The Aberystwith Observer

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WELSHPOOL COUNTY SCHOOLS. PRIZE DISTRIBUTION. PROFESSOR B(DYD DAWKINS ON NATURE STUDY. Thursday was the a.nnual speech day in con- nection With the Welshpool County School. The gathering took placo in the School Hall, which had been prettily decorated with ever- greens and variegated leaves, and presented a charming appearance. The decorations were the work of the school staffs. Mr J. H. Davies, J.P., one of the Governors, presided, and was supported on the platform by Mrs Verdon, of Llanerehydol, Professor Boyd Dawkins, M.A., P.R.S., Manchester University, the Headmaster (Mr R. E. Owen), and the Headmistress (Miss Bingham). The gathering was an exceedingly large one, and included, amongst other friends of the school, the Misses Howell (Rhiewport), the Mayor of Welslipool (Dr R. D. Thomas) and the Mayoress, the Vicar of Welshpool and Mrs Davis, Mr D. Davies, M.P., Alderman G. D. Harrison, Mrs Hamphreys-0won, etc. At the cutset a beautiful bouquet of flowers was pre- sented to Mrs Verdon by Master Wilfrid Davies and Miss Isabel Dunbar on behalf of the schools 8.nd the gift was gracefully acknowledged. Dur. Hig the proceedings the scholars sang several «ongs under the conductorship of Mr Owen, the accompaniments being played by Miss Jones, am of the assistant mistresses. A duet was also played by Miss Nora Manford and M. Lambert. The Chairman, in opening the proceedings, feaid letters or apology had been received from the Earl and Countess of Powis, Mr and Mrs S. R .Heap, Mr and Mrs Forrester Addie, Colonel Prye e-Jones and Mrs Pryce-Jones, Captain Myt- ton and Mrs Mytton, Mr J. D. Rees, M.P., and fue Hon Mrs Rees, Mr Richard Lloyd, Mr and Mrs A E 0 Humphreys-Owen, and others. Con- tinuing, he said he was eure they all very much regretted their absence, and also especially did they deplore the absence of the esteemed chair- man of the Governors, Mr Forrester Addie, and sympathised with him in the impaired state of health which prevented his being with them that day (hear, hear). Mr Addie had always taken a keen interest and delight in the prize day, and it was a great disappointment that he could Qot be with them. He had been absent only on one occasion when he was prevented by an acci- dent. The services which Mr Addie had been able to rentier the school by his great business ability, untiring energy, and personal influence had been very great (applause). He hoped the holiday Mr Addie was now taking would be the aieans of speedily restoring him to his usual state of health and vigour, and that he would he able to continue to direct the affairs of the school for many years to come, as he had done ever since the scheme was put into opera- tion in the county (hear, hear). Continuing, the chairman welcomed those present on behalf of the Go vernors, and said it was encouraging to «ee the keen interest taken in the school as was tihown by the large gathering on the annual prize day. On those occasions they had been honoured by the presence of ladies of social position to give away the prizes and lie extend- ed to Mrs. Verdon a very kearty welcome (ap- plause). They were glad to see her taking an interest in local affairs and in that school in Particular. They were again fortunate in hav- 1ng in Professor Boyd Dawkins to speak to them not only a great educationist and scientist, hut a native of their own borough (applause). Dealing with the work of the echool, the speak- er mentioned that the triennial inspection of ttie school was held in July, and the report was Satisfactory and encouraging, and in view of the brighter financial prospects the Governors had been able to add another lady to the teaching staff, and arrangements had been made with the authorities at Aberystwyth College to provide a theoretical and practical course in agriculture, ?Ud special facilities would be given, of study- Ing farming under the best conditions. The dumber of pupils c-ontinued larger than pre- *!<>usly, and was 50 more than four years ago. A large number came from a consider- able distance, and in that connection the Gov- ernors wished to thank the Cambrian Railways Company for the facilities they granted to the Pupils. 'Th ey were also indebted to Miss F. E. *Jowell for some further marks of the interest .he family take in the school. During the year she "ad kindly presented a handsome flag-staff and Union Jack which it would be noticed adorned the grounds that day, and she had invested a large "Urn 0f money, the interes-t of which would be ^evoted to giving prizes, which would be called y the honoured name, a name very dear to the J-^ople of the district—the Charles Howell prizes ^Pplause). In conclusion he congratulated the Prize winners, and the school generally upon the |°od work done there, and the head master and "'•stress and the staff for the great interest they in their work, and the clerk to the Govern- ors for the efficient way in which he discarged ■ls «lut°i«6 (applause). HEADMASTER'S REPORT. Mr Owen then read his report which was as ^Llows::— My first duty is to give a sincere and °rdial welcome to ail those who have gathered do honour to our function to-day. One of _ke most substantial pieces of encouragement we pt in the whole of the year's work is that af- .