GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOL.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 December 1921, Page 6

GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOL.

THE BREAKING-UP CEREMONY. PRESENTATION OF PRIZES. YEAR’S WORK REVIEWED. The annual prize-giving and breaking-up ceremony in connection with the New Plymouth Girls’ High School was held in the assembly hall at the school last night, in the presence of a large number of parents and visitors. The platform was occupied by members of the school staff and the Board of Governors. Proceedings opened with the singing of the National Anthem, after which the pupils rendered their song, “Gandeamus Igitur”.

The chairman of the Board of Governors (Mr. J. S. Fox), who presided, congratulated the people on coming out in such large numbers on an unfavorable night. Their presence indicated that they had a live interest in the school, and that interest, he said, was appreciated. He read an apology from Mr. S. G. Smith, M.P., who sent his congratulations on the success achieved during the year and joined in wishing a pleasant holiday to all. Continuing, Mr. Fox referred to the fact that during the early part of the year there had been a change in the office of principal, Miss Barr, who had done excellent work, leaving for Hastings. Miss ■Mclntosh was chosen to fill the position, and he thought the board could congratulate themselves on such a fortunate choice. Those people who had met Miss Mclntosh and knew her would agree that she was strong in personality, and this was an essential for the principal of a school, whether the institution was for boys or girls. Already her influence was being felt on the pupils of the school to a marked degree. TRIBUTE TO MISS DREW. Mr. Fox said he had pleasure in congratulating the principal and staff on a successful year, and the board appreciated very much the manner in which they had done their duty. They were losing Misses Smith, Wilson and Mullen, and the board wished to thank these members of the staff for their work. They were also losing the services of a highly-esteemed teacher in Miss Drew, who had been a devoted servant of the board for twenty-eight years. (Continued applause.) When he told them that during this long term Miss Drew had been absent only a fortnight and three days, and that only quite recently (when necessitated by the death of her respected father), it would be realised what devoted attention she had given to the school. Miss Drew had been the recipient of a presentation from the Old Qirls’ Association recently, but he was sure she would carry away a far better testimonial—namely, in having the love, esteem and affection of the whole of the girls whom she had taught for the last twenty-eighf years. The board regretted exceedingly her loss, and wished her a pleasant and happy future.

The chairman said the thanks of the board were due to the Minister of Education and his department for providing sufficient finance to enlarge the assembly hall, and adding a ‘teachers’ room and cloak room. The school had made progress during the year, and the numbers had kept up well, though the want of boarding accommodation was felt very much indeed. He believed that if there was sufficient accommodation available the numbers at Strandon would show a large increase. In connection with this question the Old Girls’ Association had done splendid work. Mr. Fox paid a tribute to the matron in charge of Strandon, Miss Giblin, who had been a mother to the girls. Mr. Fox concluded by wishing the principal, staff and pupils a pleasant holiday. He hoped that the pupils would return with renewed energy. He hoped those who were leaving school would meet with every success, whether it was in college, office or home, and he hoped they would always try to do their best. Cheerfulness was a great factor in a pleasant life, and he hoped they would be as free of cares and worries as this world would allow. He finally urged them not to forget their school, or the Old Girls’ Association.

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT. The principal, in her report, stated: In presenting this annual report for | lf>2l, I am dealing with what has naturally been rather a difficult year, and, before entering into detail, I wish to thank all those who have helped me to keep the wheels running smoothly and to prevent the school suffering more than was inevitable from the changes in the second term. Succeeding, as 1 did, . one who was so loved and honored as .Miss Barr, I came with more than tht I usual diffidence of a newcomer, and ' therefore have doubly appreciated the ■ unfailing consideration and loyal assistI ance for which J have to thank the parI ents of the pupils, the Board of Govj ernors. and the staff. I Apart from the interruption due to I the change of control—a change which 1 indirectly necessitated considerable changes in the time-table—the school j work has proceeded, on the whole, satI i.sfaetorily. The average roll numbers ; for the three terms have been, exctui sive of the preparatory department, 149, 14S. and 145, and the average attend ; ances 97, 94 and per cent, of these. | The preparatory roll lias averaged 42. In considering the question of attend- . ances one regrets to see the trivial rea- • sons which keep some few girls so freI quently at home, while others, even when living at a long distance, rarely miss a day of school. Parents do not, perhaps, realise that all free place holders are required to make at least 80 per cent, of attendances unless they can plead serious personal illness. EXAMINATION RESULTS. The examination results published at the beginning of the year were good, and the school has maintained its reputation for sound, successful work. Winifred Downes and Eileen Ballantyne gained Taranaki scholarships, while Dinah Brown and Rohan Bell matriculated on the scholarship papers. Gwen Day, ! Mary Downes. Neta Frethey. Gwen I Godfrey, Evelyn White, Ellen Keylock, J and Annis Wilson passed solicitors’ gen- | oral knowledge and medical preliminary, five others passed matriculation, and I seven gained partial passes. Two girls j also gained partial passes in the D ex I amination. I Senior national scholarships «wers I awarded to Dorothy Fox, Mary lJowjje<, Molly Olson. Helen Thomson, and Amy Petch. Twenty-five candidates were successful in the intermediate examination, and gained senior free places. Six girls qualified for higher leaving certificates, and twelve for lower. In the preparatory department eleven girls have gained proficiency, and two competency. Coming to our swimming and games, ,1 have various successes to mention: Alice Smalley and May Smart won the Taranaki secondary schools’ championship cup for life-saving and. resuscitation ; May Smart won the honorary instruc-

