Speech day and prize-giving, 18 December 1884

Sydney Morning Herald, 19 December 1884, p 5:

SCHOOL EXHIBITIONS

SYDNEY HIGH SCHOOL.

Yesterday morning the Hon. W. J. Trickett (Minister for Public Instruction) accompanied by Mr. Johnson (Under-Secretary of the Department), paid a visit to the High School in Castlereagh-street, the occasion being the closing of the school for the holidays. There were also present the Hon. E. Barton (Speaker of the Legislative Assembly), Mr. G. H. Reid, and a number of others. The pupils of the school attended in full force.

Mr. J. COATES, head master of the school, in welcoming the Minister, read the following report:-

"Sir,-On behalf of my colleagues, the boys, and myself, I have great pleasure in welcoming you on the occasion of your first visit to the Sydney High Schools. As your time is limited I shall content myself by giving only a few extracts from my reports. These schools have now been in existence a full year. During the first quarter the number of pupils entered was 113, average attendance 107; second quarter, enrolment 119, average attendance 109; third quarter, enrolment 146, average attendance 138. I would draw special attention to the remarkably high average attendance each quarter; and when it is known that pupils attend this school from Penrith, Blacktown, Parramatta, Botany, Waverley, and other distant suburbs, the excellent attendance becomes more marked, and shows that both parents and pupils are anxious to make the best use of their opportunities. During the month of November the whole school was examined by two of the inspectors (Mr. Bridges and Mr. Morris, M.A,) connected with the Department of Public Instruction, and, judging from the epitome of their reports, the boys did very creditably. The classes were examined in Latin, French, Greek, English language, literature and history, arithmetic, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, mechanics, geology, and drawing. I may add that Greek and German are optional subjects. As yet none of the pupils have commenced the study of German; and as nearly all our pupils have to commence Latin and French when they come to us, I consider it absolutely necessary that considerable progress should be made in these languages before the study of German is attempted. A number of our boys presented themselves at the recent junior examination in connection with the Sydney University. Twenty-nine were successful, and some of them passed very creditably, 10 passing in the maximum number of subjects. I look upon this as a fair commencement, and I confidently expect that a fair number of our boys will next year present themselves at the senior and matriculation examinations. What I am anxious about is things: that our boys, or a fair proportion of them, should remain at school sufficiently long to do themselves and the school some credit. The tendency is, from my experience, for parents to send their boys for one year tohave what is called 'the finishing touch' put on their education, and expect them to be specially prepared in that time for some of the public examinations—an expectation which is unfair to us and to our regular classes. I would draw your attention, Sir, to the building in which we are assembled. Its site is unsuitable for many reasons; no boys come here from the immediate neighbourhood. Its accommodation particularly with reference to class-rooms—is wholly inadequate, and the playground is just large enough for the boys in which to assemble. Notwithstanding this great drawback, we have done what we could to encourage the boys in their outdoor sports. A Cadet Corps has been founded in connection with the school, and the cricket and football clubs have also made a fair start. I can speak in the very highest terms of the conduct of the boys during the year, and, in acknowledging the valuable assistance which 1 have at all times received from my colleagues, I may state that it has been our constant aim, in educating the pupils committed to our charge to constantly remind them of what they owe to their school and country. I will now ask you, Sir, to distribute the certificates to our successful candidates at the recent junior examinations in connection with the Sydney University, and two silver medals which I have awarded to our two most successful candidates, F. W. Doak and A. B. F. Zlotkowski. We have no prizes to award, and for many reasons I am glad, as I am opposed to the general system of prize-giving. In place of books we have awarded honour certificates to our most successful boys."

At this stage, at the request of the head master, the pupils gave a display of their elocutionary powers by going through a Parliamentary debate.