°rded by the appreciation you show of our la- ours, and it would be an ill compliment to take otherwise, in attending our speech day so Umerounly from year to year. I muc-h regret nat our limited seating accommodation compels pme of you to stand. We have been told from '.lie to time Why don't you take your -prize- pving to the Town Hall, where there will at €ast be some room to turn?" This is my 10th Pj'ize day in this school hall. When we get yder we are averse to violent changes, and 1 °r one would not willingly consent to see this potion removed from the precincts of the ^hool. This annual meeting is in a sense the of the year's work. We emphasise its ^°l«t and value and pietnresqaeneas when par- patrons, and friends meet together in the ^7 building where their son's training is being €c-eived. If we are pressed for room for the !oper reception of our guests, allow rae to the liberty to suggest that we n rather make up our minds to extend ai't °apaeity of this hail. Last prize day I was 1 ti • rePorfc rapid inc-rea-s-e in the number of j LUll!ls on oar hooks. This year the number has I .yea well maintained. The average for last j€ar w-as 83, and now we are 84 this term. This about as many as we can accommodate, but I j.av<" not allowed the echool to become imeojn- rtably or unteachably full. I was only too !i0r,,y at the beginning of this school year that j8°od number of applicants for admission had hs disappointed owing to want of more class- 0i|i accommodation. It is true we have the S I8 many English friends from the county of n! P 111 om' school, and I am glad to think at many of them are very grateful for the op- ^'tunity of sending their eons here. But in (putting from across the border we never for- f} the interests of children from our own coun- t/' and it is my invariable practice never to 'tJ. !1a.lly dceide upon the admission of an outsider ;j^il the end of the first week of the term. Yet seem a pity that our school is not large ■ff °ugh to cope with all it: applications and that rt6 are not able to take the tide at the flood and give our school a strong and assured posi- tri°n- Not only do the numbers cry out for room, but also the classification demands httle more flexibility of accommodation. I betimes wish when I come to school duties in p « morning that some kindly-disposed fairy had a nocturnal visit and amplified and extend- J J 0Ur habitation to suit our increasing needs. ti(-v|Tn ^lad to report that the length of stay in if' ibl ^nereasing> an<l while quite a re as on- j. e Percentage remain to complete the fourth ,a.r course, still there is the very natural temp- yt, n *or a boy when he is between 10 and 17 *en+8 a§° t0 capture an opening that pre- s prospects of success for the future. I al- urge parents if possible to let their sons <until the end of the school vear. It is a. l question of finance at present. One has to be continually asking the Governors for more money, and one way in which I can help the Governors is by getting you whenever you can, without detriment to the boy's future interests, to let him stay until the end of the school year. At present the Board of Education will not pay its somewhat substantial grant on each boy un- less he completes the year which begins in Sep- tember and ends in July. Still one must not think entirely of school interest. We must not forget that a school of this sort exists only for the advantage of its pupils, not for the mere in- flation of prestige and name. But I must deal with the events of the year. Last June we re- ceived a thorough but friendly visit of inspec- tion at the hands of our Board. I was very much encouraged in my work by the impressions they stated, and Mr J. W. Longsdon, who ap- pears to have been told off to enquire minutely into our condition, was in every way very help- ful, stating he was there to find out our difficul- ties and to help to provide a remedy. The per- suasive accents of the Inspectors prevailed with our governors, who are always beneficent, if they have the cash, with the result of an addi- tion of another member to the staff of the two schools. This increase was a great relief, and has tended to make our work more thorough and efficient. Now more than ever are we bet- ter able in our organisation of work to have re- gard for a boy's future calling, whether for pro- fessional, business, or practical pursuits. This leads me to outline to you an important depar- ture which will be put into operation next term. We have long thsught that a portion of the training given in this school should have some direct application to the predominant industry of the locality, namely, agriculture. From time to time a large portion of the pupils of the school have been sons of well-established farm- ers and others connected with agriculture. These young men have returned and will continue to return to farming as their vocation in life. Ag- riculture is a subject to which increasing atten- tion and importance have been given in recent years. The excellent agricultural departments of our University Colleges are not, I believe, too well supplied with students capable of profiting to the fullest extent by the instruction there given. We