GIRLS’ HIGH SCHOOL.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 December 1922, Page 7

GIRLS’ HIGH SCHOOL.

END OF THE YEAR’S WORK. DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZES. Last night marked the end of another school year as far as the New Plymouth Girls’ High School was concerned. The breaking-up ceremony and distribution of scholastic and athletic prizes took place at the school in the presence of a large number of parents of the pupils and friends of the school. The front portion of the hall was filled with the pupils, neatly dressed in white. On the platform were Mr. J. S. Fox (chairman of the Board of Governors) and Mrs. Fox, the Mayor (Mr. F. E. Wilson) and Mrs. Wilson, Miss McIntosh and members of the staff, and Messrs. E. P. Webster, F. W. Atkinson, A. E. Washer, H. Trimble (members of the board), and Mr. E. Lash (secretary). The ceremony was commenced with the singing of the school song, “Gaudeamus Igitur,” after which the chairman apologised for the absence of Messrs. S. G. Smith, M.P., and L. C. Sladden (both members of the Board of Governors). NEEDS OF THE SCHOOL. The chairman expressed his pleasure at the good attendance, which reflected the interest taken in the school. A separate preparatory department was required at the school. This year an endeavor was made to build a separate building for this purpose, but this the financial stringency did not allow. As a board, it was realised that unless there was a “feeder” the school would not be the success hoped for. Another thing that was greatly required was a hostel, built near the school, which would also make for a bigger attendance. The Old Girls’ Association might think the board was indifferent over the hostel proposal, but he assured them this was not so. The proposal was a sheer impossibility at present. Till the handicap of “Strandon” was removed, the school would not be the success hoped for. The board intended to build a hostel as soon as possible and the board’s architect had been already* asked for a rough plan of a building to accommodate a hundred boarders. Mr. Fox took the opportunity of thanking the old girls for their assistance, and the generosity of the public was also appealed to in this connection, when the campaign for funds was launched.

The board expressed thanks to the principal and staff for the excellent work done during the year. The shortage of the staff was unfortunate, and the work done, despite this handicap, was all the more creditable. The tone of the school was really excellent and was a credit to M’ss Mclntosh and her staff. (Applause.) Regret was expressed at the impending departure of a very valuable teacher (Miss Clarke), who had the gift of getting on splendidly with the girls. Miss Clarke was leaving for the Old Country in February, and the board wished her a pleasant and profitable holiday. When she returned, the board wanted her to give them the first refusal. (Applause.)) The excellent work done by Miss Gibbon (the matron) was also commended by Mr. Fox in concluding. THE PRINCIPAL’S REPORT.

The principal (Miss E. M. Mclntosh), rising to present her annual report, was greeted with applause. The report was as follows:

I have the honor to present the report of the school for 1922. The year, though uneventful, lias not been an easy one, for, besides the fact that four out of our seven teachers were newly appointed in February we have had the further disadvantage of being understaffed. On the other hand, there have been no changes during the year, and while, as was inevitable, some classes have suffered for want of the extra teacher, on the whole good, steady work has been done throughout the school.

Our examination results for last year were as follows:

University National Scholarship: Annis Wilson. Matriculation: M. Cameron, R. Day, D. Fox, B. Jones, M. McLeod, K. Morris, M. Olsen, A. Collins, M. Marx, J. Musker, M. Noble, A. Petch, L. Valentine.

Senior National Scholarship: K. Morris. In the teachere’ examinations, 1. Bithell, G. Day, J. Mitchell, M. Noble, L. Valentine, A. Petch, and S. North obtained Partial D in two groups. Twenty-four girls obtained senior free places. Higher leaving certificates were granted to G. Day, M. Downes, E. Heycoek, P. Mason, J. Mitchell, Molly Olsen, M. Thomson, E. White and A. Wilson. This certificate may be obtained by pupils who have completed a year’s post-matriculation course. It carries with it a bursary allowing university fees up to £2O per annum, and also confers privileges upon students entering the training college.

In the preparatory department this year ten girls gained proficiency and one competency. Last year the school had the honor of winning the Palmer Essay Prize awarded by the Navy League to Ellen Heycock. Thia prize was offered for competition to all girls in New Zealand under eighteen.

