LAWRENCE GRAMMAR SCHOOL

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 204, 28 December 1871, Page 5

LAWRENCE GRAMMAR SCHOOL

The annual examination of the above school took place on Thursday and Fridciy lust. There was a large attendance of children, but we wore surprised so few of fcheir pareuts made it their business to be present to show the interest they had in their children's education.

From tbe system of marks, and the quarterly examinations which have been carried "out by Mr. ■ Stenhouse and the Committee during the past year, the annual examination bad lost some of tbe interest which formerly was attached to it. Prizes this year have been awarded on tbe twelve months- work, and tbe system adopted is undoubtedly a correct one. The examination partook, therefore, more of the nature of an exhibition than anything else, as all the prizes had pi'eviously been decided upon by the number of marks each scholar had received during tbe twelve months for attendance, general conduct, and proficiency in the various brauches studied. Tbe oral examination was conducted by tbe Rector, Mr. Sterhouse, and the Assistant Master, MrJ John Menzies.

We were pleased to observe that attention is now being given in the Grammar School to tbe geography of New Zealand, and some of tbe maps of these islands showed good topographical knowledge. The examination on tbe events of tbe 19th century was also a new and pleasing feature of the school — inse subjects, although of the deepest interest to the pupils, beinor generally utterly neglected in colonial schools. Two very important branches have been added to the school since last year Mr. Love, Secretary so the Athensßtim, has for some months given his services gratuitously to teach the children drawing* and it must have been pleasing to him, as well as satisfactory to the School Committee, to witness the very excellent specimens of free-hand' drawing which were exhibited on the walls of the schoolroom. To Mr. Forbes the Committee and tbe public are also indebted for his patient and regular weekly attendance to teach the boys drill. It was quite a treat to see the .steady and precise manner in whic'i they performed various military evolutions.

The girls, as hitherto, show excellent specimens of writing, malting tbe office of judge a very invidious position to hold.

The spwinac and fancy work in Mrs. Dale's school were quite equal to any former display. We were pleased to Snd the useful in the needle art still having the preference to the ornatnental.

When the examination waa completed all the children assembled in the large room, where tbe prizes were to be distributed.

Mr. Jamison said before breakins: up for the holidays, he would ask tho attention of "the children for a few minutes. Speakinp; for binv aelf and the other members of the School Committee, he was glad to say they had experienced great satisfaction with the work done by the whole school. Tear by year they had witnessed a steady upward progress going on. The children v.ere grasping at higher subjects. The younger scholar?, he remarked, had less to fortond with than the elder ones. It was ensier frr them to advance, as they had the benpfit of the presence and example o^ the elder onos who had gone over the same ground: The elder scholars, r on tl o other hand, had not this advantage. He noticed this year they hxd 'gained an advanced knowleHge in Euclid, Alfrebra.Latin and Frentti, and there had been added some extra branches of education, viz., drawing and' drill, in drawing, it was a great 'acquisition .to hjtve' Mr Love's assistance. 'And in drill" Mr. Force's had been invaluable. He need not say that +be Committee were ranch pleased with all these tilings, •ajidibave taken care to watch themin.

their exercises throughout the year. They had watched their weekly examinations, and had taken their books and written out lists of questions and

examined the written answers, giving

maivs ai'cordinij to their value. This had siren a deal of trouble, but it was satisfactory to know who had done

best. It gave him pleasure to state this, as the Committee desired to show the Town Council, and those friends who had given prizes, that the scholars were deserving of their kindness. The Council had given from year to year a gold medal to the highest boy. That was something to encourage them to

work, and it caused the community to

watch their progress. The Committee, therefore, had taken every means to Bee that the gift of tbe Council would not be abused. They were enabled to say with confidence this year that R. C. Menzies is the best general scholar amongst the boys, and Anuie Anderson, who has gained the Mayor's prize of a work-box, the best general scholar amongst the girls. He would ask them to express their approval of the Mayor and Council's gifts (applause), and Mr. Clark's refreshments (applause), and the many kind friends who had presented prizes (applause). The gentlemen who had given prizes were as follows: — Messrs. E. Herbert, Simpson, Abel, Jeffery, Menzies, junr., Goodwin. Sten house, Bastings, M'Coy,

Jamison, M'Kinlay, Rev. Dr. Copland,

Hayes, and Rev. Mr. Menzies. They ♦•"fell knew that those who do best at the • beginning of the year were likely to

do best at the end of it, beoause of the

daily marks awarded. There were two things, therefore, he would impress

upon them if they wished to excel, viz., regularity of attendance, and the necessity of learning their lessons at home.