can then at these schools perform a most useful service by helping those of our pupils who are looking forward to pursuits con- nected with agriculture by means of a properly graded scheme of instruction in this subject while at school to enable them in the future, if they so desire, to derive fuller benefit from the College courses. We start with definite instruc- tion in agriculture next term. Our Governors hav-s made arrangements with the agricultural department of the Aberystwyth University Col- lege by which a very well qualified member of the agricultural staff will come to our school on Thursdays at 11 and take charge of the agricul- ture class until 3. I am anxious that only those boys who are thinking seriously of agriculture for the future should join, for it is just these whom we wish to help so as to be imbued in the future with a deeper and more scientific interest in the subject. As yeu are perhaps aware the Central Welsh Board provides schedules in the subject, and we will attempt to give the subject a proper standing in school by insisting that all taking the subject shall be examined in it in at least the junior certificate stage. Mr Bryner « Jones, of Aberystwyth, met us most readily in < the negotiations, but we owe the establishment of this course chiefly to our Chairman, Mr For- rest-er Addie, who has placed exceptional facili- 1 ties at our disposal in the shape of a school gar- 1 den and the privilege of visiting one of the finest farms in the district for observation and ( illustration. A syllabus of work has been pre- pared, and at the end of the year's work the class as a whole are to be encouraged to go down < to the College Countiesi Farm for two or 1 three days of work under the immediate super- i vision of Professor Bryner Jones himself. We < are told on all hands that a more intelligent and j fond-er interest is necessary in regard to this i subject, that it is deserving of greater dignity I f and respect. If the school can do anything to bring about this end it should not neglect its 1 duty. With regard to work of con- s spicuous merit on the pa.rt of the boys, I 1 should like to mention S. F. Thomas, who gain- < ed an exceliest honours certificate of the Cen- < tral Welsh Board, with distinction in each sub- « jeet. His average mark for all the papers taken J by him, 14 in all, wa.s 74 per cent. He has gone s to Aberystwyth College, where I am certain he 1 will continue the distinguished carter he ha.s 1 had at school. R. M. Price has also gone to < Aberystwyth, having gained the music scholar- 1 ship at that college. A boy gifted with distinct 1 musical talent, we hope he will bring to full f fruition the great, promise that he now shows. 1 While the school can claim no credit for the performance, it can sincerely congratulate him < on an excellent senior theory of music paper in J which he gained 100 per cent. with the examin- < era' comment of "most excellent," The work ■ of J. H. Dunbar is noteworthy inasmuch as on ( the ordinary work of the school, without a min- ute's special preparation, he gained in severe i competition one of the Major secondary scholar. t ships offered by the Salop County Council. Sev- < eral boys have also left in the course of the year { to go to good positions. H. C. Williams" ob- < tained a. position in Lloyd's Bank at Wrexham; I D. L. Davies to the N." and S. Wales Bank at < Liverpool; B. L. Mason to a town branch of 1 the London and Counties Bank; C. S. Withers 3 and O. H. Davies have taken up engineering; R. i U. Sayce a position as assistant teacher with Mr < Tole at Welshpool; D. G. Quin a similar posi- 6 tion at Ellesmere and V. M. James at Birming- 1 ham; G. Matthews, E. C. Neil, and J. Evans have secured very promising posts in business. J At the beginning of this term three young < Salopians from this school were elected to agri- ] cultural exhibitions tenable for two years at the r Harper-Adams College—T. Cambidge. T. E. L. I Jones, and J. M. Thomas. With re- gaxd to boys who are now doing work of 1 College standard, F. N. Pryce is still at Aber- ( ystwyth doing credit to his old school, and A. j S. Davies also, in the department of engineer- 1 ing. at Liverpool University. We are also privileg- t ed, by the generosity of Miss F E Howell, to keep < green the memory of our late friend, Mr Charles s Howell. Speaking of an experience extending over 10 years at this school, I can certainly say i that no school has been more fortunate in its J friends than this one. Mr Howell was always i most ready to help not only by his kindly pre- { sence, but also by his practical generosity. He took particular interest in the provision for i manual instruction at this school. His sister i has instituted annual prizes for woodwork and ] for general thoroughnese, which we are most grateful to receive. C, The first winners of these I prizes are O. G. Davies, D. G. Quin. and J. R. 1 Reed. Not long ago .