CONCERT AT HILLSBOROUGH

Taranaki Daily News, 21 December 1929, Page 14 (Supplement)

CONCERT AT HILLSBOROUGH

SCHOOL CHILDREN'S BREAK-UP. The Hillsborough hall was well filled by the 59 pupils of the school and their parents and friends at the annual prizegiving and breaking up ceremony, which took the form of a concert and dance. The prizes were presentedCby Mr. S-. G. Smith, M.P., who was welcomed by the chairman of the school committee. Mr. F. Stanley. He was very pleased to be with them on their annual breaking up ceremony, said Mr. Smith in making the presentations, and he considered they should be proud to possess such a hall, a fact which had been brought to his attention by the breaking-up ceremonies in New Plymouth that day, held in the open to the discomfiture of some, as a hall was not available. The Central School, with the large roll number it had, had not a suitable hall to hold the parents of the scholars but the country places had and he thought the children shoiild be thankful to the settlers who had given them such a hall.

Mr. Smith congratulated the scholars on their success which was due to the skill of the head teacher, Mrs. I. A. E. Balsom, and her assistant, Miss D.. J. M. Niccol. In any district in which the hearty co-operation of the parents was not given it was impossible to get the best results and for that reason he hoped the parents would rally behind the teachers.

Educational experts in the cities said there was something wrong with the system but he hoped no changes would be made until it was certain they would be in the best interests of the children. Previously hundreds • of thousands of pounds had been spent on fitting children for occupations in which there was now no room, but the desire now was to direct education towards agriculture. But. he. was sure such efforts would be no.good unless, the. children .had an opportunity of putting into, practice what they learnt. >

There , was. no! . a. great deal wrong, with. the. educational .system in Taranaki, Mr. Smith . considered, and the schools were especially fortunate in the type of teacher they obtained. There were not more than two or three weak teachers in the whole of the province and. the position in the secondary schools was as good as that in the primary schools. He hoped those who obtained their proficiency or competency at the school would have the opportunity of receiving a secondary education. It. had been hoped to make arrangements to have a bus running down Egmont Road to allow the children the same chances of attending the New Plymouth High Schools as those on the main bus routes or on the railway line. The board had not been successful yet but he hoped the scheme would be finalised in the new system. All the children of the school received gift books from the committee, while those who were leaving or who had achieved good attendance records were presented with special prizes in book from. Attendance prizes were awarded to Eric Anderson (St. 1), Horace Parker, Dick Rothery, Ivan Anderson, Florence Stanley (Std. 3), Ila Rothery, Elsie Proud (St. 4), Monica Rothery, Patrick Guildford, Robert' Greenway (St. 5), Noel Davis (Std. 0) and Elsie Stanley (Std. 7). The musical programme was contributed to both by the children and by New Plymouth artists. The songs sung by the school were “There’s a Song Down Every Roadway”; “A Froggie Would A-wooing Go” (folk song); “Billy Boy,” “Old Black Joe” and “See Now the Moon Shines” (part songs). Miss L. Sampson accompanied the children. The others who contributed were Mrs! PFrcdric (pianoforte), Mr. F. Cleland

(songs), Mieses Johnston (pianoforte duete) and Miss Coleman (songs). Music for the dancing was played by

Mrs. Potter, and Mr. E. Stanley acted as M.C. Supper was served by the ladies of the district

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A competition conducted for a rug was won by Mbs C. Stanley, HillsAnrough.