SYSTEMS DIFFER

Waikato Times, Volume 129, Issue 21532, 22 September 1941, Page 6

SYSTEMS DIFFER

TASK FACING SCHOOLS BUILDING OF CHARACTER WEAKNESS IN DICTATORSHIPS “Educational systems have had a great deal to do with the present war, and they have a great task ahead in building the new world after the right of the democracies prevails over the might of the dictatorship countries,” said Mr H. D. Tait, principal of the Hamilton High School, at the annual reunion dinner of the Old Boys’ Association in the Hamilton Hotel on Saturday night. Mr A. G. Ward, immediate past-president of the association, presided over a good attendance.

In proposing the toast, “The School,” Mr Ward said this was the third reunion dinner since the war began and many of those at the two previous functions were now overseas. Saying that much was owed to the secondary school system of education in New Zealand, which was modelled on the principles and traditions of the English public schools, Mr Ward quoted the following paragraph from a book recently written by Major Hartney, an American air force commander of the last war, referring to the squadron of which the late Squadron-Leader M. C. McGregor, an old boy of the Hamilton High School, was a member: “British Are Invincible” “The English public school system is probably the finest in the world. It builds character and moral fibre. I’ll grant that the French and German schools may be better in technical, matter-of-fact, materialistic training, but w*hen it comes to culture of the intangible (and most important) phases of the inner self these unique English schools lead the world. They breed, patriotism, devotion, self-sacrifice. . . I never had to wonder how an English public school boy was going to act in a battle in the air. I knew in advance and not one ever let me down. Doggedness, determination, loyalty, fearlessness, gallantry and good sportsmanship—many of those things which count for practically nothing in business but are priceless when men’s souls are in stress—are bred in the bone of the English public school boy. No wonder the British are invincible. You cannot beat character even with the most modern of inventions, as the world is going to learn again An the near future.”

Replying to the toast, Mr Tait compared the educational systems of the democracies to those of the dictator countries. One stressed freedom of thought and expression, as long as in doing so the State was not endangered, and the other moulded all alike. One catered for the individual but the other made every individual subservient to the State. The strength of the dictatorships was cradled in the schools, with the emphasis always on the need for sacrifice to the State, but this strength lacked the moral fibre and faith in ideals that was so apparent in the democracies.

“The educational systems of the democracies are akin to a great adventure, but under despotism they are worse than putting a rope around one’s neck, so this is indeed a fight for life,” Mr Tait concluded. Other toasts honoured were:—“Absent Comrades, 1914 to 1941”; “The Staff,” Mr C. A. Holloway, reply by Mr M. C. Gudex; “Old Boys in the Forces,” Mr R. J. Bollard, a returned soldier of 1914-18, reply by Mr R. A. Paterson, a returned soldier from the present war; “Kindred Associations,” Mr D. E. D. Malins, reply by Mr C. E. Shakeshaft (English Public Schools) and P. McGrail (Hamilton Technical College).

REUNION MATCH PAST PUPILS’ VICTORY Entertaining Rugby was seen at the Hamilton High School grounds by a good crowd on Saturday when the annual Past v. Present match, in connection with the olds boys’ reunion was played. With the Old Boys’ senior team engaged at Rugby Park many old boys who had not played for some years again donned jerseys, and they threw the ball about in grand style. The final score was Old Boys 27, High School 8, most of the points following bright concerted back movements. Mr R. Frazer was the referee. Draw in Hockey As a curtair -raiser to the Rugby match a Past v. Present hockey match was played, a high-scoring game resulting. The match ended in a draw, each_team scoring 8 goals.