äÙSS F. E. Ilowell presented to the schools a handsome flag-staff and Union Jack to be flown on Empire Day and on other of- ficial occasions; and to-morrow there will be ] brought, into this hall a Broadwood grand piano, a gift to the. schools from the same family. I am pleased to say that the tone and conduct of the school during the past year has been very satisfactory. We are fortunate in having from time to time boys at the head of the school who realise their responsibility in affording a good example to others, and that the tone of the school is more or less as they set it. This is the proper school spirit, and should be fostered by all at every point.. My warmest thanks are due to the Governors for their appreciation and help during the past year, to my colleagues for their disinterested and enthusiastic assistance, and to the headmistress) and the staff of the girls' school for most valuable co-operation in all matters that concern the welfare of this institution. HEADMISTRESS' REPORT. It is again my duty to give a report of the girls' school. I will mention first our numbers. In the autumn term of 1906 we had 67 on the books, in the spring term we had 64, and in the summer term we had 64 pupils. This term we have 68. Taking this term's 68 pupils, 23 are from the town of Welshpool itself, 31 from our County school district; thus 54 girls are really those for whom this school was built. That is 79 per cent. Again, 15 of the children are in their third year, 10 in their fourth year, 7 in their fifth year, and one in her sixth year. Thus 18 girls are either in the fourth year of the course or are above it, that is between 26 a.nd 27 per cent. of the girls are in the fourth year of the course or are above it. These num- bers are for Welshpool unusual and very satis- factory. In the summer occurred the first tri- ennial inspection since I came here. Three in- spectors—Mr Owen Owen, Mr Robinson, and Miss Cooper—spent the greater part of a long June day with us. They examined with great minuteness into the details of our school work. While doing so they showed a strong desire to help us in every way. There was no captious criticism—there was helpful suggestion. One important result, in my opinion of most vital importance for the welfare of both schools, was that the heavily overworked staff of last year has been relieved by the addition of a new mem- ber, so that now there are four teachers on the girls' side as well as four on the boys'. The re- lief to both sides (I know Mr Owen agrees with me here) is beyond expression. We have two pupil teachers in the school, and we have not done what we should have liked to do for them. We are however able to help them much more this last term owing to the additional staffing. One of these girls is taking her Preliminary, Part 1. of it, this Christmas Part II. in April. We wish her every success. She ha.s worked well in snite of adverse conditions and much dis- couragement. I am only afraid they will not let her stay with us till April, and ehe has still much to do. Of the girls now in the school we have 20 or so who are desirous of being teachers —chiefly elementary teachers. Some hope to qualify by means of the senior certificate to en- ter the normal department of Aberystwyth; others hope to start straight away as uncertifi- cated teachers. For those who are going to Aberystwyth there is a new scheme only came into force this autumn. If they pay the first year's full fees as ordinary students they many gain scholarships on the examinations at the end of their first college year which will very nearly give them the rest of their college career quite free of expense. During this time they will train as teachers and get their degrees. These schol- arships will be given. I understand, to all who pass provided they shaw reasonable signs as to suitability for teaching. To those girls, who wish to teach I do not recommend private teaching. Our girls do not come from those people who give the best private teachers. Besides, private teaching is a precarious livelihood, and its humbler aspects too often a variety of white slavery. At the National Union of Women Workers which met not long ago in Manchester the head of a very large pupil teacher centre in London, one who had been its head for 25 years, quoted statistics which proved that for many years there must be openings in the teaching profession for well qualified women teachers. The new pupil teacher regulations are most important to us as they contain an al- ternative to pupil teachers by which pupils in Secondary schools may become bursars, and, as such, get one year's enducation free, namely the year before they take the preliminary for the certificate. After this they either enter a train- ing college or they become what is to be called student teachers. As such they will give one year to learning to teach and then they may rank as uncertificated teachers. This scheme, af course, meets the requirements of Secondary schools. It is possible to frame suitable time tables for such pupils there. It was utterly im- possible to do so for the half timers, the pupil ',ea teachers. I believe the elementary teachers would be satisfied too if the one year of student teachership were to be made two years if necos- iary. Healthiness as well as promising work is t very important consideration in choosing bur- sars. Ethel Bennett is our first bursar. 