THE CHRISTIAN BROTHERS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIX, Issue 22, 27 February 1891, Page 19

THE CHRISTIAN BROTHERS.

At tbe annual distribution of prizes at tbe Christian Brothers' College in Cork, last December, the Rev. Brother Ryan described as follows the results obtained daring the year : In submitting to them a report of their work during the past year, he would begin at the junior classes. He was happy to be abe to inform them that the elementary and preparatory Intermediate classes had dove excellent work. Though the general public had their attention riveted on Intermediate and University successes and distinctions, he could assure them that the acquisition of the honours did not give them more coDcern tban the proper training and development of the boys of the junior classes, and it was beyend question that in these classes a boy's educational future was made or marred. At this period, more than at any other of the boy's school life, it was necessary to develop the observiog and reasoning powers, to strengthen the will, to cultivate the taste, to give self-reliance and self-respect, and, above all, to raise the mind to a noble appreciation of tbe virtuous and honourable. Hence tbeir best efforts were put forth, and, he was happy to say, with success, to meet the educational requirements of students at this period. As the children of these classes wera nor of of anagetoea'er tbe lists with University or Intermediate competitors they had arranged special periodical examinations to test their progress and stimulate them to further exertions. These examinations decided their place in cIaRS and their pesition on the roll of honour. As the students in each class were as nearly equal in point of attainments as is was possible to have tLem tbe competition for first place was very general. Those who might not hope to obtain first place could secure " honourable mention " by being among the first six, or, at least, improve their position in class— and thus all were stimulated to work. In fact the competition in these classes was quite as lively during the year as in tbe Intermediate or Uuiversity classes. Prizes were awarded after each examination to those who had distinguished tbemselvts. He would next refer to their Intermediate successes. In considering these it should be borne in mind that the exhibitions and prizes obtaiued at the late examinations we re won under exceptionally difficult conditions. Indeed, this year it required excellence of a very high order to secure these distinction?. They would understand this when they remembered that whereas last jear there were two hundred and nine exhibitions in the junior grade, this year the number was reduced to eighty -four. Exhibitions are awarded according to the tumber of passts. This year two c-iusea operated to diniin'sh the Lumber of passes, and consequently the number cf e^hibitiuni— the increased difficulty in ihe conditions of passing aacl the '110111 of age' rule, which prcc uded frcm examination any student under twelve years of age. Tbe operation of these causes alone would have considerably diminished the cumber of exhibitions. The great decrease, however, was mainly due to the change in the percenage of exhibitions awarded on the passes in the junior grade. Last jear exhibitions were awarded in the proportion of one to every te.i successful caLdidates. This year the award wasreduc :d to one for every tivi ntij such candidates. As a result there were only eighty-four junior grade exhibitions this year, as against two hundred ani nine last year. Considering all these circumstances, they had just reason to be pleased with their success. Two of their pupils — Mas'.ers Davis and Murphy — had won exhibitions ia the junior grade ot £20 a year tenable for three year?. Another, Master O'Callaghan, had retained in the middle grade a-i exhibition of £15 a year for two years. A special prize of £10 is awarded in each grade for excellence in Ancient Classc 3 . This prize is generally competed for by specialists. The Board deemed that a sofficieotly high standard had not been reached this year by any competitor for this prize in the junior or senior grade. Only iv the middle grade was this coveted prize won, and won by ouo of their pupils— Master Andrew Rjan. Mas er Ryan was a junior exhibitioner of last year, but being only 13 yeais of age they thought it better not to impose the burden or the full middle prade course upon him, and restiicted him in bis examination to Greek, Latio, Arithmetic, and Natural Philosophy, in all of which subjects he took honours. He scored 937 in Latin and 948 in Greek out of a possible 1200 in each subject. Priiii had also been obtaiued by Master O'Uallasjhan in the middle grade, and by Master Hooper iv the junior grade. Notwithstanding the increased difficulty in the conditions of passing to which he had referred, they bad considerably improved their position on the pass list. Last ye»r they had 24 passes ; tbis year they had increased the number to 36. Tbe eucce^s of their students would appear all the more striking by a brief comparative analyse. Out of 40 Catholic College? tbat competed at tbe late latei mediate Examinations only iiis took pieLcucuut! u£ iuei'B in me number ot exhibitions ; and out of 54 Dou-Cathuhc Colleges only four could claim such a position. 1 heir University classes had been eminently successful. They had preseuttj'i 21 for the matiiculation examination of ihe Royal* University, aod 19 had pr.ssed. In this examination ihtir college ranked fourth in all Ireland 1.1 the number of successes. First-class honours in Celtic bad been awarded to one of tbeir matriculation students Mr. James Lte — the only fiist-class honours awarded by the university in this subject. Mr. Lee albo took honours in Latin. Tneir first arts class nai done equally well. Out of bis. who had attended tfcis class during the y?pr and who presented themselves for examination, rive succeeded. He was sure they would consider this a highly satisfactory reeult, taking into account the great difficulty of this

examination. The Kensington Science classes had given great impetus to the study of Mathematics and Physical Science amongst their advanced students. A large number of them bad passed in the different stages of Mathematics, Theoretical Mechanics, Chemistry, Sound, Light and Heat, Magnetism and Electricity.