WEST END’S JUBILEE

Taranaki Daily News, 7 March 1935, Page 3

WEST END’S JUBILEE

REUNION OF OLD BOYS PRAISE FOR EDUCATION SYSTEM. TEACHERS AND COMMITTEES. Despite many counter attractions there was an attendance of 150 at the old boys’ jubilee reunion of the West End school in the Agricultilral Hall, New Plymouth, last night. Those present included many former teachers and visitors to the district, and schoolday incidents and reminiscences were interspersed with choruses. The chairman, Mr. W. W. Thomson, extended a welcome. He had been connected with the West End school for many years and the association had always been a happy one. All received great inspiration from jubilees. He had recently attended two similar ones in the South Island and was convinced that ail benefited greatly by the renewal of friendships. • . . . A minute’s silence in memory of those old boys of the school who died in the Great War was observed.

In proposing the toast of the West End school jubilee, Mr. W. H. Moyes congratulated the school. The school had played its full part in the development of education at New Plymouth under the most difficult conditions. It had turned out fine scholars and fine citizens. All the head teachers had been outstanding figures in the educational world and the school had been fortunate in Mrs. Dowling. Not only had it had capable head teachers, but it had also been fortunate in having loyal assistants.

There had been too much centralisation of education, and lie was pleased to see that the Minister of Education had stated that he intended to retain the committees and education boards. These he felt sure were absolutely necessary for the progress of education. He appealed to all to forward the interests of the school, for only by this co-oper-ation could its fine traditions be maintained. CREDIT TO THE WOMEN. In reply, Mr. C. O. Berg, the chairman of the present school committee, said that he appreciated the references made to the work of his committee, They had accomplished a great deal,- at West East and there had been big changes there during the last 12 years, but a big proportion of the credit must be given to the women of . the district, who had carried out yeoman service. He appealed to the old boys to come forward and take their places on the committee. At present there was only one old boy on that, body, but he hoped that they would celebrate the jubilee by rallying round. The toast of the Taranaki Education Board was proposed by Mr. R. W. D. Robertson. Taranaki could be . proud, of its .board, for its work had always been smooth and efficient. He pointed out that two chairmen.of the beard in the Hons. S. G. Smith and R. Masters had graduated to become Ministers of the Crown. He also paid a tribute to the work of Mr. P. J. White and the late Messrs. H. Trimble and Andrew Lees. The board had been fortunate in its secretaries, Messrs. P. S. Whitcombe and H. W. Insult. He expressed pleasure at the strong lead that the board was giving in the matter of agricultural instruction, as he considered that, this was absolutely necessary in a district like Taranaki. He hoped that New Zealand would copy the American idea of making the school the centre of all local social activity. This would keep the parents in closer touch with the school.

Mr. J. H. Valentine advised anyone who was ambitious to follow out his recipe, which was to become a school com." mitteeman first, then become an education board member and finally perhaps a Minister of the Crown. He appealed to everybody to try to do something worth while for New Plymouth and New Zealand. The character of the New Zealand soldiers had established a great reputation in England and Scotland and it was up to them to see that this was maintained. '. , , The work that he had carried out for education first as a teacher, then as an inspector and finally as an education board member had been a work of love. He asked them to do all in their power to maintain the present system of education boards and school committees. A centralised system could not maintain that personal touch that was so necessary. WORK OF TEACHERS. In proposing the toast of the teachers past and present Mr. R. J. Brokenshire stated that while they appreciated the splendid organisation of the board and committee, the results obtained at ■ the West End school could not have been attained without the assistance of gifted teachers. The whole success of the pupils, not only in the scholastic world but also as citizens, was due to a very large extent to, the teachers. They had always been earnest and possessed a sincere belief in the jpiportance of the work that they were . performing. He paid special tributes to 1 the work of Mrs. Dowling and Miss Mynott. He stressed the value of school games which developed many valuable qualities and the influence of teachers in this sphere played a big part in the lives of the children after they had left school. He mentioned the splendid work of Mr. C. Evetts.

Mr. D. P. Evans stated that his experiences in the West End school had been of the happiest. He had found all the pupils keen and efficient—a fine tribute to the splendid work of Mrs. Dowling. The school was unique in that for 35 years its destinies had been guided by three women—Miss Lydia Shaw. Mrs. Dowling and Miss Mynott, He had always found that the parents and committees had been solidly behind the school. He exhorted the older men to take a more active interest in educational administration and the work of the committees

Mr. G. Bertrand stated that people were too apt to judge a school by the brilliant pupils, but this should not be so. A school should be judged by .the standard of the average pupil and the job that he made of his life. He thought that by this standard' the West End school had a fine record.. He made refefence to the splendid work of Mrs. Dowling. The toast of visiting old pupils was proposed by Mr. W. H. Jones, who Referred to the distance some had travelled to be present. That demonstrated the fine spirit that had always prevailed at the school.

Mr. H. Bennett, Hawke’s Bay, who responded, stated that his memories of his days at the school were happy ones. He congratulated those responsible for the organisation of the jubilee. The very important part that women had played in the history of the school was referred to by Mr. K. C. Jury in proposing the toast of “The Ladies.” Mr. P. R. Shepherd replied. The toast of the Press was proposed by Mr. L. T. Aylward. ■ ’

Songs were given by Messrs. L. Kerr, L. Higginson, A. Howlett. W. Wright, J. Quin and C. Evans. The accompanist was Mr. H, Morey. The committee responsible for the organisation was Messrs. K. C. Jury (chairman), F, E. May, E. Lepine, R. O’Dowda, W. S. Thomson. /