Denbighshire Free Press

ST. ASAPH. St. Asaph County School Speech Day. THE TYRANNY OF BOOKS. The St. Asaph County School Prize-day ceremony on Friday afternoon was rendered noteworthy by the spectacle of two well. known men-one a novelist, the other a scientist—engaged in a denunciation of books. They were Mr Stanley J Weyman, of Ruthin, and Professor Boyd Dawkins, of Manchester. The former had been invited to address the boys and the gather- ing of parents and friends, and the latter came as a visitor with Mrs Williams- Y/ynn, of Cefn, and was called upon to speak after Mr. Weyman's address. The chair was, in the unavoidable ubserice of the Bishop of St. Asaph, chairman of the Governors, and of Mr Peter Roberts, the vice-chairman, occupied by Mr P P Pen- nant, whose daughter presented the prizes and certificates. Mr J W Summers, chairman of the Flintshire County Councils also supported the chairman on the plat- form. There was a large attendance present. Letters of apology for absence were received from Mr W G C Gladstone, Mrs Camp- bell, Major and Mrs Birch, Rev. Canon Trevor Owen, Miss C Lewis, Mr 0 M Edwards, Mr and Mrs Charles Williams, Mrs A Heaton, Prof. Henry Jones, of Glasgow University, Mr and Mrs Griffith (Pfas Newydd), Mr Tilby, Mr L J Roberts, Professor Anwyl, and many others. THE HEADMASTER'S REPORT. A SUCCESSFUL YEAR'S WORK. The Headmaster (Mr E Mainer, M.A.) read the following account of the progress of the school daring the past year :—The numbers on the school roll for the terms ending Christmas, 1908; Easter, 1909; July. 1909; Christmas, 1909, have been 42, 3!), 35, and 43. It is thus seen that after Christmas, 1908, we were on the down grade, and I feared that we might com- mence the current year with a less number than that at the commencement of last year. However, this term there has been a record number of entries which has brought our roll-call up to 43—one more than last year, and the greatest for many years (applause). Most of the new boys are about 12 years of age, and have therefore come in early enough to derive full benefit from the education afforded by a Secondary School if they only atop on long enough. It is futile to expect any great or lasting benefit from a career in a Secondary school that is limited to 2 years; it is urgent in the interest of the pupil that he should be encouraged to enter the Secondary School as soon as he is sufficiently advanced to profit from the training and instruction in it, and to stay on to complete the full course of the school. The most noteworthy events of the current term have been the visits of Mr 0 M Edwards, the Chief In- spector of the Welsh Department of the Board of Education, and of three Inspectors of the Central Welsh Board-Mr Owen Owen, the Chief Inspector, and Messrs Hammond Robinan and Longsdon. The two last-named met the Governors and talked over the state of the school. Their detailed report is not to hand, but it is permissable, perhaps, to mention that the Governors were good enough to felicitate me on the general tenour of the Inspector's remarks (applause). During the school year which ended with July we had no candidates working at the Honours Stage of the Cen- tral Welsh Board Scheme. A G Paynter, who had become a stadent-teaoh,er, and who had already gained an Honours Certificate in 1907, devoted the year to a study- of English Literature, and was successful in qualifying for a Pass in English Literature and Essay in the London University Inter- mediate Arts Examination. Paynter is now a student at Reading University College, and is reading for the final Londan B.A. (applause). I bad hoped to send 11 boys for the Central Welsh Board Examinations. but in the course of the year Frank E Howes-Roberts, the load-boy of the VI., left to enter a London Insurance Office, and Alyn W Thomas and Arthur Jones of Form V. left to pursue Drapery and Engineering callings, so that our candidates were limited to three essaying the Senior Certificate Stage, and five essaying the Junior. Of the three senior candidates Featberstone Lewis-Jones proved successful in gaining a senior certificate. He has thereby qualified for exemption from the Preliminary Exam- ination of the Incorporated Law Society, and he purposes in due time to adopt the Legal profession as his calling in life. We were disappointed with the results of the examination for the senior certificate, as in the opinion of the Staff the two candidates who failed to gain certificates were as good in their work as the fortunate recipient of the certificate. One of our unfortunate candidates passed in seven subjects, but came down in the obligatory mathematics, although he averaged 35 per cent in these three subjeots, and the other miased a certificate by a very few marks in French, Although his average was 39 per cent on written work and 57 per cent in converse* tion. The five janior candidates (Donald Price Hudson, aged 14 W E Fowles, aged 16; C R England, aged 16; Russell Ll Lloyd, aged 13, and Robert Williams, aged 14), all gained,. certificates. Hudson ob- tained distinctions in