The Welsh Coast Pioneer and Review for North Cambria

New Higher Grade School at Colwyn Bay. Opening Ceremony. Speeches by the Bishop of St. Asaph and Mr J. Herbert Roberts, M.P. [BY OUR OWN REPORTER.] ON Monday the formal opening ceremony in connection with the new Colwyn Hay Higher Grade School was held, and a large and distin- guished company assembled to witness the inter- esting event. Mrs J. Herbert Roberts, the wife of the popu- lar member for West Denbighshire, had kindly consented to open the school doors, and Mr Herbert Roberts, the Bishop of St. Asaph, and other notable speakers were expected.

The lu,.clt.,n. Previous to the formal opening, Mr J. Herbert Roberts entertaineda large company to luncheon at the Hotel Metropole. The luncheon was served in sumptuous style, and reflected great credit upon the catering, which was superintended by Miss Collyer, the capable manageress. Mr J. Herbert Roberts sat at the. head of the table, and was supported on his right by Mr D. O. Williams, the chairman of the School Board, and on his left by Mr George Bevan, the chair- man of the Urban District Council. The ladies present were Mrs J. Herbert Roberts and Miss Isobel Mason, the headmis- tress of the school. The clergy were represented by the Rev Canon Roberts, vicar of Colwyn Bay; the Revs f. H. Hope, T. M. Jones, Thomas Lloyd, Dr Cousins, John Edwards, R. Roberts, Peter Jones-, and Thos. Davies. The magistrates were the Rev Thomas Parry and Mr T. G. Osborn. The members of the School Board present were the cha rman, Messrs Robert Evans, Hugh Owen, and Edwin Davies, together with the clerk (Mr F. J. Holmes). The Urban D.strict Council was represented by the chairman, and Councillors H. Davies (vice-chairman), Dr Brooks, R. E. Williams, J. Williams, H. Huglhes, J. Dicken, Thos. Roberts, J. Berth Jones, and' the clerk (Mr josepii H. Roberts). Other representative townsmen present were Mr Wm. Jones, N. and S. W. Bank; Mr R. Hughes Jones, Metropolitan Bank (the treasurer to the Council), Mr James, Amphlett, and Mr Francis Nunn. 'Mr Edward Roberts, H.M. Inspector f Schools, also attended, accompaniedi by the ,ocal staff: Mr Edwin Griffiths, headmaster; Mr S. Glynn-Jones, science master; and Mr Foulkes, mathematical master. Before the commencement of the luncheon, Mr Herbert Roberts said that it would be but fitting for him to express on his own behalf, as well as on theirs, their deep sense of sorrow at the shadow which had fallen upon that house. They would have preferred not to have inflicted themselves there on that day, but de trusted there would be nothing about the luncneon which would be out of harmony with the cir- cumstances. He hoped that the representatives of the family present would convey to them the deep feel ng of sympathy of the gathering. During the luncheon, the Bishop of St. Asaph arrived, and took a seat between Mr Herbert Roberts and the chairman of the School Board. At the conclusion of the luncheon, Mr J. xier- bert Roberts proposed the loyal toast of ine King and Queen," and this was duly honoured. At the Scb o!. The gathering then left the Metropole Hotel, and proceeded to the new Higher Grade School. The buildings include a large Assembly Hall, C, 11 a lecture room, chemical laboratory, manual instruction room, and cookery class room. The site comprises two acres, so that there are ample playgrounds, for boys and girls. The contract was carried out by Mr R. Evans, junr., Colwyn, at a cost of £8,000, inclusive of land, from designs by Messrs Booth, Chadwick, and Porter. At the school a large number of townspeople had assembled, and the school was gaiiy deco- rated with banners and mottoes. Mr Chadwick, representing the architects, Messrs Booth, Chadwick, and Pfjrter, handed Mrs J. Herbert Roberts a presentation key, which was solid s.lver gilt, the head of the key bearing a copy of the seal of the School Board on one side, and on the reverse the follow- ing inscription:—"Presented to Mrs Herbert Roberts on the occasion of the opening of the new Higher Grade School, 12th January, igo, The meeting was then, held in the Central Hall of the school, and the spacious room was soon filled to overflow ng. On the platform sat Mr D. O. Williams, the chairman of the School Board, supported by Mr J. Herbert Roberts, M.P., and Mrs Roberts, the Bishop of St. Asaph, Canon Roberts, and other prominent local gentlemen. Letters of Afo!«gy. Mr F. S. Holmes, the clerk to the School Board, read uie following letters of apology for non-attendance The vicar of Old Colwyn (Rev John Griffiths, M.A.,) wrote: "Dear Mr Holmes.—I am sorry I cannot be with you to-morrow to second a vote of thanks to the speakers in accordance with your request of this morning, as I am still con- fined to my bed. I hope all will go off well.