STRATFORD DISTRICT PAGE

Taranaki Daily News, 17 December 1926, Page 10

STRATFORD DISTRICT PAGE

Telephone Nos. 152 Office 218 Private

Telephone Nos. 152 Office 218 Private

(FROM OUR RESIDENT REPORTERS)

END OF SCHOOL YEAR.

S.T.H.S. PRIZE-GIVING.

ALVARDS FOR MERIT.

With the close of the school year and. the approach of the holiday season, the pupils of the Stratford Technical High School have looked, forward in keen anticipation to the ceremony of breaking up and the distribution of prizes which took place at the school grounds yesterday afternoon. Fortunately the day was gloriously fine, and a large crowd of parents and friends assembled to witness the function. The prizes were presented by the Mayor (Mr. J. W. McMillan), and associated with him on the balcony were the Mayoress, Air. H. Trimble, chairman of the Board, of Managers, Mr. and Mrs. A. H. R. Amess, members of the board and staff of the school. The report of the principal (Mr. A. H. R. Amess) was as follows: — There is undoubtedly a tendency on the part of all the .headmasters of schools to over-estimate the work, to see the high lights of the picture and gloss over shadows, but this year I can, without hesitation, state that the vyork of the school in every particular has shown an improvement on that of last year. The pupils have been more than usually successful in examinations, and in sports we have never yet had so successful a season. In fact, looking back over the five years during which the school has been established, this year, 1926, has been the best we have experiThe year opened on February 28, when there were two hundred and eighty-four pupils on the roll. Of these 120 were in their first year, 92 in their second year and 72 in their third and fourth year. Again, it is a pleasing feature of the roll that a good number are in their third- and fourth year. It has been proved bevond doubt that the third anl fourth year pupils always do well. Whether it'is that the best pupils stay for this longer term, or that jhe best can only be obtained from the school by a full three years’ course, is perhaps a matter of opinion, but there is no doubt that these pupils leave the school to go to useful occupations where they uphold the traditions of the school. It is to be regretted that this year so many of our second .year pupils have been compelled, probably owing to economic circumstances,/to leave school before completing their course. In many cases I know that it lias been found impossible to keep the pupils at school, but 1 would stress the fact that it undoubtedly pays the parents to undergo a certain amount of hardship or sacrifice in order to give the boys and girls a good start in life. EXAMINATION RECORD. Since this time last year the results of the examinations constitute a record. In the matriculation examination thirteen of the pupils passed and ten obtained a partial pass. Two obtained passes in the engineering preliminary. Fourteen have passed the public service examination. One of the two agricultural scholarships offered for competition in the Dominion was won by a pupil of this school. One pupil obtained a Junior National Scholarship. Quite recently I have been advised that three agricultural bursaries have been awarded to pupils of this school, and seven have obtained higher leaving certificates. Besides these outstanding successes, there has been a large, number of passes in the minor examinations such as Senior Free Places and shorthand tests. This is a record of which I am proud, because it represents months of faithful work on the part of the pupils and of the staff. Sometimes ou<s hears criticism of a school which works towards the matriculation syllabus. It may be narrow in a measure but, while conditions are as they are, I hold that it would be most unwise to ignore this examination. A time may come when the authorities in their wisdom may see fit to strengthen matriculation examination so that it will be a five years’ course and be taken only by those’ who wish to proceed to the university. It would then be necessary to have a wider examination, which would serve as a hall-mark of a good secondary education. Matriculation at present has to serve for this purpose, and we are compelled by circumstances to model the courses of the school so that pupils may proceed to this examination. I should like to say a word in passing to those parents who endeavour to obtain for their children restricted courses of work in some such subjects as shorthand and typing. It seems to me very unwise to limit the training of pupils to such an extent. Office work is founded on good English and on accurate arithmetic. Without these a pupil cannot proceed far in the commercial world. May I also be permitted to stress the fact that so many of our pupils are successful in agriculture ’ This is the basis of all prosperity in New Zealand. Already, seven of our boys have gone on to higher work in agriculture, and I am pleased that they are more than holding their own with students from other parts of the Dominion. CHANGES IN THE STAFF. Several changes have taken place in the staff during the year. Miss Cathie left at the beginning of the year to visit Europe. After a long period of useful work in the school she has earned a holiday. Miss D. M. Joiner has carried on her work during the year, and by her personality and careful teaching she has already endeared herself to the pupils. The board has recently accepted the resignation of Miss Cathie, who is finable to take up her work next year, and Miss E. Eastwood, M.A., has been appointed to fill the vacancy. Miss Eastwood has had a long and distinguished career as first assistant in Nelson Girls' College, and her coming amongst us should be a valuable asset to the staff. I have to acknowledge the care and skill of Miss Knight, who has acted as senior woman assistant during the past year. During the year also Miss McCrea resigned to join the staff of the Wellington Girls’ College, and during the past term her work lias been taken by Alias A. Al. Hardcastle. During the year we have been uniformly successful in- the cow judging competitions at the various shows. Our pupils won all the prizes at Hawera and at Stratford. The various cups and

