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OPENING NEW PUBLIC SCHOOLS
AT LEFEVRE'S PENINSULA AND PORT
ADELAIDE.
The formal opening of these fine new schools
took place on Tuesday, January 22, the Minister
of Education (the Hon. N. Blyth) taking the
principal part in the proceedings. The Presi
dent of tbe Council of Education (Mr. J. A.
Hartley, B.A., B.Sc.) and the members for the
district were also present. The first school
opened was the one on Lefevre's Peninsula,
of which we shall therefore speak first and of
the ceremony in connection with its opening.
This took place about noon. The build-
ing is situated within a short distance of the
point on the Peninsula where the Glanville-road
turns round towards the Semaphore. It is quite
a prominent and handsome feature in the
neighbourhood where it stands. The school as
now opened will accommodate 400 scholars. The
structure is not all new, the old Lefevre's Penin
sula school building, which was capable of
holding 120 school children, having been
utilized. The Architect to the Council, Mr. E.
J. Woods, has, however, so arranged the plan,
and the old portion has been so painted and im
proved, that the old building to the casual
observer has the appearance of being new. As
usual in the schools designed by the Council's
Architect, lighting and ventilation have been
well attended to, and at the opening ceremony
some complimentary references to these points
were made. The contractors for the work were
Messrs. Williams & Cleave, of Port Adelaide,
whose price for erecting the building and sup
plying the school furniture was £2,800. This
is exclusive of the filling in of the yard and
other somewhat heavy matters of detail. The
internal arrangements of the school are similar
to many other public schools already described
in these columns. The two largest schoolrooms
are 52 ft. by 24 ft. and 52 ft. by 22 ft. re
spectively. The desks are the usual
long ones, of deal, capable of accommo
dating seven children. Though only formally
opened on Tuesday, children were admitted
into the new school on Monday—indeed, many
have continued to be taught in the old school
during the erection of the new portion—and
there are already 216 boys and 202 girls on the
roll. Of these the highly creditable number of
202 boys and 202 girls were present when the
Minister of Education and the other visitors ar
rived on Tuesday. Mr. Blyth and Mr. Hartley
were received at the entrance to the school by
Mr. J. Millard, the Head Teacher, who con
tinues in the position he has so efficiently filled
during many years past, and who will now have
the advantage of a more commodious building,
of better appliances, and of a larger number of
assistants. The staff consists of Miss H. Robert
son, Head Teacher of the girls' department; one
male and two female assistants, and two pupil
teachers. Among the gentlemen present at the
opening of the school, and who with the Minister
of Education were shown through the building,
were Mr. Bower, M.P., Mr. Quin, M.P., Mr. Sin
clair, M.P., the Rev. M. M. Dick (Congrega
tionalist), Inspectors Dewhirst and Hosking,
several members of the District Councils of
Glanville, Lefevre's Peninsula, and Birkenhead,
with Messrs. Willimott, Shorney, and Playfair,
the respective Chairmen of the Councils named.
The visitors having been conducted throughout
the school, and the children having sung "The
Song of Australia" in good style,
The Minister of Education then performed
the ceremonyof declaring the school open. He
congratulated the district on the handsome and
commodious building that they were assembled
to inaugurate. He hoped it would be the means
of educating for future usefulness a great
many of the residents of the district, that it
would last for many years, and that those who
received their education there would make their
mark upon the history of the colony. (Ap
plause.) He had no intention to detain them
long, and he would not extend his remarks as
much as he intended but for the fact that this
was the first school opened since he had taken
the position of Minister of Education. He did
not need to go into politics, and thought that
people throughout the length and breadth of
the land were of one opinion as to the impor
tant duty that the State had cast upon it of
providing a good education for the youth
of the province. He did not shut his
eyes to the fact that those who took
up the work of carrying out that intention
would have difficulties to contend with; but
they might rely on valuable assistance from
various quarters. They might safely rely for
valuable assistance from the Boards of Advice
which the Act contemplated in having a kindly
supervision over the institutions and represent
ing from time to time where they saw work to
be done, and generally giving that advice and
co-operation which, to heads of departments
were so valuable. (Applause.) He was sure of
one thing—that the people of the colony did not
merely wish to erect large and commodious
schools to which those who liked could send
their children; he thought that they had a
larger work set before them—a work that would
not be complete till every child in the province
was receiving instruction. (Applause.) The
work that the State had taken upon itself was
to educate the whole of the rising generation—
(applause)—so that they might have the means
of knowing how to act in the responsible positions
in which a very few years would place them, and
might be given a stern sense of their duties and
responsibilities in their respective fields of labour.
