Observer (Adelaide, SA : 1905 - 1931), Saturday 22 December 1906, page 46


SCHOOL SPEECH DATS.

ADVANCED SCHOOL FOR GIRLS

The annual distribution of prizes in con-nection with the Advanced School for Girls took place at the Victoria Hall on Tuesday evening in the presence of a large atten-dance. About a hundred scholars were ac-commodated on the stage, and their smiling faces and bright costumes made a most pleas-ing picture, the setting of which comprised an attractive display of ferns and palms. Arranged on projecting ledges along the sides of the hall were excellent examples of freehand and model drawing. Among those who occupied seats on the platform were: —His Excellency the Governor (Sir George Le Hunte), the Director of Education (Mr. A. Williams), the Secretary to the Educa-tion Department (Mr. L. W. Stanton), and the A.D.C. (Capt, the Hon. R. D. Ryder). The programme opened with an overture admirably played by Misses Rita Shannon and Lottie Mitchell, and was followed by the song "Hail, smiling morn," which was rendered by the choir. Miss Rees George (head mistress of the school) then read the annual report, which stated:—

TIIE ANNUAL REPORT.

Your Excellency, Ladies, and Gentlemen—With the end of the year comes the duty of presenting

annual reports, and there is no exception to the rule for the A.S.F.G. We therefore present ours with much pleasure. There are no great events to record. The year has passed on its quick way, bringing, as usual, its chequers of light and shade; and if we have experienced some of the disap-pointments that life cannot fail to bring, we have also enjoyed the satisfaction that comes from strenuous work and the pleasant hours of quiet re-laxation, leading onward to steady development and continued progress. Throughout the classes the same tale is told—a general earnest endeavour and a thorough interest in their work shown by the girls and among the teachers that co-opera-tion which can alone lead to success.

We began the year with 101 names on the rolls we close with 96, giving us an average of 92.6, so that as far as numbers are concerned we are slightly better than last year. The attendance has been good on the whole, and eight pupils have attended every day throughout the year.

For the University examinations we have again sent up a fair proportion of our pupils. In Au-gust 20 candidates sat for the primary, of whom 10 were successful. As less than 60 per cent. of candidates passed on the whole examination we were pleased, though not entirely satisfied. Some of the candidates had already passed in the pre-vious year; but, wishing to take new subjects, they found they could only do so by entering for the whole, and this they did, for the most part gaining the pass they coveted, and for which alone we of the Advanced School take credit.

In the junior we have 22 full passes, while seve-ral others have completed their certificates from last year, or added new subjects, and a few have qualified in some and will complete next year, we hope. An analysis of the honours list shows that the 25 credits fell to our share—six in Englhh, five in history, three in geography, one in Ger-man, two in arithmetic, two in algebra, and six in botany, and two candidates were placed on the general honours list. In the h.p. lists, though, we do not make a groat display, we have cause to be gratified, as all the candidates who sat— five—secured passes in all their subjects. This gives us four passes in English literature, four in French, three in history, and two in German, with two credits in French and one in literature, wilh first place and the Tennyson medal. We can say little about the senior results, but we hope when the lists appear they will be no less satisfactory than the others have been, for the vi. class has worked excellently during the year, and deserves every success it may win. In drawing, under Miss Lewis's direction, 22 passes have been obtained—two in first-grade geometry, seven in first-grade model, two being marked "good" and one "excellent," and in first-grade freehand 12, four obtaining the award "good." In music Miss Cook obtains the following results with her Advanced School pupils:—junior theory, two passes, one with credit. Higher Division—Piano playing, one.

Our Old Scholars' Association maintains an active and energctic existence. Meetings are held periodically, and serve to bind the present more closely with the past in the cycle of revolving yeiirs. >\ hile we of the Advanced follow the ca reer of our former pupils with the deepest inte rest. their loyalty and affection for their alii school is a source of unfailing gratification to UB. *Vliile many are achieving distinction in the va ried walks of life .or filling some quiet corner with the fresh flowers of kindness and love, others are coming to the fore io the educational world, and there are few schools in and aboipt Adelaide which do not owe one or more of the members of their staff to the Advanced School. Our1 walls show an ever-increasing array of such as have taken degrees at the University. This year we again greet with rejoicing the names of many on the UnKersity lists who have gone forth from us. Wo heartily congratulate Misses H. Tarslrr, N. Holder, D. Proud, and E. Gardner, who this year will be entitled to add the magic letters of B.A. to their names: and Miss Qowper thwaite, who advanced to tlie rank of M.A. The old scholars again present their annual prieq, which is carried oif by Dora Sieking, who has gained four passes in the H.P. besides.

