Rhondda Leader Maesteg Garw and Ogmore Telegraph

Headmaster's Report. The Headmaster (Mr. J. S. Grant, M.A.) presented the following report. For many years very few subjects have caused si-eater contention than the edu- cational problem. It is a problem which has been freely discussed by the expert and novice—a problem on which the most ignorant does not shrink from giving his opinion. The progress of other countries, the deterioration of the British race, mental and physical decay of old England, Ger- man advance in Technical Education, English stagnation, incompetent clerks- all the fault of our school system. But in spite of all this talk, our Autho- rity, fortunately, has not hampered the efforts of those who are responsible for the training of the young. They have provided excellent buildings and equipped them in a most liberal fashion, to enable the children of the masses to be thoroughly trained to contend with the battle of life with its ever-increasing trials and diffi- culties. It was my privilege five years ago to be allowed to organise a. school in Porth of a different type from anything which had ever before been attempted, and I assure you it was no small privilege and an honour which I much appreciate. Although the task has been arduous and difficult, the pleasure of having the oppor- tunity of carrying into effect one's own idylls more than compensates for the trouble and anxiety of the undertaking. Had I made known the scheme which had been formulated in my own mind, there are many who would have pronounced it an utter imnossibilitv. I mav sav that it was my desire to draw up a scheme which would enable the children of the working class in this district not only to have a training in what is best in a good Secondary School, with practical training for boys and girls, but that it should have distinctive Welsh characteristics—con- tinuous training in the Welsh language, fostering of patriotism by Welsh songs and decoration of walls with Welsh scenery and portraits of eminent Welsh- men. No one would for a moment say that the education of an Englishman had been retarded by the acquisition of an addi- tional language. So hr a continuous in- struction in Welsh, the pupil does not become less loyal, but has the advantage of mental training in perfecting himself in his own language—a language free from the taint of impure literature. Further, it is necessary to bear in mind in aiming at a complete education to draw up a scheme which would at the same time develop the body, mind and soul. As no other school of a similar kind had previously existed in Wales, one had naturally to fall back on secondary ex- perience, and also endeavour to meet the needs of the district with a, suitable curriculum. Already the school has been visited by members of Education 'Com- mittees from Ehglish counties, and pros- pective headmasters of similar schools in different parts of the country. Now in education one must hasten slowly, and those who were unacquainted with secon- tary education and ignorant of the type of school which had been planned out, predicting shoddy education and shunt- ing ground for workmen's children," must now feel convinced that the success of Higher Elementary Schools has not only belied their predictionsTTut justified the action of the Authorities in their estab- lishment. Those were the prophecies before their opening. What are the opinions after the pupils have gone through their course? Why, the latest complaint is, that we are doing the same curriculum and drawing pupils from the. same class as the County Schools." One would hardly expect to-day to hear of anyone in Wales asking for a monopoly in education and advocating class dis- tinction, I am pleased to say that there is already a good tone in the school, and discipline is maintained with ease and without resorting to harsh measures. Every effort has been made to instil the pupils with habits of industry and punctuality, self-reliance and right con- duct, which should cling to them in every walk of life. For all this, I am much indebted to willing and loyal colleagues who have ungrudgingly given their ser- vices both in ,and out of school—an ex- cellent staff of teachers of whom any headmaster would be proud. A four years' course has been drawn up—the curriculum embracing Welsh, Latin, French, English, science and mathematics, leading up to the Matriculation standard. Whilst ample provision has been made for practical work in physics and chemis try—the school having been admirably equipped with physical and chemical laboratories which are unexcelled by any school in Wales. Practical training is given to girls in needlework and cookery, whilst the boys receive manual instruc- tion in woodwork. Every facility is thus given to enable the pupils to work with their own hands and gain their know- ledge by ordinary experimental methods. Examinations do not necessarily give a proper estimate of the success of a school, but they form a factor which cannot be. dispensed with. The results of the school in this direction, however^ have, I think you will agree, fully justified its exist- ence. During the last five years 72 pupils have passed the Pupil Teachers' Entrance Examination. 