He hoped that in that building the Holy Scrip
tures would be read, aud in expressing that hope
be spoke both in the spirit and the letter of the
Act of the Legislature of the province. He
thought he was expressing the opinion of many
as well as his own opinion when he said that no
person was ever the worse for hearing the Holy
Scriptures reverently read and wisely selected.
(Applause.) He had to thank the kind friends
for having received him at the school with so
much courtesy. He had to congratulate them
on the building being well ordered and well
fitted for the purpose, as well as being a comely
structure; and though there did not appear to
have been any money spent in ornamentation, it
would prove an ornament to the neighbour
hood. And now he had a word or two to say
to the hoys. He hoped that they would all come
to the school with a stern determination to do
their very best. All boys could not do their
work equally well, but there was one thing that
they could do, and that was to do their best
according to the ability that God had given
them. (Applause.) Their work at the
present period of life was to learn
their lessons as well as they could and obey
those who were in control of them, and it was as
honourable to do such work well as it was to
those more advanced who were fighting the
great battle of life. (Applause.) He would
like them to pay great attention to learning to
read well, so as to be able to read with ease in
after years. For it was one thing to spell
through a paragraph and get at its meaning with
difficulty, and another to read smoothly aud
clearly; and he felt sure unless they did the
latter they never would enjoy reading for
reading's sake. There was no necessity for
great elocutionary attainments, but what he
meant was that they should be careful to read
with a clearness of enunciation which would
enable others to listen with pleasure when they
read aloud. It had often been a great comfort
to the sick to have friends take up a book and
read to them. (Applause.) He made these
remarks because he thought, while they
learnt other things, this which was the
gateway of learning should not be neg
lected. He felt sure that in this school
the habit of courteous and respectful
manners to one another would be observed,
and hoped it would set a good example to the
youth of the neighbourhood by their manners to
their elders. He had been much struck when
on his travels some time since at this in
a frisky sportive little boy he had seen on
board a steamer. The boy was laughing and
enjoying himself when a minister—a foreigner
—went up to him with a remark or two. The
boy immediately took off his hat, and he
thought the sight the nicest he had seen in his
life. He would like to see the mark of good
manners stamped upon the scholars of all the
public schools of the province. He now would
declare this school to be properly and legally
opened as a school under the Council of Educa
tion of the province of South Australia. (Ap
plause.)
Mr. John Millard, teacher of the school, ex
pressed his thanks for the remarks of the
Minister, and hoped that the management
would be such as to recommend it not only to
visitors but to the public generally. They had
good appliances now, and he had no doubt that
there would be a considerable change in educa
tional matters on the Peninsula. He hoped the
advice that the Minister of Education had given
would be borne in mind. As to the reading of
the Scriptures, he knew that there were different
opinions held, but he would, so far as the Act
allowed, have that carried out. (Applause.)
The Luncheon.
Luncheon, which was provided by the Dis
trict Council, was held in one of the class-rooms.
Mr. Geo. Shorney, J.P., Chairman of the Lefevre's
Peninsula District Council, presided, with the
Minister of Education on his right, Mr.
G. Willimott, Chairman of the Glanville Dis
trict Council, being in the vice-chair. There
were present, in addition to a number of leading
citizens, the Mayor of Port Adelaide (Mr. D.
Bower, M.P.) and Messrs. Quin and Sinclair,
M.P.'s.
The Chairman proposed "The Queen and
Royal Family" and "The Governor," both of
which were well received.