This brings us back to our present pupils. While good work has been done in the school, no less eager and active effort has been shown in the playground-a healthy rivalry has been main tained in the tennis court, and with varying suc cess a large number of games have been warmly tontcsled with friendly schools.

Tiie Shakspeare Society, too, has never been more enthusiastically carried on than this year, nor ever had more regular or mora numerous members. When the usual six months' session came to an end it resolved itself into a literary circle, in which several very interesting meetings have been held.

The League of the Empire continues its ac tivity, and ivc have a large membership In the school, several members having comrades beyond the sea. The interchange between olur linked schools and ourselves has developed into a very interesting one, and the letters and essays that come to us open new views of life and ne'jy

aver.ues of thought to gur pupils, while our j own, sent to tlieni. give'them a more correct j insiitht into Australian conditions. Ijj this j connection I may say that at the School^

Exhibition a small stand of League of Empire j exhibits gave promise of an imparijuit j velopment yet to be. During the year an inte resting- little episode owes its origin indirectly

to the league. A correspondent In far-away ] j Trinidad becoming interested in our work, oiler- ; I ed essay prizes to the pupils of the Advanced

! School on "Adelaide" for the upper, and a de- \

scription of tlie Easter holidays for the lower

Bchool. The essays were duly written ,and last j mail brought us notice of the awards, three j priy.es in each section, with an extra one in the upper division for a plan which accompanied tlie description of Adelaide, are promised. The prir.ee were to follow by the next mail, but un fortunately it will not arrive in time to allow U>c winners to receive the prizes from your Ex

? cellency'E tends. AH- this has * widening in fluence, and there is no doubt that we all te& a deeper interest in Trinidad than we liave ever felt before.

During the year several interestiwr visits have been paid to establishments near 'at hand. Thus ftrane of 'us have seen the wonderful apparatus for printing. On another occasion a visit to a. tannery jrave us a keen insight into the mode by which a-raw hide is converted into leather for boots or other articles, as the Jlroccusea through which it (roes came under our notice. Our last visit was to on establishment of a very different nature, when on Thursday last a )*Ttj" was selected to visit theinnderRartcn, in Franklin street. It was a revelation to many of. us, and all brought awav a greater interest in the work and a more earnest desire to help it on: and not altogther in vain either, for on tlio next day we' were able to send a donation collected among the tfupils to Miss De/Iiisaa to help on the good

work.

While thus, in manifold occupations, -the year lias flowed on serenely, and brightly, almost at its end a deep sorrow b>s fallen upon us, and -we cannot, without deep emotion, raw to the loss sustained by the school in the death ol tlwj pupils' much-loved teacher of classics, Jliss Clark, who passed to the Belter Land on November 15. Tounpr and jrcntle. and cxercisintf an unselfish influence on those she taught, her bright ure eence is sorely missed ajnonjc ua. and there was a deep and general- .trriej in the school when the »d news became known.

She has pDssed b?EOiid .our ken, but there is solace in the thought there lier's is the gain, and we love to think of her as

"Fast in God's t'aradlse. where no flower

can wither."

So a more solemn note is sounded and a deeper chord is struck as '.we think of the dying year and remember that,It Is but a type of earthly things and their vicissitudes .

Joy and sorrow arc. strangely mingled, and even as we meet to celebrate a happy cessation from . work for a while, so the regret comes to us for

"those who here will meet no more;" those who now, finishing their school years, are going forth to fill a wider spbej-e and tike up, as the new year opens, a fuller responsibility. Let me re mind you who are leaving, as you pause on the threEhold of the new life, "that in this wor'd .every mountain's top o£ privilege is girdled by the

lowly vales of duty." If.j'ou would preS3 on to the heights you must not foreet that the "stub born thistles, bursting into glossy purples," will only be for those who have trodden those lolwly rales. If during your school life you have work ed iu the spirit of our motto,

"Not for school, but for life,"

you will not be satisfied to rest on whatever laurels vou may have won. nor will you be con-' tent to hide away your ideals as something too £ood for every day. "Ideals are the very soul of life." Hather you will crowd your canvas, and I ere it vanishes", over the margin, aperit; follow

it; follow the eieanl. But there are holidays be fore us, and with my personal thanks to teachers and pupils for all the help afforded me during the year. I wish you, each and all, a merry Ch ist tnas aud a happj- new year.

-Drawing.

First-grade Geometry.-Linda Ridley, Irene Thomas. . .

First {trade Model.-Alfreda Young, Pelma. Bocrke, Doris Frayne, Ellie Baker, Nellie Maw ley, Kose Cowan, Irene Barnes.

First-grade Freehand.-Ella Smith, Winnie Bailey; Nora McConnachy, Edna Ferguson, Jjucy Watsop, Rubv Gower. Annie BarneE, Freda Tuck, Sybil Jay. Bessie Gilbert, Irene Howe, Siyrtle

Selwny.