128 have obtained the Board of Education Certificate, 200 the College of Preceptors with many dis- tinctions. ivhilst 10 have passed the London or Welsh Matriculation. One has passed the Inter. B.Se. of London and Wales, another the Welsh Inter. B.Sc., and' two the Welsh Inter. B.A. Two Glamorgan County Council Scholar- ships of the annual value of £ 40 with free tuition at Cardiff University College, and one Lloyd Scholarship of £30 at Christ College, Brecon, have been won direct from the school. t Thus three pupils are at present holding scholarships of the total annual value of £ 110, with free tuition. At the Royal National Eistedd- fod in Rhyl, a clalSs from this school won the Lady Mostyn Shield and a gold medal. Whilst the results of last year are equally gratifying—;42 obtained College of Preceptors' Certificates, and four passed the Welsh Matriculation, three being placed in the First Division. Further, the physical side of school life has not been neglected, for nothing is more important than the care of the body, and the old Latin saying still holds good, Mens sana in corpofe sano "—a sound mind i.ii a healthy body. With this end in view, games < have been organised— hockey for girls and football for boys— and both teams have given a good account of themselves in their matches with other schools. Neither has- the social life been over- looked, and re-unions of past and present pupils are annually held. You will see that every effort has been made to carry into effect the aim of the school, that is, to give a liberal education without resorting to cramming, for the mere power of the acquisition of know- ledge is insufficient, whilst true education should aim at the forming of character and giving the pupil power to grapple, with difficulties and fit him to perform the various duties of life. The masses of this Valley can therefore rest assured that our Education Commit- I tee has done its best for the children of the working man by providing excellent buildings and a course of education very far removed from shoddy." I am deeply grateful to the Education Committee and their Director for invaluable assistance and encouragement in making the school a real success. There are many pro- mising pupils in the school, and many who have left us who will some day make their mark in the world and amply repay the noble sacrifices which their parents are making for them. To those parents who are disappointed with the progress of the children and would fain find fault with the teachers, I would say that you can lead a horse to the water, but you cannot make him drink. We may lead our pupils to the refreshing streams of knowledge, but they only sip and turn away. Lastly, it is my earnest desire that in years to come, when those boys and girls have grown up into manhood and woman- hood and have been scattered throughout the length and breadth of the Iand,athev should look back with love and pride to their old school, and say that it was there we caught the first spark of love for our native land with its ancient moun- tains and lovely dales, it was there we were inspired with enthusiasm for our noble language, its music and song, but above all, it was there we were taught to always aim at what is honourable and true, and never to forget the old Welsh proverb, Heb Dduw heb ddim, Duw a digon." A hearty vote of thanks to Mrs. Nicholas was proposed by the Rev. R. E. Salmon (Porth) in a very pleasing and witty speech. This was seconded by the Rev. J. Eäwards (Salem). Mrs. Nicholas, in responding, said that it had afforded her very great pleasure to distribute the prizes and certificates and to identify herself with the excellent work which Mr. Grant and his staff were accomplishing. She regretted very much that hcr_ husband had, through Council business in London, been prevented from attending, as it would have given him much satisfaction to have heard the head- master's report and to have witnessed the proceedings in this crowded church. Mrs. Nicholas also referred to their work as an Education Committee, and said it was their desire to give the fullest facilities possible for the educational advancement of the Rhondda children. County Councillor W. Evans proposed in a happy vein a vote of thanks to the chairman. He said it had been a plea- sure to listen to the vicar, who was an ornament of the ancient institution which he represented. Dr. Cbalke, M.A., seconded, and re- ferred to the viear's popularity in the town because of his willingness to help in any good work at all times.