0 One 3f our other pupils gained in July a Shropshire aupil teachar scholarship for three years. She s holding it here at Welshpool. With regard :o the general work of the school, I shall take :he technical work first. We have been teach- ng as usual domestic economy and hvgiene, rawing, dressmaking, and cookery. In spite of 10 dairy, no gardening, no special science sylla. ms for these things, I believe what domestic tubjects we do take, those named above, have seen well taught and well learnt. Sewing is .aught all the way up the school, dressmaking )nly in the fourth and fifth years' courses, cook^ ;ry in the third and fourth years' courses' With egaid to the third year sewing, we are making ipecial efforts this year to teach good mending. ks it is little good teaching mending on new naterial, for the thin places round the holes are )ften the most difficult things in the mending I lerewith ask the parents if they will send us old vorn-out flannels, which would be very useful, md on these Miss Stacey will set the 'prentice lands of the third year sewing class; and I, at ;he same time, promise the girls special prizes or this work. To turn out a. sound wearable garment out' of an apparently hopelessly worn- Hit rag seems to me an act of a noble "nature, rhe hygiene and domestic economy classes, caching ItS they do the why and wherefore of c dg ■he ordinary decencies of civilised life, are doing ?°°d work, and the girls attend them weekly for he first three years at school. Cookery flourish- es as usual en Thursday afternoons, on the re- sults of which some of the children often lunch he following day. I saw some extremely good entil soup one day; a very good haricot another lay; and so on. A good many of the practical lesults of the class vanish immediately it is over. Vlany Thursdays this term I have made my way nto the kitchen as soon as my own class was lismissed to see the cookery of the afternoon. I leldom caught sight of a. ca'ke, though some are nade every afternoon, for they had always been Dxpeditiottsly eaten or sequestered. With re- gard to the Central Welsh Board work and the ordinary classes the results are before you in the arize lists as far as certificates and prizes go. rhe Form which, as a whole, was the best last rear was in the second year of the course—the me we call the third form. Both as to steady svork, considering all the members of the Form one or two of whom I am afraid are feeling just a little uneasy in their mind as they listen to me), and as considering order, this Form stands first, and it is to one of the two girls who an the percentage of marks for the whole year itand bracketed first, that the prize has gone for general excellence. That prize is new this year, it is the Charles Howell Memorial Prize, most generously bestowed by Miss Howell. It is in memory of Mr C. E. Howell, and its object is to 2;ive our school life an ideal towards which to strive. This prize has not been given on marks, f 80, Violet Roberts could not have gained it flE, though she is one of a bracket of two on the percentage of the year's marks, Joyce Bailey, who was bracketed with her on that percentage actually had a. few marks more. If the prize had been given on marks, and for 7 book work lone, it would have gone to FormVI. No girl in the school would have had a chance against Mabel Gittins and Janet Pryee for loyal, plucky, unremitting unostentatious work throughout the year. It was required of us to give the prize for success in many other things r, 11 beside actual lessons, and for success in such things as even the youngest child opposite me now could attempt. The prize has been called "Good Conduct" prize. It is not that. it is a prize for general exceUenc-ies in our little school world. Success in work, success in games, gen- eral helpfulness, unselfishness, obedience, all counted. With regard to this year's awards, I will only say that each of the three mistresses last year separately and independently, thought of the same girl. Latin is now a regular part of the curriculum for many of the girls, and last year one of the seniors got through the iunior Central Welsh Board examination in Latin M one year's work with one lesson a week. I con- gratulate both Miss McClay and herself on this brilliant piece of work. The school curriculum is otherwise just what it has always been except for more technical work and the above-men- tioned addition of Latin. The additions do not affect profoundly the mass of the school in any way, but they help to make effective any efforts we may put forth, to prepare girls, either for certificated teaching in any grade, or by the in- clusion of a. regular Honours class, above and beyond the senior or fourth year course, to give a last, and rather different year's work to girls who have taken successfully the Central Welsh Board Senior certificate, and who will go home and hereafter not touch again educational work, or who will go up to try for College scholar- ships and exhibitions. Such a year's work for such girls, is of incalculable value, not so much for the actual facts, learnt, as for the habits of mind it is possible for them to acquire during the loarning. The work is quite different from the four years' course. It is calculated to de- velop intelligent thought, self reliance, and to quicken interest in that vast world of the humanities—of science—in the world of the past and present. Such