The Heretaunga School.

Hastings Standard, Issue 198, 16 December 1896, Page 2

The Heretaunga School.

SPEECH DAY. A large number of guests, consisting of the friends and relations of the boys assembled this afternoon at the Heretaunga school, which was artistically decorate rl, on the occasion of the annual distribution of prizes. The reports of the different examiners are eminently satisfactory, and as may be seen, the percentages throughout extremely high, as the prize-takers in nearly every instance have had to secure 80 per cent of the marks. The neatness and accuracy of the work gone through is specially mentioned as also the gentlemanly bearing and courteous demeanor of the boys. The result of the examinations is a subject for congratulation to Mr Fraser and his staff whose successful efforts in the higher and commercial training of the youth placed in their charge are so clearly demonstrated in these examinations. C'anon St. Hill distributed the prizes. Mr Andrew's Report on the Junior Division. Though the percentage of marks was not high, the papers were neat and of considerable merit when the ages of the boys and their unfamiliarity with expressing their thoughts on paper were taken into consideration. Throughout the answers gave evidence of careful teaching, and writing, dictation, spelling, composition, geography, and arithmetic were above the average, whilst the other subjects, with the exception of history, were quite up to the standard. Me W. Beilby made a most favorable report on the reading of the boys, which was in nearly every instance above the average. They had an evident intelligent appreciation of the subject and modulated their voices as the sense required it the absence of the proverbial schoolboy, sing-song being very noticeable. The demeanour of the boys was gentlemanly and courteous and shows careful attention has been given to this branch of their education. He was pleased with the book-keeping papers and considered Mr Fraser system an excellent one for imparting a knowledge of this important subject. Mr Hobi:s reported favorably on the scripture papers. In the upper division he had difficulty in deciding the prize and submitted "the papers to Canon St Hill with the result that one paper was reduced one mark leaving Hobbs first with S3 marks and Rainbow second with 81. Fraser received honorable mention for his diligence in raising himself from an inferior position to third on the list. In the lower division, Danvers and Hunt were equal with 98 per cent of marks and he (Mr Hobbs) would award a second prize. A. R. MEEK, M.A., L.L.8., Report. I am very pleased with this year's results. The boys are certainly better than I expected. The standard of neatness —always high—is well maintained, and the papers' throughout are fuller, more scholarly and exact, well justifying the high marks I have in many cases given. Perhaps the most satisfactory feature of all is that there are few very low marks, a fact which indicates that the duller and slower boys are brought as nearly as may be in a line with their brighter class mates. The writing exercises are all good; I should think no boy leaves you without being able to write a clear, well-formed hand. In Spelling and Dictation Form IY. have an average of 79-2, and Form 111. an average of 67'3; both great advances on last year's work. The English grammar and composition averages are : IYa., 79-25; IYb., 70; Hla., 57-2. The ordinary rules of grammar are generally well known ; parsing and analysis are well done by IY., but only moderately well by 111. The essays are all very bright, fresh, and original. The geography marks are very high, as averages of 84*75, 69-8, and 73 testify. The work throughout the classes is good and very even. The History marks are not so high (71-25, 72-1, and 59-4), but the two divisions of the fourth send in excellent work (Quartley with 96 being especially good) ; the third, as in some other subjects, are uneven, five boys being a good deal better than the others. In arithmetic, averages of 76, 75-3, 70-1 and 68-1 point to accurate working and sound teaching, and in this subject the neatness which marks all the papers is particularly conspicuous. I examined two classes in Roscoe's Chemistry Primer and found them well versed in both the theoretical and experimental part of the work. Latin also came for the first time under my notice, and so well were my questions answered that out of 21 hoys only 3 got under 50 per cent, 10 got over 80. Yery few classes in any of our schools can boast such good results, and it is quite clear the boys are receiving a thorough grounding in the subject. When I consider that, in addition to the subjects named, French, bookkeeping, Euclid, algebra and Scripture have their place in the work of the school, I have no hesitation in saying that the standard of the school has been raised by a great deal since I first examined it, and that a boy receives there, without a doubt, as good a thorough training as he would receive at the large secondary schools of the colony. I have omitted to say that- the maps and compositions sent in for the special prize compositions are excellent, and I have great difficulty in awarding the prizes. The Russell Prize, awarded by the votes of the boys to the boy who works best in school, plays best outside, and does his best to make those surrounding him happier and better, was given to' Hanson Fraser, who received a large majority. The annual scholarship (one year's tuition at the Heretaunga School),

open to day scholars, was won by Arthur Quartley, with Walter McLean second by one mark. Dux of the school : Barton Hobbs. A bat. presented by Mr T. Crosse for the best cricketing averages, was awarded to Hanson Eraser. The following is the prize list: — English, 111. b., prize presented by school: Danvers. English, 111. a., do. : Fleming. English. IV. b., do. : Uroughton. English, I\ . a., do : McLean (major). General Proficiency. 11. b., do. : Potts (minor). General Proficiency, 11. a., do. : FitzRoy (minor). Arithmetic, 11. a and b., do yfH>.reweather. * Arithmetic, whole school, do. : Hunt (major), Rainbow (minor). Algebra, IV. a and b., do. : Potts (major). Mathematics, IV. Form, prize by Mr H. 13. Williams : Hobbs. Geography, 11. a and b., prize by school: Fitzßoy (minor). History, 111. a and b., prize by Mr E. H. Williams: Fitzßoy (major). Geography, IV. b., prize by school : Bronghton. History, IV. a., prize by Mr E. H. Williams : Quartloy. Mapping, junior, prize by Mr H. H. Hunt : H. I)obson. Mapping, senior, by school: Hobbs. Science, IV. b., prize by I)r Linney : Nelson. Science, IV. a., prize by Dr Linney : Quartley. English Composition, junior, prize by Mr de Lisle : Philson (major). English Composition, senior, prize by Mr de Lisle : lirathwaite (minor). Writing, 11, a., prize by school: Dodgshun (minor). Writing, junior, prize by Mr N. Kettle: Bowcn. Writing, senior, prize bv Mr N. Kettle : McLeod. Book-keeping, prize by Mr Beilby : Hobbs. Latin, 11. a and b., prize by school : Bishop (tertius). Latin, IV. a ami b., do. : Rainbow (major). French, senior, do: McLean (major). Scripture, junior, prize by Rev. J. Hobbs : Hunt (major) and Danvers a tie. Scripture, senior, prize bv Canon St. Hill: Hobbs. Conduct, 111. a and b. ( prize by Mr E. H. Andrews: Cullen. Attendance (day boarder), prize by Mrs Fraser : R. Philson. Neatness and Punctuality (boarders), prize by Miss Rainbow : White and Fraser. Gardening, prize by Mrs Fraser; H. White and H. Fraser a tie. Carpentry, prize by Mrs Rainbow : Potts (major).