The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1861-07-16 00:00:00

s WANAGE.

SWANAGH PVNI ;C. SCHOOL. The first public
examination of tb... hildren took place on Thursday
last. The scholai. .net in the Independent Chapel
in the afternoon, :.- •I at half-past 2 marched to the
lawn in front of tl. • residence of the Rev. T. Scavill,
where, after havin:.: vent an hour or two in various
amusements, they ...ere regaled with buns and tea.
The friends and fe• . porters of the school, about 200
in number, sat doe to tea at 5 o'clock in the school-
room, which WAS listefully ornamented with flags,
evergreens, and 11..,vers. After tea the chair was
taken by the Rev. ..'. Scavill, and the examination
at once commenced. Scripture History, Reading,
and Spelling were Liken by Mr. Tucker, of the
Corfe Castle British $ lined; Grammar and Geography
by Mr. Sherren, of D. :.‘thester ;and Mental Arithmetic
and English Histor; by the master, Mr. Skutt.
The intelligence manifested by the answers of the
children to the noui.,rous and varied questions put
to them on these subjects elicited the warm applause
of the meeting—a very crowded one. The report
wan highly satisfactory, showing that although the
friends of the school had met with many difficulties,
yet they had made steady progress, upwards of 10°
scholars having been admitted into the establish-
ment since January Iyi6o. The Chair-
man then called on the Rev. T. H. Hill to address
the meeting, who said that he was delighted with
Iwhat he had witnessed that evening, and thought
the order of things was being reversed, so that in-
steel of the children learning from their parents,
many parents present must that night have learned
lessons from their children. He had groat hopes
for the future generation of Swanage, and most of
all he rejoiced that whilst the school was con-
ducted on religions principles, it was perfectly free
from all sectarian influences. The Rev. Rawlings,
in an effective and humorous speech, said that the
world's destiny was in English bands, hence the im-
portance of education, and especially of religious
education—drew a pointed analogy between the work
of the teacher and that of the sculptor, and
• congratulated and highly eulogised Mr. Skutt
' in reference to the present position of the school.—
The Rev. William Morgan, of Corte Castle. said that
the great want of the nation was not only Christians,
but educated and intelligent Christians, and these
I the school bid fair to supply.—Mr. Sherren then
offered a few practical remarks to the children on
' their future destinies, urging them to use aright the
advantages they possessed ; and to the parents,
I pointing out the importance of securing regularity
and punctuality in their children's attendance, of
interesting themselves in their studies, and of gene-
rally co-operating with the teacher in his arduous
' work. —During the evening the children sang several
very pleasing school songs, in a manner which called
forth unmistakable signs of approbation on the part
of the audience. The proceedings of the afternoon
and part of the evening were enlivened by the
presence of a brass band who kindly and efficiently
I rendered their aid on the occasion.