We have to congratulate many old pupils upon their successes. At Otago University, M. Johnstone has obtained her B.A. Degree, L. Hurle two sections of B.A, with first places in first class advanced Latin and advanced French and the James Clark prize for Latin, E. -Ballantyne first section B.Sc., Enid White and J. Cassie first section B.A. E. Heycock and M. Thomson have kept £rst year’s terms in the medical course, while A. Ewing and M. Brown have competed terms for the B.Sc. in home science.

At Canterbury College P. Mason has completed first year terms. At Victoria College W. Downes has obtained first section B.A. F. Cameron has kept two years’ terms, G. Day and E. Million one year’s terms.

In Auckland, Annis Wilson has kept one year’s terms in the course for Bachelor of Commerce. The school seems to be well-represented at the four University centres.

Passing on to the physical side of our school training, I have to speak next; of swimming. We were unfortunate last year in having bad weather, and consequently a short season, which prevented the girls making full progress in this important part of their work. Only those who were prepared to make up by extra diligence and enthusiasm for their limited opportunities met with any success. The results were as follows: — Taranaki Life-saving Championship: S. North and A. Smalley (with D. Fox, instructor). Bronze medallion: D. Fox, R. Day, L. Valentine, H. Thomson and M. Ross. Instructor’s badge: M. Robs, R- Day, D, Fox, S. North.

Teacher's certificate: A. Smalley, M, Ross, E. White, R. Day, »S. North F. Smalley. Proficiency certificate: E. Cannoli, IJ. Coleman, C. Wakely, E. White, M. Downes.

I hope that next year every girl who is physically able will try to become a good swimmer and proficient in lifesaving.

Hockey, basket-ball and tennis have been played during the year as usual. Recently cricket has been played also with perhaps more ardour than skill. In hockey we have again to thank Mr. Turner for coaching the A team during the winter term. In the Taranaki Schools’ Tennis Championships held last autumn L. Ballantyne and B. Hawkins won the girls’ doubles, L Ballantyne the girls’ singles.

Owing to the financial depression and the slump in the butter market, the Old Girls’ Association have not been able to make much headway lately in their efforts for the new hostel. They tell me that they are ready to go on again with a good hpart as soon as conditions improve, and that they hop'' next year, with the co-operation of the board, to get definitely within reach of at least some part of their objective. Next year we shall have one or two changes on the staff. As we have not been able to fill the A position created when the school went up a grade in March, the Education Department has arranged with a Canadian teacher, Miss F. M. Urquhart, ti act temporarily. Miss Urquhart, who is a B.A. of Toronto University, has specialised as a teacher of mathematics and English in secondary schools. She comes with excellent credentials, and the school should benefit in many ways from her year's visit. Although New Zealand has its own educational problems, which cannot be solved by adopting any particular scheme, it is always helpful to learn what other people are doing, and perhaps even more helpful to hear their criticisms of ourselves.

'This year the school is unfortunate in losing Miss Clark, who hopes to leave for England ,in February. During her seven years here Miss Clark has been connected with many of the school institutions from their beginning, and they owe much of their success to her energy and ability. Her thorough, selfsacrificing work in the playground, as well as in the class-room, has been much appreciated. We hope that her visit to Europe will be a happy and successful one. Miss J. M. Smith, who has been absent on a year’s leave in America* and England, and whose place has been taken by Miss Brand, is, I understand, on her wav hack to New Zealand.

