HURWORTH SCHOOL.

Wanganui Chronicle, 17 December 1912, Page 2

HURWORTH SCHOOL.

THE PRIZE -GIVING

The annual prize giving in connection j with Hurworth School took place last j evening, the assembly hall being tilled-1 with< pupils, old boys, parents, and i friends. 'Mr C. J. Wray was in his • happiest .mood when dstriibutmg the prizes. ; The Principal, Mr W. 08. Aitkinson, in his "annual'report mentioned .that ,| that' night the school completed its twelfth and record year. "The number on the -roll is 69, and the indications are that there will be a substantial increase next year." After referring to the health of the boys, _which, save for an epidemic 01 mumps m the first term, had been good throughout the year, Mr Atkinson went on to say that he attributed .the conspicuousabsence of coughs and colds in some measure to the daily "handkerchief drill," which, on the advice of two medical men, had been instituted .among j the boarders. Following a eulogistic j reference to the staff, the report -proceeded : — School.—-The annual written examumtions conducted iby myself and staff j sfliaw that satisfactory work has been j done throughout the school during the year, '.and in some eubje'cts, notably i French, a higher standard has been readied than ever before. The names of the prize winners -will 'be read presently. For many years no recognition of the existence of the school has been made in official quarters, but this term we have ibeen favoured 'by a yiisit from the Ohief Inspector, Mr Braik, who conducted an informal examination in certain subjects. He reported that in \ view of the efficiency of the school he had no hesitation in recommending that a general certificate of exemption be granted. Mr Braik was good enough to send me a short resume of his impressions of the school work. lam grateful to him £—• his courtesy and consideration and for his .helpful and practical suggestions. 'No examination was held by him in French, - Latin, algebra or geometry. Although this inspection :has taken place, Mr Braik would not claim that any enquiry has been made into many essential matters in a boy's training." I realise quite clearly the importance of a sound elementary teaching, a.nd endeavour to give, it but man cannot live by bread alone, and the three "R's" are notin themselves sufficient for /the salvation of a human soul. Many a successful schoolboy has turned out a irogue, and the 'best drill in a regiment may .be a traitor. Much more is needed than the mere teaching of elementary subjects, no matter how skilfully treated, and I predict that at no very distant date the people will insist on organised games, better playgrounds, and longer hours of attendance at the State' schools. In other words, the example set (by English public schools, which are in reality private schools, will be followed-iby our Government in so far as the general training "of tne boys out of school hours is concerned. In the meantime, there can bo little doubt of the' heed for properly equipped private schools, both elementary arid secondary. Such institutions play an important paltt in,the educational world, and have a definite message to deliver.' They staind 'for corporate life as opposed to individualism, and for the subo'rdihatioih of the apparent interes-. of <the unit to 'the real interests of the -whole; and only in so far as they are able to realise this ideal can they succeed. schools' have ""peculiar' opportunities of getting into intimate touch ■'with each individual boy and of supplying those conditions under the influence of which the better parts of a boy's character may grow and flourish, and the .worst wither and die away. I believe that'the organised games, and especially Rugby football, are amongst the best influences j of a boy's early school years, for they teach him to cultivate most of the virtues essential to igood "citizenship.'". I wish people could be biought,to realise this uiiuoutibed truth; which to* a'schbolmaster is" <a- imet'e ftruism.1 If" they could see, as a 'schoolmaster does every day, tbe remarkaible improvement, njiental, moral :and physical, *thart takes place in a iboy directly he /begins to ptay games, they would 'cease to talk about " Tommy" being tired^or hoi; or cold or Tun down or highly strung, for the simple reason that he would cease to be any of these. I think it sfoquld aim be borne in mind (that, whatever the (shortcomings of private schools may ibc, they do at least one service' to the' State,' in that they" isaVe the country the cost of eciuca'ting each <jh/ild that attends them—a cost representing in the aggregate a considerable annual sum f throughout the Dominion. The parents of (pupils attending these schools may consider themselves public benefactors, for not only do they contribute their full share through the taxes for educational purposes, 'but- they pay, in addition, school fees for the support of the private schools their children happen to; attefid. Scholarsimp.—As most of you are a\yare, a (scholarship was founded somo years .?igo'wlii6h gives 'the isuoessful "competitor free t'uiton for a year. The conditions ' are, that candidates shall be under 11 years of age, and that they shall have been at least two years at the1 school.' This year there were eight boys eligible and the scholarship, falls to Gilmer ii., with Barclay second. Cricket.—The quality of the school cricket has greatly improved during the year. This is due in the main to the untiring efforts of Mr Berry iand Mr Tt'imen, and lalso "to the excellence of the pitch laid down iby .the parents, which provides the fast -wicket so essential to proficiency in the game. We have played matches against Hnntly Technical -College, several elevens from the Collegiate School and 'one from the District High School. Of ' these we won three and lost three. We had hoped to maka a good showing against Huntly, but the Fates were once more against us.- In the parents' match we were defeated for the first time. Football. —Our fifteen was too young and light this year to do themselves justice. There was no question about the quality of their /pilay, which was better, perhaps, than ever before, (but the necessary weight was nearly always on the wrong side. We are looking forward to next year, when we may, I hope, retrieve- some of our lost laurels. Boxing.—At the request of several parents we engaged the services of a professional boxer to teach the boys during the winter term. The class was not very largely attended, and I am inclined to agree -with those parents who thought that tlho boys laro too young to learn iboxing in this particular way. Several boys will bo leaving this year, amongst them Holder 'and D'Ar-cy. 'both prefects, Holder havaii-g been head prefect for 191.2. Both, .boys have fbeen in the. school for'longer than I care to remember, and have served it well, 'being helpful to me in a hundred ways. T wish them and those others that are leaving, every"success. Harding i., who takes most- io-f the- prizes'in the highest class, goes on to the College ready to take a, good place there at the somewhat early ago of 12. Old Boys.—l have often referred in grateful, terms to the interest taken by the old boys in the activities -amd weffaro of the school. -This year I was particularly gratified at receiving a