work, it is true, is very im- portant as an introduction to College work. It is not, it cannot be, College work, but it forms a useful link joining ordinary school work to the College lecture room. While talking of curriculum, and at the great risk of making the general audience fully impatient, I beg leave to say to some of the parents of my pupils one other thing about our curriculum. Frequently I have been asked to let a certain girl omit a certain subject, the reason often given with con- siderable acerbity being that it is of no use at all. May I fisk you to recollect the subjects you learnt at school, and to examine yourselves as to which of them you would still consider your- self to know properly. Those subjects you have not made use of in your daily life are practically forgotten, nevertheless the acquirement of those subjects did work in training your developing faculties and this is true for your children. With regard to the prize list only three pupils in this county got through the higher stage of honours. There is considerable difference be- tween the higher and lower honours. Janet Pryee has gained her honours certificate in two subjects, both at the higher honours stage. She stands fourth in Wales in botany at the higher honours stage. Winnie Jones of last year, was however first in Wales in that subject at that stage. Madge Gittins took two subjects at the lower stage of honours, also one at the higher. Their work during all the year was most credit- able. With regard to the senior list of three girls, Mary Ashton is especially to be com- mended. She has gained her senior certificate in three years and she only requires Latin on that certificate to be excused Welsh Matricula- tion, and that we hope, she will gain this year. As most of our girls find it very difficult to gain the junior certificate in three years, and often fail to do so, you will understand me so highly commending Mary's work. We are specially proud of A. C. Elton's Welsh exhibition. She stood high in the list of successful candidates from Welsh County Schools. She told me that her French, her history her English lan- guage had been specially praised. As in two of these subjects she had done honours work I am not surprised. I consider that she would have had no chance for that exhibition if it had not been for Miss Palmer's teaching in history at the higher honours stage last year, and also for Miss Palmer's work with her in English lan- guage, the classes for which we specially altered for her last year, and for Miss McClay's work in French this year at. the lower honours stage in which she passed. I consider the exhibition was largely due to her honours work. At the same time she would not have been excused matricu- lation except for her Latin work. With regard to the other children I would only say that, if Madge Reese had parsed) in the French gram- mar paper, and she very nearly did. she also would have gained her senior certificate in three years. Some girls will always take five years to the senior certificate, and will probably be all the better for doing eo, for we want healthy bodies and educated, not precocious, minds. You must remember that when I came here those girls who stayed to take the senior took five years over it normally, as Miss Robinson insisted on most girls spending two years in the first year course. I do not do that. but I cordially agree with Miss Robinson that to get to the senior certificate it is a five years' piece of work for most children if they are not to be injured I by it. We lost a few cgrtificate* lin. steady work; only a few though for most of the l children, frankly, wanted one more year's work— ■ and according to the old regime they would have all only taken these certificates this year. With regard to the 000 or two girls who were un- steady, I may say the Christmas examinations show they are still so. I do not want to men- tion names now, though I am afraid I ought to. However, their parents will see our comments on the reports. Still even these children are better, and I have no doubt they will return after Christmas resolved to put all the good girls of their respective classes in the shade. PROFESSOR BOYD DAWKINS' ADDRESS. Professor Boyd Dawkins was warmly cheered on rising to address the gathering. He said he gathered from what the chairman had told him that he had been invited to be present first as a representative of the University of Bangor, which had taken a great interest in education, and he thought that in the last 20 years he had recognised certain people from Welshpool who had distinguished themselves. The second, however, was the reason which attracted him most, and it was that he was invited because he was born within the ancient parish of Welsh- pool (applause). Because of that he had always felt a.n interest in the plaee and looked upon it as his original home (hear, hear). Education may to some extent be over-talked, and it was his intention therefore to address a few words to the boys and girls. And with regard to that he had observed during the reading of the prize list that a certain number of bovs got prizes be. cause they were never absent "and never late. He did not hear the same in regard to the girls, which suggested to