Besides Miss Urquhart and Miss Smith we have to welcome in February Miss H. Valentine, who has just completed her University and Training College course in Christchurch, and Miss Marjory Sladden, who will assist in the preparatory. I should like, before concluding, to say a few words about the Dalton laboratory plan of teaching, of which most of us have heard so much this year. So far in this school we have experimented with it only in the preparatory classes. The present system of compulsory “units” for free place holders has hitherto prevented the plan being tried to any extent in New Zealand secondary schools. This difficulty will probably be removed, and there is no doubt that a scheme which tends to encourage the self-reliance and initiative of pupils, as this claims to do, must be on the right lines and eventually make its way more or less into our education system. Whether the organisation and equipment of our secondary schools will allow it to be adopted entirely and whether, in any case, such a complete change will be advisable, is dfficult to say at present. While admitting that the responsibility of fulfilling “contracts” of work within a certain time must promote industry and independence of thought, on the other hand we should miss a great deal of what is necessary foi young people, namely the stimulus due to the personality of the teacher and to the cooperation, or, perhaps, I should say the play of one mind upon another, which leads every pupil, however dull, to contribute something in a well-conducted class lesson. One is inclined to think that we shall end with a compromise between the old and the new methods. It is, however, only two and a half years, I believe, since the plan was first tried in the Dalton High School, Massachusetts, and obviously we have still much to learn about its results. In conclusion, I must thank all those who have so generously contributed to our sports and prize fund. The donations have been particularly' acceptable this year, as the Government no longer allow any grant to be made for school prizes. 1 must thank, also, Mr, and Mrs. A. M. Thomson and Mr. Turner for special prizes. Mr. Atkinson for two gifts of tennis balls, Mr. T. Willis, Mr. Bennett, and Mr. Greiner for sports cups. I have also to express my grateful appreciation to the Board of . Governors for their consideration anci support, to the parents who have co-oper-ated with me for the good of the school, and to the staff for their loyal help and faithful service in what has been rather a difficult year for us all. PRESENTATION OF PRIZES. The prize distribution then followed, the scholastic prizes being presented by Mrs. Fox and the athletic and swimming trophies by the Mayoress. The awards were: PREPARATORY SCHOOL. Standard lll.—(Class prize) Joan Sladden 1; monitress (Miss Day’s prize), athel Har"gtandard IV.—(Class prize) Mavis Andrews 1; monitress (Miss Day’s prize), Mary ThemS °Standard V.—(Class prize) Barbara Balharry 1 ; Mary Brodie 2. Standard VI.-(Class Prize) Patricia herbert 1 : Lesley MacDiarmld 2. Debatin„ prize: Barbara Humphreys. Extra prize (monitress work, conduct and attendance). Barbara Humphreys. Special excellence in sewing and handwork: Eileen Palmer. SECONDARY SCHOOL. Form 3b.—Elsie Rawlinson 1, Dorothy Wood « Gwen George 3. Sewing: Miranda Palmer I,’ Alice Betts 2. Extra prizes: Elsie Rawlinson, Gladys Hoskins. Drawing: Alice Betts Form 3a.-—Hilma Keenan 1. Jean Smart 2, Cicely Greatbatch 3. Sewing: Jessie Gray i, Mabel Wallis 2. Extra prizes: Agnes Jones, Nancy Magnusson. Drawing: Cice.y Greakbatch, Olive Street. Laboratory Prize for 3a and 3b.—Alice Betts. Form 4b.—Margaret Cooper 1, Constance Kretschmar 2. Drawing: R. Lovell. Form 4a.—Maisie Ewart and Frances Nicholson 1, Clarice Mcllroy 3, Te Rata Day 4. Form s,_Leslie Bell 1, Florence Worn 2. Drawing: Florence Worn. Form 6b.— Dorothy Fox 1, Myrtle Noble 2. Form 6a.—Evelyn White 1, Mary Downes 2. Dux of school: Evelyn White. Prefects’ Prizes.—Head perfect, Evelyn White; bcuae prefect, Dorothy Fox.

SPORTS PRIZES. SWIMMING AND ATHLETICS. Preparatory School. Peggy Waldie.—Firet in 50 yards, 100 yards, egg and spoon race, hoop race and hopping Ettie Grover.—First in skipping race and sack race. Margaret Moyes.—-Athletics : First in hurdles, high jump, goal shooting. Swimming: First in one length, diving (winner of preparatory championship). Ethel Harrison.—First in 50 yards (under 11). Catherine Moyes.—Athletics : First in pota« ’to race. Swimming: First in egg and spoon Bernice Sole.—First in goal throwing. Catherine Sykes.—Swimming: First in breaststroke and backstroke. Junior Division. Marguerite Carr.—First in hurdles, 100 yards, high jump, 440 yards, 220 yards. Lily Ballinger.—First in potato race. Lorna Ballantyne.—First in throwing cricket ball, goal shooting, goal throwing. Lesley Bell.—Swimming: First in two lengths, one length, breaststroke, neat header, long dive. Mildred Alleman.—First in beginner’s dive, plunge. Beryl Masters.—First In dog paddle. Tui Macßae.—First in beginners’ swimming race. Rita Edgecombe.—First in maiden race. Doreen Willis.—Athletics; Second in 440 yards, 220 yards, 100 yards. Swimming: First in egg and spoon race. Audrey Hasel). —Second in two lengths, one length, breaststroke. Senior Division. Stephanie North.—Athletics : First in obstacle race. Swimming: First in crocodile race, lifesaving. Barbara Sumner.—Second in 440 yards, 220 yards, 100 yards. Mildred Ranger.—First in tortoise bicycle race, sack race. Evelyn Wh.te. —First in thread needle race. Lottie Valentine.—First in thread needle Betty Hawkins.—First in high jump. Dorothy Fox.—Athletics: First in wet weather race. Swimming: First in blindfold race. Pearl Mess.—First in goal throwing. Alice Smalley.—First in plunge, backstroke, corfu dive, life-saving. Mary Downes.—First in maiden race, Winifred Boon. —First in neat header, long dive, diving for plates. Margaret Cooper.—First in egg and speon Florence Worn.—First in 100 yards, 220 yards, 440 yards,' hurdles, egg and spoon race, potato race, throwing cricket ball, goal shooting. Olive Firth.—Swimming: First in three lengths, lengths, breaststroke, corfu dive, crocodile race, dog paddle. Old Girls’ Races.—Swimming: Miss Muriel Reid and Miss Winifred Downes. Running: Miss Kitty Wood. Little Visitors' Race.—Phyllis Wood. Hockey.—Best forward: Lorna Ballantyne (Mr. Turner’s prize). Tennis.—Handicap doubles : Stephanie North and Maisie Ewart. Handicap singles: Lorna Ballantyne. Championship singles : Lorna Ballantyne.

