SCHOOL ESSAYS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17217, 7 December 1923, Page 11

SCHOOL ESSAYS.

WORK OF THE NAVY. A joint committee of the Navy League and the Victoria League has reported on school essays. The report states:— Secondary Schools.—Seven essays were received. Senior Division—Mr J B. Mayne reported that J. Burns, West Christchurch District High School, received first prize in class A, and that the West Christchurch District High School would receive Mr J. J. Dougall's challenge bow! for twelve months; H. Dowling, St Andrew’s Co! lege, had been awarded second prize in class A The subject was: “Discusf the Advantages and Disadvantages oi Singapore as a Naval Base. Th« judge stated that some candidates los: marks through introducing much irre levant matter, but the essays cf th< first three cn the list—K. Duncan West Christchurch District High School was third—were distinctly creditable Junior Division—Seven essays were re ceived. Mr W. D. Andrews awardee first prize in class B to Mabel Bowden West Christchurch District High School and second prize to J K. Stone, St An drews College. The subject w'as: “The , sea is our life; by the use of it the

Empire was formed; by holding it the Empire has been preserved, if we fail to appreciate its value, the Empire will perish.” The judge stated that Mabel Bowden submitted a deserving little essay, but the subject set was rather too vague and general for such young children, and most of them wrote round about rather than on the subject. Their work showed very little evidence of first-hand knowledge, or of general interest in the Navy and its doings, but was for the most part scrappy and platitudinous. Primary Schools.—Thirty-four schools sent in one hundred and twenty-four essays. Mr T. W. Rowe, supervisor of the essays, which were first selected in order of merit by the headmasters of the different schools, reported that he had no need to disagree with any decision. The teachers seemed to have made their choice with judgment and discrimination. It. was quite evident that in many schools the competition aroused great interest, and that the pupils were eager to do credit to their respective schools by sending in work that, though it might be immature and artless, would at any rate display something of the spirit of patriotism and devotion to duty that the Navy League and the Victoria League endeavoured to inculcate. The report was adopted by the general committee of the Navy League last night and arrangements were made to present the prizes at a gathering in 'tiae Navy League’s rooms. v