South Australian Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1858 - 1889), Saturday 15 June 1861, page 3


ADELAIDE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION

DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZES.

The half-yearly examination of the pupils of Mr. John L. Young took place at White's Room on Friday, June 14, in the presence of a large number of friends and spec-

tators.

Mr. JOHN HOWARD CLARK occupied the chair, and com-menced the proceedings by stating that he had consented to preside at the earnest request of his friend Mr. Young. He would have preferred had some better qualified person been selected for the position which he was to occupy, but as his duties were purely formal it was a matter of less consequence than it might otherwise have been. He begged do call on Mr. Young to read his usual report, which he did as fol-

lows :

"It. was with much pleasure that I resumed the work which ill-health compelled me to suspend for a time. I have returned more deeply impressed with the responsibility of my office as a teacher, and the determination to apply myself to my duties with renewed energy and vigour. During my absence I have had leisure to review the past,

and improve the system of instruction that has hitherto been pursued in this school. Though this system is capable

of being improved and greatly extended, it is, I believe, based on sound principles, its objects being not only to exercise the knowing facilities, but also to cultivate the reflective faculties of the mind, the due exercise of both being necessary to the enjoyment of mental activity, on which our happiness greatly depends. In the course of study that I have adopted a prominent place is given to the sciences and their practical applications, as it is of great importance that the young should acquire some knowledge ot the laws that regulate their existence, and of the laws by which the universe is governed. These subjects are weil adapted for exciting in them a desire for knowledge, by showing the great benefits that have been conferred on mankind by the discoveries of scientific men, and by pointing out to them the harmonies in creation. The tendency of such studies is also to exalt their

minds to high and lofty aspirations. Mr. Lyon Playfair, in a lecture delivered at the School of Mines in London, said that-'The extension of scientific education is a want of the age. The old and yet widely-existing scho-lastic system of education introduced by the revival of learn-ing in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries is ill-adapted to the necessities of the times. When will our schools learn that dead literature cannot be the parent of living science or of active industry? I do not underrate,' he says, ' classical learning as as an elegant accomplishment, or as a branch of human knowledge, but I cannot understand why our sons of industry, destined to reap its harvests, should be placed in its fields of corn, having only been taught how to cull the poppies.' During the past half-year my first-class pupils have been through an elementary course of lessons on geology, and commenced the study of chemistry and natural philosophy. The lessons on geology have comprised an account of the geological changes now in action on the sur-

face of the globe, the mineral substances entering into the composition of rocks, together with an explanation of geological terms , also an account of the formation of strati-fied rocks by the action of rain, rivers, icebergs, &c. : the formation of deltas, coral mels, &c. ; the elevation of the land in various parts of the globe, volcanic phenomena, and a brief description of the various rock formations, and the most

important fossils found in them. In chemistry a course of'

lessons has been given on the metalloids and their com-

pounds, including the phenomena attending combustion and , respiration, the chemical constitution of water and the atmosphere, the uses of water, the theory of bleaching and etching on glass, the manufacture oí sulphuric acid, the dif-ferent varieties of charcoal and their application for de-colorization and disinfection; also an explanation of the laws of chemical combination, equivalent numbers, symbolical notation, chemical affinity and nomenclature. The lessons given on natural philosophy have included the most impor-tant principles of mechanics and mechanism. I am pleased to be able to state that the progress many of my pupils have made in these subjects, especially in chemistry, has been very satisfactory: several having unmistakably manifested a deep interest in their studies, especially J. P. Roberts, W. Robertson, H. M. Martin, F. Martin, and W. S. Samson. Geometry is another subject to which I attach much impor-

tance, not only because it is capable of being applied to many branches of knowledge, but because it is itself of great benefit

to the student by teaching him to think and reason cor- rectlv. My second-class pupils have lately commenced the | study of this subject, and have, with few exceptions, made great improvement, especially W. Dixon, S. Kingston, H.

Norman, and J. H. Shortman; in the first class F. Martin, H. M. Smith, J. P. Roberts, and D. Woodforde deserve honorable mention. I am very well satisfied with the pro-gress that has been made by my pupils in the mathematical classes. The first class in arithmetic will commence the study of algebra next quarter, and a few in the algebra classes are sufficiently advanced to study trigonometry. In teaching geography I acquaint my pupils with the chief his-torical features of each country, so that they may acquire a knowledge of the most important events in the world's history. The papers written by my pupils on this subject are accompanied with small maps showing not only the places mentioned in the lessons, but also the physical features of the several countries. During the past half year I have given an outline of the state of Europe from the year 1815 till the present time, and explained the causes of the present unsettled state of that part of the world. The best papers on this subject have been written by J. P. Roberts, W. Robertson, and W. S. Samson."

"REPORT ON HISTORY.