English, Latin, French, Drawing. England was debarred by age from distinction, but obtained the qualifying marks in French and Drawing. Fowlas was in a jimilar case, or be would have gained distinctions in Arithmetic, French, and Drawing. Lloyd narrowly missed distinction in Arithmetio. The reports of the examiners were, I venture to submit, highly creditable. We did better in Languages (English, French, and Latin) than in the other subjects, al- though when regard is had to the questions set, and to the time afforded for each sub- ject by the School Time-table, we may congratulate ourselves on the boys doing so well. The Junior Drawing, perhaps, should be mentioned. All the papers were marked "excellent" with the exception of one, which was marked "good." Chemistry, too, gained greater praise than last year. Oar one pupil teacher, William Stanley Roberts, did not take the Central Welsh Board Examination, but sat for the Pre- liminary Examination for the Elementary Teachers' Certificate of the Board of Edu- cation. He maintained our record at St Asaph of unbroken success in this examina- tion (applause). The staff examined the boys who were not sent in for external examinations and placed Ivor Wynn Griffiths, 1st in Form Vb, Harold Meredith Jones, 1st in Form IV, S E Thomas 1st and G J Durcan 2nd in Form III. In games, Robert Verrin Jones was elected secretary, and John Vaughan Jones cricket captain. The 1909 cricket season was, I think, the most enthusiastic we have had. There was a keen competition for the bat given by Col WytiH of Dolben, and for the ball presonted by Mrs Howard of Wygfair. A G Paynter won the bat and W E Fowles the ball, whilst F 0 Rhodes (vice-captain) was a good seoond. John V Jones made a keen captain, and under his leading the school won 6 and lost 6. In football R V Jones was elected captain, and F Lewis Jones succeeded to the post of secretary. Illness of prominent members of the team and the small size of many of the team have conduced to the ill-success of the team during the current term. Trevor Done, Rhodes and Fowles have been the pick of the team. Before I come to the old boys, I should mention that the school in common with St Asaph and the county mourned the loss of Dr Easterby, who, for upwards of 40 years, was headmaster. By the courtesy of Mr W Dowse Easterby, the boys and the staff were permitted to form part of the funeral cortege. It would be specially appropriate to perpetuate the memory of Dr Easterby in connection with the school by as E&sterby section of the school library, or an annual Easterby prize or leaving scholar- ship. I hope the old boys, who cherish warmly the memory of the Doctor, will do something in this way. Two old boys, who commenced under Dr Easterby and finished their school career under me, have completed their University course with distinction. They are Arthur Gordon Robinson and Robert Percy Jones. Gordon Robinson entered Birmingham University direct from this sahool and, after a highly creditable course without break, obtained this July a 1st division in the B.Sc. (Civil Engineering). Percy Jones persued the course qualifying for the profession of Veterinary Surgeon at Glasgow and Liverpool University Colleges. He had an uninterrupted course and qualified at the minimum age. In the 3rd year course he secured the Medal in Compara- tive Pathology, Morbid Anatomy and Bacteriology. The Government of Cape Colony have engaged his services, and he commences life with a total stipend which exceeds that of any Head Master of a County School in our neighbourhood. Edward Hesketh Roberts is pursuing his medical career at University College, London, and is fulfilling his bright promise at school. Henry Jones Williams is a schoolmaster in New Zealand. Ernest Llewelyn Lloyd is justifying the Entrance Scholorship at Alderham that he gained from this school a year ago. William Kenrick Tilly Carse, after a short course at CheJsea Polytechnic, has entered the engineering works of Messrs Crompton of Chelmsford. I think, ladies and gentlemen, that the school is justified by its present and past pupils. There have been no changes in the staff, no member of the staff has spared himself in the efficient discharge of his duties, and I can but repeat what I have reiteraled on four occasions that the St Asaph County School seeks to maintain an efficient staff and, thereby, to do worthy service to the Principality and County at large. Oars is a small school, not every boy can excel in scholarship, but here we endeavour to draw out to the fall the latent ability in a pupil and this we can hope to do to a greater extent than is possible in larger schools. PRIZE AND CERTIFICATE LIST. Miss Pennant then distributed the prizes as follows :F Lewis Jones, Senior Certifi- cate of the Central Welsh Board in six subjeots, and French prize; II PArliament. Past and Present." Donald Pryoe Hudson, Junier Certificate of -the Central Welsh Board in 11 subjeots, with distinction in English Language, Latin, Frenoh, with Conversational Power, and Drawing. Latin and Languages prize and Art prize Beautiful Wales," and