GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOL.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 December 1915, Page 6

GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOL.

.PRIZE-GIVING CEREMONY. PRINCIPAL'S IPLEA FOR NEW SCHOOL. "STIFLING THE GIRLS." The year's labors for the pupils of the New Plymouth Girls' High School have concluded, and yesterday the prize-giv-ing ceremony was held in the Good Templar Hall. It is hardly accurate to describe the function as prize-giving, for, in reality, the girls who claimed awards took up a splendid patriotic attitude and asked that the money usually devoted to prizes should be given to the Patriotic Fund, and they'would aocept certificates in lieu of prizes. There was a good attendance at the ceremony, and Mr. E. Dockrill (chairman of the Board of Governors) presided. There were also on the platform Mrs. Dockrill and Messrs H. Okey, M.P., M. Fraser and A. McHardy. Apologies for absence ,\vere received from Messrs H. Trimble and W. N. Ewing. . In the course of an interesting report the principal (Miss Hodges) said:— The total enrolment of pupils has been 93, of whom 47 were new pupils, 46 were on the roll before, while 74 were seniors and 19 juniors. The numbers for the three terms (putting seniors first) were respectively 69, 10; 69, 14; 70, 19. These ndmbers, though 'comparatively speaking, small, have taxed the accommodation at our disposal to its utmost. The Sixth Form, indeed, being the smallest, has led a nomadic existence. No sooner was its tent pitched in one room than the increasing needs of other forms compelled it to move on. Like Noah's dove, it sought a resting place and found none. The crowding was somewhat relieved when the preparatory department removed to St. Andrew's iHall. This department was opened in February with a roll number of ten, which has since increased to 19, a very satisfactory beginning. In spite of the numerous disadvantages under which the classes have been earried on, the girls achieved their usual number of successes in last year's public examinations. Airini Pope, Irene Hirst, Alex Warren and Grace Mouat passed Matriculation, the two first qualifying also for Solicitors' General Knowledge and Medical Preliminary. Winnie Chapman, Alice George and Mary Fox gained Senior Education Board 'Scholarships. In July of this year Mr. Gill, the in: spector, visited the school inspecting the classes and conducting the examination for Senior Free 'Places. Of the 15 candidates who presented themselves, 11 passed the examination, two had their Junior Free Places extended for a year on the score of age, and two, whose papers did not come up to the required standard, had to sit for the public examination in November. While speaking of school success, I wish to congratulate one of our old girls, Miss Mary Dowling, on gaining a Medical Travelling Scholarship. This is the first time in New Zealand that such an honor lias been conferred on a woman, which makes 'it all the more gratifying that she is an old New Plymouth Higli School girl. "The war at present raging in Europe has cast its shadow on the school, as on all else. The girls, being anxious to help, have found various ways of doing so. For a time, knitting was the order of the day. The playground became a work-room, and few were to be seen without scarves floating in the wind, or engaged in the mysteries of heel-turning. A parcel of handkerchiefs, pillow-slips, washers, etc., were sent to the first hospital ship. Throughout the year a weekly collection has been made for the Belgians, half the proceeds of the school concert, amounting to £6l 10s, was handed over to the Wounded Soldiers' Fund, and to-day the girls are taking certificates in lien of prizes that the Patriotic Fund may be further increased. The boarders have devoted much of their spare time to knitting woollen comforts for the soldiers and for destitute Belgians." The report then went on refer to the curtailment of athletics owing to the absence of ground; the resignations of Mrs. Jennings, Miss Livingstone and Miss Shaw. Miss Hodges then referred at some length to the difficulties of working with the inaißquate accommodation. "Let me plead for these girls," she added. "It has been pathetic to me to see how much they have tried to make of their games and school work in spite of all manner of obstacles. So far they have not even been treated with common justice. It is no favor we beg from the Board, but our legal dues. Education endowments in Taranaki are for girls as well as boys. How much have your girls got? You stuff them into a miserable parody of a school building and leave them there till they are bumped out. Three years! Why, some girls are leaving to-day who have known no other high school than that. What school-spirit or inspiration have they got from such a place? How has it supplied them with the brightness of mind and soul that every girls' school environment should ensure? You are stifling your girls simply because you will not take the trouble to be interested."