tor’s badge; Stephanie North and Alice Smalley won the Bronze Medallions; twelve girls gained proficiency certificates and two elementary certificates.

In hockey the A team were first in the North Taranaki competition, and the B team in the Thursday matches, successes which were due not only to the girls' own perseverance, but aUo to Mr. E. Turner’s kindness in coaching them. I should like to take this opportunity of thanking all those who have so generously contributed to our games and sports •fund, or who have given special prizes. The gifts have been acknowledged individually and are also acknowledged in the magazine, but L 'eannot help saying here how much we appreciate them, not merely because they add to the pleasure of our prize day, but still more because they help us to realise the keen interest which so many feel in the school. STAFF CHANGES. In connection with the staff, I have to speak of some changes that have occurred this year, and some more that are impending. Besides* losing Miss Barr, the school was unfortunate enough to lose at the same time Miss Burrow, who has a very warm place in the girls’ hearts as a good teacher of science, and also on account ,of the time and energy which she most unselfishly devoted to the school games. We wish Miss Burrow, who is no longer Miss Burrow, all happiness in her new life. Her place has been temporarily filled by Miss Joyce Wilson. B.Se., who leaves us to continue her studies at a university centre, and who in turn will be succeeded by Atiss A. Tizard, M.A.

The school also suffers a great loss this year in the retirement of Miss Drew. Her long connection with the school, her valuable experience, and her fine influence e will make her very much missed. We wish her, also, every happiness, and hope that we shall still see a great deal of her, even when she is no longer officially one of us. Miss N. 1. Maclean, M.A., succeeds Miss Drew as first assistant, and comes from the Auckland Grammar School with fine credentials and special qualifications in modern languages. Miss J. M. Smith is also leaving us for a year in order to visit England, where she hopes to have opportunities of teaching in different schools, and of thus gaining a more varied experience. We wish her a successful year and a safe return from her journey. Her place is being filled temporarily by Miss Marguerite Brand. M.A., of Dunedin. Tn the preparatory department. Miss E. Million, who was appointed at the beginning of this year to assist Miss Park, leaves now for the Training College, and her place will be taken next year by Miss Ruth Day, at present a pupil of the school. ' Full advantage is being taken of the boarding department at Strandori, the boarders' roll averaging 53 for the year. This number seems far too small when one remembers that. New Plymouth is the centre of a large and flourishing ■farming district, in which there are only one or two secondary schools with boarding accommodation. One must conclude, therefore, that the girls in the country districts either do not nave the benefit of secondary education or that they are sent to more distant schools. * Either alternative is td be regretted, and we look forward to the time when our buildings will be large enough to ensure every girl in the country having as good opportunities as her sisters in the towns. “To him that hath shall be given,” applies to scuouis as to other things, and there is no doubt that when a school is able to grow the demand for admission into it grows equally. One pupil brings another, and, as a parent remarked this ,year, the children themselves are the best advertisement. OLD GIRLS’ ACTIVITIES. It has been a great encouragement to me that the Old Girls’ Association realise so fully the needs of Taranaki girls, and that they are working so energetically and whole-heartedly for the new boarding school. We have to thank the mothers also, not only for much help indirectly given, <>ut also for the special effort which they have recently made with such excellent results. It is not easy to ask people for money, nor to arrange a mart, and it takes many marts to make an impression on a building fund of £7OOO. Miss Douglas, the president of the Old Girls’ ‘Association, has kindly promised to present our sports prizes to-night, and to iell us what the old girls and the mothers have done. I do not wisli to encroach on her subject, and will only say, “all thanks and honor to them for their splendid work.”

