The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-06-24 00:00:00

REPORT OF THE HEAD-MASTER FOR MIDSUMMER,

1871.

I Lave now the honor to lay before the governors and
friends of this school, my report upon its general condi-
tion as regards discipline and morality, and upon the
results of the recent exam.

It affords me great pleasure to be able to speak favor-
ably on both these points. With one exception, none
but the miner infractions of school discipline have been
brought to my notice during the past half-year. Doubt-
less some of these are to be attributed to the fact that
our numbers are in excess of the accommodation afforded
by the school. Should this state of things continue, we
shall be compelled to admit boys only by competitive ex-
amination. Holding, as I do, the highest views on the
subject of school discipline, I am anxious that the Stour.
bridge Grammar School should be second to none in this
respect. I know that it has an important mission to ful.
lit for this town and neighbourhood, and that the success
..1 the More career of hundreds cf boys depends greatly
upon the training and education they will receive here.
I therefore desire that we should aim at the highest
degree of excellence in every department. I consider
that our obligations and duty with respect to the boys
committed to our charge, have not exclusive reference to
head-knowledge. I consider the school-room to be a
place where prompt obedience and respect should be
rendered to the masters ; where habits of punctuality.
order, neatness, and industry should be assiduously cal-
iivated. and where there should be an unfailing obser-
stnee of the "statutes and orders' of the school, as of
little kingdom or society. I hold these qualities to be
of the highest importance to boys as a preparation for
their future pursuits in life, and as valuable adjuncts to
the masters in the maintenance of school discipline, and
I consider that any school failing to aim at these valu-
able results fails also to discharge one of its most hits
portent missions:. . . . .

r We appeal to the senior boys of the school to aid us
in this matter. The spirit of the age. we know, is against
us, but we must not be influenced by that which is so
manifestly retrograde in its character. VI e shall look
forward with hope to a future time when higher and more
enlightened views will generally prevail upon this subject.
Before proceeding to read out the class lists, 1 must
ask your congratulation on behalf of one of our young
friends here, who highly distinguished himself at the
Council Social Examination, held at Wolverhampton, at
Christmas last. All are aware that the competition in
that examination extends to boys throughout the king.
dom. Our young friend, l'aul Mathews entered the lists
with upwards of 1,600 other candidates. He succeeded
in obtaining a tirst.class in honours, and was placed 6th
in Latin out of about 1,000 candidates, sth in Greek, Sib
in Scripture, and Ist in Chemistry. In consequence of
this success he is entitled to a prize of two guineas
awarded by the Wolverhampton Committee. You will,
1 feel sure, agree with me in thinking that our warmest
congratulations are due to him for this success, and 1
feel further sure that his clasa.fellows will be glad of this
opportunity heartily to express their congratulations to
him. _

I now proceed to read in detail the results of the
recent examination, and to enumerate the prize. to be
awarded

The prizes are all handsomely bound, stamped with the
school arms, and are the gifts of Lord Lytlelton, the
Members of the County, the Governors of the School,
W. C. Firmstone, Esq., and other gentlemen.
LIST.

I now proceed to give the results of the science exam-
ination held by the.Seienee and Art Deparntent of the

-Cominissioner'a of Council on Education'.

The exami.

lion extended to Mathematics, Chemistry, Animal Physi-
ology, and Drawing. The following are the results :
Muthrinaties.—Hill, Thomas, Simms, Ist class; Ma-
ginnis, 2nd; all elementary grade.
Chtmi.vi ry.—lllatliews, Paul, Ist class, advanced grade;
Hill, ?Angina's, Smith, Ist, and Thomas, 2nd, elementary
grade.
Anima Physiaugy.—Mathews, P., let class ; Hill and
Thomas 2nd class, elementary.
In previous years we gave local certifieates to the suc-
cessful candidates in these examinations, but the Science
Department, I believe, will now award them on its own
account, and there is no need for the local issue.
It rhould be mentioned that Martin Paul Matthews
standa first in nearly every subject, but having received
prizes for the same subjects last year, he is not entitled
to have them this year. He received one prize, how-
eyer, and that was for animal physiology.