Speech day and prize-giving, 15 December 1903

Sydney Morning Herald, 16 December 1903 p 6:

BOYS' HIGH SCHOOL.

PROPOSED NEW BUILDING.

The breaking up celebration in connection with the boys' High School, Ultimo, took place yesterday afternoon there was a large attendance. An apology was received from the Governor for non-attendance.

Mr. Bridges, Under-Secretary for Public Instruction, presided and presented the prizes. He said that the moral tone of the school was such that the State must benefit by the large number of good citizens who came from it. The Minister for Education had told him he had acquired the site of the old school, and intended to build on the Elizabeth-street site a handsome and well equipped school for the girls and on the Castlereagh-street site a similar school for the boys. They have achieved great success in the past, and he hoped that with a large and well equipped building they would have greater success in the future.

The headmaster, Mr J Waterhouse, MA, in his annual report referred to the success of the School candidate at University examinations. The number of pupils enrolled was 263. 

The Daily Telegraph, 16 December 1903 p 5:

In connection with their work they sought to impress on the minds of the pupils the principles of morality, truth, justice, and patriotism, to teach them to avoid idleness, profanity, and falsehood, and to instruct them in the principles of a free government, and to train them up to a true comprehension of the rights, duties, and dignity of citizenship. 

The Australian Star, 16 December 1903 p 3:

In the course of his report the headmaster, Mr. J. Waterhouse, said that this was the age of specialisation, but he feared there was growing up a tendency to allow and to even encourage school boys to specialise too early. It had recently been urged that the general proficiency prize at the junior examination should be discontinued. To this he was opposed. The boys competing for this prize were usually bright boys; consequently their mental faculties should receive an all-round development, thus enabling them when they do specialise to take an intelligent interest in what is outside their somewhat narrow making. He protested also against the proposed abolition of the senior general proficiency prize, but suggested for the consideration of the University authorities the desirableness of reducing the maximum number of subjects from ten to eight.

The Daily Telegraph, 16 December 1903 p 5:

… The strain which the boys underwent by practically insisting upon their taking 10 subjects was unnecessarily severe; besides, a more thorough and comprehensive grasp of eight subjects would be more advantageous to the boys than a slighter knowledge of 10. He emphasised, with regard to the Rhodes scholarship, the fact that it was absolutely necessary in order that a candidate might win such a scholarship that he should study Greek. The Minister for Public Instruction was thanked for providing the school with a gymnasium.

Sydney Morning Herald, 16 December 1903 p 6:

…. The seven candidates for the University senior examination were successful; 38 passed the junior, 22 matriculating. The general proficiency prize was won by M. C. Alder. In the last six years the school had won this prize on five occasions. Eleven passed the Public Service examination.

The winners of medals in connection with the University examinations were:--Senior: H. L. Watkins, algebra and trigonometry; H. W. May, arithmetic and mechanics. Junior: M. C. Alder, general proficiency and geometry and algebra; A. Walker, English: L. Vickers, physics. The final four received the headmaster’s prizes. The sports prizes were also distributed. The school cup given by the Girls' High School was won by W. G. Kemmis. H. Utz, captain of the school was presented to Mr. Bridges.

Mr P. J. Pratt, president of the Old Boys' Union, and who was a pupil of the school over 20 years ago, stated that William Nimmo would receive the union's gift for the most popular boy of Morley's "Life of Gladstone." The union recognised character as more important than talent.