" I have much pleasure in forwarding to you my report of the history classes, as I am able to state that, with two excep-tions, the boys have given me much satisfaction. But. although I have reason to be satisfied with the classes generally, I think it right to mention that some of the boys, particularly in the first class, have not been so diligent as I could have desired, having neglected to write the exercises

required to be done on each lesson that is given; but not-withstanding this neglect on the part of some of the boys, I have usually found, whenever I have examined them, that they have evinced a fair knowledge of the subjects treated of, thus proving that they must have been attentive to the lessons. The portion of history to which the attention of the boys was directed during the early part of the half-year now closed was the American Revolution, in which, having traced the rise and development of the thirteen States, I referred to the causes which led to their final se- paration trom the mother-country, and concluded with a description of the kind of Government adopted by the Republic. The remainder of the half-year was devoted to the history of the British conquests in India during the reign of George III,, which I introduced with a brief account of the state of that country prior to the establishment ol' European settlements, and to the contests of the different European powers for the supremacy, concluding with an account of the Government of the East India Company to the close of the administration of the Marquis of Hastings.

"The boys deserving of honorable mention are in the first class- W. Robertson, W. Samson, B. Rosman, A. Murray, J. P. Roberts, H. M. Martin, C. Ebsworth, F. Martin, C. Hill, P. Benjamin, and G. Anderson, and in the second class-J. Murray, C. Kingston, S. Kingston, J Bishop, W. Dixon, C. Collison, H. Robin, R. Robson, and

E. N. Dewhirst.

" I am,&c,

"OLIVER YOUNG. "June 13. 1861"

REPORT ON CLASSICS

"First Class -Have been chiefly engaged in studying care- fully and accurately Arnold's Greek Prose Composition, the first and second books of Arnold's Latin Prose Composition , also in reading the first book of Caesar's Commentaries, and portions of Livy and Horace. The boys who have dis tinguished themselves in the first division of this class are

G Anderson, Prize, C. S. Hill, certificate. Those who have distinguished themselves in the second division of this class

are J P Roberts, First Certificate. F Martin, Second Certificate A. Ebsworth, A Farr, W.S. Samson, and A Davies, are deserving of honorable mention  

"Second Class -Have made great progress in the study of the first book of Arnolds Latin Prose Composition; the more advanced boys have also been engaged in reading the

Fables of Phædrus. The Prize is awarded to R. Robin; the      

First Certificate to C Dixon; Second Certificate to H Nor- man. A Giles, C Kingston, C Collison, A Fox, E N Dewhirst, J Medland,and J Buik, are deserving of honorable

mention.

"A Anderson, J P Roberts, F Martin, R. Robin, and C. Dixon, for their uniform and consistent good conduct, are deserving of special commendation

"J de Q. Robin having left school at Easster, is thereby barred from obtaining rewards, but his indefatigable in-dustry and most excellent conduct entitle him to be singu-larly and affectionately noticed by me"

" HAMILTON D. PALMER

"69, King William-street, Adelaide."

Dear Sir-The number of the boys attending my classes has slightly increased during the last six months and con-

sîdering the time given for the studies of modern languages I can conscientiously say that I am in general satisfied. Those boys who have neglected their duties have been suffi- ciently marked out to the parents in the monthly reports        

To the upper German class I have explained Schiller's Wallenstein and the boys have with tolerable regularity

written then exercises letters bills, &c In French the

upper class has been reading Telemaque and La Fontaine's fables and in the next quarter I intend to substitute Voltaire's Charles XIIl for Telemaque. The middle and lower classes have been principally engaged in Ollendorff

and Delectus

F Martin, John Murray, H. Smith, Farr, Frame, Gosse, Bickford and Buik have been the most steady in their application. The latter two boys, the youngest I have ever had at your Institntion are very promising pupils.

The best examination papers were written by T. Murray F. Martin, Farr, H. Martin, Buik; while some other boys who usually do their work well have disappointed me.

I am, Sir &c.

HENRY GREFFRATH To J Young Esq

"June 12, 1861

" Dear Sir -Having arrived at the close of the present half-year, I have the pleasure of reporting favorably of the pupils attending the I bookkeeping class, after undergoing an

examination ot two hours this alternoon.

"In so doing I gave them invoices of various goods sup-posed to have been bought by bill at three months' date, cash purchases, sales book, and bill transactions, all of which I required to be journalized and posted into the ledger, and was gratified to find the entries clearly and expeditiously performed

" I then required a profit and loss account to be made out, and closed the examination by their making a balance sheet showing the amount of assets and liabilities, and by their pointing out whether the difference was an increase or diminution of capital arising from the above transictions

"As the boys had not been so frequently practised of late in the formation of a balance sheet, I did not expect to find them very quick in this part of the examinalion , but I con- sider that the work as a whole was very creditably per-

formed.

"Among those who executed their work to my satisfac- tion I beg to mention Samson, F. D. Woodforde, Roberts, W. Robertson, and F. Martin, the former of whom I recom mend as meriting the prize awarded by you, and Kelly as deserving of the certificate.

