The Schools

Year
1901
Month
5
Day
23
Article Title
The Schools
Author
----
Page Number
2, 3
Article Type
Language
Article Contents
THE SCHOOLS. Empire Day Was Loyally Observed in This City. Exercises in All the Departments and Speeches in Several By Leading Citizens In all the city schools today the exercises took on a most patriotic form. It is probably that the recent death of our Queen has added greatly to the sentiment felt and expressed by all of her subjects, but however this may be, the exercises held to celebrate Empire Day lacked nothing in patriotism. Owing to the very disagreeable weather the attendance of visitors at the different schools was not nearly so large as it would otherwise have been, but in spite of this the programmes were carried out in a most spirited and enthusiastic manner. In the schools fortunate enough to possess assembly halls, the pupils, as a rule, met at eleven o'clock and rendered programmes dealing with the empire, the makers of the empire and our late Queen. In some schools where, today, the want of a large hall was keenly felt, exercises were held in the different classrooms, and this arrangement detracted nothing from the enthusiasm felt by the pupils. The decorations in many cases were, to say the least, inspiring, and would fire even the most unpatriotic visitor. THE HIGH SCHOOL The assembly hall of the high school was beautifully decorated with flags and on the boards were handsome drawings of a patriotic character. The motto of the school, which being interpreted as "He conquers who perseveres" appeared on the wall to rear of the hall. There was quite a large attendance of visitors. After the school programme was carried out, Dr. Bridges called on Rev. Dr. Macrae, who delivered a very interesting and eloquent address speaking in terms of the highest praise of New Brunswick schools. Rev. Ira Smith spoke briefly. There were drawings on the boards in all the class rooms, and these were much admired by the visitors. Following was the programme carried out in the assembly hall. EMPIRE DAY Orchestra overture, Little Red Cap. Greunwald, essay, The Nineteenth White Man's Burden, Wm. Allison; orchestra, march. The Merry American Wheeler, essay. The Victorian Era, Boise Smith: recitation. The Anglo-Saxon Race, Stanley Prince: solo, Recessional, John Matthew, recitation. Canada, Mary Trueman reading, Love of Country. Miriam Hatheway, essay. The Past Century, Blache Myles, orchestra waltz. Characters: M. Taylor, God Save the King. CENTENNIAL SCHOOL In Centennial school, one especially pleasing feature of the decorations was the drawing on the black board of the coat of arms of the empire, a number of flags and a beautiful scroll, surrounded by forget-me-nots, in memory of Queen Victoria. The work was done by Jonas Howe, Roy Crawford, Frank Morrison, and David Irvine, and reflects great credit on them. The hall and classrooms were beautifully decorated with flags and flowers by the teachers. At eleven o'clock the pupils, after lessons heard in the separate class rooms on subjects connected with the empire, met in the assembly hall, where the following programme was rendered. Hymn, Lord, while we pray for all school: hymn, O God of Love, school recitation, Imperial Britain, O recitation. Three little sisters, O recitation. Three little sisters, school song. With glowing heart, school. Patriotism (drill), school reading. A Princess that became a Queen, Fenwick Brown; exercise song, school. This Canada of Ours, school song. Another little Patch of Red, school recitation. Queen Victoria, school; recitation. His Majesty the King, school Flag drill, school recitation, song. Some Flags, school; Questions on Coat of Arms, school, song. Canadian Volunteers, school. Addresses were given by Rev. Dr. Macrae and Rev. Dr. Morison. Alexandra School The spacious hall of the Indiantown school was thronged with pupils and visitors, and the many flags and banners, together with the bright dresses and happy faces of the children, formed a very pleasing picture. On the platform were Dr. Hetherington, who acted as chairman; Rev. Alex White, of the Main street Baptist church; Inspector Carter, S. E. Morrill and Dr. Alward. All of these gentlemen gave short addresses, in addition to which the following programme was rendered by the pupils: Chorus, Rule Brittania, school; recitations, Tennyson's Ode to the Queen on Her Accession, Hazel Kilpatrick; The Flag, Hilda Shaw; Tennyson's Ode on the Death of the Prince Consort, Gertie Seely; flag song, eight little boys; chorus, Maple Leaf, school; chorus, My Own Canadian Home, school. ALBERT SCHOOL. The exercises for Empire Day in the Albert School were both varied and interesting. There were songs, recitations, readings and drills. All showing the greatness and grandeur of the British empire. These were interspersed with discussions and lessons and addresses of a patriotic nature on the various phases of the nation's extent and power. The benign influence of the life of Queen Victoria on her people was a conspicuous feature. The work in