END OF SCHOOL YEAR

Taranaki Daily News, 19 December 1929, Page 3

END OF SCHOOL YEAR

TATARAIMAKA SCHOOL FUNCTION. PRESENTATION OF 'TROPHIES. -Ta taraimaka - school children celebrated the end of schooldays for 1929 by a splendid exposition' of' folk-danc-ing given before a large crowd of parents and friends in the hall last night. Occasion was also taken to present trophies won in the North Taranaki Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs’ competitions. Confidence on the part of the. children was the outstanding feature of the dancing. Dressed in a multitude of bright and fancy costumes the performers from tiny tot upwards went, through the movements of the lengthy programme of dances with hardly a falter. They did not do .it as a task but because they thoroughly ...enjoyed themselves. On the success of the performance the teachers, Mrs. Smith and Miss Alorrison, are to be congratulated especially Owing to the fact that they had had no more than a week to prepare the children. Mr. W. J. McCulloch, field superintendent of the Department of Agriculture, Palmerston North, Mr. J. M. Smith, North Taranaki agricultural instructor, and Air. Rod Sy.me, agricultural instruct tor in South Taranaki under the Education Board,, and-members of the Boys' and Girls’ Clubs’ executive comprised the party who visited the school to present the trophies.-Apologies were.reported from Messrs A. E. Washer, and. R. G. Ridling. Congratulations to Tataraiinaka children on the success they had had in the past in Boys’ and Girls’ Club work were extended by Mr. -Smith. Nearly every year -a cup had gone to the district, particularly for root-growing. It was recognised that some of the : best soil in Taranaki was found around Tataraiinaka, but to grow good crops the boys and girls had to do a lot of “tickling with the hoe.” It was also imperative that the children should have the backing of the teachers and-the parents. Mr. Smith then introduced Air, Syme as one of the pioneer workers in the Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs’ movement in South Taranaki. - -’

From the- calves seen at New Plymouth that day and from the weight of the crops grown it seemed that not many Americans could equal them, said Mr. Syme, in referring to the jest made by M$ Smith' at. America’s expense. It was pleasing to find that the Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs’ work had-gone ahead so much since 1923, when he had left North Taranaki The better calves and crops showed what the clubs’ work had done. To a great extent the Boys’ and Girls’ Club movement was stopping the “drift to the town.” The clubs’ movement tended to create an interest in farming and made the country work more inviting. Mr. Syme believed that the boys and girls should be treated on the farms more as partners than hired hands. - The Tataraiinaka people should be proud that the Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs’ movement had started in Taranaki, but proudci- that night because they had the eham pion school root-grower in North Taranaki. He then presented Vai Penwarden with the challenge cup, complimenting him on the great work he must have done to produce 119 tons of mangolds to the acre, and on the fact that this was his second successive win. The champion also received a medal to commemorate the victory, a certificate presented by the Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs, and a certificate for being first in’ Group 1. The district also possessed a budding champion in calf-rearing, continued Air. Syme in presenting a medal and two certificates to Douglas Stronge, who had been placed first in his group in the Jersey-Ayrshire section for condition and dairy type. It was a particularly good thing that the same calf should be placed first in both divisions as there was a certain amount of comment that fat calves of poor type were being grown. > It was pleasing to see .so many trophies going to a small school like Tataraimaka, as it was an indication of the support of both teachers and parents. The teachers had been greatly responsible for the success of the clubs movement, while the parents had kept up the interest of the children in the competitions to the very last. Votes of thanks to Mrs. Smith and Miss Morrison, and to the judges of the clubs’ competitions were passed. ‘Supper was later served by a committee of ladies- 1