letter from two leading old boys, informing me that, at a largely attended ! meeting, it had been unanimously resolved to form a Hurworth Old Boys' Associations. Associations for any legitimate purpose are good for reasons that must be obvious to everybody, and asspoiations of boye who have left school formed for the purpose of keeping in , touch wiith the place where they received their early training, are no excep- ■ tion to the rulle. They may, indeed, ', have a very r©al influence for good if the members take, a serious view of their responsibilities and (Bear in mind' that they, will be watched' by large numbers of young and very imitative. people. I have every hope for the success of the association, started as it has been under favourable auspices, by boys in whom I have implicit confidence. The members of the association will meet annually at the school, for the purpose of discussing, among other grave matters, what, I hope, will he a really good meal. Old boys have from time to time been good enough to add to our list of prizes, and, this year I have to thank H. E. Rodfwell for a handsome challenge cup and H. I. Brice for a silver mounted fountain pen. Having recounted the many kind things the old bo3 Ts have done for the school, may I state briefly what some of them have recently done for themselves? C. G. Lennard, besides taking the Harvey Memorial prize at the Collegiate School, gained a Junior University scholarship, being fourth on the list for the whole of New Zealand. F. M. Spencer distinguished himself by winning the Marshall Exhibition and by gaining his cap for rowing and by becoming a prefect. These two boys were respecti% rely first and second (boys in the Collegiate School for their year. Spencer also was the winner of tihe 16----mile walk, with Maunsell second. Rodwell a<nd Gordon have kept terms at Victoria College, and Rodfwell succeeded Spencer as day boy prefect. Herbert and Maunsell have been made prefects, and Lala and Herbert have got their caps for football iand rowing, Dalgety his for cricket, and Goodwin i. for shooting. Before concluding, I have the pleasure and pleasant duty of thanking the. Rev J. LI. Dove and Dr Porratt for special kindness isQiawn to the school. To Mr Dove we owe the privilege of attending the services of the Oollegiate School Chapel, a privilege which I can assure him is very highly appreciated by the boys, some of wchom have the advantage of being trained by Mr Peck as supplementary choristers. To Dr Porritt our hearty thanks are due for the gift of a silver challenge cup for the best all-round boy in tho school, to be awarded- at his special request, to the boy who, an the opinion of his masters, shows most promise of the qualities which go to make a man. The prize this year has been given to G. Ormoud, who has the distinction of being the first wanner of this fine prize. I wish to thank the following ladies and gentlemen for kindly giving prizes, viz.: Mrs Lewis, Mrs Hogg and Messrs Hlatrick, Richmond, Vickers, Reaney, Wray, Meldrum, Smith iand Newton. I iwant to thank Mr Wray for consenting to give away the prizes tonight. As a prominent memiber of .the Wamgamii Collegiate School Old Boys' Association, there is a peculijar appropriateness in his presiding here tonight, when the Hurworth Old Boys, many of whom are also Wangianui College old iboys, have assembled together in force for the first time as a corporate body. And now, ladies and gentlemen, there only remains for me to thank you for the patient hearing you have accorded to what, I am very conscious, is the dullest of many speeches T have inflicted on you from year to year.