NOVEL MODE OF DISTRIBUTING SCHOOL PRIZES.

Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1168, 17 April 1874, Page 4

NOVEL MODE OF DISTRIBUTING SCHOOL PRIZES.

Wo extract from the Bay of Plenty Times, published at Tauranga, the following account of a new system of awarding prizes, which possesses the merit of originality, as well as provides no small amount of amusement to all concerned :

Miss M'Garvey's pupils broke up for the Christmas holidays on Thursday, wh'ea prizes were distributed to the scholars. A large number of friends and the parents of the children were present. The prizes, consisting of some excellent children'shooks, writingdesks, work boxes, photograph albums, and toys, were awarded bv auction—an entirely new system for New Zealand, so far as our experience goes. The particulars are follows:—During the year or half-year, as the case may be, each pupil is awarded marks for good conduct, cleanliness, efficiency in studies, and for regular attendance ; these marks varied last Thursday from 7000 to 100 odd. The prizes "having been previously tastefully laid out on a large table, and temptingly exposed to view, the children were admitted to the school room —the boys on one side and the girls on the other, the visitors being accommodated with seats at the upper end immediately in the rear of the auctioneer's rostrum. SergeantMajor tlcanoy, A,C, kindly ofilciated as auctioneer on this occasion, and explained to the pupils the manuer in which the prizes were to be obtained, in other words " the conditions of sale," which were a? follows :—Every pupil could bid for any prize provided always that the number of marks bid was at their credit;. thus a pupil having, say, 5000 marks for the year, might be enabled to obtain two or three prizes, or, if ho wished to " spend " all his marks on one article he might do so. We understand that this system of distributing prizes is in vogue in New South Wales, and was first introduced by Miss M'Garvey, and when tested and duly brought under the notice of the Education Commissioners, was highly recommended by them for universal adoption. The greatest excitement was apparent during the auction, and one knowing little fellow was particularly careful not to throw marks away needlessly, and always bid just one above the best bidder.