- Yours very truly, E. JOHN GRIFFITHS." The vicar of Brynymaen (Rev Meredith J. Hughes,), wrote: "I exceedingly regret that I am prevented from attending the formal opening of the New Higher Grade School on Monday next. It would have given me very sincere pleasure to join with my colleagues on the Board in extending a cor- dial welcome to the distinguished visitors who are kind enough to grace the proceed'ngs' with their presence. In opening a new school at Hanwell, in November last, Lord Reay (cha'r- man of the London School Board), remarked that it had been said that England was far be- hind Germany and other ccunt-rie-, in the matter of education. He, however, had it on the author'ty of a Japanese official, who was investi- gating the systems of education in vogue in the chief centres of the world, on behalf of his Government, that England's system of education and the buildings in which it was given were not behind but in advance of Germany and other countries. This surely is very high testimony from a disinterested source. And in common with my fellow members on the Board, I hope that the new buildings which are to be opened ¡ on Monday next may be considered sufficiently exrcellent to further confirm this high opinion. In any case, we can honestly say that the new school embodies our very best in thought and effort, and not only that, but also the ripe ex- perience and valuable advice of one who is no 10lnger with us, the late respected Mr John Roberts, Fern Bank. And now, to ensure its success, it remains for parents in the district to appreciate the immeasurable advantages of the solid education which it offers to their children, MEREDITH J. JONES." Mr W. Jones, M.P. for the Arvon Division, writing from Llangefni, Anglesea, said "Deaj sir,—M'uch as I would like to come to the open- ing ceremony in connection Wk. the new Highei Grade School, Colwyn Bay, I regret to say that I must reluctantly keep away for a while yet from all publ c ceremonies and meetings. Naturally I am deeply interested in the thoroughly efficient system of education, and cordially wish the best success to the new school. —Yours faithfully, WILLIAM JONES." Mr J. Watkin Lumley, J.P., of Tan-y-Goppa, Queen's-avenue, Colwyn Bay,wrote "Dear sir, —I am in receipt, of your invitation of the 12th inst., to the opening of the new Higher Grade School buildings. It would have given me very great pleasure to be present, but I regret to say that I am obliged to attend a County Council committee at Denbigh the same day, which will prevent me being with you. I heartily wisn the school every success, but I never could under- stand why Colwyn Bay refused an intermediate school and was left unprovided with funds for secondary education. Someone must have been very short-sighted'—(laughter),—but The estab- lishing of the Higher Grade School is undoubted- ly a step in the right direction. J. WATKIN LUMLEY. A letter was also received from Mr A. G. Legard, H.M. Chief Inspector of Schools of Wales, and a telegram from the Rev O. J. Davies, vicar of Prestatyn, a former member of the School Board. Spe ch &, of St Asapli. The BISHOP OF S i. ASAPH, who was cord- ially received, said they had heard a great deal lately about education. He would have to avoid touching on, any controversial points there. But they knew that their way in this country was to oppose a measure if they did not approve of it, before it was passed, but when it became law, to all join together and make the best of it. The new Education Act had been passed, and they all ought to get as much benefit out of it as they could, for the sake of their chil- dren. The first thought which struck him was what an evidence a building of this kind was of the vast progress made by education ll1 Wales during the last twenty-eight years. At that time there were no Welsh. Universities, no State colleges, no intermediate schools. And he was bound to say that the equipment and Lie, gen. e,ral arrangements of their elementary schools at that date left an immense amount of room for improvement. There, had been in this country, especially in Wales, a vast progress, as regards education, during the last 28 years. (Applause.) He thought it was most important of all to notice in that educational progress not merely that they had bettered and developed the edu- cational system, but, what was more important, they had enlisted and quickened tne popular interest in education. Hardly a man or woman in this country, or in Wales, who prided him- self or herself on being patriotic, did not feel a keen and lively interest in education. When they once had the hearts of the people in a cause, that cause was sure to prosper. (Ap- plause.) A .1'io»5:entous Change. He had heard that there was one of H.M. in- spectors of schools present. He was glad he was there. Any slips which an untechnieal per- son might make on this question, he would be able to perfect for me. He did not know whether they all realised what a momentous 'change had taken place in their elementary schools during these last few years. 