I should like, before concluding, to say how much I regret the necessity which obliges some girls to leave school after only two or three years’ secondary education. Every girl who wishes to become a teacher should stay until she has matriculated, and, if possible, a year longer in order to gain a higher leaving certificate, and to pass part of the D examination. This leaves her more free as a pupil teacher to interest herself in the practical part of her profession. and consequently less likely to feel the strain of her new work. The increased salaries now offered to teachers. and the liberal opportunities for higher education and sound training, are expected to bring forward candidates who are better qualified than formerly. As I heard an inspector say about a year ago, in speaking of the new entrants into the teaching profession, “The present generation is betiig given much, and much will be required of it.” THE VALUE OF EDUCATION. This is not, however, the only aspect of the question, nor is it the one which T hope will be most considered. It is not until a girl has been at school for two or three years that she begins really to understand the value of her studies and to appreciate them for their own sake. At this time, also, she begins to have a greater sense of responsibility to hei school and to take some small share in its management. The first result of this is seen in her own development. It is not by being drilled into some line of conduct, nor by having everything done for her that a girl gains in character and power. She learns by having to decide and act for herself and others, and this she does more and more during her later years at school. It is not necessary for her to be a prefect nor to be specially gifted. The school activities are manifold and give scope for every girl to play her part. The second result is that she begins to unconsciously to grasp the great fact, so difficult, it is said, for a woman to understand, that besides the duty of looking after her own education —in other words, her own interests and the interests of those belonging to hcr- a -she owes some duty and some service to the community in which she lives. The motto over the door of a. large school for girls in England is, 1 believe, “Come to learn, leave to serve.” The ideal is a noble one, but girls need to begin their service even before they leave, and it i* in this service to her school,

leading on naturally to the wider service to her community and to her race, that the great part of a girl’s education lies. The prizes were entered as follows: PRIZE LIST. PREPARATORY SCHOOL. Standard lll.—Class marks: Mavis Andrews Standard IV.—'Class marks: Barbara Balharry 1. Standard V.—Class marks: Patricia .Fitzherbert 1; good work and conduct, Ida Lysons. Standard Vl.—'Class marks; Rauma List 1, Cecily Greatbatch 2; handwork, Miranda Palmer 1. SECONDARY' SCHOOL. Form 111., commercial.—Margaret Cooper 1, Constance Kretsehmar 2, Nora Palmer and Evelyn Palmer equal 3; sewing, Elsie Goldstone. Form 111., general.—Te Rata Daj- and Francis Nicholson equal 1; general progress, Maisie Ewart and Gladys Hogarth equal 1 ; sewing, Frances Nicholson. Form IV., commercial.—Ethel Foreman 1, Ivy Bell 2, Nina Kilvlngton 3; drawing, Ethel Foreman. Form IV., general.—Lesley Bell 1, Florence Worn 2, Maisie Armitage and Barbara Sumner equal 3; general progress, Betty Hawkins; drawing, Florence Worn. Form Vb.—Margaret Cameron 1, Joyce .Musker 2; general progress, E. Cannell and J. Hurle equal. Form Va.—Annis Wilson 1, Evelyn White 2, Meg Thomson 3; general progress Mary Downes and Ellen Keylock equal. Five years' unbroken attendance, Phyllis Mason. Dux of School.—Annis Wilson. SPORTS PRIZE LIST. SWIMMING. Doreen Willis.—Preparatory egg and spoon race, preparatory one length. Margaret Moyes.—Preparatory breast stroke, preparatory diving, preparatory back stroke, whiner of preparatory championship. Emmie Cannell.—Junior dog paddle. Kathleen Shaw.—Senior dog paddle. Helen Baker.—Beginners' race. Lesley Bell.—Junior breast stroke. Lorna Ballantyne.—Blindfold race. Dorothy Fox.—-Egg and spoon race. Stephanie North.—Life-saving, crocodile race. Winifred Boon.—-Nea.t header, diving for plates. Olive Firth.—Junior two lengths, maiden race, back stroke, junior phinge. Corfu dive, junior one length, junior dive, junior egg and spoon race, winner of junior championship. Meg Thomson—Senior breast stroke, senior plunge, running dive, diving for plates, senior long dive, life-saving. ATHLETIC SPORTS. Ettie ‘Grover.—Preparatory sack race, 50 yards under 11. Ida Lysons.—Preparatory hoop race, preparatory egg and spoon race. Barbara Balharry.—Skipping race. Ddrothy Olson.—Preparatory hurdles. Ada Honeyfield.—so yards preparatory. Avis goal throwing, preparatory thread-the-needle race. Doreen Willis.—Preparatory potato race, preparatorj- goal shooting. Mildred Alleman.—Preparatory three-legged race, preparatory high jump, preparatory 100 Carol Wakely.—Junior potato race, junior three-legged race. Hazel Johnstone.—Junior goal throwing. Lorna Ballantyne.—Junior hurdles, junior three-legged race, junior throwing cricket ball, junior goal shooting. Marguerite Carr.—Junior 100 yards, junior 220 yards, junior 440 yards, junior high jump. Eileen Palmer.—Sack race. Mildred Ranger.—Tortoise bicycle race. Maud Anderson.—Senior potato race. Dorothy Fox.—Senior three-legged race. Betty Hawkins.—Egg and spoon race, senior high jump. Stephanie North.—Wet weathef race, three-the-needle race. Ethel Foreman.—Thread-the-needle race. Victoria Harker.—Senior goal throwing. Weetie Mace. —Senior throwing cricket ball. , Madeline Marx.—Senior goal- shooting. ‘ Meg Thomson. -Senior hurdles. Florence Worn.—Senior 100 yards, senior three-legged race, obstacle race. Hope Penn.—Senior goal shooting, second 440 yards, second 100 yards. Aileen Abraham.—Senior 440 yards, senior 220 yards. Inter-Form Relay.—Form V.—A. Abraham. CUPS AND TROPHIES. Swimming.—‘Senior chaonplonship, Meg i Thomson; inter-form relay race, Form VI., M. Thomson. | Athletics.—Preparatory championship, Dor-. , een Willis; junior championship. Marguerite senior championship, Aileen Abranam ' and Hope Penn equal. Tennis chaaupionship.—Lorna

