ROTORUA HIGH SCHOOL

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 406, 15 December 1932, Page 6

ROTORUA HIGH SCHOOL

ANNUAL PRI2E GIVING FINAL FUNCTION OF YEAR ATTRACTS LARGE CROWD DR. E. MARSDEN'S ADDRESS Some time before the commencement of the annual prize-giving ceremony of the Rotorua High School which took place last evening, the seating accommodation of the Grand Theatre was taxed to its utxnost and during the proeeedings many of the audience were standing in all pai'ts of the theatre and filling the outside vestibule. The accommodation on the lower floor of the hall was almost entirely reserved for pupils of the school and the stage was oecupied by members of the High School and other speeialjy invited guests. Associated with the chairman of the board, Mr. R. B. Nesbitt who presided, was Dr. E. Marsden, Director of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, who had kindly consented to give an address. During the evening two combined school songs by pupils of the school were given under the baton of Mr. J. Buchan, the" rendering of these being of a high standard. Tumultous applause followed the presentation to each prizewinner of the scholastic prizes by Mrs. W. G. Harwood, the sports trophies bv Mrs. R. A. Gardner and the Rotary medal for the most successful student in every sphere of school life, by the Rotorua Rotary Club president, Mr. J. D. Davys. In his opening remarks, the chairman of the High School Board, Mr. R. B. Nesbitt, said that during the past year, owing to the depression and other reasons, the school roll had dropped considerably, with the result that the school had lost one of its teachers, thus throwing extra worlc on the headmaster and malcing it difficult for him to exercise the snpervision to the extent lie desired. He, therefore, appcaled to parente to send their children to the school, but impreased upon them the fact that attendance of children at the school for one year only was not sufficient and would result in interest in the High School being lost. Tio also reminded parents that the present state of world depression would not last for all time and he considered that a good secondary school education would be no handicap to the stud.iu when conditions improved. Mr. Ryder's Departure In referring to the loss of the previous headmaster, Mr. A. R. Ryder, Mr. Nesbitt said that the board felt a serious responsibility in seleeting a successor wrho would continue the good work commenced by the rotiring headmaster. Many applicai ion--had been received," including one from Australia, but the board had choser. Mr. Harwood and he said he felt smv that the whole board were as cafisfied with the selection as he felt. Mr. Harwood was carrying on the geod work so ably introduced by Mr. Ryder. Other difficulties experienced had been the suggestion of the Gove.nment for the abolition of sceondavy school boards. but this had been opposed in a deputation to Weliingion and he thought that these representations had been successful. In closing, Mr. Nesbitt referred t complaints which sometimes conv from parents regarding supervislon of children at the school and pointod out that it was not always wise to take only the child's point of vie~.v, but advocated the principle of parents personally interviewing the headmaster who had the interest of the whole school at heart and could eorreet any mistaken impressions in parents' minds. Dr. Marsden's Appreclaticn Remarking that it generally took a new school many years to settle down Dr. Marsden, Director of Scientific and Industrial Research, said that he was surprised at the progress which had been made by the Rotorua High School since it was instituted five years ago. That a high school in a small town was one of the most impor tant institutions of that distriet, was amply demonstrated, said Dr. Marsden, by the developments which had resulted to towns in other pprts of New Zealand and he said he felt certain that similar development would result from the activities of the Rotorua High School. Too Much Education? Mentioning that education, like banking and other 'questions, was a matter where there is a superhuity of experts, many of whom considered that too much was spent on it, Dr. Marsden disagreed with this view and said he considered it to be the most important of the Government services as a necessity for the future welfare of the country and the solving of the problems which at the present time beset it. Some, he said, suggested that the present state of depression was largely brought about by the expendituw on education and another objeetion he had often heard was that the present form of education did not fit the child for Ihe industrial world, This he thought was the crux of the po:;ition and contended that in many eases. the fault was partly with the industry itself. For industry to flourish he considered that a comprehensive education system was vitaily necessary for the purpose of providing leaders in industry who could look ahead and lay its fundamental principles on a sound and scientific basis. New Qutloofc Wanted • What was wanted, continued Dr. Marsden, was a new outlook on the changed conditions and a realisation that with proper training the industries of the country could be successfully controlled by its own people. Another point which he raised was ' th.e fact that if the present system of democratic government of the Dominion was to function successfully the standard of education must neeessarily he high and he stressod the point that in its aetions the Government were directed from outside and guided by the wishes of the voters. Success ful leaders were also necessary for this type of government, and" it was only by education, he said, that these could be provided. Industries Affected Referring to the decline in the flax andkaurigui^

lairy products, Dr. Marsden quoted .hese as instances where harm to the industry had been brought about by Ack of scientific education. Despite the claim of 'many "croakers" that too much science resulted in harm to industry, it was a well-known fact that in the earlier days industries were troubled by many more ups and downs than at the present time. In conelusion he said he felt that industry and education could not he 'inked too closely and too much defieetionofthebestyoutt^iwa^Yom