The Rev, Mr. Menzips said, as a

member of the Committee, he had taken considerable interest in the school during the past year, although he must say Mr. Jamison had done the lion's share of the wcrk. He (Mr. Menzies) could not" take the same liberties that he would have done had nut some of his own boys been attending the school. He had taken the opportunity of examining last year's essays and comparing them with this

year's, and he found considerable im-

provernent rnade^one girl in particular, who at the last yearly examination only gave a line or two of an essay, gave a very good essay indeed yesterday on the spur of the moment. He

considered the progress made in the school as great as could be made in any school in the same time. There had been a deal said about the schools of this province lately — some condemning and some approving 1 . He Lad only examined two — the Waita-

bnna school and this one ; and speaking from an experience of the schools in the two kingdoms at home, he had not found better " than these. This year there had been a considerable advance in Gj-eometry, Algebra, and Latin. He asked the scholars to give

heed to their lessons — to learn them well at night and con them again in the morning. Asastudent, hefcund this the best way to do. He hoped they would sill bear in mind the importance of life. They would all have to do battle in this new country, and he would like to see them go forth an honor to the pchool.

The following is the pr:z3 list : — Senior School.

FIRST CLASS. — .FIRST DIVISION.

Geography. — Boys : 1. R. C. Menzies ; 2. W. Menzies. Girls : 1. A. Anderson.

Grammar. — Boys : 1. J. Titchener and J. Camjjbell j2. R. 0. Menzies. Girls : 1. A. Anderson ; 2. M. Murray.

English History. — Boys : 1. R. C. Menzies ; 2. J. Titchener. Girls : 1. A. Anderson. Bible Histoi-y. — Boys : 1. J. Campbell ; 2. R. C. Menzies and J . Titchener. Girls : 1. M. Murray ; 2. A. Anderson. Essay. — Boys :1. J." Campbell ; 2. E. 0. Menzies. Girls: 1. A. Anderson. Arithmetic. -Boys : 1. J. Campbell ; 2. R.C. Menzies. Gh'ls: 1. A. Ander=on. Competitive and Mental Arithmetic. — Boy 3: 1. J. Campbell ; 2. H. Bastings. Girls : 1. A. Anderson ; 2. jfa. Murray. Writing. — Boys : 1. H. Bastings and 8.. 0. Menzies ; 2. J. Campbell. Girls : 1. A, Anderson ; 2. M. Murray. Oriiamental Writing. — 1. H. Bastings ; 2. J. Titchener. Mapping.— l. C. Campbell- and R. C. M^epzjes j '2. J. Titchener. Algebra.— 1. B. C. Menzies ; 2. J. Campbell. Evclid. — 1, R. C. Menzies; 2. J. Campbell. Latin. — 1. R. C. Menzies ; 2. J.

Titchener.

Drawing. — Boys :1. D. Carapliell ; 2. TR. 0. Menzies. Girls: 1. A. Anderson ; % H. Herd. French. — Girls ; 1. A. Anderson ;'2. M Murray : 3. S. Bennett.

Drill— l: 11. Bastings; 2. D. Campbell ; 3. T. Jamison.

FIUST CLASS. — SECOND DIVISION.

Geography,— Boys : 3. E. Bastings ; 2. H Titcheneu. Girls : 1. S. lienuett ; 2. H. Herd. Grammar. — Bqys . 1: J. Anderson ; 2. H. Titchener. Girls : 1. H. Herd ; 2. B. JBennelt.