the higher grades was chiefly on the history and geography of the empire. A number of visitors - friends and relatives of the children - were present during the day. Some of the programmes were as follows:-- MISS SMITH AND MISS THOMPSON'S ROOM Good morning Empire Day, 6 girls, recitation. Welcome, L. Rankin, exercise, King Edward, 11 pupils, Flag of our Country, song, school. Our Flag, recitation. A. Johnston, Red, White and Blue, exercise, 3 boys. Our Country, recitation, Merlyn Harding. Our Canadian Flag, recitation, P. Freeze. Hold up the right band, school; A king little girl, recitation, A. Lockhard Canada, exercise. My Canada song, No. 7 room. All Hail to Three, Canada, recitation, N. Purves. The Union Jack recitation, S. Adams. We are bearing the Flag, schools. A General, recitation, B. Carmichael. Three Violets, exercise, 3 girls; What the flowers say No. 7 room; Songs of the Saxons, recitation, E. Atkinson, Red, White and Blue, exercise, 6 girls. Our Flag, song, schools. Our Native Land, recitation, E. Sampson; Sing of men who were brave, recitation; schools God Bless our Native Land, B. Cassidy; Our Native Land, schools, God Save the King. Miss Fullerton's Room Opening Exercises:- Simultaneous reading - The Maple Leaf Readings - James Price, To Victoria; Hattie Johnstone, Count Frontenac Selected incidents in Queen Victoria's early life - Josephine Woodland, Willa Beatty, Agnes Ross, Chrissie Belyea. Map exercise on the British Empire Slate exercise. Selected incidents in Queen Victoria's early life - Grace Cheyne, Ella Seely, Hazel Holder. Singing, Our Flag. Slate exercise. Simultaneous reading - The Union Jack Selected incidents in Queen Victoria's Life - Annie Hazelwood, Maud Allen, Powel Ougler, Stanley Fitzpatrick. Miss Belyea and Miss Brittain's Room: The following exercises were carried out: Our native land, Flag of our Country, Empire Song. The flag of our dear Country. Working for our flag. Canada. Awake, salute our flag. The red, white and blue. Empire, song, six scholars. British flag. Meaning of the flag. Our colors. British flag. For my Country, song. The flag that we honor; other recitations. God save the King. Mr. Thompson's Room. Geography of the British Empire. History - Victorian period, industrial, scientific and literary progress. Recitations. This Canada of Ours, Jennie Paterson. Young Canada Was There, Leonard Ougler. The Drum Beat of Britain, Loretta Logan. Britain Protects Her Subjects, Nellie Lynch. Upon the Heights of Queenstown, Millie Sampson. Destiny, Bessie James. The U. E. Loyalists, Nellie Rogers. Britannia's Rise, Maud Cameron. Under Our Flag, Nellie Maxwell. Our Own Dear Land, Hazel McLaren. Facts About Canada and the Empire, school. Masonic Hall School, Carleton In the rooms of Principal Armstrong and Misses Nannary and Emerson there were no special programmes, but exercises dealing with the empire and the significance of Empire Day. St. Patrick's School, Carleton The exercises were appropriate to the day dealing with the extent and resources of the empire. VICTORIA SCHOOL The assembly room in the Victoria school is not large enough to accommodate all of the 850 or more pupils in regular attendance, therefore some 250 members of the primary classes went up early in the forenoon and in the presence of their teachers and a few visitors went through a programme of patriotic exercises, including recitations, music, etc. Later the larger pupils went up, when the following programme was carried out:-- Chorus: "The Land of the Maple," School Recitation - "The Passing of the Queen," ................................................................................................Miss Jennie Sherwood Address.......................................................................................Rev. Mr. Richardson Recitation - "By Favor of the Queen."................................................Miss Hazel Smith Chorus - "Who's that Calling."...........................................................................School Reading.....................................................................................Miss Kathleen Holden Recitation - "Shall the Empire Fall."......................................................Master Belding Chorus - "Up with the Union Jack"....................................................................School Reading.......................................................................................Miss Winifred Smith Solo - "The Battle Prayer."......................................................................Mrs. Gilchrist Address...........................................................................................Rev. Mr. Freeman Chorus - "May God Preserve Thee, Canada."