HIGH SCHOOL.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 143672, 16 December 1911, Page 4

HIGH SCHOOL.

BREAKING UP CEREMONY. The annual up ceremony in connection with the New Plymouth High School took place at the Good Templar Hail on Friday night. There was a large attendance of present and past pupns of the school, parents and menus. Tho main part of the hall nad been gaily decorated with flags and bunting and the stage had been tastefully treated with flowers and foliage. Tlie chairman of the board of governors presided, and was supported on the platform by the Hon. T. Kelly, Ai.L.C., and Airs. Kelly, Mr. H. J. Okcy, M.P., Messrs. M. Fraser, E. Doc Krill, S. Percy Smith and Dr. Fookcs (members of the Board of Governors), Air. J. B. Roy (board’s soliciAir. K. Pridlmm (principal), Airs. Fndham and Alias Pridham. PRINCIPAL’S REPORT. The Principal then rend the annual report as follows: iho year opened with a roll of 130, of which number 5S were new entrants and 72 remained over from 1910. 55.4 per cent, of our number arc boys, and •14.6 per cent, aro girls. The general tone of the school has been very good, and the conduct of tho pupils excellent. The prefects iiavo exercised a more active influence for good thaa during any previous year. The percentage of attendance was: Dove 95. G per cent., girls 92 per cent., whole school (both boys and girls) 94 per cent. Tile only change made in the staff was the appointment of Miss Livingstone in September to take charge of a domestic science course. It was not, however, deemed advisable . to begin tho special course in domestic science during the last term of the year. Miss Livingstone lias therefore given general help m the school, and looks forward to entering on tho special work for which she was appointed next February, It will be necessary to ascertain from the parents of present girls who aro returning next year and from those of the new girls entering whether they wisli their daughters to take up the ordinary school course or the domcstic science course. In last year's examinations the following results were obtained:—Taranaki scholarship, 1 ; matriculation passes, 7, including Solicitors’ General, medical preliminary and engineering preliminary; Civil Service passes, 8; qualified for senior Education Hoard scholarships, 9, of whom scholarships were allotted to s'and free places to the other 4; senior free places, 25; junior free places, 4, gained on tho junior scholarship examination (the junior Education Board scholarship is not open to us); Bayly memorial scholarship, 1, This year the following have* entered for the various examinations, the results of which will not be known till about the end of January:—Junior University and Taranaki schola/ship 3, matriculation 10, senior Civil Service 1, junior Civil Service 9, senior Education Board scholarship 13, junior Education Board scholarship 6 (for junior free place), junior national scholarship 1, senior free place examination 9. In addition to tho 9 who have entered for the examination 26 have received senior free places without examination on my recommendation, backed up bv the knowledge of the pupils gained by the department’s inspectors on their last visit to the school. The standard of the matriculation examintion has now been raised, and if pupils are to look forward to passing this examination and the University junior scholarship exam., parents will have to make uo their minds to leave their children longer at a secondary school. The present average time spent at a secondary school for the whole Dominion is years. There is no doubt a tendency for parents to make use of the free education provided for a very short time until some suitable opening occurs. Pupils who onlv remain a few months at a secondary school derive no benefit themselves* and arc certainly no recommendation to the school when they leave. The physical culture of the pupils and the school games have not been neglected. Mr. Lints has done very good work in connection with the drill and gymnastics of both sides of the school. Cricket is gradually attracting more attention, and will iu time be as enthusiastically cultivated ns football is now. All the masters have taken a keen interest in the boys’ progress by joining in their games. This year our junior team won the Junior Challenge Shield. Air. Ward and Air. Ryder have devoted a great deal of time to the football games and practices. Air. Ward acting ns referee and Air. Ryder ns an active player. In this game our boys have more than held their own, and the Challenge Shield, annually competed for by the Napier, Palmerston and New Plymouth High Schools come to us. Tho Rugby Union has, I think, very wisely so framed the regulations for the Bayly memorial scholarship that tbo scholarship cannot bo taken by any boy who falls below a certain standard of athletic excellence, and their judgment is upheld by the journal of the British Medical ’ Association, which, amongst many other excellent remarks about school sports, says: “Games and athletics are absolutely necessary to ensure proper development. The. discipline of games is ot the highest value in training and developing both body and mind, certainly of no less value than that of school work. Except in the case of cripples and definite invalids, participation in organised games should be absolutely compnbory in every school.” The now tennis court opened for the girls has been much anpreciated, the only drawback being that nob more than four can play together. However, now that they have lost their other ground through the opening of the new street, it is a great advantage for them to have this new court provided. Air. Ryder has taken : charge of the senior cnVle.t corps, and under him and tho officers appointed from among the hoys, ' good work has been done. Nearly all-the boys have had regular instruction in woodwork, and nearly all the girls in cookery throughout the year; they have don© good work under Air. Sandford and Miss MacDonald respectively. The members of the agricultural course under Air. Ryder have taken a great interest in their work, and have made satisfactory progress for their first year. For some time during the winter months a school debate \r»s held, at first weekly, and afterwards every fortnight in the school in the evenings. This was the beginning cf what I hop© may go on and develop more in tho future, for it must prove useful in giving the speakers more confidence