English History.— Roys ; 1. H. Titchener ; 2 J. Anderson and 0. Campbell. Girls { 1. S. Bennett; 2. H. Herd. "

Bible History.— Boys : 1. D. Campbell; 2. h. Hastings. Girls : 1. M. Tanvon ; 2. 11. Herd.

.Essay.— Boys: 1. O. Gamp Sell; 2. B. Tilelieiior (*irls ; 1. H. Herd.; 2. M. Tanton.. Arithmetic.— Boys : 1. W. Menzies ; 2. Hi Tiidujntar, • Girls.: 1. Al. Tanton * 2. H. Herd, Competitive and Mental .ArUhn^etic. — 1- P- 0, aui l*ea j X JOL Titcfcanar. &irls : I, M. Tantofc j 2.H. Herd. Writing.— Boyn i. d, o*^ll j %

0. Campbell and F. Nokes. Girls: 1. E. Clarke and Id. Herd ; 2. M. Tanton. Latin (Ist Class) — 1. H. Titchener ;2. J. Anderson. (2nd Class).— l. W. Menzies ; 2. B. Bastings. SECOND CI.ASS. English.— Boys : 1. J. Murray ; 2. A. Crow ; 3. G. Nokes ; 4. T Jamison ; 5. E. Goodwin and A. Murray. Girls: 1. A. Darton ; 2. H. Anderson. Arithmetic.— Boys : 1. G. Nokes ; 2. IA. Crow ; 3. J, Murray ; 4. M. HayGirls : 1. E. Monisan and A. Darton ; 2 B. Cousins. Writing. — Boys : 1. A. Crow and J. Murray ; 2. J. Crow ; 3. T. Bentley. Girls : 1. E. Syraes and A. Marx ; 2. B. Cousins. Middle ScHoot. FIRST CLASS. English.— Boys : 1. F. Monaghan ; 2. H Darton. Girls : 1. B. Hay ; 2. E. Parry ; 3. M. Tregoning. Arithmetic —Boys : 1. F. Monaghan ; 2. H. Dartou. Girls; 1. X, Sheath; 2. E. Hay ; 3. E. Parry. Writing.— Boys : 1. T. Downie ; 2. D. Evans, Girls: I.E. Hay; 2. E. Covelle; 3. M. Tregoning. • SECOND CLASS. English. —Boys : 1. A. Campbell ; 2. G. Goodwin. Girls ; 1. S. Liston ; 2. L. Thompson. Arithmetic. — Boys :_l. A. Brosnan ; 2. A. Campbell. Girls: 1. J. White; 2. S. Liston. Writing,— Boys : 1. V. Marx ; 2. G. Godwin. Girls: 1. M. Millar; 2. A. Kichards. THIKD CLaSS. English.— Boys : 1. O. Potts; 2 P. Dale." Girls: 1. B. Bnshell ; 2. E. Johnston. Arithmetic— Boys : 1. P. Dale ; 2. O. Potls. Girls : 1. B. Bushell ; 2. E. Johnston. Writing.— Boys : 1. P. Dale and 0. Potts ;2. H. Dale. Girls :1. B. Bushell; 2. E, Johnston. Junior School. FIIiST CLASS. Reading, —Boys : 1. W. Mears ; 2, F. Titchener ;3. W. Armstrong. Girls : 1. M. Jamison ; 2. L. Darfcon. Writing. Boys : 1. T. Arthur ; 2. W. Crow ; 3. T. Richards. Girls : 1. M. Jamison ; 2. C. Elli3. SECOND CLASS. Beading — Boys : 1. W. Holmes ; 2. C. ILiyes and M. Potts. Girls : 1. D. Holmes ; 2. E. Harrop. THIRD CLASS. Beading. — Boys: 1 It. Bentley ; -2. J. Herbert. Girls : 1. K. Armstrong ; 2. J. Mitchell. Sewing Department. FIRST CLASS Plain Sewing. — 1. A. Anderson ; 2. S. Bennett ; 3. M. Murray ; 4. H. Herd. Fancy Work. — 1. H. Herd and S. Bennett. SECOND CLASS. Plain Seioing. — 1. M. Tregoning ; 2. L. Hay. Fancy Work. — 1. A. Marx.