him that they must be always early and always present, and he was glad in- deed to think so (laughter and applause). By their work in the school the students; got mental training which would be of infinite service to them in the future, and he would say to those who had not got prizes, they had got that which was more valuable, and that was the training. Those who had obtained prizes had been beaten before, for one could succeed only bv being beaten, and those who profited by the "beating were those who would be successful in the future (applause). The work of education did not mean cramming, but preparing the students for the future, and he believed the school was doing a good work. Amongst the subjects stud- ied there was one which appealed to him, and that was nature study. For the life of him he could never understand how it was that subject had been so long left out, and most people seem- ed to know but very little how the surface upon which they lived came to be what it was, and were absolutely ignorant of those causes by wluch they were surrounded, and amidst which they lived their lives upon this earth. The study of nature was valuable and would give great pleasure and delight to those who took it up; it would lighten and enliven their more severe studies. Hard and drv education always seemed to him like a Juggernaut car. something which would crush all the individuality out of the child Children were full of what Mr Rud- yard Kipling called "insatiable curiosity," which should be fostered, for the reason that, originsli- y was so rare in adults that their curiosity had been crushed out of them when they were young. Patriotism began at home, and 'in the nature they could also begin at home. Let him give them an example. Standing out to the north of the town was the Breidden' llill. What was it? It was simply the stump of an old volcano, comparable in size with Vesuvius whose cone and crater towered thousands of feet above the present level of the hill. And what were Moel-y-Golfa and Middletown Hill? They were largely composed of volcanic ashes, which formed a portion of the base of that cone out the cone had been swept away by destructive forces, and there was now only the base of rock consolidated there and standing up above the valley of the Severn. By following up such an lllustiation they were able to arrive at one of the most important points in the ancient history or this important area. Take another oase. ,he IIIlIB wiucli bound the Severn were of hard "laty rock, which wero core )lidared mud from the banka in former times, find represented a most interesting ofirpel it, the ancient lrstory of the world, and that they were laid down when tie ¡ valley was proovad out. Again tnke the s^ ep reek at. Llar.ymyne; h, th it was formed by the accuuiu'ation of coral and diffeient she!!?, thus accunlu'al,ioh of coral and diffeient she!!?, thus

Mn*n*nMnwn*n*n*n*n*nMnMnMn* H*nMn*nMn*nMn*nMnMn*niinKn*n Kl'RSK WILSON I that SCOTT S Emulsion is much more easily M DIGESTED than plain cod liver oil. I have used with most successful results for lung trouble, rickets 'Zf, Sf and all wasting diseases, whether in r——i adults or child: { ahvavs recommend Jlr SCOTT'S, knowing i V»ve something I Ang can re'y on*" FLORA ■ Certificated Nurte S 52 Barclay Roed, Walham Green, London, S.W. > 2/10/06. Above is the Proof in the Facts. Here is Proof in the Kcascn Why It is not what we eat that does us good, but what we digest. The superb quality Lofoten cod liver oil, of which SCOTT'S Emulsion is always made, is full of nourishment yet this nourishment would be of little avail to the sufferer were not the oil made perfectly digestible by the original, perfected SCOTT process. This is why A& coil's Emulsion is able to stop lung trouble, rickets and all wasting z' L diseases when every other form of cod liver oil and m every other cod liver oil emulsion fail. Therefore, when purchasing, don't ask for '< Emulsion" ask for and get SCO 1 1 S Emulsion—the difference betwreen SmmT* them means a cure for you See that the Fishrmn wish the Fish is on the Package. KM Write for free sample and The Cry of the Children M oBi (enclose 4d. for postage and name this paper). SCOTT & BOWNE, Ltd., 10-11 Stonecutter Street, NSt London, E.C. nBa*n)onHn«nmn*nHn*inMnMn*n*n Hn*nMnnnMn*n*n*n*nMnMnMnMnM

building up tI at mas3 of material which was now qnariied for f ne stone. Thus they saw that in the local area they h4d materials, most valuable materials, for F-fcariyiug the geological history of Welshpool. Relating how his interest was first aroused in nature study, Professor Dawkins told how as a boy at Buttiugton, he found a stone in the coal box, and on cracking it found a fern leaf inside, lie wants:! to know bow it came there, and it took him years to find out; it was not until he got to Oxfoid, because there was no man in the public school ho attonded who was able to t el J him bow it waf. It was fba*: which bflgaii ill6 liiie of ilioiiglifc au £ investigation which j hac lasted him all his life long (applause). Refening again to the Severn, the speaker said that that river and the DèC were two of the very oldest rivt rs, and dated from a time anteiiur to the Thames. The valley showed onmistakeable signs of