TEMUKA SCHOOL CONCERT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1715, 24 March 1888, Page 3

TEMUKA SCHOOL CONCERT.

A concert in aid of the incidental fund of the Temuka District High School was held last Thursday evening in the Volunteer Hall, Temuka. Notwithstanding that the best singing talent in the place took part iu it the attendance was small, and what was more remarkable still, there was not half a dozen parents of children present. We must say that this is not to the credit of the parents. They know now that the Committee’s incidental fund allowance has been out down by the Board of Education, that a great necessity to get together some mot ey to carry on the school exists, and that it was this necessity which forced the Committee to get up the concert. Knowing this, together with the fact that education is free, it appears to na that the least the parents could do was to patronise the concert. The prices were reasonable, and most parents oould spare one os two shillings for such a purpose, more especially as the object was the education of their children. However, they did not do bo, for those pres?nt were almost exclusively youths, boys, and gir’s, The conduct of the schoolboys was fearful. It wss discreditable to the training they are receiving 5 neglected street waifs oould not have behaved worse, and it appears to ua that if their teacher had any clear ideas as regards the fitness of things he would have been ashamed of them Seeing such a large number of them congregated together, and misbehaving themselves at they were that night, it was the Head Master's duty to go amongst them and keep them quiet. Bub he is above suck drudgery doubtless, and perhaps it is to thu the fearfully unsatisfactory condition of the school is due. We regret to have to speak thus of the school, and do so with much reluctance. Wo have allowed bid report after bad report to pass without comment, but when we find the scholars attending the school helming themselves so badly iu public, together with having failed in their examinations recently, wo must conclude that there is a screw loose somewhere. At any rate, after their conduct last Thursday evening, wo ehall not be surprised to find when the next concert is proposed that it will bo hard for the Committee to find singers willing to sing or people realy to submit to the annoyances to which those present last Thursday evening were subjected. The teacher has certainly an excuse for the conduct of the scholars, and in justice to him—as wo wish to be just to everybody—it is only right that it should be referred to. In New Zealand teaoh’M who punish the children placed under their charge run the risk of dismissal, or of being publicly prosecuted for assault, and when such is the ease it is not wonderful that the rising generation is unruly and illmannered. la the Old Country it is not an unusual thing for parents to take their children to the teacher to be punished. Here it is not an infrequent thin > to find the parents punishing the teachers for inflicting chastisement on their children. It is no wonder, therefore, that teachers here have not that influence over the children under their charge which characterises teachers in the Old Country. We have always made it a rule to shat our eyes to the defects and shortcomings of amateur entertainments, but the masters to which we have referred are so easily avoided that we thick it desirable to urge that steps should be taken to prevent such occurrences in future. The following programme was faithfully gone throughs—Songs, “Little 80-Peep,” and “ The Miller,’’ School Children; reading, “ How wo beat the favorite,” Mr A. W. Gaze; song, “At the ferry,” Mrs Bout; recitation, “ Which kitties to keep,” Miss Emma Cooper j song, “ Fiddle and I,” Mrs Hayhurst; duet, “ Juanita,” Mrs Bout and Miss Ladbrooke (encored); song,“ The fisherman's daughter," Mrs Harrison ; song, “ Kathleen Aroon,” Miss Ladbrooke; comic song, "Co-opera-tion,” Mr M. J. Shepherd (encore song, “ That’s what makes me griu ”) ; pianoforte duet, “ The Sultan's grand march,” Misses Mendelson; recitation, “Conjugal love,” Miss G. A. Brown ; song, “There is a flower that bloometh,” Miss Lee ; duet, "O’er the hill, o’er the dale,” Metdames Hayhurst and Harrison; cornet solo, “ Tfa champion polka,” Mr Eauvel; song, “ Jessie’s dream,” Miss Ladbrooke; comic song, "It always falls to me,” Mr M. J. Shepherd; song, « Bonny hills of Scotland," Miis Qafifaney ; song, "The charm of home,” Mrs Bout; “God Save the Queen.” Mr Bout, the undefatigable Secretary, certainly deserves great credit for the excellent programme which he get up, and it was not hit fault that the entertainment was not more successful. Neither was it the fault of the performers, who, under discouraging circumstances, acquitted themselves creditably. Mra Bout and Mies Ladbrooke sang “ The charm of home,” and “Jessie's dream” in their usually finished style. Mrs Hayhurst, Mrs Harmon, Miss Lee and Miss Gaffaney also acquitted themselves to the satisfaction of those present, and Mr Shepherd’s song " Co-operation, ” was extremely funny, and created roars of laughter. Miss Brown’s recitation was very good, and considering her age Miss Emma Cooper’s recitation w..« also well rendered. Mr Gaze, who we were near overlooking, read a thrilling description of "How we beat the favorite" well, and Mr Fauvel’s cornet solo created such a favorable [ impression that he was recalled, but did not I respond. The Misses Mendelson deserve more than a passing remark for the way they played their pianoforte duet. They played in really first-class style. The songs were accompanied by Mr and Mrs Harrison, Mrs Hayhurst, Miss Lee, and Mies Langdon, all of whom played well. At the close of the entertainment Mr Miles (Chairman of the School Committee) essayed to move a vote of thanks to the performers, but not a word he said oould be heard. The entertainment cannot be called a success. _ The parents whose duty it was to assist it did not do so, and the boys, for whose special benefit it was got up, did all in their power to make thiags as disagreeable as possible.