in themselves, and also in making themselves fully acquainted with the subject discussed and in teaching them to look impartially:.on both sides of a question. At the end of this chapter in. the school’s history it may be ol interest to mention that tho first year’s roll consisted of 30 boys., and three years later it was decided to throw tho school open to girls also, the numbers for the fourth year being 55. Since .then the numbers have emit up gradually but steadily to the present time, and this year wc have a larger number on the roll than in any previous year. And now, on giving up the charge entrusted to mo, it only remains for me to thank the Board of Governors for the generous way in which they have always supported mens far as they could in everything which was for the good of the school, and my follow teachers for their faithful co-opcration and zealous endeavour to promote its welfare; and to express the earnest hope that having weathered some storms and entered comparatively smooth waters, the New Plymouth High School will go on and prosper, and, with the loyal support of the people of Taranaki, be as important an institution as the size of the place warrants one to expect. The Chairman expressed the omnion that this was a very satisfactory report. and he congratulated the pupils, teachers, and principal on tho work that had been accomplished. DUX OF THE SCHOOL. The announcement that Alios Elsio B. Grofltbatch was dux of the school for tho year was greeted with groat enthusiasm, and Airs. Pridhnm pinned the medal on the breast of tho winner amid renewed applause. A PRETTY INCIDENT. This was followed by a very interesting little incident, two tiny little dots, Vivian Webster, daughter of two old pupils, Mr. Leslie AVobstcr and Airs. L. SVobster (noo Bertha Thomson), and Paulino Bennett, daughter of Alia. Bennett, of Blenheim (nee Grace Paul), being assisted to the stage, each carrying beautiful bouquets, which they presented to Airs. Pridham and Miss Pridham respectively. PRESENTATION OF PRIZES. Prior to distributing tho prizes won during tho past year. Air. H. Okcy, AI.P., in the course of a few remarks, thanked those present for the enthusiastic reception they had accorded him. The gathering that* evening was an indication that they had come to tho end of another school term and that Christmas was not very far off. It was much too near for many of them who had not had time to think of Christmas lately.—(Laughter.) Some of them had had other things to think of. — (Renewed laughter.) He was pleased to bo with' them on that occasion to present tho prizes, and congratulated those boys and girls who had worked so hard during the year' am 3 had been able to win prizes. He could never win a prize whenho was at school. —(A voice: A ou have won one now.” —Laughter.) ‘‘They say I have won on© now,” said Air. Okoy. “but I might tell you it is not a bed of roies.” The member then proceeded to present the prizes as follows, each recipient being greeted with applause General Excellence. —Form VI. (a): R. Adlam, N. Little, C. Day, J. M‘Mahon Box, A. Harle. Arithmetic. —Form VI. (b): J. Grey. Form V.: C. Old. Form IV.: M. Alackie. Form III.: G. Beck. Algebra.—Form AH (b): E. Colson. Form V. : I. AVeston. Form IV.: E. Cook. Form III.: L. Day. Geometry.—Form VI. (b): L. Mills. Form V.: O. Ambury. Form IV.. A. Mace. Form III.: R. Alontcath. Latin. —Form AH. (b): W. Spence. Form A T .: C. Old. Form IV.: E. Conk. .Form III.: J. Wilton. French. — Form AH. (b): L. .Mills. Form A'.; 1 O. Ambury, 2 AL Lennon. Form IV.: A. Alace. Form III.: J. Wilson. Literature.—Form VI. (b): J. Grey. Form A'.: AI. Bollinger. Form IV. : Al. Alackio. Form III.: I. Mile*. Grammar. —Form VI. (b): AV. Spence. Form A T . : A. Cocker. Form IV.: 4 A.' Mace. Composition.—Form VI. (b): J. Grev. Form V.: AL Bollinger. Form IV.: H. Alandty. Form HI.: J. AA'ilson. Botany.—Form VI, (h): L. Mills. Form V. p : 0. Ambury. Form IV.: AL Alackio. Form TIL: I. Milos. Chemistry.—Form lA'.: G. Chong. Form 111. : L. Avann. Book-keeping.—A: Alarfoll. Agriculture.—L. Avann. Physical Aleasurcments. —L. Avann. Drawing.—Form V.: I. Howell. Form IV.: G. Nowell. Form III.: R. Matthews. Dr. Fookes’ Challenge Cup, for General Excellence.—N. Little. Cnp for Relay Race.—R. -Milam's team. Gvmnnstirs.— V. Girls; Clara Old. IV/ Girls: H. Rollo. JU. Girls: AL Okey. 1. Thompson. Senior Boys: N. Little, E. Grant. Junior Boys: C. Crone. Tennis Champion.—Elsie Grcntbateh (racquet). Handicap Doubles; AVinnic Spence and ATnrgnret Covkill. Handicap Singles: Olive Ambury.