The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1865-07-04 00:00:00

QUEEN ELIZABETH'S GRAMMAR SCHOOL.

The annual distribution of prises, awarded by the
Governors to successful oompetitors in the various
branches of education taught at this school, took place
on Friday, and excited considerable interest. At
three o'clock, the time appointed for reading the exami-
mars' reporte,the noble schoolroom was more than three.
parts filled with visitors, the majority being ladies. The
Governors present were: J. B. Garland, Req.,
(chairmen) J. T. Basket, Req. Major Portman, C. R.
Rowe, Esq., Win. Drnitt, Esti.' T. W. Shettle, Esq.,
John Hatohard, Esq., B. P. Hopkins, Esq., Thos.
Bawling, Esq., registrar, the Rev. Dr. Fletcher, Rev.
H. Pox, H. Sidney Cook, Esq., and Weld Taylor, Esq.,
(maaters,) and Mons. D'Abuoar,French master,were also
present. The examiners were: Ingram Bywater, Esq.,
of Exeter College, Oxford, and the Rev. Mr. Vyryan.
The °employ also included the elite of the neighbour-
hood, among whom we noticed Major and Miss Portman
Robert Hawes, Esq.' Rev. Thomas Pate, and Mrs:
Patey, Captain and Mrs. Barrett, Captain and Mrs.
Biddle, Colonel and Mrs. Jones, Mrs. and the Misses
Fletcher. Miss Orcumbrigge, Mrs. Rawlins, Rev. and
Mrs. fdacnereara Paley, Mrs. C. Rowe and Miss Crooke,
Mr. and Mrs. Dibben, Mines Garland, Rev. Thos.
Case, Rev. R. Plamptre, C. J. Parke' Esq. Mrs.
Hanharn, Rev. C. and the Misses Onelow' Ica, &O.
In addition to the usual prizes awardid, extra prises
were given for the following :—Divinity, by the Bishop
of the diocese; English essay, by Ingram Bywater,
Esq. • Latin prose, Mr. Barnard; and Latin verse, by
the hind master, Dr. Fletcher. As soon as the company
were seated, the boys, preceded by the governors,
examiners, and masters, entered the shoolroom, their
happy countenances plainly shaving that this, the pre.
lude to their midsummer holidays, formed no small
share of enjoyment and pleasure.
heroism BYWATILB, Esq., the classical examiner, then
read his report, remarking that the Wimborne Grammar
School, like the generality of the old grammar schools
In the country, was distinguished by the hard work done
in it. That great pains and the most persevering atten-
tion to the mental culture of the boys had been be-
stowed by the masters was evident from the result of
his exanunation. Nor was this confined to the senior
classes, as was too much the case in some schools, for the
boys in the junior classes were evidently well trained and
prepared for the bead roaster's class. He was partiou-
larly struck with the knowledge atained in divinity,
for which an extra prise was off,ired by the Bishop, and
also the amount of knowledge on general literature
shown by some of the boys. (Cheers.) He was
acquainted with one of the former scholars of that
school —one who stood very high in the Oxford Uni-
versity. That gentleman, speaking of the Wimberne
Grammar School, stated that it was to it he owed in a
great measure his suocess, and though he had visited
many grammar schools, he knew of none where a better
system of training wu adopted. (Loud cheers.) After
a few farther remarks in praise of the school, Mr.
Bywater read his reports, follows :
" GINTLIMIEN —Having been intrusted with part of
the Examination of the Wimborne Grammar School, I
have much pleasure in testifying to the reneral satis-
factory state of the work of the school. The examina-
tion, as fares my labours have extended, has comprised
not only classics, but also divinity, history, geography,
and English literature. The divinity of the two seaior
classes was far above the seeress found in public schools,
and the same may likewise be said of their knowledge
of history and geography. If any criticiam is here re-
quired, it is this that the style in which the papers were
written was perhaps, not so good as might be expeoted,
and that tot; great attention seems to have been given to
mere matters of detail. Several of the younger boys,
moreover, displayed a knowledge of history and
geography which reflects the highest credit on those
who have had the charge of their education.
"Of the classical work of the sixth clan I think I may
speak in terms of almost unqualified praise. The corn-
positions were good, the knowledge of general philology
considerable, and the translations from Greek and Latin
very accurate, notwithstanding the difficulty of the
books read in this class. Such accuracy, indeed, is rare
and would be absolutely impossible without the most
oareful training. The fifth class, likewise, on the whole
acquitted itself to my satisfaction. The Latin of all
the younger boys, but more especially of those in the
first and second classes, were good, and chews that the
elements of that language are well taught, a point of
vital importance in education. Greek grammar, how-
ever, does not seem to be taught in these lower classes
with equal success, and the boys who leave the fourth
form are, in my opinion, hardly qualified by their
previous training to profit by the higher intonation
they will receive in the Head Master's class. Not-
withstanding any criticism candour has compelled me
to make, I have no hesitation in reporting mot favour-
ably in the present condition of the school. To judge
by the results, a spirit of work seems abroad among
the boys which even by itself is sufficient to ensure
IitIOCOVS hereafter, and I may be allowed to add that
several show great promise, and evidently possess natural
gifts which required nothing but careful cultivation.
That cultivation, under the oonscientious care of the
masters, they cannot fail to get, and it rests with them
to make the most of the opportunities offered them in
this tohool. _ _ _

"I have the honour to be, Gentlemen,
"Your obedient servant,
" INGR Alf BYWATER.
"Fellow and Lecturer of Exeter College, Oxford."
The Rev. W. VIVYAN then read his report
To TIM GOVERNORS OF QUEEN ELIZABETH'S Fug
GRAMMAR SCHOOL, WIMBOREZ.
"GENTLEMEN—Having examined the school in mathe-
matics, I have much pleasure in reporting favourably of
the knowledge which the boys have shown.
"The arithmetic paper was well done throughout the
school ; the boys in the sixth form showed that they
were able to work rapidly,while it was evident from the
answers of all that pains had been taken to make them
work accurately. The Euclid was also done carefully
and well, particularly by the higher boys.
"In Algebra the boys showed considerable power in
working out examples, but not so mush mastery of the
principles of the subject. This, however, can hardly be
expected from boys of their age.
"I am, gentlemen, your ohedient servant,
"THOMAS G. VYVYAN, M.A.,
"Fellow of Granville and Calm College,
"Cambridge."
Sturrainster Marshall, Jane 22, 1866.
The Rev. Dr. FLETCHER, head master, then rose and
said, that by the kindness of the Lord B shop an extra
prize for divinity bad been offered. In consequence of
Draitt being disqualified by age, several prises he would
have been entitled to had paused to others but believing
as he (Dr. Fletcher) cid, that some reward ought to be
given him for his diligence and attention, he determined
that for the extra prizes no one should be disqualified.
(Cheers.)
The prizes were then awarded, each boy coming up
being kindly addressed by the Chairman, and retiring
amidst the loud cheers of his school-fellows. The fol-
lowing is the list of prism awarded:—