medals won in these competitions will be presented this afternoon. I should like, at this stage, to thank, on behalf of the pupils, the Jersey and Friesian Breeders' Societies for their generosity in donating the handsome cups for competition. This work is a practical application of dairly science which is the basis of the wealth of Taranaki. It also serves as good training in observation and judgment, and so is worthy of our support. It is rather a remarkaable feature that the girls are better judges than are the boys. This has been an outstanding year as far as games are concerned. We sometimes hear murmurs from the ever-pre-sent critic that we spend too much time at games. I have heard it stated that we do nothing else, and that the pupils have no right to be so happy at the school. I should like to make it clear that these games are played out of school hours, and that our school day is longer than the school day in many parts of New Zealand. That the pupils have been able to do so well is all the more creditable on this account. The boys’ first fifteen won the third grade championship. As the cup has been in existence since 1887, and has only been won by school teams on two occasions in that time, this result serves to show that some credit is due to the team. The girls’ hockey team won the Taranaki ladies’ championship. This is the third time in five years that they have held the shield. The boys’ team playing in the fifth grade won the championship in their grade, and I am pleased to state that owing to the generosity of Mr. Dan Malone we have a very fine rose bowl as the trophy in this competition. The girls’ basket ball team also had a very successful season, but as there is no Taranaki competition in this game, they were unable to measure their success as the hockey girls have done. The cadet corps has had a very successful year, and its shooting has improved on the very good performance of last year. During the year I have been particularly pleased with the manner in which the prefects have carried out their duties. All of them have appreciated the responsibilities placed upon them, and the girls especially have done excellent work. If the future teachers of the school are to be drawn from such a fine body of girls it augurs well for the future. In conclusion, I should like to thank the staff for their loyal co-operation, and to pay a tribute to the excellent work done by Air. Trimble, the chairman of the board. THE QUALITY OF DETERMINATION. Prior to presenting the prizes, the Mayor, Mr. McMillan, paid a high tribute to the conscientious work of Air. Amess and his staff. He also congratulated tl |' board of managers upon the conduct of the school, and briefly outlined the difficulties of managing such a large'institution, pointing out the great improvements which recent years had seen in the surroundings of the school and the lay-out of the playing areas. He heartily congratulated the principal and staff upon the results of the year’s work and the general tone of the school. “Some of the pupils before me are no doubt attending their last prize-giving ceremony,” he said, “and to them I w’ould say, ‘Keep on trying.’” They were assembled for their annual prize-giving, he went on. but it had to be borne in mind that after they left school they would still be competing for prizes all their life. It was only those who kept on trying who made a success of life, and the speaker urged those of the older pupils who were about to enter into business not to be satisfied to take their wages unless they felt they had returned the equivalent in worth to the firm that employed them. To those continuing at the'school, Mr. McMillan’s message was also, “Keep trying.” Even though their names might not perhaps figure on the prize list, if they could honestly say they had consistently kept on trying, then he could assure them the effort would not have been in vain, for each pupil would have the satisfaction of knowing that he or she had done the best possible work during the year. In conclusion, Mr. AlcAlillan heartily congratulated the prize-winners and trusted the girls and boys would thoroughly enjoy their holidays. Similar sentiments were expressed towards the staff who he hoped would return refreshed and invigorated after the school resumed. ' The distribution of prizes was then carried out, the principal first explaining that prizes were issued in an endeavour to reward effort. In fact, he said the prizes, as far as possible, go to the fryers. THE PRIZE LIST. Following are details of the prizes distributed: —- Form Upper VI. —E. Bone, dux, languages; Myrtle Bieheno, English, history; A. Dingwall, physical science; 8. Maun, mathematics; Al. Kilpatrick, agricultural science; Iris Tarrant, home science; Erica Carryer, progress. Form Lower VI.—Al. Woolaston, English; W. Anderson, Latin; Margaret Gill, history; Helen McAllister, French; Betty Copping, science; B. Edwards, agriculture; F. Miskelly, dairy science; J. Boon, mathematics; M. Manley, mathematics; Ivy Holley, 2nd French, 2nd science; L. Manning, 2nd Latin, 2nd mathematics; Millie Longbottom, E. Townsend, Ruth Reeve, progress. Form V.—Emily La mason, English, history, geography; Margaret Dwyer, mathematics, French; F. Hall, agnciutvire, dairy science; T. Mills, science; R. Vincent, Al. Sullivan. S. Lyons, progress. Form IVA.—Alary Nutting, arithmetic, mathematics, English, Latin, science; Kathleen McKenny, history, geography, dairy science; H. Cottier, agricultural science; J. Pratt, French; P. Ellis, drawing; Enid Fall, 3rd Latin, 2nd Frencfe; Jessie Longbottom. 2nd home science, 3rd history, 3rd English; Lilian King, Lorna Cuff, Elsie Ferguson, Alma Kennedy, progress. " Form IVB.—Enid Rowe, English, | French; E. Claridge, history; F. Young, .book-keeping, mathematics, drawing: , Mary Nichol, home science, science, 2nd book-keeping; Rona Field, geography; R. Harkness, agricultural science; Alary I McLean, book-keeping; V. King, liandi work;' Phyllis AleCluggage, 2nd matlieI matics, 2nd English; Grace Corbett, J. I Kofoed, progress. I Form IVC.—Eileen Mickelson, English, shorthand, book-ke 'ping; J. Preo, mathematics, drawing; -Vera Eversfield, science, geography: Lorna Ritter, home science; Beatrice Walker, home science,