A Short History of Art." William Edward Fowles, Junior Certificate of the Central Welsh Board in 10 subjeots, including French (with Con- versation Power). Literature and History prize: "The Struggle fcr American Inde- pendence (Fisher). Cyril Rees England, Junior Certificate of the Central Welsh Board in 10 subjects, including French (with Conversational Power). Certificate prize: Nearest the Pole (Peary). Russell Llewelyn Mandeville Lloyd, Junior Certificate of the Central Welsh Board in 9 subjects. Mathematics prize Hindu- stan (Keene). Robert Williams, Junior Certificate of the Central Welsh Board in 7 subjects, including French (with Conversa- tional Power). Certificate prize: "David Copperfield." Midsummer prize:—J W Griffiths, Form V. b, Oar Favourite Song Birds." Form III.-Ist, S E Thomas, 41 With Frederick the Great;" 2nd, G J Darcan, "Steven- sonism." Christmas Prizes.—The following boys were awarded the Christmas Prizes Form VI. a, P Verner Jones. Form VI. b, Russell LI M Lloyd. Form V., Frederick Howell Harries. Form IV., S E Thomas. Form III., F G Soper. Second equal, Harold Lyne and G H Fowles. MR STANLEY WEYMAN. Mr Weyman said he would offer the smallest boy present two points for conso- lation. Time had its revenges, and while that boy was now looking forward to fifteen minutes' patient suffering he would no doubt some day stand on that platform and have the pleasure of making others endure (laughter). Secondly, civilisation did march, and the platform in these days was less cruel than it used to be. When he was a boy he remembered hearing a speech of about forty minutes duration upon the essays of Maoaulay (laughter). He could promise the youngest boy that he would be more merciful (laughter). In thinking over what he had to say to them, he con- cluded that perhaps a paradox would be the most taking subject. He therefore proposed to say a few words upon the dis- advantages which attended books. Books were the crutches of the minds, and if we depended too much upon them we were apt to find that certain faculties would be attenuated and weakened. Probably of our waking hours a large proportion was speit with our eyes upon books-or, in the case of some of them, upon manuscripts. Many saw a book as the last thing when they olosed their eyes at night, and a book was probably the first thing they saw when they opened their eyes in the morning. If one were alone in a room one would resort to the most insiduous form of idle- ness by picking up a book or a newspaper. The first Lord Lytton, in an admirable novel which was much in vogue when he (Mr Weyman) was a boy, callod 11 The Augustines," said that a boy, if he were going into a learned profession, had to reach it along a lane of books—books to left of him, books to right of him, books in front of him, over which he bad to sorambJe to get into it. Very likely the youngest boy was thinking that he was at the begin- ninga most admirable movement for the abolition of bocks in school (laughter), but if he were not too much shocked the head- master would say, Books are the treasury of wisdom; the accumulated bequests of our forefathers entailed upon as." Quite true. But it was not the highest life, nor was it the best life, to live upon our means I (applause). We must avail ourselves of books, but we must make also the most of life. To add to the stock of wisdom, we needed, besides the accumulation of our forefathers, to use the two qualities of observation and thought, and in many cases over-reliance upon books weakened the power both of observation and of thought. The other day a writer, in speaking of poetry, said that the printing press had really put an end to poetical form, the reason for which was that it might be committed to memory, which the multiplication of books rendered unneces- sary. In the same way the multiplication of books weakened the power of observation, which was particularly strong in youth, and of thought, which was perhaps the hardest labour of our maturer years (applause). He would instance those things which had been done in the world by observation and thought without the aid of books. It was traditionally stated that Watt discovered the power of steam. If we bad been going to have our tea we should probably have taken up a book or newspaper while we waited for the kettle to boil. But he had his eyes on the kettle, and so discovered steam. Sir Isaac Newton, had he been reading in his garden, would probably not have observed the apple fall, and so dis- covered the law of gravitation. Gibbon was not reading Creaar or Tacitus when he made up his mind to write the greatest of modern histories, but while his eye was dwelling upon the great ruins of the Pala- tine. To sum up," said Mr Weyman, I do not say don't read-I say read widely, but do not read idly, and I say also bring to your reading, or you will not get much benefit from it, the result of your observa- tion and your thought. la that way I ,i think it may be possible for even the youngest of us here to-day by observation and thought to add a little, if it be but as a grain of sand by the