1 hey had gone from the system of payment by results to what is known as the block grant system. The annual examinations were done away with, and now they 'had' a grant obtained on the average attendance of children at schools. This was a change which it was very difficult now to over- estimate the importance of. First of all, with regard to the old system of examinations. They all knew the old story about the French states- man who was able to put his hand on the clock, at certain hours, and say, "I know that at this moment every child throughout France is learn- ing the multiplication table." There was no doubt that a syllabus and annual examinations gave a certain rigidity to the system of educa. -a, tion. They did not get elasticity and so forth. And, moreover, he was not quite prepared to say that examinations were infallible tests either of the proficiency of the teachers or of the children. To take a very notable ex-ample, if an illustra- tion was wanted of the efficiency of examina- tions in this country, he could point to the class lists at Oxford and Cambridge. J. iley knew that one of the greatest minds of the last century, Cardinal Newman, 'had his name in the third classi list. He did not think that his friends ever thought it necessary to labour the point as to his position there, but rather sug- gested an enquiry as to whether the class1 lists were so infalfible. Therefore, he was not him- self, he might venture to say, tempted to over- estimate the value of examinations. He con- fessed he thought that twenty years' .clOre they had gone closely over the question of ex- aminations. The schoolmaster then lived under a burden of examinations,, preparing for this and that test. And now the pendulum had swung- quite around. They had gone in for the block grant system. What were the advantages? l"hey had greater elasticity and originality, and greater freedom for development in the child. In other words, they cultivated intellectuality. The American System. j There was something to be said for that. The Bishop, in referring next to the American system of education, said they were told that the American child was taught early to express its opinion upon everytning and everybody. That was very well, as far as it went, but it had its shadowy side. He was not sure that this pre- cocious development of the child was quite as valuable as it looked, on the face of if. A most remarkable statement occurred in one of the Blue Books, where an English Vice-Consul re- ported on the state of education in the large manufacturing town of Chicago, xue average age of the workman there was given as 32. That meant that a man at 45 years of age was so worked out, in sight and accuracy, that the em- ployer said he could not get more than ninety per cent, out of that machine, and the man was dismissed. That was not a very desirable re- suit to achieve by this over-forcing process. And, therefore, thay had to be on L.eir guard, and accept American models of education with m-- u =- the I caution. He wanted to point out clearly advantages of the old educational system a^g the present system of block grants. One 01 most experienced inspector of schools, I Dupont, in his reports said that the change J the block grant system had a most demoralis e effect upon the teachers. In criticis.ng the n system adversely, he said the teachers too much for the children. That was one the dangers they had to guard1 against. He read over very carefully before coming there reports of the various inspectors, especially ± Legard's, and this fact was borne out again again. The block system certainly ten ed to produce in the child greater lack of accuracy, especiau in spelling and arithmetic. That would 9ee to point to the more or less intellectual a^va^Ct0 ment at the expense of accuracy. If he had. ( sum up the two systems, he would say | neither was wholly good and neither wi10 bad. Bearing reins were cruel for a horse, but that was no reason why tW should do without any reins at all. He combine the freedom of the block system wi- the old. examination system, and that was te& 1 what the educational system was> wrorking UP at the present moment. i Bilingual Education. j Discussing next what he described as three aspects of the school curriculum' national, the town, and the rural—his lordsnjP introduced the subject of bilingual ed'U-actio-fl 1 Wales. He said a circular was issued to schoolmasters in Wales, in connection with publishing of bilingual books for the school^ Twenty-three answers were received to the effeC, that if the books- were sent them, tney ^°na not use them. He averred that the whole thito was a farce. If this bilingual question was t j come into the schools, it should be decided W the parents. The aim of education should firs of all be the elevation