2nd geography; I. Divehall, book-keep-ing, arithmetic, Phyllis Arnott, special progress; Annie Johnson, Mr. Hickson’s special shorthand prize; H. Lilley, Una Lile, Norma O'Connor, progress. Form lllA.—Alarie Villers, English, 2nd history; May McElroy, Latin, French; Margaret Tarrant, mathematics, 2nd English, 2nd French; Beth Thomson, science, arithmetic, history; Margaret Morrison, dairy science, geography, G. Wellington, agricultural science; Betty Parker, 2nd languages; Marjorie Young, dairy science, 2nd home science; Joan AleCluggage, Ethel Miskelly, Lucie Cropton, J. Wendelborn, progress. Form lllB.—(Upper): E. Dixon, history, geography, English, book-keeping; Molly Carvey, French, mathematics, home science, dairy science; Dorothy Dixon, 2nd English, 2nd mathematics; Anette Jones, science, 2nd French; Agnes Lamason, arithmetic, science, geometry; B. AlcAlillan, drawing, handwork; Kitty Lilley, second history, 2nd geography, 3rd home science; Nora O’Brien, J. Wcndleborn, progress. Lower: T. Huston, English, history; H. Sparks, 2nd science, 2nd agriculture; Brian Harkness, progress (special), Nadina Carryer, progress. Form lIIC. —Nancy Fawkner, English, history; Joan Alorton, French, home science; I. Johnstone, agriculture, arithmetic, book-keeping; Helen Coward, mathematics, 3rd French; C. Gadsby, 2nd agriculture, 2nd science; Nola Geever, shorthand. Shorthand awards, speed certificate, 70 words per minute: Eileen Mickelson and Dora Carter. Theory certificates: Beatrice Walker, Phyllis Arnott, and Vera Eversfield. Head prefects’ prizes: Eric Bone and Iris Tarrant. Spea*al prize for handwork, presented by Mrs. Hardy Jones: Elsa Hendry. SPORTS TROPHIES. In addition to the prize list, the following sports trophies were also presented: Girls’ senior champion cup, Alary Nutting; boys’ senior champion cup, Al. Kilpatrick; girls’ junior champion cup, Alarita Farquhar; boys’ junior champion cup, R. Harkness; steeplechase cup (Mr. R. blasters’ trophy), At. Kilpatrick; mile handicap cup, Al. Kilpatrick; Lady Godley Cup for cadet shooting, R. Bourke; Taranaki Ladies’ Hockey Shield; third grade Taranaki provincial football championship cup; fifth grade Taranaki provincial football championship rose bowl, presented by Mr. D. J. Malone; Sargent Challenge Cup.for football competition between Hawera, Feilding and Stratford Technical High Schools, first fifteen; gold medal for fittest player in first fifteen, M. Kilpatrick; gold medal for fittest player in second fifteen, F. Young; Mr. R. Masters’ trophy for the most improved football player, Charles Yandle; Hanford Challenge Shield for cow j’udging at the Stratford A. and P. Show, I. Tarrant ; advanced Jersey judging, Ivy Holley; second year Jersey judging, Lorna Cuff; advanced Friesian judging, Ivy Holley. PRIZES FOR COW JUDGING. The prizes won by pupils of the school at the recent A. and P. Show were distributed by Air. J. W. Boon (president of the association), who stated that the entries in the cow judging section -had amounted to 260, constituting a record.

