082. Unley Park School Annual Prize Distribution, from 'The West Australian', 2/1/1897

8/8/2019 082. Unley Park School Annual Prize Distribution, from 'The West Australian', 2/1/1897.

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UNLEY PARK SCHOOL.

ANNUAL PRIZE DISTRIBUTION

The West Australian (Perth, WA; 1879-1954), Saturday 2 January 1897, page 11

'The annual prize distribution of the Unley Park School took place in the Adelaide Town Hallon December 23rd last, in the presence of a very large concourse of people. Usually the prize-night of a public school is hardly an enjoyable function to other than the actual participantsand their immediate friends and relatives, but the 1896 prize distribution of the Unley Parkschool was something of quite a different order. The Town Hall provides an ideal room forthe purpose, being large and well lighted, and when it comes to the prize distribution of soimportant a school as that of the Misses Thornber, some such room is essential. The Hon. J.H. Gordon, M.L.C., occupied the chair, and was supported on the platform by CanonSamwell. The Misses Thornber and their staff of lady assistants and visiting masters were ofcourse in attendance, and about a hundred of their pupils took part in the opening paraderound the hall. The great feature of the evening were the calisthenic exercises by the severaldivisions, and the evidences that at this school, at all events, the great principle of modern

scholastic teaching- mens sana in corpore sano-was not lost sight of. The opening march bythe pupils, in which 48 pairs took part, and kept perfect time to the music, provided by theirmusic master, Mr. C. J. Stevens, came rather as a surprise to the elders, who had so long beenaccustomed to the more prosaic opening of a struggling pianoforte solo or duet by one or twovery young pianists. The chorus, We are the elves," led by Misses Gertie Bruce and DaisyHumphris, was well given and enthusiastically applauded, and the pole exercises by the

juniors, which immediately followed, formed a graceful exhibition. All the calisthenicexercises were well done, and the teacher, Herr Leschen, can be cordially congratulated onthe result of his labours. Following upon the pole exercises, the chairman called upon CanonSamwell to read the school report as follows:-

Christmas, 1896, Report.The year 896 will take its place in the history of our school as one remarkable for uniform

prosperity, steady progress, and unfailing health. We make this acknowledgment with mostsincere gratitude.

At the beginning of the year we entered our new boarding-house, and have greatlyappreciated the many additional comforts provided for us. We have now plenty of space, andour airy bedrooms and wide corridors have been a great advantage, especially during theearly hot weather of this year.

The kindergarten under Miss Allen's charming management has done excellent work, early

education in its true sense.

The children have an airy schoolroom, a garden, an asphalted court, and a grass lawn, so thattheir work can be varied as the weather suggests, and sometimes half the morning is spent outof doors. Their gifts and occupation, their songs and dialogues, their pictures and stories, traintheir fingers to skilfulness and their minds to activity, and, we hope, accuracy. They learn todistinguish sound, colour, and form, and are trained to early and prompt obedience.


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We think that much can be taught in games and play. Last week, for instance, we made alittle historical play of the Spanish Armada. The work lesson of one morning was devoted torigging miniature boats in red and blue silk. Next day, the room having been prepared forthem, the play began. Outlines of England, France, and Spain were drawn in chalk on thelarge table; the children were divided into nations.

Queen Elizabeth was crowned in ivy leaves and King Philip in a crown of paper. Thesovereigns declared war and called on their commanders. The ships were started on theirway, a battle and a storm ensued, and the blue-rigged ships were smashed up with great glee

by English fingers; then the children blew up the wreckage round the English shores, andKing Philip and his men sat dejected, while Drake announced victory to the Queen.

The art classes under Miss Overbury have done excellent work; some charming sketches inoil and water-colours show much taste and skill, while drawing from the round in black-and-white, and model and freehand drawing have also received full attention.

We obtained l8 passes in the late examinations, of which two were excellent and eight weregood. The English work of the school has gone steadily on, and considerable attention has

been given to elocution under the able direction of Mr. E. Reeves.

The science work is excellent; the upper classes have studied geology, physiology, andphysical geography, and have benefited by Miss Howchin's thorough teaching.

The interest taken in botany is great, and the work of collecting and preparing books of driedspecimens makes it a delightful study from nature.

