FITZROY SCHOOL.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 December 1915, Page 6

FITZROY SCHOOL.

CONCERT AND PRIZE-GIVING. THE YEAR'S WORK REVIEWED. The "breaking-up" ceremony in connection with tiie Fitzroy School took place in the Fitzroy Hall last night, when there was a large attendance of parents and friends. Mr. Win. G. Reid (chairman of the School Committee), presided, and several other members of the School Committee were also on the platform. The proceedings were made particularly enjoyable by an excellent musical programme given by the pupils, after which the reports of the headteacher (Mr. 0. Johnson) and Mr, Reid were read. The concert programme was as follows: Piano Duet, Marjory and Muriel End; song (infants), "Fox and the Geese"; Action song (juniors), "Drummer Boy"; recitation, Dennis Crapper, "My Brother Alfred"; song (infants), "Song of the Rain," and "Polliwog"; recitation (juniors), "Frogs at School;" song (infants), "Multiplication Table," and "A Ship a Sailing"; recitation, Apua Skipper, "The Boy .who didn't Pass"; song (juniors), "Golden Slumbers"; piano (luet, Gwendoline Bnmett, Miriam Hills; physical drill, senior girls; song (seniors), "British Lion"; recitation, Alvon Francis, "My Little wet Home in the Trench"; song (seniors, "The Navy"; recitation, Allan Crapper, "I Wish I had him here"; piano solo, Lily Aroa; recitation, Maro Nops, "Father carves the Duck"; song (senior girls), "We'll Lookafter you"; recitation, C. Johnson and E. Lealand, "Handing down"; • song (Maori), Appi Skipper; seniors, "God Defend New Zealand." Before the gathering dispersed, the National Anthem was sung.

The Headmaster (Mr. 0, Johnson), in his report stated, inter alia, that at the recent examination, the children again acquitted themselves well, only a sinnll percentage failing to seenre a pass in their several standards. The Committee had effeeted several improvements during the year, the most important being the ashalting of the assembly yard and the playground in the immediate vicinity of the school ouildings. This would enable the girls to have a tennis-court when school re-opened. We had the honour of a visit from the Minister of Education, when the opportunity was taken of pointing out the smallness of the grounds, tlie increase in the school roll, and the prospect? of a larger increase owing t,o the establishment of industries in the district.- Suggestions were made in connection with the enUrgemijg of the playground, and these met with the Minister's approval. It now remained for the Committee to push the matter to a successful issue. Frequent calls had been made upon the children to help the Empire in its dire need. These always met with a ready response. The girls of the upper standards hud, during the scheduled sewing 'esson, devoted their time to providing comforts of one kind and another for the soldiers, this, subscriptions had been sent to the different funds and a large 'Xmas hamper was forwarded to fiallipoli. The present struggle has levied its toll upon the school as upon others, three of our former scholars (Alfred Harding, Wm. Tanner, and Norman Steele) laid down their lives in defence of the Empire, while others are serving at the front or aro in training camps.

CHAIRMAN'S REMARKS. ' The chairman said: —The object of oiif school is not only to turn out scholars but men. For what will it profit a boy if he gain every scholarship and lose his self respect, or what can a boy (rive in exchange for his self respect? It is the character that has made the British nation what it is, has made us the envy of all other nations, and made us to be looked up to by other nations in a way that no other nation was ever looked up to before. We want as many men as we can obtain of the type of Lord Roberts, General Gordon, and Lord Kitchener. Another type .of character that we could well afford to train our boys to emulate is that of the late General Booth and Doctor Barnado, who may truly be said to have lived for others. A few words to the parents whose duty lies first in assisting the child lo determine what he may be fitted for, ar.l in permitting him to stay at school as long as is necessary to fit him for that position. Many parents do not realise this. No doubt circumstances compel parents in many cases to allow their children In-go io work as early as possible, but in some cases, unfortunately there is a great deal of apathy on the part of the parents, who permit their children to leave school without any sound reason whatever. Very liberal facilities already exist to provide children with a much better education than was possible for their parents except at heavy cost; and the child, who is not able to take the fullest advantage of these facilities, which are continually being widened, sets out in life very severely handicapped compared with those who do avail themselves of the opportunity offered. The majority of parents recognise that 110 measure of self-sacrifice is too great to ensure their children going out into the world as well equipped educationally as is possible for them to be. But there is still that minority who will not make the sacrifice, and so (heir children start an unequal race, with the inevitable result—the unfitted go under. This will be more apparent in the future when the best will be demanded of our manhood. This applies, of course, to our girls as well as our hoys. Our teaching staff lias succeeded in maintaining the prestige of our school as an educational institution and to every teacher we feel deeply indebted for the earnestness and eflicieney of their work and the watchful care they have exercised over our children during tiie past vear.

