EDUCATIONAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 30, 6 February 1915, Page 8

EDUCATIONAL.

ST. MARY’S SCHODL FOR CiRLS.

Stratford has an unsullied name throughout the Dominion for it.i good schools, and the formal opening yesterday afternoon of St. Mary’s School for Girls should serve to enhance ti nt reputation. Pleasantly 7 situated, standing on high ground, and approached hy a long garden path direct from the main Mountain road leading to New Plymouth, its location is not only convenient to,the town and railway station, hut it lias been cho-mi with due regard for the healthiness of all future occupants.

Favored with fin<* weather, thoic was a good company present yesterday afternoon to show their interest i„‘the School, and also to meet the lady principal .(Miss M. E. Adman M archant, M.A.), who holds not only high scholastic credentials, combined wdh wide practical experience, hut also personal qualifications for suck a position. Among the many present were the Venera hie •Archdeacon and Mrs Evans, the Vicar (Rev. C. W. Howard) of Holv Trinity, Stratford, Rev. and Mrs W, R. Dent (Eltham). Rev. and Mrs Harrison (AVaitara), Rev. A. and Mrs Colville, Rev. Kempthorne (Inglewood), Rev. R. E. Ecuties (Whangamomona district), Mr J. 15 Hine, M.P., and Mrs and Miss Mine, Mr and Mrs W. H. H. Young, Mr and Mrs A. C. Bell (Messrs Voung and Bell representing the Board of Governors), Mr R. Masters . (icpiesenting the Taranaki Education Board) and Mrs Masters, and other friends associated with Holy 7 Irinity. On behalf c# the Board, Mr Noting, who expressed his pleasure in welcoming the many friends present, said that while we, in Stratford, were all proud of our schools, his Board felt that the time had arrived when a school of this nature was wanted m the district. Any business undertaking required friends, and therefore h 3 would look to them all as, friends for their assistance and support to make the school a success.

Jii a pleasant, convincing, and womanly way, Miss Marchant addressed the company. She said New Zealand lias come to a turning point in education —we have had a very good primary system, then secondary and grammar schools, all of which have achieved much success on certain lines. Personally, she thought that the education had been narrow and stereotyped, and now it was gradually developing into something wider and something different. With thpt idea. Miss Marchant said she advocated a school on the lines of four large girls’ public schools, such as &t. Hilda's (Dunedin), Auckland Diocesan Girls’ School, St. Margaret’s (Christchurch), and Nga Tawa (Marton). “We mean in our school to prepare pupils, hut we do not wish to ho bound by a ‘system.’ Give the girls here a good, sound, thorough training—make them capable in every way, so that they may become womanly women.” Girls had an idea, as expressed to Miss Marchant at Tv ellington and Dunedin, that they were to cram in order to raise themselves socially, as if education was something to he absorbed to enable them to pass an examination and dropped again altogether. “Fit th“ w '- il ’cr to become happy women by the inculcation of those higher principles and not crush them by the weight of education under a cram system.”

Altogether, the speaker impressed all by her thorough grip of educational matters, and by her earnestness in •Ml that pertains to the making of true women.

Archdeacon Evans, in a short pleasant speech, welcomed Miss Marchant on behalf of the Diocese, and expressed his pleasure at being present. He thought Stratford was to be congratulated on having set a great and noble example to the whole of the Diocese, and he hoped that with so much enthusiasm and spirit of adventure, this school would go on and become not only a success hut a great influence for good. With regard to the school-house itself, this has been considerably enlarged and improved by the addition of a now and lofty dormitory, hath, room and extra rooms, all with the latest fittings, reflecting creditably on Mr X. ,1. King, builder, under whose superintendence the work is being carried out. Altogether the position is an ideal one, and from the playing fields at the hack, glorious Mount Egmont throws her mantle of snow in full view, while the general surroundings serve to suggest healthiness and happiness to all. Space is not lacking, the beautiful house and grounds covering about six acres, which should induce parents to visit the school in tlie interest of their girls. Under tin* control of Miss Marchant, as Principal (who was for 16 years headmistress of Otago Girls High School, Dunedin), and Miss Shephard, as assistant mistress, it is hoped that—■ associated as this school is with Holy Trinity—many from Stratford and beyond who arc desirous of entering their girls in a Church School, may ho induced to make enquiries, either personally or by letter, and thus further the interests not merely of the school hut of Stratford. The school commences the new term on Wednesday next, and prospectuses ami further particulars can he obtained from the secretary, Mr A, D. Stanley, P.O. box 93, Stratford.