The study of physiology will receive a fresh impetus from the possession of a skeleton, thegenerous gift of Mr.Crozier; Dr. Stirling has kindly superintended its mounting, and it is nowready for our use. Five girls took the senior examination in botany and physiology, they all

passed and four obtained credit.

There are 80 upon the roll of the old scholars' association, and they have had severalreunions during the year, which keep them in touch with school interests. May Burgess has

just completed her first year of the B.Sc. degree as an evening scholar.

Miss Ambrose, who has been with us for many years as pupil and teacher, is leaving us totake up the medical course at the University, where we hope she will win the success she sowell deserves.

Oar numbers have remained fairly uniform. We have now 132 upon the roll, of whom 26 areboarders. We have just enclosed a large new playground for the use of the boarders, with a

view to encourage more active sports. Here they have plenty of space for cricket and tennis,beautiful shady trees, and a glorious view of the hills.

Thanking our teachers and the parents for their hearty co-operation, we wish you all a merryChristmas and a happy new year.

C.M.Thornber } PrincipalsEllen Thornber}


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The Chairman said that he considered that they were out that evening to enjoy themselvesand not to listen to prosy speeches. Therefore he was not going to inflict a speech upon them.He must, however, refer to the evidence of the skill and attention which Herr Leschen paid tohis pupils, which they had just witnessed, and only wished they had him to drill some of themembers of Parliament like that. (Laughter.) Though he was not going to make a longspeech, he must offer a few words of congratulation to the Misses Thornber as teachers of the

Unley Park school. He felt sure that all present would agree with him that no more energeticor better teachers could be found anywhere. Those energetic and able ladies threw theirwhole hearts into the work, and that not as an ordinary act of duty, but as a work of love.(Applause.) The old days of ladies' schools, where mere smatterings and a few.accomplishments were taught, and no more than that, were gone; nowadays our girls were

being educated on broader lines than was formerly the rule. They studied now pretty much asdid the boys, and in many professions, in science and medicine, the ladies were crowding outthe men. No doubt if the Law Reform Bill passed we should before long find some of theyoung ladies, there in white that night, dressed in a black robe, pleading before the HighCourt. (Applause.) When that happened, however, he was going to retire, for he was sure thatno judge could withstand the pleading of the young ladies - especially those from the UnleyPark school (Laughter and applause.) Once again he congratulated the teachers, scholars, and

parents of that school upon the display which they were making that night and the excellentreport which had just been read.

The chairman having resumed his seat, the senior pupils took the floor and gave the ringexercises with grace and effect. The chorus, "O sing Him a song," given by the young ladies,was very prettily rendered, the young contraltos being heard to especial advantage. Club-swinging followed by the lower division, and was a first-class exhibition of what can be donewith a ladies class when the teachers are good, the taught attentive to instructions, and

blessed with the advantages of healthy, well-developed frames. A chorus by the juniorsfollowed, and was one of the gems of the evening, the prettily-dressed little ones standing onthe stage in three rows to the number of about forty and singing out boldly with raresweetness and in marvellous good time. The club swinging, which followed, was well done

by the upper division, and warmly applauded. The second exercise was particularly good. Aconcerted recitation, "The Old Clock on the Stairs," followed, by Misses Tucker, Rogers,Crozier, Mann, Williams, Morphett, Ives, Humphris, and Bruce. It was most effectivelygiven, and reflected the highest credit at once upon the teacher of elocution (Mr. Reeves) andhis talented group of pupils. They held the large audience spell-bound in almost breathlesssilence while giving the sadly solemn lines with their fearfully effective refrain. A minuet, inwhich some 20 couples took part, concluded the entertainment proper, and was by no meansthe least charming of the many very charming items on an especially well-arranged

programme.

The distribution of prizes then took place, the prize list being as follows:-

Prizes and Certificates.

Kindergarten.-Prizes-M. Culross, H. Culross, C. Chambers, A. Charlick, G. Clampett, A.Williams, T. Taylor, P. Hall. Boys.- Prizes-English, L. Thornber, K. Shannon; Latin, J.Verco; examination, J. Verco; attendance, L. Thornber; B. Laurence. Certificates-English, S.Laurence; examination, S. Laurence.


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Class II.-Prizes-English, E. Hantke, L. Shannon; French, E. Shannon; examination, OliveHaslam; sewing, K. Armstrong; drill, Violet Hall; attendance, L. Fleming, C. Williams, B.Kell, Certificate-English, F. Hallack; French, C. Williams;- examination, L. Shannon.

