Waipawa District School.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XXV, Issue 4596, 17 December 1903, Page 1

Waipawa District School.

Presentation of Prizes. The presentation of prizes in connection with the Waipawa District School took place yesterday afternoon, in the presence of the school committee and a number of relatives of the pupils. Mr W. G. Downes (chairman of the school committee) presided and briefly addressed those present. Mr Downes said that judging by the children's faces they were all happy, and he felt confident that their parents and teachers would soon be happy too. They were to receive the reward of their year's labor. They were to receive their prizes while the teachers were to receive the needed recreation their work entitled them to. He hoped they would all enjoy their holidays and would come back to work fresh and invigorated. It had been said 11 Actions speak louder than words.” If they changod that phrase into “ Results speak louder than words” it would aptly apply to the Waipawa school. The position held by the school spoke volumes for the thoroughness of the preparation the children had undergone and the ability of the teaching staff. The inspector's report was evidence of the satisfactory condition of the school. On behalf of the parents and guardians of the children attending the school (whom he represented), he was glad to see that they were receiving the rudiments of a sound, general education that would be of inestimable advantage to them in after life. As was the case in the world, half of them would not receive a prize. All ran in the race, but the winners were few. This should not discourage them, for in reality thdy all received a prize, of which they were unaware. They received a prize when they passed from standard to standard; they received a prize daily, as they were laying the foundation of knowledge and acquiring a sound education, which was a prize no one could take from them, and which they would retain until the end of their days. They should remember that the children of to-day had immense opportunities when compared with the children of forty years ago. They could pass from Kindergarden work and acquire scholarships until the doors of the University were thrown open to them, when they could practically choose whatever walk in lifo they chose to follow. Mr Dull, headmaster, said prize giving had many advantages while several disadvantages attended the custom. One of the serious drawbacks was the difficulty in selecting a prize to please the child who was about to receive it. The range of selection was necessarily limited but he had done his best. They should remember that it was not the prize itself they should look at but the honor of winning it. Again, a number were disappointed at not receiving any prize, but they should not be discouraged, for very often the competition was so keen that the margin between the successful and the unsuccessful was very fine indeed. It did not follow that because a boy did not win a prize his work was devoid of merit. He had followed a practice commonly adopted by teachers and had endeavoured to distribute the prizes evenly. For instauce, when a pupil had won two or three prizes and others who were almost equal in merit had not gained one, he had asked the winner to forego one in favour of the scholar near them. He had spoken to two on the subject and was pleased to find that the actual winner had fallen in with the suggestion and allowed the prize to be given to the child next in order of merit. He asked Mrs Rathbone to present the prizes. Prize List. Attendance.—First: J. Turley, N. Bull, L. Turley, T. Clough, J. Anstis, A. McLeod, B. Wiseman, D. Bull, V. Mitchell, Ernest Anstis, M. Griffin, D. Wiseman, N. McLeod, H. McIntyre, W. Ireland, Edward Anstis, W. Carson, E. McLeod, D. Rathbone, N. Gebbie, J. Bone, M. Mclntyre, Heber Gebbie. Second : Irene Bone, G. Rathbone, R. Clough, J. Clough, F Cook, D. Lindsay, Albert Pellow, H. Ireland, Jack Brinson, W. Brinson, N. Wiseman.

Class Marks, Standard VI. Term prizes.— Doris Jull, N, Bull, M. Corskie, J. Turley, Noel Bull, D. Jull. Year’s Marks.—Standard V., term prizes—G. Rathbone, F. Carson, Dorothy Bull, Alf. Peters. Year’s Prizes.—G. Rathbone, F. Carson. Standard IV—Ernest Anstis, K. Mitchell. Standard 111. Percy Turley, Marion Smith. Standard 11. Jack Bone, D. Rathbone. Standard I.—Louis Sebley, Eva Brifison. Writing.— Standard VII: John McLeod. Standard VI :G. Rathbone, James Anstis. Standard V: Ernest Anstis. Standard IV : Harry Mildon. Standard III: Mamie Wheeler. Standard II: George Hewitt. Standard I : Mima Wiseman. Composition.—Standard VII: Doris Jull, Lily Turley. Standard VI: Alf. Peters. Mapping.—Standard VII: Charles Adam 9. Sewing.— Standard VII : Evelyn Mitchell. Standard V : D. Hewitt. Standard IV: V. Jull. Standard III: M. McLeod. Standard II: Mabel Downie. Standard I: Eva Brinson. Darning, special prize.—V. Oakenfull. Mr Young’s prizes.—T. Clough, ,S. Oakenfull, J. Clough, I. Bone, V. Jull, E. Jull, W. Carson, Belle Lee, A. Page, T. Came, J ohn Renata. Presentations. After the presentation of prizes Miss H. Nelson and Miss E. Mitchell, on behalf of the pupils, presented Miss E. Tucker with a handsome gold bangle, as a token of the appreciation in which she is held by the children. Miss Tucker suitably responded. Lieutenant Anstis, on behalf of the school cadets, presented Mr R. J. Pellow, wh> has acted as drill instructor, with a valuable hand bag in recognition of his services. Mr W. J. Pellow received the present for his brother, who was not present. A surprise was then sprung upon Mr Bull, who was presented by the pupils with a massively framed colored photograph of the children who took part in the cantata “ The Happy Family.” Sid Oakenfull, who made the presentation, was very happy in his remarks. Mr Bull acknowledged the gift in a very feeling and appropriate speech. The proceedings were brought to a close with the children giving cheers for the teaching staff and the committee.