Cost of Education in the Rhondda. The Education Estimate for the Rhon- dda Urabn District Council Education Committee for the half-year ending Sep- tember, 1910, was presented at a special meeting of the Education Committee held on Friday, the 8th inst., Dr. W. E. Thomas in the chair. From the estimate it appears that there will be required a sum of L62,951 14s. Id. to meet the expenditure for the period named, and for this purpose as well as for the provision of a working balance it will be necessary to issue a precept for £ 26,000. The expenditure has gone up on the whole by a sum of CS,000, when compared with the estimate for the corresponding period last year. The Director explained that this was due to several causes, and he named the follow- ing:— (1) On teachers' salaries the increase was £ 3,300, which he attributed to The application of the new Circular 709 of the Board of Education, which requires a larger percentage of certifi- I I cated teachers in the schools, and which further reduces the teaching value of all the teachensl, which means a reduc- tion in the size of the classes. It is due to the growth of the dis- trict, as there are 1,300' children in the schools more than were this' period last year, and it costs to educate the chil- dren about t3 5s. per head, i.e., the increase from this cause alone means over t4,000 per annum (in round num- bers about £ 2,000 for the half-year), and as the Director pointed out, the increase will continue so long as the ratepayers provide him with this con- stant increase of children. The other unusual items included £ 1,728 for a school approach by means of a bridge at Ynyswen, £ 780 for private street works, and t4,000 for alterations to buildings other than out of loans, as compared with C241 in the corresponding period of last year. Another item which has increased is that of repairs to buildings and paint- ing of schools, which swallows £1,950, as compared with tl,OC,O last year. As all the expenditure is estimated at a very careful rate, the increase is only normal, having regard to the rapid growth of the district and to the con- stant demand for new schools and the enlargement of existing schools. The Committee went into every item very carefully, and were satisfied that the estimate was made in accordance with the needs of the district with due regard to economy. On the income side there is a steady growth in the estimated receipts, tlie total increase being £ 6,000, and this is due to the higher amounts received from grants, i.e., annual grant, secondary school grant, aid grant, and special grant. This estimate, involving as it does such a sum as -277,059 (including the working balance), only shows what a huge under- taking the Rhondda Education Commit- tee have to contend with. Rhondda is one of the most rapid developing dis- tricts in the country, and the constantly increasing requirements of the Board of Education, the ever-increasing child population, and the progress of educa- tion, make demands on the Committee, and through them on the ratepayers, which were never dream of ten years ago. The expenditure, however, is all for the benefit of the children of the dis- trict who are its future citizens.

Pentre. A complimentary benefit concert to Mr. F. T. Studd (late manager of Olympia Skating Rink) was held at the Drill Hall on Thursday evening last. The popularity of Mr. Studd was demonstrated by the good attendance, of supporters, and by the splendid array upon the plat- form. The artistes were —Soprano, Miss Minnie Howell; contralto, Miss Hilda Ryan (who deputised her cousin. Miss Jennie Ryan); humorous entertainer "and raconteur, Mr. Jacque Thomas (well known in the Valley as a humorist); tenors, Messrs. Joe and Uri Jones; bari- tone, Mr. W. Davies, Treherbert; come- dians, Messrs. Percy Burge, Hooper and Share, and Geo. Williams; juggler, Mr. J. B. Curie; accompanist, Mr. F. J. Studd. The Ton Music Lovers rendered several selections, Miss Maude Clement being accompanist. Mr. Studd also gave an exhibition of his ventrilouial powers and of magical sketches, which received very warm approval.

MODERN FURNITURE! H j THE || No fancy, gilt-edged flj kind -the eld • fashioned, Prices H kind that LASTS, and Q| ^|| agjp" —but Manufacturers' 8 looks well all the time Prices—Factory Prices —the kind that's made ffJJ I | JJJ 8LB J HI I |LJ Prices which save for wear and comfort, w «m I ¥ I ■ ■ 8 1^8 you the 4 middleman's j, — profits. Also a unioue ana use—as well as for CO., scheme of Easv Pav- ornament. No finer or m better Stock is to be Taff Street, POlltypridd. "f8" » help to iurnishms — seen in the Provinces jugt paying a trifling than the magnificent ALSO AT sum weekly or monthly exhibition now on view Church Street, ABERTILLERY. J and having the home 1 B at the R.F.O.'s well- High Street, BARGOED. furnished STRAIGHT (appointed Showrooms. __— A IV, A Y. This is a Cill and inenwf r most popular scheme, v^an ana inspect — HEADQUARTERS mn n a v Terms to suit INDIVID- 42, City Road, Cardiff. ual purchasers. g CATALOGUES FREE. I