Mr. TRICKETT, on rising to address those present, at the conclusion of the debate, said that on the 9th of October, 1883, he had the pleasure of being present in the building, the occasion being the opening of the school. The High Schools were formally opened at the instigation, and under the administration, of his friend, Mr. G. H. Reid — (applause) — who then occupied the position which he (Mr. Trickett) occupied at the present time. On that occasion they had the opportunity of listening to on address full of good advice from one whom he would characterise as the greatest scholar that ever lived in the colony; he referred to the late Dr. Charles Badham. (Applause.) After an interval of 14 months they had now assembled to ascertain what had been the result of the working of the institution. From a numerical point of view he thought they would all agree that the institution had been successful. On referring to the report they could see that, with regard to the examination which had taken place under the supervision of the Department, the result had been eminently satisfactory, and he had very much pleasure in complimenting Mr. Coates (the head master) and his colleagues, on their excellent system of teaching. He also wished to compliment the boys on the very diligent way in which they had attended to their studies, which had resulted so satisfactorily to themselves and the institution. (Applause.) The report which he had received from two fully qualified gentlemen whom he deputed to examine the school was very satisfactory. The report, in fact, was eminently satisfactory, and was appreciated, he was sure, not only by the pupils and teachers of the school, but by the watchful public, who had been looking with interest upon the working of the Sydney High School. (Applause.) He only hoped that the school would continue to improve, and that it would increase in numbers and efficiency. So long, at any rate, as he occupied the position of Minister for Public Instruction he should deem it his duty to keep a watchful eye on the working of the school, and to send competent gentlemen to report to him from time to time the advancement and progress which was being made by the school. He wished to state, with regard to the report he had referred to, that what was particularly gratifying to the Department with regard to the school was the general nature of the improvement made by the bulk of the scholars in the school. That he looked upon as the general desirata of a school of this kind. (Applause.) He was very much pleased with the success which had attended the efforts of all concerned. (Applause.) He could only say to his young friends that he hoped that they would remain at the school sufficiently long enough to truly benefit by what they learnt at the school; that they would go on increasing the efforts so well put forth in the beginning, and that they would get on better still in the future than in the past. They were very pleased to find that any individual members of the school had distinguished themselves in outside examinations in such a meritorious manner as those of them had done who had competed in connection with the University examinations. (Applause.) He thought that as that was the first public occasion on which anything had been said respecting the High schools, it would probably be expected that he would say something regarding the High schools in the other cities of the colony. Of course they all knew that there were three other High schools, viz., at West Maitland, Bathurst, and Goulburn. With regard to those schools he might say that, whilst at West Maitland the results might be looked upon as fairly satisfactory, he regretted to have to state that with regard to the schools at Bathurst and Goulburn they for some reason or other had not been a success. In the Bathurst High school they only had some 16 boys and some nine girls; and at Goulburn they only had some 15 boys and some 19 girls attending the High school. Such an attendance as this was very unsatisfactory, and he very much feared that, unless during the first quarter in 1885 a much larger enrolment took place, it would be found necessary to close the schools. The expenses were so heavy and the pupils so few that he was very much afraid that they should have to take that step. He could not account for the small attendance at these schools, but one would have thought that in such places as Bathurst and Goulburn—away from Sydney—parents would have been only too glad to allow their children to follow up a system of teaching so well begun in the Public schools; but such was not the case, and the reason he could not tell. He should not detain them any longer. He could say with regard to the debate he had listened to that he was highly pleased with the way in which it was got up and the way in which the speeches were delivered. The debate had afforded a very pleasing proof of the interest which Mr. Coates took in the improvement and welfare of his pupils. In conclusion he could congratulate them on the success which had attended the efforts of both pupils and teachers, and he hoped that the boys, after having enjoyed the holidays, would return to their labours with renewed energy and vigour. (Applause.)