In conclusion, Miss Hodges expresed her thanks to the staff, the prefects, and she expressed best wishes for the girls. THE PRIZE-LIST. The prizes were then presented by Mrs. Doekrill as follows: Swimming—Preparatory championship, G. Campbell; junior championship, M. Brown; senior championship, I. Hirst. Tennis—Singles, P. Heal; doubles, P. Heal and A. Warren. Special prize given by Carnegie Library Committee, membership of library for one year—A. Pope. PREPARATORY. Class Prizes—V. Johns (Standard VI.), A. Fookes (Standard V.), K. Hutton (Standard IV.) Special Prizes—Arithmetic; A. Wilson (Standard V.), A. Goddins (Standard III.) Reading and recitation: J. Potts (Standard IV.), M. Pinson (Standard III.) French: Jean Pott, Annis Wilson, V. Johns. General improvement: if. Wood (Standard IV.), M. Hutchen (Standard III.), E. Goddins (Standard II.) Drawing: K. Hutton, A. Goddin. Writing: A. Fookes, M. Hutchen. FORM 111, H. Wilson, Ist Latin, Ist French, Ist Elementary Science, 2nd History, 2nd Geography, 2nd Botany, 3rd Geometry; D. Watkins, Ist Gcorgraphy, Ist Ist Botany, Ist Drawing, 3rd English, 3rd Latin, 3rd Arithmetic, 3rd Elementary Science; J. Cassie, Ist English, Ist Arithmetic, 2nd History, 3rd Latin, 3rd French, 3rd Algebra; D. Leech, Ist Geometry, Ist History, Ist Cooking, 2nd Latin; M. Brown, Ist Algebra, Ist Arithmetic, 3rd Georgraphy, 3rd Cooking; A. Rawlinson, Ist Elementary Science, 2nd Geometry, 2nd Drawing, 3rd Botany, 4th Algebra, 4th English; K. Downs, 2nd English, 3rd Science, 3rd Cookmg, 4th Botany. 4th Geometry, 4th Algebra,

FORM IV. M. Morton, Ist .Latin, French, Arithmetic, Botany, History, Geography, Ist Drawing; 2nd English, Algebra, Geometry, Science; K. Monleath, Ist English, Geometry, 2nd Botany, 2nd History; L. Hurle, Ist Algebra, Natural Science, ,2nd Arithmetic, 2nd Botany, 2nd Latin; A. Ewing, Ist Drawing, 2nd Geography, 3rd Algebra, 3tL Geometry, 4th Botany; F. Evans, 2nd French, 4th Arithmetic and Latin; I. Monteath, 3rd English, Algebra, 4th French, sth History, Latin; N. Corkill, 2nd Latin. FORM V. M. Wilson ) Ist English, Georgraphy, History, French, Geometry, Botany, Drawing, 2nd Science; A. George, Ist Algebra, Arithmetic 2nd Geometry, History, 3rd French, Geography, Botany; H. Bullard, Ist Latin, Science, 2nd Arithmetic, 3rd Algebra, 3rd Botany; E. Death, 2nd French, Algebra, Botany, Geography, 3rd Science; J. Graham, 2nd English; W. Chapman, 2nd Latin, 3rd Science, 4th English; I. Earp, 2nd Drawing, 3rd History, 4th Arithmetic and Algebra. FORM Via. Joyce Wilson, Ist in Junior University Scholarship work. FORM Vlb. I. Hirst, Ist Algebra, 2nd English, Latin, French, Geometry, Trigonometry, Heat. A. Warren, Ist Botany, 2nd Arithmetic. DUX OF THE SCHOOL. Airini Pope, Ist in English, Latin, French, Arithmetic, Heat, Geometry, Trigonometry, Botany. DRILL. The squad drill was won by Squad 8., and Airini Pope was the best girl in the squad. Airino Pope also won a special prize for drill. Short speeches were made by Messrs Dockrill, Okey, Fraser and McHardy, in which congratulations were extended to the school on the good work done, and the difficulties under which the school was carried on were referred to. During the afternoon the girls gave two songs, and Misses Hirst and Collins contributed a song and a recitation' respectively. The National Anthem was sung at the opening and, at the conclusion of the proceedings.