THE PRIZE LIST, The certificates and special prizes were presented by Mr. Reid as follows: ■ Standard Vl.—Highest marks: Boys, Clifford Johnson; girls, Qnccnic Senter. Writing: Elsie Femvick. Brushdrawing: Eric Lealand, Ella Johnson. Mapping: Miriam Mills. Oral Answering: Gwendoline Barnett, General, usefulness: Reginald Petch. Standard V.—Highest marks: Boys, Alev Clcland; Girls, Muriel Reid. Writing: Alice Cosbvook. Standard IV.—Highest marks: Boys, Allan Crapper; Girls, Evelyn White. Composition: Maro Nops. General excellence: Doris Petch, Agnes Sorensen, Gudrun Sorensen, Appi Skipper, Lily Aroa. Standard lll—Highest marks; boys, Herbert Martin; girls, Queenie Senter. General Excellence: Amy Fetch. Brushdrawing: Magaret Watson. General Improvement: Florei.ee Artlen, Ben Cathro. Standard IX—Highest marks: Boys, Claudo Grayling; girls, Eileen Cleland , General excsllenoe: D'Aroy Avery. Eon-

aid Bellringer, Winnie Old, Jean Ram', son. General improvement: Ethel Wybourne. Drawing and sewing: Hazel Gunson. Standard I.—Highest marks: Boys, Ivan Pcpperellj girls, Apua Skipper. General excellence: Onslow Bellringer, Una Allan. General improvement: Fred Goldsworthy. Sewing: Ethel Briscoe. Special prizes.—Presented by "Ml'. A. We 11 it: Perseverance ... and industry, Standard VI., Reginald Clarke;,,standard V., May Copmbes. Presetted by Mr. W. Griffiths: Perseverance £nd industry, Standard IV., Irene Dickey. Presented by Mr. 0. Johnson: Perseverance and industry, Standard IV., Edna Wadman. Presented by Miss Tolme: Special effort in History, Winnie Knowles. Infant division.ir-Primer III.: Liizio Scott, Ella Cleaver, (fraee Af«y, Rita Haskell, Joe Clearer,' 1 Frank Cleland, Wm, Rcvell, Vinson Aroa,'gaggle Hooper, Edna Old, Tlipj. Api|, Clarion Olivers, Elsie Pyerofti Elsie Goldsworthy, Ron. Street, Ivel Dickey, Newton Johnson, Roy Jones, Arthur Gray. Ethel Boulton. Attendance. —«Full: Standard VI., David l'restney, Vida yElla Johnson; Standard V., Alex Clf\nd, May Coombes, Alice Coebrook, Bertie Harvey; Standard Allan CrsMier, Alvan Francis, Robert "ott, 1,1 ly Arga, Esme Boulton, Marjory Dickey, Iriyt, Dickey, Ver\ Milligan, r Irene Ilaojwr; Standard 111., Ben,, Cathro, Annie Hooper, Winnie Knowfcs; Standard 11., Willie Cosbrook, John Dickey, Claude Grayling, Hazel Gunson, Jean Damson; Standard 1., Nellie Harvey, Apua Skipper; Primers, Vinson Aroa, IreJ Dickey, Roy Eva. ——' ' I LEPPERTOIf. On Thursday, Miss Spcncc, who has been teaching at this School during the last two years, was, on the occasion of her severing her connection with the school, presented with two beautifully bound volumes of poetry to murk the esteem in which she was held by (he scholars and teachers. Mr. Brown,;headmaster, in making the presentation, made eulogistic reference to Miss Spence's good work as a teacher, to her success as n student, and the cordial relations which had always existed between the pupils and herself. Miss Spence suitably responded after which the boys and girls gave three cheers for her. The following pupils of the sixth standard gained prQflciency certificates: —lsabel Openshaw, Bertha Giddy, Dorothy Diskenson, Reg. Klenner, Ernest Hellier, and William Clark. These scholars qualified for the Department's good attendance certificate: —William Clark, Ernest Hellier, Victor HamWyn, Eaton Roberts, Claude Hellier, Dorothy Dickenson, Emily Ackland, Vera Williamson. Th'elma Blackhall, Ray Paul, William Ackland, Bertha Giddy, Isabel Roberta. The first nine mentioned made full attendance, which in the case of three of the girls was a most creditable performance, as they had long distances to come in the wet weather which was so prevftlcpt during the latter part of thq. year.' ' On Thursday evenirtg' the scholars ot the school, together with Mrs. Denton's music pupils, gave a concert in the hall. Mr. F. Hosking. chairirtan of the school committee, presided, and explained that the children were foregoing their usual concert for prize money, preferring ttt'assist to raise funds for the benefit of the Wounded Soldiers' Fund. Regard /or your space does not permit me ta particularise all the items, but the following were of outstanding merit:—' "Mr. Lion has sad thoughts," a recitation by the juniors; "Khaki ja-d Blue," song by the seniors; "Kreamland," song and chorus by Miss Ruby Dick and company, and "Good Night," part song by the seniqr girls. Mr?. Denton's pupils acquitted themselves very well, their various pianoforte duets, trios, and quartettes being much appreciated. A speeinlly good item from Mrs. Denton's pupils was "Knitting," a song in which Miss Paul Pang, the bolii, the chorus being taken byv'Hhe remaining pupils. A party from New Plymouth consisting of Miss Melsaae and Mensrs. Farmer, Downs, and Gadd, gave a splendid selection of songs and other musical items. Mr. Stewart, of Egmont Village, also sang after having sane the ssuno evening at a concert at the village. Mention should also be made of the decorations of the hall, .the work of Mrs. Bain, Miss Stewart, Miss Openshaw, and Mr. Oliver. A very pleasant evening's entertainment was brought to a close by the dispensing of a bountiful provided by the ladies Of the distrjn. after which dancing was indulged in till two o'clock. The music for the latter was provided liv Mrs. Dttiton and Mr., E. Hellier. Mr. X. Sampson acting as M.C. The extra pinno required for the instrumental quartette* was kindlv lent free of all charge- of Mr. HofrimvSm, whose generosity in this respect was greatly appreciated by the promoters of the Concert. The gross takings at the concert amounted to over £12.,