Class III-Prizes - English, Thekla Pustkuchen,-Agnes Gurr; French, Elsie Hantke;examination, Gertie Lewis; attendance, TS. Scammell, M. Bruce, G. Bakewell, A. Ringwood,

E. Hantke, K. Armstrong, A. Gurr. Certificates--English, K. Armstrong; French, K.Armstrong; examination; A. Gum.

Lower Fourth.-Prizes-English, Cynthia Hawkes; French, Maud Syme; examination, CHawkes; practice of music (presented by C.J.Stevens), Ruby Wood; attendance, Maud Syme,Lizzie Mahood, Cynthia Hawkes. Certificates-.English, Ruby Wood; French, Agnes Gurr;examination, M. McKenzie.

Upper Fourth.-Prizes-English, Ruby Brice; French, A. Kelsh; examination, R. Brice;arithmetic, 2 2s. (presented by old scholars), S. Chapman; drawing, Alison Crozier. StellaChapman, Eva Minchin; theory of music, Carrie Clayton; practice of music, MaggieCrowder; drill, Alma Kelsh; Scripture, Ruth Thornber, Edith Martin; attendance, Edith

Martin, Norah Whitington, S. Chapman, E. Rogers, E, Charlick, E. Jones, E. Boothby, A.Kelsh, M, Crowder, M. Stuckey. M. Hughes, C. Clayton, R. Brice. Certificates-English, E.Martin; French, E. Martin; examination, E. Martin.

Lower Fifth.-Prizes-English, Gertie Bruce; French, Cynthia Hawkes; drawing, BessieMorphett, May Fisher, Beatrice Snell, May Sabine; theory of music, Gertie Bruce; practice ofmusic, Muriel Charlick, Beatrice Harvey; mapping, May Sabine; elocution (presented by Mr.Reeves), Gertie Bruce; darning, May Sabine; drill (presented by Mr. Leschen), Gertie Bruce;attendance, Gertie Bruce, Paula Pustkuchen, May Sabine. Certificates-English, Mary Fenn;French, May Sabine.

Upper Fifth Class.- Prizes-Junior University, Bessie Verco, Dorothy Henderson, GraceWilliams; preliminary University, Moorna Crozier, Ada Martin, Mabel Smith, NellieBoucaut; French, Bessie Verco; special French (presented by Miss Jacob), Bessie Verco,Dorothy Henderson; Scripture, Nellie Boucaut; history (presented by E. S. Wigg and Son),Margaret Mann; drill (presented by Mr. Leschen), Grace Williams; drawing (presented byMiss Overbury), Isabel Thornber, Minna Thornber, Nellie Boucaut; theory of music, DaisyHumphris, Ada Martin; practice of music (presented by Mr. C. J. Stevens), Daisy Humphris,Ada Martin; attendance, Grace Williams, Mabel Smith, Nellie Boucaut, Dorothy Henderson.

Sixth Class: - Prizes-Science, 2 2s. (presented by old scholars), F. Rogers; botanyspecimens, 1 Is., Hilda Tucker; English, F. Rogers; French, F. Rogers; German, F. Rogers;Latin, Una Grieve; drawing (presented by Miss Overbury), M. C. Thornber, M. Shannon;

attendances, F. Rogers, A. Simpson, H. Tucker. Certificates-English, A. Simpson; French, A.Simpson; German, H. Tucker.

Results of examination in music held at the University.-Senior practice, D. Humphris, M. C.Thornber; junior practice, M. Charlick, M. Crowder, A. Martin, E. Harvey, R. Woods; juniorsinging, D. Humphris; senior theory, M. O. Thornber (first class); junior theory, D.Humphris, C. Clayton, W. Mann, and G. Brace (first class).


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Results of examinations held by the School of Design.-First grade model, M. C. Thornber(excellent), M. Sandland; second grade model, J. Thornber and D. Humphris (good), E.Ambrose, U. Grieve, Minnie Thornber; first grade freehand, M. Boucaut (excellent), M.Fisher, B. Snell, S. Chapman, E. Minchin, M. Sabine, and M. Thornber (good), H. Tucker, J.Thornber; second grade freehand, F. Rogers, M. Mann.-[Advt.]

Documents

082. Unley Park School Annual Prize Distribution, from 'The West Australian', 2/1/1897