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-,. BANGOR NORMAL COLLEGE.…

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BANGOR NORMAL COLLEGE. | ANNUAL FLEETING. PROPOSED JOILLIPS SCHOL- ARSHIP. the subscribers i donors of the der the presi- de College on Tacsdaj u the un_ dency of Mr CadwaUdr Da^ avoidable absence °* A ittee of man- Tewi=i (chairman of the c included i £ U«>. Me^S), J- V«- Messrs John H\^n'. Davies, J. R- more (LiyerpGoOr^P^ (l-»o?r Bangor), Pritchard, ■ (Griffith E^ an-, T) Hughes (Liverpo ')> principal Price, Mr R- %il^ru3 ^ccveth). &c. the Rev. Daniel R°w ppoRT. THE ANN I AX R^P submitted The committee of th he {ollowing their annual rPPor^N°ormal College has now is an eXtraC\:T, t e;rlv forty years, a'id it been at work tor ne how- remarkable is most gratifying t theprogress if during that period v^y. The war education in the P V epoch £ nthe his- 1843 was a very n_ previous to that tory of Welsh educa { a few private £ £ with the XCd sol- six British adventure scho°c' th Wales and two in schools—-four elementary schools North had in the country were that were to b hi(jh were established National ° u.'u:ren of the poor in the "to train the ch o{ England.» In principles of Xnnconformity was so pre- £ country where NonoonM J wer6 vdent, it tte requiSmeuts of the far from meetmg the r■ ship which t \rr Hu^h O^ven—aft*r i E letter «o the wards Sir Hug attention of his Welsh schools, showing countrvmen to tne ,,„-ore to the how. admirablLy =-gjviig efficient requirements of taowledge, and teaching in the eie fche reading ^rBibStrbut°apart from all sectarian n L., began t,o prepare S^sKXpar«srS: came ^SsiSthe"1in the pointed brought the matter before rkcomSr o: rs sss! sr&r. Bangor, was appointed agent for North W als; and a few years afterwards the Rev Wmiam Roberts, of Blaenau, Wales The good work went on with such rapidity that it soon became necessary to have a'Training College to prepare tea.Aers for the British schools of Wales. 1 January; 13o8, the Bangor Normal College commenced its work in two dwelling houses in Upper Bangor, and in 1862 the building was completed as its home. The zeal and liberality shown by the people of Wales in the establishment and the maintenance of British schools, and m responding to the appeals of the Rev John Phillips for money to build the Normal Col- lege—which cost E13,500-were very re- markable. Bv the end of 1870, when the Elementary Education Act was passed, the British schools of Wales numbered 314. After that, Wales shewed such alacrity in availing itself of the provisions of the Act of 1870, that the whole country was soon under School Boards, and Board schools were es- tablished everywhere. The system was felt to be so well adapted to the needs of the country, that in a short time nearly all the British schools were placed under Boards, and many of them were enlarged or re-built, in order to meet the additional require- ments of the neighbourhoods. At present, in addition to some 70 British schools, our Board schools in Wales number 821, many of which are in two or three different de- partments, and in addition to thei rhead teachers, have several assistant teachers. And now we have 75 Intermediate Schools, with 3000 boys and 3500 girls taught in them; and three University Colleges, at- tended by upwards of a thousand students of both sexes. And the Normal College, which all along has been doing its work with great efficiency, has rendered a very-import- ant service in this great movement, by train- ing teachers for our schools. By this time, 1024 students have been turned out of the college. A good many of those have passed away; some have turned to other avoca- tions not a few have distinguished them- selves and now serve the cause of learning in high positions; but the vast majority are still serving their country as schoolmasters and are doing very valuable work. And al- though we have now so many other educa- tional establishments in full operation, yet the Normal College well maintains its posi- tion and proves itself a necessity to the country. The press for entrance into it continues unabated; the standard of work and attainment is well maintained; and soon after its students comple* their train- ing they are appointed to schc-, I. The re- sult of the certificate examination held last Midsummer was received on the 23rd of September. This time, instead of placing the students simply under divisions, the I Government separates each division into two parts: the first including the things that bear more specifically upon heir pro- fessional work as teachers, the second hav- ing more regard to their general knowledge. This arrangement has been made in both residential and training colleges, so that their examination results in professional subjects may be placed on the same footing. It is also worthy of note that there were no falures whatever in Science subjects. The music inspection was conducted on the 14th of April, by Sir John Stainer, Mui Doc. Sir John seemed much pleased with the singing of the students, and at the end rose and said that he had not had the pleasure of visiting the College for some years, but his recollections of the singing at the Bangor Normal College led him to expect a treat when he entered the College again this year. He had been more than satisfied. The con- ducting and teaching of Mr Harding—whose -work was always honestly and thoroughly performed, with no veneer or sham polish— had again his great praise. He was pleased to receive such an excellent programme of music as was presented to him. The voices of the second year men, he could see, had been wall and systematically trained throughout their stay, and he hoped those of the first year would take example from the excellent singing of their seniors. He also hoped that the individual examination would be successful. Sir John then pro- ceeded with the individual examination of the second year students. Out of the 30 students examined, 22 obtained the full marks. This is the highest full marks which the College has ever obtained. The inspector expressed his pleasure at the work done, and