" I am, Sir, &-c ,

" THOMAS BENNETT. "Mr Young '

REPORT ON DRAWING,

Adelaide June 13th, 1861

Having inspected the drawings executed during the past half year by the pupils ot the Adelaide Educational Institu- tion, I beg to report as follows

' 1 The ' nun holding a crucifix is the most meritorious production on the whole and has some points of great ex- cellence in it I therefore adjudge the first prize to it Drawn by E. S. Berry

2 The second prize I think deserved by A. Ebsworth, for his clever drawing of a leafless ash

*1 And W. Robertson for a correct and characteristic outline head deserves the certificate

I would also honorably mention the execution of an ear from a cast by Chas Gosse is meritorious

Among the pencil drawings I also noticed a ruined building by Dixon as having a very clean touch, also a very clever dog's head by Robertson

F. W. Cox

' Not having been able to complete the survey we com menced this year, no plans could be prepared for exhibition

on this occasion. The work will be continued next quarter, and the plans finished by the end of the year, A part of the survey has been done by the boys themselves, under the direction of A. Ebsworth, to whom the prize has been

awarded.

"The prize for good conduct has been obtained by J. P. Roberts, who, by his exemplary conduct and intense' appli-cation to study has raised himself to a high position among his fellow pupils. He is one of a class of boy who have gone forth from this school with minds well stored with useful knowledge, and who, in seeking to advance themselves in this world, will, like Franklin, ' Set a greater value on the character of doing good than any other kind of reputation.'

"The prize for industry has been obtained by W. Robert-son, one ol the most promising of my pupils.

"It is not my intention to prepare any of my pupils to compete for the prizes offered by the Government, for I cannot justly devote to a few the time that belongs to the whole school ; neither do I feel inclined to alter my system of instruction that a few of my pupils may obtain such

honors."

The CHAIRMAN stated that Mr. Young had, as he thought, wisely decided to abandon the usual brief examination of the boys, as affording no criterion of their real progress. The next thing which appeared on the prog(r)amme was the reading of a paper on the History of British India by W. Robertson. The paper was well written, and tolerably well read, the greatest fault being that it was read too fast. - Benjamin next recited a piece by Campbell, entitled "Hope in Death;" he rendered it very well indeed, with good intonation and expression, and a moderate amount of natural action. - Samson followed with Longfellow's "Arsenal," also very well delivered. F. Martin then recited   very well a short piece, entitled " Keep it before the people," by A. J. H. Duganna (American). C. Gosse repeated a German piece fromUhlan; after which H. M. Smith read a paper on Chemistry. A Farr next recited "Tell's Speech," by Sheridan Knowles; and E. Wigg repeatled a piece by Bryant, on the "Antiquity of Freedom;" this was very well done. The other recitations were the " Three Preachers," by H. M. Martin ; a German piece, by A. Farr ; " What I live for" (Lunæus Banks), by - Medland : and the Shunamite ( Willis), repeated by C. Gosse. The recitations were very well given, and we thought showed a marked improvement on th0se of the preceding half year.

'I'he prizes and certificates were then distributed as fol-lows. We were unable to procure a list of the books, but they were well selected and comprised many valuable

and expensive works.

PRIZES AND CERTIFICATES.

First Class.-Good Conduct : J. P. Roberts ; Industry: W. Robertson-, Geometry: F. Martin ; certificate, H. M. Smith. Algebra: F. D. Woodforde; certificate. H. M.

Martin. Arithmetic : W. Robertson ; certificate B. Rosman. Mental Arithmetic : G. Anderson; English : A. Murray ; certificate, W. Robertson. Classics : G. Anderson; certificate, C. S. Hill ; second division, 1st. certificate», J. P. Roberts ; 2nd.. F. Martin. Modern Languages : J. Murray ; certificate, A. Farr. History: W. Robertson ; certificate, W. S. Samson. Geography : J. P. Roberts ; certificate, W. Robertson. Science : J. P. Roberts ; certificate, W. Robertson. Book(k)eeping : W. S. Samson; certificate. R. Kelly. Surveying: A. Ebsworth. Drawing: 1st. E. S. Berry; 2nd A. Absworth; certificate, W. Robertson.

Second Class.-Geometry: W. Dixon; certificate, H. Norman. Arithmetic: H. White; certificate, F. Botting. English: J. Murray; certificate, R. Robertson. Classics: R. Robin; certificate, 1st, W. Dixon, 2nd, H. Norman. Science: R. Robertson-, certificate, S. Kingston. History : J. Murray; certificate, C. Kingston. Geography-. J. H. Shortman ; certificate, R. Robertson. Writing: W. Dixon.

Third Class.- Arithmetic: J. Adamson. Science : J. A. Maclaren. Geography: F. Berry. English: G. Wood-forde. Writing: E. Spicer.

The CHAIRMAN delivered a short address in conclusion, in which he alluded with pleasure to the return of Mr. Young. He spoke of the state of education in the colony, and of the necessity of improving the present system of national education, adding that he thought a step in advance was taken by the present Government, in reference to the subject.

A vote of thanks to Mr. Young was proposed by G. S. KINGSTON, Esq., M.P., seconded by Mr. DEWHIRST. and carried by acclamation; and a similar compliment being paid to the Chairman, the assembly dispersed.