The certificates were then presented as follows :—University Junior Examination, 1884: Successful candidates from High School (in order of merit)--F. W. Doak (1st medal), A. Zlotkowski (2nd medal), C. Durie, A. Eedy, G. Saxby, F. Stockham, E. Beckett, A. Mackenzie, W. Trenerry, W. Toms, F. Firth, A. Stewart, H. Aspinall, R. Mackay, E. Mannix, T. Moustaka, A. Wicks, R. Fraser, C. Harriott, A. Mactaggart, W. Paradice, W. Lewis, P. Hunt, T. Clune, C. Cooke, S. Thompson, A. Ball, W. George, A. Ferris. Honour List: 5A Form—F. W. Doak, A. Eedy, G. Saxby; 5B Form—R. Fraser, A. Stewart, P. S. Hunt ; 4A Form—H. Pownall, C. Elliott, W. Trenerry; 4B Form—F. Burrows, T. O’Byrne, W. Schrader; 3B Form—H. Jardine, Paul, Lee. Football Club: Honour caps-Mactaggart and Eedy. Cricket Club: Batting average, A. Eden, bowling average, Mactaggart.

The Hon E BARTON, who at the request of Mr Coates presented the bat and ball to the two best cricketers of the school, said he was gratified to find his old friend Mr Coates at the head of such an institution as the Sydney High School, and he thought the pupils of the school were to be congratulated on having, not only an efficient teacher, but such an amiable and worthy man as Mr Coates for their teacher. (Applause.) Having passed a portion of the period of his school education under the auspices of the national educational system of this colony—having spent two years at the Fort-street Model School--(applause)--he could not fail to take the keenest interest in their proceedings. (Applause.) In his time they had no High schools, but the idea of having such schools to supplement the primary education and also as a connecting link between the Grammar School and University, was a good one. He trusted they would not find it necessary to carry into effect what appeared to be the intention of his hon. friend the Minister for Public Instruction with regard to some of the High schools. They all know how often they constructed railways which did not pay, but it would not be wise to cease to run those railways simply because they did not pay for a year or so, or because the returns were not satisfactory. That would be regarded as a short-sighted policy, and he hoped the Minister would pause before he gave his sanction to the discontinuance of any High school that had been established. In addressing a few words of congratulation to the boys, he might tell them that he had a keen and very lively recollection of many struggles similar to those through which they had passed. It was extremely gratifying to an Australian, actuated by motives of doing good for his country, to see growing up a number of youths with so much intelligence as those present evidently possessed—with, also, such an admirable spirit of discipline among them. With such a regard for authority as they had shown, they had the best guarantee of success in life. He who wished to govern needed to learn to obey. They had every reason to congratulate the boys of the Sydney High School. It was interesting as well as amusing to watch the keen interest taken by the boys in the little parliamentary struggle, or debate, they bad just passed through; such qualifications as they had exhibited could not fail to be useful to them, and they had to remember that he who had immense advantages at present would have his responsibilities to undertake hereafter in seeing that misgovernment or tyranny did not prevail amongst the people. It would be his duty to take a part in the government of this country, and to endeavour to keep inefficiency and unconscientiousness outside the walls of Parliament.

He did not say that such had ever entered Parliament, for he believed that Parliament was often much maligned, though it often did much for the public good. He had great pleasure in congratulating the pupils of the Sydney High School on the success which had attended their efforts. He hoped they would continue their studies, and that greater results still would be achieved. (Applause.)

Mr. G. H. REID, who was called upon to speak, said, as one who had taken some part in founding the system of High schools in this country, he might say that the success of the schools had given him much satisfaction and pleasure; and he augured, from the display tho pupils had made, results of the highest character not only to them and those associated with them but to the country at large.

He would like to impress upon the boys the fact that, whilst they were right in acquiring as good an education as they could, they had a duty to perform, and that was to do some good for the country in which they lived. They (the boys) had taken an excellent course by practising the mimic debate which they had so ably carried through that morning. He himself started in a debating club when he was 15 years of age, and, having had much experience, he was surprised beyond measure at the clear and manly way in which they in their debate that day had delivered the lines allotted to them. There was no better practice for public speakers than that of studying the speeches of better men than themselves. (Applause.) The debate they had given was well drawn up and full of good and valuable advice, and they had done justice to it. He trusted in the future they would be able to say something of their own in manner just as good as they had repeated the thoughts of others that day. (Applause.)

This concluded the proceedings, and the company separated.

See also: Daily Telegraph, 19 December 1884, p 6