of the mind. prosperity should be a secondary consider3*' tion. to And now, his lordship said, he would come t(^ speak about their school. He felt he touching a very delicate subject, because he to drive through Abergele in order to comee. Colwyn Bay. (Laughter.) But he was pre' pared to say that the building was a most magi11* ficent one. It quite took him by surprise, j had1 a perfect situation, and the rooms were a mirable. When they commenced work at LW dovery many years, ago, they would have glV'e^ j a great deal to have had such class rooms and apparatus. It seemed to show what grand Pr0 gress had been made during the last few yeats- He had asked many questions as to the objec of the school. From the official books t gathered that a higher grade school was racalt for a parent who could not afford to send his child to an intermediate school. The advantage was that it was better for a child to go to a higher class under the same master than to enter a school in a lower class to prepare Jor higher classes which he would never have ti^e to reach. 1 In conclusion, the Bishop said that the)' F, ought to allow the ruling motive in their edu £ a" tional efforts to be the personal devotion to tlle welfare of the child. (Loud applause.) t The Chairman then called upon Mr T. Ilerbei1 Roberts. Mr J. HERBERT ROBERTS, M.P,, j on rising to speak, was received with lo11^ | applause, said he need hardly expte^ his genuine personal pleasure at ha^ I ing the privilege of taking some Part m that interesting, event in the educat.onal history of Colwyn Bay. (Applause.) His il1: terest on that occasion was personal, but it wa something more it was public. He always looked upon education as a paramount issue 111 our national life. Education contained w.lf it, if really understood, the' solution of some of the most urgent problems of the present day- (Applause.) Education, moreover,—although at the present moment, as the Bishop had al- ready reminded them, they were in the midst of strife and dislcorå-was one of the most united, unifying forces in the life of the country. knew nothing, if rightly understood, of poiltic3 or of sect. (Hear, hear.) As he had sa.d, It was impossible for them that day to refer to any of the questions which divided them at the pre- sent moment in the sphere of education. Be deplored those differences, but, at the same time he hoped, as they all hoped—indeed, he was pel' fectly certa n-the time was not far distal when those conflicts would cease—(hear, hear)- that a situation would be created, in which they could all heartily join together, in the promoti«11 of the great task and duty of National educauo15, eu (Applause.) He also desired' to congratulate those who had been directly responsible for Üle erection of those, schools upon the marked of success which had attended their labours; it was considered a most handsome school; equipped in every way according to the latest eci-ucational inventions for the great purpose fo'' which it was designed. That school was but the corollary of the advance and progress of C olwyn Bay. He rejoiced in every sign of progress in that district..out there was to his mind this gratifying feature about it all. Whilst on the one side they were extending their boundaries, they were increasing in wealth and prosperity, and he had always found a corresponding concern in Colwyn Baf for the iruterests of the intellectual and mora. progress of the community. (Hear, hear.) lIe was perfectly certain that still further develop- ments were in store for them in Colwyn Bay- Recalling » Prophecy. He did not know where they were coming to as a town. He remembered on one occasion, a memorable oocas:on in his life,—one of those in which he fought a Parliamentary election, a daY when a man, if at any time, was inclined to take a sanguine view of the future—prophesying that that place would in time be a constituency 111 itself, sending up a representative to Westmin- ster. He was not 'going to dwell upon that re- flection now, but he thought he was on safe ground when he said that the day was not fai distant when they would have a population of over twenty thousand, and be in a position to claim, for themselves a local education authority- What he desired very briefly to call their atten- tion to was the real educational want of Wale3 from a general standpoint. He was not going to be tempted that afternoon with many technicalities. He would rather, after the in- teresting and instructive speech of- the L"1' Bishop upon the technical SlÍde: of the question- deal with the main principles. What was main need of Wales to-day from an education3 standpoint ? It was by to-day a common-ptace to talk about American competition, and aho11 the inroads of Germany upon our commercia supremacy. They all knew that, and were pre* pared to face the situation as it stood. •^ll (Continued on Next Page).