SPEECH DAY FUNCTION

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 849, 18 December 1929, Page 6

SPEECH DAY FUNCTION

DIOCESAN HIGH SCHOOL

ANSWER TO CRITICISMS “I do not think our girls will |,e ablo to take their part in the affairs of the world if they do not complete their education,” said Miss E. Sandford, the headmistress at the annual speech day ceremony of the Diocesan High School held yesterday, when urging the necessity of keeping girls at least one year in the sixth form. There was a large attendance of parents and friends, Mr. C. J. Tunks, chairman of the board of governors, presiding. There were also present Archbishop Averill and Mrs. Averill, the Rev. H. K. Archdall, headmaster of King’s College, and members of the board of governors. Continuing her report, Miss Sandford said that eight of the 13 girls in the sixth form last year gained higher leaving certificates, and seven of the 14 pupils of this year’s sixth form had been recommended for them. Last year nine girls passed the matriculation, and this year there had been 24 candidates.. While constructive criticism was welcomed, there was some criticism which she wished to refute. The first was that girls who attended the school were not being fitted to earn their living on leaving school. In reply to that statemnt she said that she and her staff were all earning their living, and that alone would never allow them to neglect giving the girls an education which would stand them in good stead if they had to earn their living. Miss Sandford said that the second criticism was that games were carried to excess. The girls did not have too many games, their syllabus of games and work in the gymnasium was modelled on the generally accepted English ideas on the subject.. ‘‘Games are both a stimulus to education, and a part of education itself.” Although prizes are no longer presented at the school there are a number of trophies for annual competition among the forms, and sixth form pupils whose all-round merit is considered to be of a certain standard are presented with associate medals and diplomas. The awards were presented by Mrs. Averill as follow: Associate Medals and Diplomas.—T. Alexander, K. Bates, AI. Christensen, M. Clark, B. Dodd, R. Gorrie, M. Mears, M. Segar, 1. Skegg, J. Trayes, P. Upton, M. Walshe. Athletic Awards.—Cups, Form: Tennis, Va; basketball, VI;. cricket, VI. House: Basketball, Neligan; cricket, School; tennis, to be decided. , Order Shields. —Upper School, Va; Lower School, Ilia. Form Pictures.—Upper School, Vb; Lower School, IHb. Department Pictures. —Upper School, Va; Lower School, IHb. At the conclusion of thfe speeches the guests were entertained at afternoon tea, which was served in the new hall, and in Cowie House. Eurhythmies and folk dancing was done by girls on the schoolhouse lawn, and against a background of bright summer flowers and shady trees, this was a most attractive sight.