especially commented on the training, and on the honest and well dir- ected work which had been done in the sub- ject. And in the report of the Committee ot Council cn Education, just issued, Sir •John wrote: "All the work was well pre- pared. The songs were first rate, and they were generally well sung The tests were sung with unusually fluency. The choral music was not all of the best, but it served to show tne excellent drill of the choir.' In the month of June, the College was inspected by H.M. Inspectors Messrs Barnett, Legard, and L. J.'Roberts. On meeting the Committee of Management, Mr Barnett refjrred to the report of the certificate examination held in July, 18%, which bowed that 24 out of the 30 students of the secord year had passed in the first division, and th: remaining six in the second, which ho characterised as a most remarkable re-lt. He also showed the position of the C'oll je rs regard d the percentages in the sr jects taken by the stu- I dents of both years, and said that the two lists were such at they might very well be satisfied with. Mr Barnett, also strongly recommended that the time-table of the Col- lege should be so cl--ngrd that the stu- dent 3 might hive their afternoons free for exercise and recreation, and also that a rowing boat should be hd or their use on the straits. This year the change suggested by Mr Barrett the time-table ha-T been made, and so far its workirg seems to be satisfactory. It would be also very desir- able that a boat should be had for the use of the students. The health of the students throughout the year has been very good. At the scholarship examination held in December, 94 candidates sat with a view to entering the College. Out of that number, 17 passed in the first class, 44 in the second, and 15 in the third. Of the 60 students now in residence, 10 are Baptists, 12 C'alvin- istic Methodists, 20 Congregationalists, 9 Church of England, 1 Primitive Methodist, and 8 Wesleyans. On account of the in- adequacy to the recommendations of H. M. Inspectors, which were also insisted upcn by the Education Department, the committee had last year to build a larder outside the college itself. Additions were oho made to the library of the College. On acccuntof the heavy expenditure thus incurred, the adverse balance at the end of the year was £ 393 19s lOd. The Committee is very pleased to record that a donation of £ 10 was received from a, good friend cf the Col- lege, Mr Thomas Jones, of Garston; and of £ 5 each from Air Samuel Smith, M.P., and Mr Robert Lewis, of the Alliance Assurance Company, London. But as the deficit bal- ance is considerable, and our ordinary ex- penditure unavoidably heavy,—not to speak of the need of adding continually to the lib- rary of the College, and the desirability, ac- cording to the recommendation of H. M. Inspector, of having a boat for the use of the students,—it is earnesly hoped that the friends of education will during the ensuing year give a generous support to the funds of the Normal College. At the happy re- union of the students of the College, held two years ago, it was felt that it would be very desirable that a ireeting of the kind should be had every tijree years. A re- union of the students of Swansea College w. held last year, which was of a remark- ably successful character, some 200 of the old students having come together. The Committee would be, glad if a large number of the old number students of this College should meet next year,* to enjoy their old friendship, and strengthen one another for the work of their life. We4 are pleased that we are able to give in connection with this report a copy of a good portrait of the late Rev John Phillips, the first Principal of the Normal Colege, and who did such ex- cellent service to Wales in promoting the establishment oil British schools, and in col- lecting funds for the building of this College. e rejoice that a strong desire prevails to make some lasting memorial of his valu- able work. 1t resolution in favour of doing something in that way was passed in a re- union of students id 1894 and although the thing should have been done long ago, we trust that it is not too late even vet for thoM that so highly appreciated the seor vices of Mr Phillips to honour his memory. The Chairman congratulated the friends of the institution upon the report which the committee of the College had issued. He had not read the report himself, but on the face of it it showed very great progress on the part of the institution, and also proved that every subject of education recognised in the curriculum of the College was effi- I ciently and thoroughly taught. A new method of testing the efficiency of the work done in the College, as well as in similar in- stitutions, had come into operation, but he was not in a position himself to express any opinion as to whether the new, method was ■ an improvement on the old. He believed, however, that the change was inevitable, but he thought that it was only reasonable to admit that any change of the kind in the I method of testing the efficiency of the work done in this and other institutions increased the anxiety of those who were responsib'" for the efficient working of such institutions. I It would not at all have been surprising if the change in method of examination had brought about results somewhat different from those they had been accustomed to re- ceive in Government reports of the College, but he was pleaseu to find that the institu- tion had passed through the ordeal as suc- cessful as it ever passed the ordeal under the old method (hear, hear). At present the examination consisted really of two parts, one appertaining to the strictly profesv ii;il training of the students at the College, and the other to their training in subjects ,hl,,L, might be called subjects of general know- ledge, and it was satisfactory to find that in both respects the College had fully held its own. He could not but express his great satisfaction at the continued high reputa- tion of the College, as given by Sir John Stainer, in the study and practice of music. He thought that in recent