The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-08-04 00:00:00

STOURBRIDGE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.

At the Grammar School on Tuesday last, the
annual distribution of prizes took place. Lord
Lyttelton presided. There were also present Colonel
Fletcher, Major Renaud, W. A. Osborne, examiner
W. Goddard, second master, W. I. J. Welch, head
master, W. B ColUs, Ray. Hugh Shsrrard, H.
Billinghara, and H. Hughes. Leiters of apology
were read from the Rev. J. S. Boldero and Mr.
Maoinnis.
The Head Master read his report which was as
follows :—Stourbridge, July 27th, 1883.
To the Governors of King MINN ard's School.
Gentlemen, In presenting to you my report of
this school for the past year, I desire to draw your
attention to the high average of age at which boys
enter. For the year 1832 this average age was
over eleven years. It is greatly to be regretted
that the boys are not sent to us at an earlier age.
If they came to us, as they should do, between
eight and nine, and remain with us until they
were sixteen or Bev, nteen they would pass through
all the forms of the school, and their knowledge of
the many subjects taught would be fairly complete.
As it is many boys enter and leave the school
without ever having passed through my classes.
Many parents seem to forget that from sixteen
to seventeen, are ages especially valuable for
developing the natural intelligence of boys. There
are now eighty-seven boys on the roll, being three
below the full complement. I am rather surprised
at ethis, considering the great educational ad-
, vantaees offered by tl e 3ehool and the moderate fees
charged. lam glad to be able to inform you that
the new gymnasium, and lawn tennis court, and
other means for promoting the recreation of the
boys, are all well appreciated by them. The new
laboratory will prove a great advantage to us in
our scientific teaching, and will enable us to intro-
duce the subject of practical chemistry, a know-
ledge which ought to prove so useful to boys
likely to be engaged in the trades of the district.
I Topose, with your sanction, to form an ambulance
class in connection with the school, and to hold a
public examination of the class at Christmas next.
The following d!stinetions were gained by the
school in CAnibtidge local examination, held at
Christmas last: E. J. Brooks, of Stourbridge, ob-
tained a first-class in honours among the junior
candidates. Lie also gained the second place in
Latin. It will be remembered • that, last year,
Brooks stood first in Latin among the junior
candidates from the whole of England. J. F.
Addison, of Brierley Hill, obtained a first-class
in honours among the juniors. He was also placed
foutth in Latin out of 2,895 candidates, the Bth in
Greek out of 434, the 10th in French out of 3,133 ;
and the 76th in religious knowledge out of 3,767.
In consideration of their success, they were
awarded a prize of 30s. by the local examination
committee for a first-class in hone Irs, and a prize
of LI, given by the Rev. L. B. Penley, for the
highest distinction in religious knowledge . • 11. L.
Firmstoue, of Stourbridge, gained a first-chiss in
honours among the jumots. He was also placed
9th in Latin out of 2,895. and 38th in Greek out of
434. He received a prize of 305. from the local
examination committee for the first-class in
honours. I remain, your obedient servant,
VT. J. J. Welch, Head Master.
Tile Rev, A. W. Osborne, the exam:ner, then read
hi S report. He complimented the school on the
position it had attained, and suggested the intro-
duction of a German class for the seniors, as that
language was becoming almost as necessary as
French in commercial life.
The Chairman conzratulated the friends of the
school upon the saeilactory report Mr. Osborne
had. read. RJeriing to the head master's remarks
said ho did net know what parents did wi.h their
boys before they ;cut them to the Gratnniar School.
Soine he ha no doubt weet to preparatory schools.
lie (lid not wish to say oue word against the letter
sc:, oole, bee if parentJ thought the Grammar
School s:Jfileiently good ti send theirboys at eleven
or twelve years of age, he thought they might
send them earlier, so that they might be systemati-
cally grounded here. He should think a boy had
nut half the advantages of the school who was re-
moved at fifteen. He supposed boys were removed
at that age to put them to business, but he did
not believe they were likely to make such good
business men as those who remained longer at
school. Ills Lordship urged upon the boys the enor-
mous impor unce Of their school days, and asked
them to wur',{ hard and do their bast, foe such was
now the art uggle for existence and the colapeti;ion
they would be exposed to hereafter, that it was
vital to tne:a that they should acquire all the
knowledge they could a,:; school. He also urged
them to be honest and straightforward, temperate
in all things, and industrious in doing the plain
duty set before them. He then distributed th 3
prizes to the following boys :—Latin: Form 1, J. F.
Addison, FOrni 2, G. W. Firmstone, Middle School,
Form 1, Eveson, Form 2, Pitt, Lower School, Form
1, F. S. Hutton, Form 2, Kidson, Rim 3, Turner.
Holy Scripture: Upper School, Knowles, Middle
School, Backwood, Lower School, F. S. Taleot.
English subjects: Upper School, J. F. Addison,
Middle School, R. Hatton, LoWtr School, Morris.
Mathematics: Upper School, Form 1, G. D. Freer,
Form 2, Blurton, Middle School, Form 1, H. Guest,
Form 2, G. H Green, Lower School, Form 1. J. H
Kidsun, Form 2, T. H. Peuley. French : Form 1,
J, F. Addison, Form 2, G. W. Firmstoue, Form 3,
F. G. Goddard. Physics: J. F. Addison, and 11. F.
Firmstone equsl, Chemistry : H. Talbot. Book-
! keeping :H. Talbot. Theory and Practice of Vocal
Music: A. R. Goddard. Geographical and Free-
hand Drawing : Upper School, J. F. Addison,
IMiddle School, Mees, Rifle and Sword Exercise :
H. L. Firmssone.
Colonel Fletcher proposed a vote of thanks to the
Rev. W. Osborne, which was seconded by the Rev,
H. Sherrard, who expressed a hope that besides
the exhibitions open to boys of the elementary
schools, some of the gentlemen of the neighbour-
hood would help to found exhibitions for boys in
the school itself. (Api-1 else), The Rev. W.
, Osborne responded.
XS. W. B. Qollio proposod a rit of thajila