Naturally the judging occupied a good deal more time than at previous shows, and even though the entries were split into sections, the judging was not completed until after 3 o’clock in the after noon. In connection with the important matter of correctly judging the good points of a dairy animal, Mr. Boon re ferred to the excellent work done at the school and the fine coaching received from Air. H. C. Johnson and the principal. In reviewing the prize list he wag struck by the fact that the girls had proved better judges than the boys, and mentioned that even at important Bales of pedigree stock he had often noticed well-known breeders consult their wives on the merits of an animal being offered. Visitors were afterwards entertained to afternoon tea in one of the spacious rooms. CHILDREN MADE HAPPY. Six hundred cheering children and al most as many parents, friends, brothers and sisters gat e Santa Claus an enthusiastic welcome to Victoria Park yesterday. Heralded by the martial strains of the school drum and fife band, the car bearing Father Christinas drove through the gates into the football field where the sight of the tall red and white figure was the signal for renewed shouts of glee. Brilliant sunshine and no less brilliant smiles were the order of the day, while shouts of glee and eager laughter sounded as the gifts were distributed. Boys and girls, big and small, good and bad—everyone received a present—and the sight of their happiness cheered the onlookers until everyone was in that happy state of mind which is the spirit of Christmas. The breaking-up i ceremony of the Stratford primary school will not be forgotten for a very j long time. MOTORING TOURS. The touring committee of the Stratford branch of the South Taranaki Automobile Association met yesterday. Present: Alessrs. S. A. Ward (chairman), J. C. Allen, G. Carter, B. Rawles. It was decided to recommend to tlu> general committee that the following runs be undertaken on the dates specified:— Thursday, January 6, or Sunday, Jan uary 9, Ohawe beach, leaving at 1.30 p.m. January 23, Cape Egmont, leaving 9.30 a.m. February 6, Stratford Mountain House. February 27, Tangaral.au, leaving 7.30 a.m. Alarch 13, Urenui or Alokau. Alarcb. 20, Motakawa. If the weather holds good further runs will be arranged later in the season. GENERAL ITEMS. At the prize-giving ceremony connected with the Stratford Technical High School, the principal (Air. A. H. R Amess) announced that a very fine library had recently come into the possession of Air. H. Trimble (chairman of the board), and he had generously intimated his intention of donating this splendid gift to the school. Air. Amess said ho understood the library was so large that cne complete room would be necessary in which to house it.