FOR BOYS & MEN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 December 1939, Page 7

FOR BOYS & MEN

MR 0. H. MEADMORE’S ADDRESS AT WAIRARAPA COLLEGE BUILDING UP TRADITIONS. IMPORTANCE OF PHYSICAL FITNESS. Aii address that held the attention of young and old and contained some points for thought by boys and men was given at the break-up ceremony of Wairarapa College last night by slr G. 11. Meadmore. ('oinniissionerGeneral, British Pavilion. Ceiiteiinial Exhibition. Stating that he had been looking through the College prospectus and its wonderful magazine, Mr Meadmore said the thing that struck him most was the tremendous range of subjects included in the curriculum of the college. It seemed to him that it gave everybody great opportunities. The school, he observed, had shown splendid examination results and the courses offered gave the best possible training whether for the professions, the trades, farming or whatever course it was that the pupil was pursuing. They all realised the tremendous value of education. The school had been brought about by bringing together two schools that had formerly existed, one known as a high school with an academic bias and the other a technical school, with a trade bias and now they were joined he gathered that there was no bias whatever and that each course was as important as the other. Mr Meadmore went on to refer to the difficulties in determining a career for the child and suggested to all parents that they should take the greatest possible advantage that the teachers were able to offer. The teachers, he observed, had a great deal to do with the bbys and girls year in and year out and they often had a better idea of what particular bent the child had and were in a position to give very valuable advice. Passing on to make reference to a recent statement by Sir Michael Myers, who had advocated a return of the spirit of the old school tie, Mr Meadmore said he would like to express his full agreement with him. It meant loyalty and pride in the school. They should remember with gratitude the help and guidance the teachers had given to them. It was not only a question of the education they received in the school. There was the teaching they had on the playing field and the guidance in the classroom and dormitory, all of which moulded their, characters. It was very pleasing to note that the utmost possible facilities were given at the college for sports and recreation, which were almost of as much value as what they learnt in the classrooms of the school. These facilities linked up with physical fitness. He noticed that the girls had a physical culture mistress but why had the boys not one as well? They were living in an age very different from what it was a quarter of a century ago. They had to work harder and had to endure more nervous strain and he did not think many people could keep up to the strain unless they were physically fl Observing that Wairarapa College was a new school, Mr Meadmore said it provided the boys and girls attending it with an opportunity of building up their own traditions and he was sure they would appreciate it in later life. He was a great believer in tradition and in exercising care in building it up they should keep in the background of every thought and action, the pride of the school in their heart and remember its motto, wisdom and courage. He congratulated the college on having the interest of the Parents Association and in giving a thought to the boys for the future, asked them to see to it that at least one old boy became a member of the Board of Governors. In conclusion Mr Meadmoie made brief reference to the Exhibition, which he described as a really wonderful effort, in which the most modern exhibition technique had been employed He was amazed that a country like this was able to stage such an interesting and large exhibition, which he tug"deshould see. Ho stressed he tremendous educational value of the United Kingdom Pavilion, with its dis nlav of the development of transport and communications and of other sections of the Exhibition. He congratulated the college on the wondeiful workmanship of the pieces selected from the school for display at the Lx hibition in the educational section If they were going to maintain that stan dard in their workshops a lot of them would go a very long way. He thanked all for the patient hearing extended to him (applause). In moving a vote of thanks to the speaker, Mr A. Owen Jones (a member of the Board of Governors) said not only the boys but the parents would take away some thoughts from IVu Meadmore’s address. He was particularly pleased to have Mr Meadmores reference to patriotism to their own school.