Swimming.—Championship under 14 (Mr. Greiner’s cup) : Catherine Sykes. Championship under 1(» (Mr. Bennett’s cup) : Lesley Bell. Championship over 16: Olive Firth. In-ter-relay (Misses Brown’s cup). Taranaki Life-saving Cup: Stephanie North and Alice Smalley (Dorothy Fox, Instructor). Athletics.—Preparatory championship (Mr. F. Willis’ cup) : Peggie Waldie. Junior championship: Marguerite Carr. Senior championship : Florence Worn. Tennis Championship.—Lorna Ballantyne. Old Girls' (‘up.—Excellence In sports: Stephanie North. Old Girls’ Cup.—Excellence in school work: Evelyn White. Dr. Fookes’ Rose Bowl.—Excellence in school work and sports: Dorothy Fox. VALUE OF WOMANLY INFLUENCE. Mr. F. W. Atkinson, a member of the board, made a few remarks to “our girls,” of whom the town and district were very proud. From our geographical position, said the speaker, we were destined to become the premier white nation in the Southern Hemisphere. Were we fitting ourselves to fulfil that position? In New Zealand we had passed through.the pioneer period, and for the last 30 years were passing through the commercial period. The chance presented itself for womanly influence to exert itself, and he pleaded with them to show in their education that they were upholding the prestige of the old school. “DEVELOP CHARACTER.” The Mayor, in his address, predicted that the attendance at the annual breaking-up ceremony would always be large so long as the school kept up its standard. The scholastic and athletic prizes showed that both these departments of school life were well developed, whilst the school tone was evidently excellent, so that the school was sound mentally, physically and morally. Mr. Wilson stressed the necessity for enthusiasm and energy both in the classroom, on. the sportsground, and in building up character. The development in these directions should not lapse on leaving school, but should be carried on afterwards. “A good character is the only thing in the world worth having,” said Mr. Wilson, “and there is perhaps no better place to develop this than in a big school, because there you take your companions for what they are worth, in good fellowship, friendship and loving-kindness. Unfortunately, when people get out into the world, they too often forget these attributes by judging others by what they earn instead of by what they are.” If the pupils carried out their school motto—“Et comitates, et virtute, et sapientia”—in after-life, there was nothing to stop them obtaining whatever position in the world they desired. (Applause.) ) The chairman thanked the Mayor and Mr. Atkinson for their excellent addresses. PROGRAMME BY PUPILS. A short concert by the pupils followed, those contributing items being Beryl Masters (pianoforte solo), Lottie Valentine (recitation, “The Glory of the Garden”), Nina Kilvington (pianoforte solo)), Mary Thomas (song, “Kingsley’s Farewell,”’ with “My Task” as an encore, the accompaniments being played by Stephanie North), Stephanie North (pianoforte solo) and the school song (words by the head prefect, Evelyn White, and the music composed by Mr. R. N. Renaud). The singing of the National Anthem concluded a very pleasant gathering.