......................................................School Address-Rev. Mr. Fotheringham National Anthem. The assembly room was decorated with portraits of the late Queen, King Edward and Queen Alexandra, Roberts and Kitchener, Sir John Macdonald, Sir Wilfrid Laurier, and others. On the blackboards were very beautiful drawings, some of them in colors, and all of a patriotic nature, and all done by pupils of the school. There were very fine drawings on the boards in all the class rooms, reflecting the highest credit on the pupils and teachers. Principal Parlee and his co-workers are to be congratulated. It was, perhaps, fortunate that the day was rainy, for although 150 chairs were promised the school not one was delivered, so that many who went to the exercises were forced to stand. ABERDEEN SCHOOL. The pupils of the Aberdeen school met in their hall at eleven o’clock, after holding suitable exercises in their class rooms, and the following programme was rendered: Hymn, God Bless Our Fatherland, school; address by the principal, W. M. McLean; song, Raise the Flag, school; recitations, Lines by Tennyson, Kenneth Blair; Victoria, Queen and Empress, Lillie Wood; Off With Your Hats, Boys, Hedley Beaman; For Honor, Gladys Crawford; song. Maple Leaf, school; recitations, Queen’s Last Ride, Lillian Wilkins; Our Boys, Robert McQuarrie. Imperial Anthem, Martha Anderson; essay, (illegible short paragraph) Addresses were delivered by Rev. W. O. Raymond and by the principal, Mr. McLean. One special feature of the decorations was the drawing on the blackboard of the British coat of arms, surrounded by those of eighteen different colonies. ELM STREET SCHOOLS. The pupils of St. Peter’s boys school assembled in the hall of the girls’ school on Elm street at eleven o’clock, where addresses suitable to the occasion were given by Rev. M. J. Corduke, Rev. J. J. Walsh, Hon. J. R. Ritchie, J. L. Carleton, and the principal, Joseph Harrington. The following programme was rendered. Song of the Flag, chorus; dialogue, boys of grade II., Miss Bucklet’s room; recitation, When Thomas Takes His Pen, J. Rooney; recitation, My Country, William Doherty; song, Just Tell Them I Have Gone, Boys, J. Halpin; recitation, A Little Boy’s Troubles, Leo Quinian; recitation, Burial of Victoria, John Cobolan; dialogue, Guess What I’ve Got In My Pocket, G. Harrington and B. Kyffin; recitation, Do It, Lad, Hugh Montague; song; song, Come Where the Lillies Grow, chorus; recitation, Irish Hearts and Irish Hands, A. DeGrasse; recitation, When Pa Begins to Shave, Eddie Lawler; recitation, By Favor of the Queen, W. Murphy; Story of the Provinces by Miss Quinn’s boys, recitation, The Inspector, Thomas McMenamin; recitation, The Union Jack, James McCormack; song, Canada, Land of the Free, chorus. The pupils of the girls’ school, having no assembly hall, held exercises in the different class rooms, all of which had been decorated for the occasion. The black boards were adorned with drawings of flags and coats of arms. Pictures of different noted generals and statesmen were hung on the walls, and flags floated everywhere. In the Elm street school the same style of exercises were carried out, nothing of special importance taking place. Lessons dealing with facts concerning the empire were heard, compositions read and songs and choruses given by the pupils. NEWMAN STREET SCHOOL This school also feels the need of a large hall, and on account of the want of it the pupils were today compelled to do as was done in other cases and hold their celebrations in the classrooms. Rev. David Long, of the Victoria Free Baptist church, gave short addresses in the rooms. Douglas Avenue The exercises were practically the same as in other schools. No special programme was prepared but in the classrooms recitations, songs, choruses and drills were given and compositions read on patriotic subjects. Winter Street School One of the most pleasing features in Winter street school was the drill by a number of girls in Miss Iddel’s department, who wore very pretty dresses of white and blue. The rooms were all decorated with flags, flowers, and drawings, and in some of the rooms were grouped pictures of generals and statesmen, our empire makers. Programmes were rendered in all the rooms, and consisted of essays, songs, choruses, recitations and drills. This school also regrets the absence of a proper assembly hall, as the one formerly used for that purpose has been divided into class rooms. LEINSTER STREET SCHOOL In Leinster street school the pupils met in the hall from eleven till one o’clock, when the following programme was rendered. Song, Hail Canada, school address; Mrs. Dieualde; chorus, We’ll fight for the grand old flag, school; Compositions written and read by John Gills, Clarence Dales, Jack Walker and Harry Alexander; chorus, With glowing heart, school; address, Mrs. Skinner; solo, Britain’s Heroes, Gordon Stevens; recitation, Boys wanted, H. Rising; compositions by H. Scofield, R. Magee, Jack Bears; address, W. P. Hatheway; chorus, Who’s that calling, school; address, Dr. G. U. Hay; chorus, His Majesty the King, school. SACRED HEART CONVENT In the Convent of the Sacred Heart, on Cliff street, exercises were held in the class rooms, as no hall large enough to accommodate the whole number of pupils was available. The rooms were all decorated, and essays and songs and drills, given by the pupils.