years, in the great prominence given to the Welsh edu- cation movement and to the factors that had brought about the remark- able success of the movement, far too little thought had been given to the work of the founders and supporters of the Bangor Normal College. They were too apt, he thought, to lay stress on one phase of the educational movement in Wales, and that was the establishing of higher educa- tion only, forgetting that the completion of the movement for intermediate and higher education in Wales would altogether have been impracticable were it not for the work of preparation in previous years by the es- tablishment of large schools and also in par- ticular by the establishment of the N-rmal College at Bangor. He did not know where the fault was. They were constantly in statements referring to the growth of this great movement omitting to recognise the best claims of those who, ..e thaught, made the movement possible, and it would be un- pardonable if anybody were to take part in the annual meetings of that institution and to accquiesce in that si nof omission. Per- sonally, he believed that the year 1843 was really the date to which they ought to assign the beginning of the great movement which culminated in the granting of the Roval Charter to the University of Wales. This was the most interesting period in the life of the late Sir Hugh Owen. It was the period that brought out the self-denving efforts of that gentleman; but important was also the period which brought into the service of Welsh education the self-sacrificine labour r 11 1 AT hn ?:iIlips- The -Sormal College had the proud distinction of being the only institution m the Principality which marked the combination of labours of thole two great men in the service of Weish educa h rf1"' heariHere ^e aspirations of Sh- Hugh Owen and the practical mm-Ji J labours of the IW John PhS brought into a focus, 11 pleased to find that in the pre,erf ? report of■ th. Co'Iege refercj wa?taX'to the great obbgation of the institution/an < obligation which was shared in by every I education institution in Wales, to the service of the Rev John Phillips in the cause of Welsh education. He was glad to learn that the perpetuation of the memory of the I Ptov John Phillips was a matter that was not hsi sight of. He thought it would be one of the first ambitions of young Welshmen trained at the College to do something to show that, whatever had the omission or neglect 011 part of the public men of Wales, they had not. foi gotten that the ad- vantages derived at the institution were due mainly, not to these who were lving now, I but to the "-ibours of those who had passed away, and especially to the labours of the Rev John Philips, who might be said to be the foundar ci the College. From his knowledge of ycung Welshmen they might feel certain that they wculd not forget to I push forward any scheme havirg for his ob- ject the perpetuation of the memcry of the Rev John Phi'"ps, and he hoped that every member of the committee and every sub- scriber would support any appeal in that direction. In conclusior he moved that the the report of the committee be adopted. Mr Thomas, Criccieth, seconded, and the motion was agreed to. On the motion of Mr Venmore, a resolu- tion was adopted expresirg the satisfaction of the meeting as the marvellous progress of the educational movemert in Wales, com- mencing with the establshirg of undenomi- national schools, to which a powerful im- petus was given by the passing of the Edu- cation Act in 1870, and culminating in the establishing of the three University Colleges, and last year in the granting cf the Royal Charter to the University of Wales. The Chairman believed that a resclution of the kind wculd be helpful in givirg direo- tion to the Welsh national movement, and j in bringing p: assure to bear upor the autho- rities. The Government did not itself come forward to give effect to the desire of the Welsh people. In every part of Wales he had seen the patric ism of young Welshmen trained at Bangor connection with almost every branch of Welsh education, and he thought that this was a more valuable tes- timony to the character of the work done at the Normal College than the long list of academical distinctions that they had. It was a proof that these young Welshmen while at college were imbued with the spirit of true citizenship. PROPOSED JOHN PHILLIPS' SCHOLARSHIP. Principal Price alluded to the distinctions gained by old students of the College, and made specal mention of Mr Lloyd Williams, at one time schoolmaster at Garn Dolben- maen, who was recently appointed assistant lecturer and demonstrator in botany at the University College of North Wales; also Mr T. E. Jones, headmaster of the pupil teach- ers' centre at Bangor, and Mr Adams, head- master of one of the most successful elemen- tary schools in London. Referring to the late Rev John Phillips, Principal Price ob- served that if they were to let the present opportunity of doing something to perpetu- ate his memory to go by there would not be a possibility afterwards of doing anything. A painting or a statute had been suggested, but he believed they could get sufficient money to establish a scholarship, which might be called the John Phillips' Scholar- t ship (hear, hear). At present there was no scholarship in connection with the College. It was not outside the bounds of possibility to collect t-500, and he suggested that a com- mittee be appointed to take the matter into consideration. Mr David Hughes proposed that a com- mittee be appointed, and promised £50 to- wards such an object (cheers). Dr G. Evans seconded. The Chairman was pleased to understand that a movement having for its object the ( establishing of a scholarship such as was proposed had been initiated at the meeting f as it would have been a stigma upon the College had it been started by anybody out- side. He felt certain that Welshmen in England and Wales connected with educa- tion would respond to an appeal for sub- scriptions for the purpose named. The resolution was unanimously agreed to.

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