AGAINST SPEAKERS AT PRIZE-GIVINGS

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31082, 10 June 1966, Page 12

AGAINST SPEAKERS AT PRIZE-GIVINGS

The traditional procedure of inviting a guest speaker to address the school’s end-of-year prize-giving ceremony should be abandoned, Mr E. C. Robinson told the Burnside High School board of governors last evening.

The same platitudes were given every year by guest speakers and they had nothing to do with students of the day, he said. Mr Robinson was speaking to a proposal made by the principal (Mr C. Cross) that

a separate senior prizegiving ceremony be held earlier because the whole school and all interested parents could not be accommodated in the hall.

Mrs M. S. Allen agreed that the same things were often repeated but the presentation of prizes by a guest was appreciated. “I think the formality of hearing a guest speaker is well worth enduring,” Mrs Allen said. The students would mix in an adult world and listening to such addresses did not do them any harm, said Mr L. A. Johnson. Mr J. S. Whiten said he was convinced that pupils did not gain much from listening to guests’ speeches but the practice did lend atmosphere to the ceremony. Mr Robinson said some schools and the university had abandoned guest speakers at award ceremonies. The board decided to leave any alterations in the ceremony to the principal, keeping in mind the board’s views.