side of the ocean, to the sum of human wisdom (applause.)' I PROFESSOR BOYD DAWKINS. Professor Boyd Dawkins said he abso- lutely accepted all that Mr Stanley Wey- man had stated as to our suffering from too many books. We really needed to spend more time in personal observation and critisisno, and should pay more attention to objects than to books. By paying too much attention to books we had no time to look at outside nature. As for himself, he had learnt far more from things than from books, and the bookish man lost a great deal from not studying the objects which surrounded him. In sohools the study of nuture was very much neglected, and one of the results of too muoh attention to books was that the natural curiosity which was present in all young children before they went to school—leading them to ask inconvenient questions which sometimes their elders were unablo to answer-was really killed. The real original minds who came to the front in after life were those that had been sufficiently robust t3 main- tain that insatiable curiosity (to quote Rudyard Kipling) in spite of that environ- ment of books by which they had been hampered to a large extent in their observa- tion of outside things (applause). Of course one could not possibly read all books. It one tried one would be merely like the worm which bored right through the book and was a worm at the end (laughter). He would take up some subject or thought about which he flattered himself he knew something, and then he would take up some book bearing upon that thought. He would not read the whole book through. No man would read a dictionary through-it he did he would be a silly—(laughter). He would got out of that book what he wanted and he would take another book, and so on. If they adopted that method, and if they went on accumulating knowledge from books and outside things, round that centre they would find that the knowledge which they wuold get would become part and parcel of themselves, and would allow their mental store to increase and they would become well informed and oompartively highly educated men (applause). Expressing his approval of the share of which cricket, football, and sports generally had in that school, Professor Boyd Dawkins said he believed they exercised an enormous influ- ence. When the ancestors of men who ran on foor legs became two-legged and had their hands available for grasping and measuring they began the process by which the hand had been acting on the brain ever since, and if the brain might be said largely to increase the efficacy of the band he might also say that the band had had a great deal to do with moulding and developing the present condition of the brain. One of the greatest blots upon the art of the architect of modern days was that it divorced brain work from handiwork, and he took it that the game in which the hand was employed as well as the other organs of the body had a very important work in acting as a kind of gymnasium for the mind (applause). Mr J W Summers in proposing a vote of thanks to Miss Pennant, Mr Stanley Weyman, and Professor Boyd Dawkins, said that when Mr Mainer wrote asking him to attend that Speech Day he hinted that the St Asaph School was rather neglected by the County Education Com- mittee, but when they had such excellent governors looking after its destinies he did not think that Mr Mainer should be des- pondent (hear, hear). They could rest assured that Mr Pennant would always see that there was fairness shown towards the school, which he wished all success. He Mas delighted to hear what Mr Stanley Weyman had said, but he hoped that gentleman in his remarks concerning books did not intend to cease giving them those oharming novels which had made his name famous and afforded so much pleasure to them (hear, hear). Mr Cleaver seconded, and said that he was able to say on behalf of the governors that they very muoh appreciated the work of Mr Mainer and his staff, and he asked permission to include them in the vote of thanks. Tho vote of thanks having been carried, The Rev. T W Vaughan proposed a vote of thanks to the chairman, and remarked that a meeting in that district without Mr Pennant would be an unusual occurence. Mr W G Jones seconded, and said he wished to take that opportunity of publicly thanking Mr Pennant for all he had done for the school (applause). They had at one time been almost on the verge of bank- ruptcy, but Mr Pennant, with the help of Mr Peter Roberts, came forward and brought them safely through a financial crisis (applause). All connected with the school would never forget his kindness and work.—The vote was carried with applause. Miss Pennant said it had been to her a very pleasant afternoon. Those who had not won prizes should not be discouraged. No matter in what branch of life they worked, if they did their best, they had the satisfaction of knowing that they had done their duty, and in the course of time prizes would come to them, although they might not be those they expected or had worked for (applause). The proceedings closed with the singing of the National Anthem.