SOUTHWELL SCHOOL

Waikato Times, Volume 88, Issue 13465, 20 April 1917, Page 5

SOUTHWELL SCHOOL

PRIZE-GIVING CESEMONY.

The prize-giving at the Southwell school took place at the school grounds in Claudelands, a large number of parents and friends being present. The principal (Mr Ferris), addressing his guests first, extended to them a very cordial welcome. He said that he believed we were nearing the end of the war, and that a new era of education had been reached, therefore he would like to outline to them what had been the scheme of the Southwell school during the five years of its existence. When the school was established he had two pupils, and now, in s pite of the war' the school had grown, so that the attendance was 22. The first intention had been to conduct the school as a purely preparatory one. but the age limit had been completely done away with and a secondary portion had been established. His idea was not to form a preparatory school from a secondary, but rather to build from the preparatory a secondary school in which he really felt that the boys had throughout their school career his own 'toning' and guidance. Mr Ferris wont on to say thai to prevent the boys from becomsterotyped, he impressed upo-; them the fact that all of them might be called upon to he leaders among men, and to be this they must, as boys, show the fineness of character which should distinguish them in after life. To do this, not (lily must the intellectual part be brought forward, but the spiritual and physical sides equally developed. His aim had been two-fold: to ""ive the boys a perfectly happy life, and to make them realise the godd of their service to their fellow men. Education was not a means of merely earning a living. Tf that were so he could see no good as the result of his teaching, unless he truly developed the moral character of his pupils. A friend of his, writing to him about the closing of the school, suggested that the wisest nlan would he to dismiss the school, and after the war seek fresh laurels further afield. Mr Ferris emphatically stated that the best legacy he could leave the State and Church would be a school with a thorough religious training. In conclusion the principal announced thftl at the annual cricket match of pupils versus narents, the boys had won brilliantly, and he had much pleasure in awarding the following prizes: Best all-round cricketer, Standon; best batsman. Oliver: best bowler, Levatt; best fielders. Hall,

(major) arid Standon. Mr J, E. Herbert, * sin old ex-English county cricketer had M acted as judge. ™ Ven. .Archdeacon Owie, before presenting the prizes, said that lie wished to congratulate Mr Ferris on the steady progress of the school. He had watched the sehool since its establishment, and could only sav that it would he a ■serious thing if Mr Ferris was obliged to close ir. Mr Ferris had been called on to serve his country, and he was quite willing to do his duty again, as he had done in the South African War, whore he had won tlv South African medal with five bars. Mr Ferris should be congratulated noon the excellent religions training lie had <riven his pupils: nowadays, in the State schools the religious side was finite undeveloped, nad no provisfi n whatever was made for the moral traininc of the scholar. He was merely trained in the intellectual branch, and left to use bis talent as hj« pleased in after life. The AreVidpicon then presented the prizes to the Mlow►ne bovs: Dux of school, 1010, Sergei (major); Fcm A: Sergei (major') 1, Standon 2; Form R: Rrewis 1, StanFord ' 7 ; Form C: S"re<>l (minor) 1 : Form T) : Moorhouse 1. Ten en nrj;o«—Form A: Sercel (majors 1. Station 2: Form R.: Hawkins and Rrewis, of|iinl: Form

C: Se"<iel (minor! 1. M;>tliprefitms— A: Stanclon 1 Sergei (irnnnrl 9; Form B: Levatt, 1. TWvU 2: Form 0: Stanford 1, Hawkins 2- Form T) ■ Moor, house 1 : Form F,:' Oi;.-„ r fmir-or) 1. F ilur li^i_Form A : ( rln inr) 2: Form R: Brpv.is 1. Oliver Ciini'-rl ;hhl H :'■'■';!"-:. pe-ml: Form ('■ n M rmi'.ipv. 1 ■ Form F>: D.Moorll(V'«n 1. Snem':) 1 nri'/.p for win"or of txm ppnonds in I.;"ilm::i.ip s ! mi(l F,t'"l : sli: CWc. Sni.r.i'j,l r„r upnonrl in form and in n, o-Unti »ri"p: c t-"dn-. V,',<T".": (\mm Stanton, Levatt; ,j„.. r .) Mo.-''