The Vice-Chairman proposed "The Parlia
ment," considering that it bore favourable com
parison with the Parliaments of the other
Australian Colonies.
Mr. Bower, M.P., responded. He said it had
been stated that the children of the working
classes in South Australia might be too well
educated under the new Act. He did not believe
in that idea. (Hear, hear.) He felt that the
children could not be too well trained; indeed,
they would be more useful in whatever walk of
life their lot might be cast. It was the fault of
the people themselves if their members did not
faithfully represent them; but he believed as a
rule that they did. (Hear, hear.) He was
sorry to think that when they retired from
active life their misdeeds only were remem
bered and their good works were forgotten. (No,
no.)
Mr. Quin, M.P., also acknowledged the com
pliment. He said that when the last Parlia
ment was elected there were 18 or 20 members
determined that a better system of education
would prevail in South Australia. They called
a meeting, and did him the honour to elect him
Chairman. Several discussions took place about
the system of education whether it should be
free, compulsory, and secular, or whether it should
be assisted, the pupils paying part and the Govern
ment the balance. It was finally agreed it
should be the assisted system, which now pre
vailed. (Hear, hear.) He personally hoped the
electors would not cease to agitate till we had
education as free as the air we breathed. (Cries
of "No.") He felt that children, especially
the children of poorer parents, should look
upon education as a right. (Hear, hear.)
The great works carried on in the country, such
as railways, harbours, and jetties, all tended to
improve the country, but they especially
benefited the landed proprietors and the men of
wealth. The money derived by the Council of
Education from the lands with which they had
been endowed could not better be spent than in
providing a free education for all children in
the country. (Hear, hear.) It looked bad to
see a few children in a school ticketed as paupers
because their parents could not pay for their
education. As to the members of the present
Parliament, he believed they had done their
utmost to promote the progress of this great
country—a country which one half of the
people did not fully understand. (Hear, hear.)
Many members of Parliament had recently been
on a trip to the Northern Areas, and they had
seen thousands of hags of wheat, and agricul
tural lands extending over scores of miles in all
directions—land still unoccupied, but in the
future likely to make homes for hundreds of
thousands of people. (Hear, hear.) In conclu
sion, he could only say that it would be most
suicidal for any men to attempt to stop the in
troduction of labour, especially at this time,
when we had all the signs of prosperity before
us. (Cheers).
Mr. Sinclair, M.P., proposed "The Minister
of Education and the President and Council of
Education." (Applause.) That was the toast
of the day, and he supposed it was placed in
his hands because he had always taken an active
interest in education since his arrival here.
(Hear, hear.) Education could scarcely be too
highly valued. In Switzerland the effect of it
was seen in the cantons where education was
carried on efficiently as against those where it
was neglected. He was pleased to be there that
day, and also to see Mr. Millard, the old
teacher, still in command in the enlarged and
more commodious school. (Hear, hear.) He
had not had much to do with the school, but he
had had a good deal to do with the Port Ade
laide School, and when working for it he had
always been well received both by the late and
the present Ministers of Education. (Applause.)
The President of the Council was also the right
man in the right place, and had invariably
received deputations with the utmost courtesy.
(Applause.)
The Minister of Education, in responding,
said that he and the President and the Council
had worked together with the most complete
harmony, each no doubt feeling that he must do
his utmost to inaugurate a better system of
education in South Australia. (Applause) He
could not agree with Mr. Bower that only our
had deeds would be remembered in future.
He believed the people would give their
representatives credit for good intentions
whether or not they were successful. (Applause.)