Second-srrade Freehand.-Doris Rogers,

-Music.

Junior Theory.-Cecile Rogers. Rita Shannon, Higher Division.-Pianoforte playing, Eno Ash

ton.

Primary Examination.-Winnie Bailey, Annie Barnes, Gertie Collins, Olive Dougherty, Gertie Easton, JBdna Ferguson, Ruby Gower Edith Hawke, Sybil Jay, Kathleen Hiscoclc. Gladys Led. ger, Sadie Murphv, Rachel Parsons, Linda Ridley, Ella Smith. Thirza Sparkman.

Junior Examination.-Annie Barnes, Winnie Bailey, Muriel Bundey, Edna Ferguson, Ruby Gower, Gladys ledger, Nora McConnachy, Thirza Sparknian, Irene Barnes, Selma Boerke, Amy Cle land. Erica Fromen, Sybil Jay, Rachel PoTSona, Ellie Baker, Rose Cowan, Helene Fahrmann, Gladys Harvey, Nellie Mawbv, Connie McNiel, Elsie McNiel. Maggie Moroneyi, IcliUe Morris, Win nie Tregenza,

Higher Public.-Nellie Inglcton, Dora Siebing, Elsie Miller, Phyllis Moore (Tennyson medal), Else Sclineidor.

Tlie prizes Laying been distributed by HiB Excellency,

Miy, Williams, in the unavoidable absence of the Minister of Education (Hoh. T. Price), said he was glad of the opportunity to say a word in appreciation of the able and enthusiastic manner in which Mies George, the teachers associated with her, and the girls ha3 striven to maintain the (name ana position of the 6chool. For a long period it had been felt that in conse quence of the splendid work it had accom plished, and was continuing to perform, the school had wdn a distinct place in South Australia as an institu tion of great importance and value to the community. (Applause.) Such educational establishments as the Ad vanced School for Girls deserved the sym pathy and kindliest consideration of all who desired to witness the progress of the State .the Commonwealth, and the Empire. He sometimes thought that 'schools ex clusively for girls were worthy of more support and encouragement than those for boys, because the future of the world >:>

so largely in the hands of the girls. (Ap plause.) The' girls moulded the national character-to tne mothers belonged the great duty of framing the ideals cA the community of the future. He heartily con gratulated the girls who had won prizes, for he realized that those awards had been gained only as the result, in many in stances. of strenuous effort and assiduous attention to work. He hoped that when they looked at their prizes the girls would remember that they represented ateo a little extra devotion and labour on the part of the teachers, whom they Bhould always keep in kindly remembrance. It bad pleas ed him immensely to learn that a member of the school had won the Tennyson medal for English literature. The graud work .which the institution was doinn in the way of opening tlie minds of the scholars to the manifold beauties of the English, tongue would prove of incalculable benefit to them. The representatives of the school had won a number of these medals, and he earnestly hoped that they would win many more. (Applause.) In conclusion he be sought the girls to endeavour to upb -' the high and honourable standard which had so long distinguished the school, of

which the Education Department and all who realized its true "value, were justly proud. (Applause.)

His Excellency said Hiss Bees George

, had presented ium with the colours of the ! school, which he was delighted to wear. He had never, however, been invited to in spect. the school, and until he had done that-he trusted they would give him an opportunity early in the new year-he would not tfeel that he possessed the full right to y>in them on his coat. He warm

ly congratulated the Director of Education' and Miss George upon the satisfactory report, which had been read, and was

gratified^ to learn that the Old Scholars' i AMociation was holding its own. Be was. also pleased to hear that they were not neglecting sports, because he had never be lieved in learning without play, whether the! students were boys or girls. The knowledge that they were taking a Ijeen interest in the Empire League had given . him much pleasure, and he felt sure that everybody in Australia, as well as South Australia, would be glad to know that the new President of that great organization was Tiord Tennyson. (Applause.) The fact that' they tad been communicating with members of the league in Trinidaa wag of special interest to him, for the reason that he had served for 10 years in the West Indies. He cordially wished them pleasant Christmas holidays, and those who were about to begin life in the world every happineas and success. That they would achieve those ends he had no doubt, in view of the excellent training they had had in the school. For the greater j part of the 27 years it had been in exist-"

ence Miss Rees George had conducted it | with marked credit to herself and to the , State, and nobody had watched with more

solicitude than her the careers of the many

bright and happy girls who had passed through it. (Applause.)

The following ^numbers were given suc cessfully by the choir:-"The storm bells," "The gleaners;" "Ye banks and braeis," "Barcarolle," and "For peace and for plenty." ? -