that no one could be independent of his fellows. Nevertheless, before they could help their fellow’s and, through them, the advancement of fiie. people as a whole, they must improve themselves. To increase their knowledge of the boys and their fitness for life’s work Mr. Biding stressed on parents the advisability of their boys taking the extra subjects in the curriculum which were optional. It was generally found, he said, that the boys who took these extra subjects did better than those who did not, and Mr. Billing strongly advised parents to give thought to this matter in the future.

Turning to the work of the Board of Governors during the past year, Mr. Billing said there had not been a great deal that was of general interest. The board had been successful in obtaining a music room, and of the progress of the boys in music those who had attended the recent concert would bear testimony. Mr. Billing congratulated the school on its athletic prowess, making particular reference to the success of the first fifteen in retaining the Moascar Cup and of the inclusion of H. VV. Brown in the All Blacks. He closed

his remarks with a brief tribute to the work of the principal (Mr. Moyes) and his staff. AN EXCELLENT TONE. The high opinion which the Education Department’s inspectors have of the school was mentioned by Dr. Marsden, who quoted from the concluding paragraph of the last report that the tone and discipline of the school were excellent, and that the staff was really industrious and took a full share in the many outside activities of the school. He did not know whether Plymouth could expect anything better than that.

In a few general remarks to the boys, Dr. Marsden said there were four main factors that would assist them in making a success of their lives. These were special attention to the fundamental principles of health, ability' to work, the maintenance of mental efficiency and ability to play their part in team work. Concerning the third factor, he strongly advised the boys against adopting the attitude that they could work up to a certain point and then stop. They should set aside a certain amount of time each week, in which they should study the higher theoretical principles of their chosen careers, whatever that career might be. If they did this they would find that the practical problems which might come before them for solution would be solved much more easily and in a better manner than if they depended on practical experience alone. Dr. Marsden then proceeded to speak on education and the proposed amalgamation of the high schools and the Technical College, his remarks being reported elsewhere.

In a characteristically happy speech, the Mayor drove home to the younger boys the great interest that was taken in the school and in themselves by drawing attention to the large attendance at the ceremony and then, turning to the boys who were leaving this year and those who were approaching the leaving age, advised them, no matter what success attended them in their, after lives, always to be modest with it, and if they failed for the .time being not to be downhearted. If they were clean minded and clean handed in all their acts, they would have gained a .greater honour than worldly success, the right to the title of “gentleman.” THE PRIZE LIST. The prizes, the recipients of which were applauded and cheered in the best school spirit, were presented by the Mayoress and Mrs. Billing. The scholastic awards were as follow: —* PREPARATORY SCHOOL. Form Id.—Henry Western. Form la.—John Mercer 1, James Dunn 2. Form I.—Jack Fairbrother 1, Monty Harvie 2, Garnet Saunders 3. Form lib.—Guy Harvie 1, Harold Law 2. Form Ila. —Edgar Harvie 1, Harold Thomson 2. Form 11. —W. N. Brookman 1, John McLean 2. Board's prize for the best kept agricultural plot.—W. N. Brookman. Taranaki Agricultural Society’s prize for boys’ and girls’ club competitions. — A. Washer, first -in group and second in championship; W. N. Brookman, third in group. UPPER SCHOOL. Form llle. —Languages, George Kenny; mathematics and science, Eric McCallum; history and geography, Richard O’Neill.

Form 11 Id. —Languages, Charles Johnson; mathematics and science, Jack Brausgrovg; history and geography, Cecil Little.

Form 111c.—Languages, J)ennis Crapper; mathematics and science, William Lee; geography and history, Thomas Heokham.

Form 111b.—Languages, history and geography, Robert Stevens; mathematics and science, Jeffrey Carr.

Form Illa.—Languages (Mr. and Mrs. Atkinson’s prize), William Wall; mathematics and science (Mr. and Mrs. Sladden's prize), Bruce Bell: history and geography. George Ewart; special prize, Douglas Phillips. Form 111.—Commercial prize, Sydney Sadler; agriculture prize (Mr. and Mrs. Washer's prize), E. McCallum. Form IVc.—Languages, Thomas Rawson; mathematics and science, history and geography, Jack Beaven. Form IVb.—Languages, Argoyd Evans; mathematics and science, Sydney Sampson; history and geography, Stanley Billing. Form IVa. —Languages. (Mr. and ‘Mrs. Smith’s prize), R. Carey; mathematics and science, John Warner; history and geography, G. Mac Diarmid. Form IV.—Commercial prize, Richard Baxter; agriculture prize, Edmund L. Honeyfield.

Form Vc. —Languages, Alan Jackson; mathematics and science, Basil Collinge; history and geography, Edward Beverley. Form Vb. —‘Languages, Herbert Brown; mathematics and science, Philip Carman; history and geography, Alan Fookes.

Form Va. —Languages (Mr. and Mrs. Eaves’ prize), Cyril Calvert; mathematics and science, E. Fauchelle; history and geography, Eric Tonks; special prize, J. O’Dea. Form V.—Commercial prize. N. Lealand; agricultural prize, Ronald Buick. Form Vlb.—First in form (Mr. and Mrs. Medley's prize), Richard Bates; second in form, Henry Me. Thomson. Form Via.—First mathematics and scienc-, brst in languages (Dr. and Mrs. Fookes’ prize), R. M. Dolby; second in form, second in mathematics and science (Mr. and Mrs, Nolan’s prize), M. Lysons; second in languages, L. Watts. Air. Collier’s music prize.—J. Sutton. White memorial prize.—J. D. Mackay. Bendall memorial prize.—R. M. Dolby. Daily News essay prizes.—Senior: F. Davis 1, H. Garner 2; junior, Douglas Phillips 1, George Ewart 2. Dr. Fookes’ general excellence cup. — J. D. Mackay. Head boy’s prize (Mr. and Mrs. Webster’s prize).—Sydney Fookes. Dux prize (Mr. and Mrs. Billing’s prize).—R. M. Dolby.