If there was one thing more exhilarating than
another, it was the perfect willingness which the
colonists showed to contribute their time and
energies and unpaid labour for the good of their
fellows. (Applause). This characteristic marked
men among all ranks and classes, and as long as
it prevailed, whatever times of depression or
peril might arise, the outlook would be a
pleasant one. (Applause.) It was only when
public works and duties fell into the hands of
those who were selfish and had no high aims and
aspirations—who worked only for their personal
aggrandizement and advancement—that we
should have cause to tremble for the welfare of
the community. (Applause.) Then indeed it
would be a gloomy lookout for the colony. He
thanked those present for their hearty reception,
and he wished the school every success. He
confessed that he was unworthy of his present
position. (Cries of "No, no.") He said this
not from any false feeling of modesty, but
because of the high importance he attached to
his office, which in his opinion exceeded that of
any other responsible Minister of the Crown
(Applause.) Our railways and other elements
of physical progress, important and useful as
they were, were as nothing compared to laying
the foundation-stones securely and well of the
education of the rising generation of South
Australia. (Loud applause.) He hoped that
those who entered on the office in
future would have the same high sense
of its importance as he now entertained.
It was gratifying to him to notice the great
interest now taken in education, not only in the
metropolis but also throughout the province.
In listening to the speeches of the hon. members
of Parliament who had just spoken he had been
reminded of the poem about the dying swan.
(Laughter.) The elections were approaching,
and he must confess he never noticed about the
speeches of the hon. members a higher tone of
oratory or a more clear enunciation than on that
occasion. It reminded him of the lines—
"Death darkens her eye and plumes her wings,
But the sweetest song is the last she sings."
(Laughter.) There would no doubt be great
changes in the next Parliament. He hoped the
members of it would be as earnest in their work
as the present members had been, then the
colonists would have no cause to regret their
choice. (Applause.)
Mr. Hartley, the President of the Council
of Education, in returning thanks apologized for
the absence of the members of the Council who
were business men, and found it difficult to get
away so early in the day. He had no speech
prepared, and so would content himself with
simply thanking them on behalf of the Council
of Education for the toast. (Applause.)
The Chairman read apologies from Messrs.
von Treuer and Salom, members of the Council
of Education; Mr. Bath, Secretary; and
Messrs. Christie and Cowie, for non-attendance.
Mr. Dewhirst, the Inspector of Schools for
the district, was called upon to speak to the
toast of the "Council of Education," and com
plimented the colony on the men who composed
the Council of Education. No better six men
could have been selected in South Australia.
(Applause.) He also thought in spite of the
dissatisfaction felt in some quarters that the
President had done a great work energetically.
People who believed in the doctrine of trans
migration of souls, should, he thought, after all
the annoyances that Mr. Hartley had had to
endure, pray every day that their souls after
leaving their bodies might not go into the body
of a President of a Council of Education.
(Laughter.) For he was the most ill-used
animal in existence, always excepting School
Inspectors. (Laughter.)
Mr. Hosking, Inspector of Schools, said, in
returning thanks, that it had given him great
pleasure to hear the Minister of Education on
the one hand say that the work they had in
hand would not be complete till every child was
brought in and educated; and on the other, Mr.
Quin's declaration that education should be
made free as the air we breathe. He hoped
the ideas of both would be carried into effect.
(Applause.)
Captain Bickers proposed "The Head Master
and his Assistants," paying a high compliment to
Mr. Millard, whom he had known for many
years. (Applause.)
Mr. J. Millard thanked them for the manner
in which the toast had been proposed and
responded to, and was not unaware of the diffi
culties before him; but he thought he would
have the people with him in the entirely new
system of education they were inaugurating on
the Peninsula. Twenty years ago he had
began to teach on the Peninsula; but
he found that the parents did not care
much about the subject of education,
and that the boys sent to him were more like
young colts than anything else. He had sought
to educate the parents as well as the children,
and with effect he thought; for of late years the
children had been made to attend much more
regularly at school. It was with considerable
pride, looking back upon the past few years,
that he found himself at the inauguration of
such a school as they had opened. His assis
tants were strange, but he hoped they would
work together without friction, which was his
desire. He thanked them for the toast on
behalf of the assistants and himself, and in a
few brief remarks proposed "The Contractors,
Messrs. Williams & Cleave." (Applause.)
Mr. Williams returned thanks.
Mr. Dewhirst proposed "The Chairman and
Vice-Chairman." The Chairman returned
thanks, and the proceedings closed.
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