the liver kaving existed from the time of the ice tivers or glaciers, for the valley was formed by the river, not the Severn by the valley. Passing on Mr DiiTvkins drew attention to the interesting things which are to bo found in the Powyslind Museum, ii;cludi*g beads of the Stone Agp, the Bronze Age, and alto of pre-historic tinns, all of which help to fix bittory. It took them back to the days of the small dark race, some descendants of whom were still to be found amongst the living. Then there were the tall fair people, and beyond the m^n of the pre-historic Ilg-e-the Britons. Hav- ing paid a few words about the camps of these an. cient people, and the fact that Welshpool was within the Welsh marshes, and the area which for two years was a battle ground, ho went on to say there was evidence that the Welshpool and Ber- riew road was in existence in Romau days, and in conclusion again uiged the study of these subjects which would prevent the schools of the country being of that dead uniformity which wa.s perfectly shocking (hear, hear). IrYrs linmphreye-Owen, in moving a Vote of thaiiks to Mrs Verdon for her kindness in coming there to present the prizes, said the Governors had ueually been fortunate in finding members or old local families to undertake that duty, and they were now fortunate in having a lady like Mrs Verdon, who had comparatively recently come to live umongfct them, consenting to undertake the duty. They an felt it great encouragement to go on with the work to which they had devoteo in the past so much energy. Proceeding, she refcMred at some length to the criticisms of the Welsh Couuty Sjbool System made by a speaker at fl. similar gathering to that in North Wales recently. His remarks had been repudiated in Denbigh and Flintshire und she could assure them that none of the accusations were tI ue with regard to the work in Montgomery- ehire. The financial position of the S-iioola was admirable and especially so in the cai,3 of Weldh. pool, and the ratepayers need not ba unhappy on that score. It had bsen said tint the cost of intermediate education was something like £ 20 per scholar. The highest cost in the county was not £ 14, und that of the Welshpool school some- thing like £ 11 for purely educational purposes. The only officials they had were the clerk and the caretaker and she was sure the latter was not overpaid. In conclusion, she expressed her satis- faction that polities had not been allowed to enter into matters affecting intermediate edacat^on, and wore not admitted in the proaeediegsof the Higher Education, Local Governors of the Central Welsh Board. The Mayor of Welshpool (Dr R. D. Thomas) ► aid as a representanvo of the borough it, was a p!ea:-ure to him to second that resolution. He WAS ture the presence of ladies like Mrs Verdon at this annual gathering was not only a great encour- agement. to the children, but to the teachers and the school governors. The rote was carried by acclamation, and Mrs Verdon returned thankc. Mr David Davies, M.P., prøposerl a yotFl of thanks to Professor Boyd D.iwkins for his address. He referred to the high qualifications of Professor Dawkins, hud said that they were especially proud to see him as one who was born and bred in the county. He agreed that patriotism should be t-anght in the schools, and said that education meant the development of characters (appLm-p). The Vicar (f WeUhpool (Rev D. Grimal-ii Davis) seconded, and spoke encouragingly of the work of the school. lie expressed the hope thpat, changes in the teaching staff would bs Ies3 frequent than hnd been the case and that the Governors would give such salaries as would content the asf-inl ants. Mr Davies had referred to Prof. Dawkins being an M.A. and F.R.8., and Mid the latter was the greatest honour be c mid achieve. Well, he dis- agreed, there was the greater honour of being a Welshpool be y (applause). There were, he b8- lieve." still people in the district who remembered him not as the eminent professor, but simply as little Willie Dawkins (laughter and applause). Trof. Dawkins, in responding, said if be could do anything at any time to advance any cause for the good of WelsbpooItlleymiglit command bis ser- vices (applause). A similar con plimcn on the motion of Alderman I Harrison, seconded by Mr J. Dumbar, of Os vestry. was paid the Chairman, after which tea was I served. In the evening the scholar had tea, which was followed by dancing until nine o'clock in the evening. Tea was served to alf the company. This wa* given by the Governors, and gifts were also re- ceived from Mrs G. D. Harrison and Miss Parry (Mansion house). The arrangements were can- ried out by Mrs J. H. Davies. Mrs R. E. Owen, and Miss Bingham, and they wish to acknowledge the valuable services rendered £ filHj M!1i. tne TUKI pa6t and present puplS," &h^ úthHS. TllS following ladies presided ut the urns Mrs T. R. Morris. Mrs Foulkes. Mrs Wyke, Mrs Dnnbar. Mrs Stockton, Mrs Mar lord, and Miss Morris (The Foundry). Mrs Grimaldi Da.vis also kindly lent the tea tables and cloths from the Church House. Mr Far- mer, Berriew street, kindly lent the use of sever- al lanterns for lighting up the school surroumi- mgs. Miss Howell sent, cut Sowers, and Mr Lambert some beautiful plants.