Hockey.—Best forward (Mr. Turner’s prize), Florence Worn. Old girls’ trophy.—Excellence in school work, Dorothy Fox. _ Old girls' trophy.—Excellence in sports, Meg Thomson. Dr. Fookes’ rose bowl.—Excellence in school work and sports, Evelyn White. LIFE-SAVING AWARDS. Elementary certificates.—Clara Alexander, Kathleen SI: aw. Elementary and proficiency certificates.— Winifred Boon, Iluth Day, Olive Firth, Phyllis Greig, Audrey HaSell, Dorothy Fox, Evelyn Palmer, May Ross, Edith Smalley, Helen Thomson, Lottie Valentine, Maisie Wiittle. • Bronze Medallion.—Stephanie North, Alice Smalley. 1 * Teacher’s certificate.—Dorothy Fox. Honorary instructor’s badge.—May Smart. Taranaki life-saving championship cup.— Alice Smalley and Maj’ Smart. SPEECH BY THE MAYOR. In introducing the Mayor (Mr. F. E. Wilson), 'the chairman acknowledged the indebtedness of the board to Mr. Wilson for the many kindly services he had rendered to them. Mr. Wilson said it was a matter for congratulation that this year’s ceremony could be held in an enlarged assembly hall. He also made reference to the fact that Miss Mclntosh had taken over the position of principal, and he thought the board was fortunate in securing her services. He was sure that under her wise guidance, and with the assistance of the teachers, the school would maintain and extend its good name. Subsequent remarks were addressed particularly to the pupils, and the Mayor asked if the girls ever thought of the fact that they really were the school. If they bore that in mind they would naturally never do anything to forfeit the esteem and respect of the people amongst whom they moved. In pointing out that his remarks ware being addressed particularly to those who were returning next year, Mr. Wilson said he hoped a good number would be coming back, as he never attended a break-up ceremony without hearing a well-founded lament that there were so many pupils who did not stay on at school. How could they help to spread the good name of the school ? To achieve that aim there were two things essential—namely, hard work and regular attendance. These were the means by which they could push on the school so that it would be leading the girls’ schools of the Dominion. In urging the pupils to work hard right through the year, Mr. Wilson remarked that while all could not get scholarships, there was no limit to the matriculation passes which could be gained, and this should be the goal of all the girls in the upper classes. If they wanted to reflect credit on the school they should aim high. There were some about to leave school, . and he had heard it was because they had finished their education. He pointed out, however, that a person’s education was never finished, and he urged those who were severing their connection with the school to take up some particular branch of study in which they had an interest. They would be the women of the future, and should strive to exercise their influence for good among those whom they would meet in life. Mr. Wilson concluded by

wishing the pupils a pleasant holiday and expressing the hope that next year would be the high-water mark in the school’s records to date. A short programme was given by the preparatory pupils, the following contributing : M. Hine and E. Grover, pianoforte duet; B. and T. Balharry, dialogue; Mary Brodie 1 , song; accompanist, M. Hine; Audrey Eberlet, recitation.