Ex-Soldier's Thefts T.Y.R. Servant Sent to Prison. At Ystrad Police Court on Monday, Stephen Davies, Trealaw, ex-Army man and T.V.R. goods checker, was brought up on remand charged with stealing cutlery and electro-plated goods to the value of £ (j 18s. 3d., the property of the Taff Vale Railway Company. Mr. Cyril Brown (Messrs. Ingledew and Sons, Car- diff) prosecuted for the Company. Joseph Lockwood, Margaret Street, Sheffield, packer in the employ of Messrs. W. W. Harrison and Co., Ltd., cutlery manufacturers, said that on the 22nd March he packed and sent two cises, of cutlery containing six boxes of household sets of cutlery, 12 boxes of nickel silver teaspoons and tongs. 3 cases of teaspoons and tongs, a number of electro-plated spoons and forks, steel dessert spoons and knives, made by Harrison and Co., to Mr. A. Fulirer, jeweller, Treorcliy. Books were produced proving the entry and consignment of goods to the Midland Railway. ffm. Rd. Thomas, goods checker at Merthyr T.Y.R. Goods Station, said he received the invoice for two cases of electro plated goods and cutlery for Mr. Fuhrer, Treorchy. He checked the goods and found them in good condition, and they were put on wagon No. 4651, pro- perly sheeted, bound for Treorchy. Thomas Edwards, goods checker at Tre- orchy Goods Station (T.V.R.), said that on the 27th March lie received the invoice for the electro-plated goods, which arrived on wegon 4651, consigned from Sheffield to Mr. Fuhrer. Thev were not delivered owing to the Easter holidays. On the 29th March, the contents of the boxes were scattered about the wagon. He re- packed them, and they were delivered to Mr. Fuhrer, after having drawn the fore- man's attention to what had taken place. Adolpb Fuhrer, jeweller, Treorcliy,. said that he received the invoice for two cases of, cutlery, &c.. from Messrs. Harrison and Co., Sheffield. On March 29th he received the goods, and found, that 367 articles were missing. Ebenezer Wallace Hodges, cloak-room attendant at Queen Street Station, Car- diff, said that on March- 31st, about 11 p.m., a young man came to him with a soldier's kit-bag full of articles, and said he wanted to leave it at the cloak-room, which he did. On the 11th April, the bag, which had not been fetched, was opened by the stationmaster in the pre- sence of P.S. Harris, Treorcliy. John Bolton, general dealer, 68, Milli- cent Street. Cardiff, said that on the 1st of April the prisoner came to him and asked him to buy some cutlery. Wit- ness suspected him, but while the pri- soner was in his shon the police came. in and took the prisoner and cutlery away. Albert James Donovan, d puty manager of the Workmen's Home, Cardiff, said that on the 1st April prisoner came to him and asked him to keep a. parcel safe. Later, Inspector Edwards (T.V.R.) came to the Home, and the parcel was opened in his presence. Inspector David Edwards, detective in the employ of the Taff Vale Railway Com- pany, said that on April 11th he called at the Workmen's Home, and found some of the missing cutlery in a parcel; 294 articles had been recovered, and 73 were, missing, the total value being P-6 18s. 3d., the property of the Taff Vale Railway Company. P.S. Harris gave evidence of arrest. Prisoner pleaded guilty, and was sen- tenced to four months' hard labour.

w^rm Y Wise Cook^ does not buy flour and baking powder ready mixed, but always adds her baking powder to the ffour at baking time to ensure the mixture being perfectly fresh and the baking powder she uses is always MENK Amk MM 5 W-M n a r BORWICKS j I That is why k her Cakes and Pastry r.re A so light, digestible L and appetizing. a (.. "< .f -o. Bread will not he Taxed! Nor will the price of Golden Fleece Margarine be affected by any change of Government. You will ALWAYS I be able to buy it at 1/- per lb. WITH THIS OVERWEIGHT GIVEN AWAY: t | pound with every pound. | pound with every pound. ALTHOUGH IT IS Just like Best Butter." A Saving of 6d. in every 1/- spent on your Butter Bill. 124 Griffiths and Thomas, Shop-fittkrs, For FRONTS ENCLOSURES, CASES and SIGNS. Estimates Free Nat. Telephone, 2247, Tunnel, Queen Street, CARDIFF j (Opposite St. John's Schools). Gnosvenon Restaurant, Penarth (Two minutes' walk from Station), Mr. 0. G. J. WILLIAMS, Proprietor, will be pleased to see old friends as well as new during the season. School parties, picnics etc., specially catered for. Good Beds, charges strictly moderate. Price list on application' LARGE DINING HALL JUST ADDED, capable of seating 300 to 400 persons- 200