The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-06-19 00:00:00

ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZES AT

THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.

The annual distribution of prizes took place at the
Grammar School in this town on Thursday last, in the
presence of a large number of the parents and friends of
the boys. The value of the institution has been consid-
erably augmented during the time that the Rev. W. J. J.
Welch has swayed its destinies, and the new scheme for
the school, Nvhich has just received the sanction of her
Majesty in Council, virtually ranks it in the list of first-
class schools, certain privileges being allowed which do
not obtain in the case of other schools, as classified by
the Endowed Ecilools Commissioners. The original
proposals of the Cemmissioners included the establish-
ment of a girls' school, but reeuniary reasons prevented
this.

The Rev. W. J. J. Welch pre sided, and in a lengthy
introductory speech, said that although there had been
no extraottheary achievements on the part of any oat of
the boys, still, on the whole, their collective improvement
during the past veer was quite up to the average of pre-
vious years, and had thoroughly realised the expectations
of the masters. With regard to the examinations of the
Science and Art Department, they had sent boys this
year for exanaination in mathematics, organic chemistry,
ni9g netisca, e:ectricity, geology, and physical geography,
and he hoped that when the lists came out the boys would
be Sound to have done as well this year as heretofore. Lie
was pleased to see that an old pupil of that school—Paul
Mathews—had recently gained an open science exhibition
of the value of £5O a year, at Christ College Cambridge
—(applause)—and he believed they would all units with
him in expressing their hearty congratulations upon the
success which lie had achieved, and hoped that triumph
would be but the prelude to many more—(great cheering).
Another oldralpil—Hill—had gained a place in the law
tripos recently, and he (Mr. Welch) was sure they would
extend their congratulations to him for having achieved
that success--(renewed cheering). Last year he had ex-
pressed:a hope that they would in the future be able to do
more in the way of athletic sports than they had hitherto
done, and at the beginning of the season he had addressed
a letter to the secretary of the Stourbridge Cricket Club,
asking for ground for the school club to play upon, hut
had slut yet received a definite reply. Negotiations were
however still pending, and he hoped before the close of
the season he would be able to make an arrangement for
a portion of the boys to play upon the Anablecote
groundsa—(applause). Having made those general re-
marks upon tee general condition of the achool, he pro-
posed to speak of a scatter which must be of high inte-
rest both to the boys and to the boys sent lo that school.
He meant the new scheme. This cad now received the
sanction of Government, and had become the law of the
land. °nth late governing body was eatinct, and arrange
ments were made for the election of a new board. He
would mention a few of the clauses in order that there
might be no misapprehension with regiud to it. He
should Lot refer to tue whole scheme; he ihould simply
read a few extracts from, In the third clause he found
it stated that the governing body should consist of ten
persons one (ex-oljicio governor) the chairman of the
Stour-bridge School Board, and one should be a mernbr
of the Bench of Magistrates, to hold office for five years;
and four should be representative governors, two of them
being elected by the Stourbridge Commissioners, and the
other two by the parents of the boys, The representa-
Live governors should be appointed to hold office for four
years, with the capacity ot re-election. There would be

_
four co optative governors, but in the first instance, six.
viz, Rev. J. S. Bolder°, Rev. D. Robertson, and Messrs
H. 0. Firmstone, R. L. Freer, J. Harward, and E. West-
wood (being six of the governors under the old regime)
He now came to that portion of the scheme which affec-
ted its masorgement. The Endowed Schools Commis-
sioners which would ensure theta having a proper labora-
tory fitted up within three years, so that he hoprd they
should be able to teach science in a more satisfacto,y
maniac: than they have been previously able to do. The
Beard Lave also stated that no scholar should be corn-
pelitd to attend any classes in whice special religious
education was given or sheuid be obliged to attend any
services of eel-guns worship. He (sir. Welch) had al-
ways respec ed the prejutices of those who believed
U fr. seutly on religious matters to himself, believing that
turn liberty consisted in that, but although he had had
boys there belonging to different denorninat:ons he never
heard of o re single objection t , the teaching of the H ny
scripture. It should always be his pleasuge to meet the
views of those who did not wish to have their children
taught anything they did not like in the way of religion
Wits' reference to the terms, the boys should pay such
fees as the governors shouid fix from time to time, so
that they did not pay less than £4, or more than £lO per
year. It would be for the governors to say whether one
uniform charge for every boy should be made, or whether
there should be gredadons among them, according to
there age or education they were receiving. At the pre-
sent time extras had to be paid for French, German,
, drawing, and other subjects; but under the new scheme
there would be no extras; not even in the case of stran-
gers. No boy should be admitted into the school unless
he had attained the age of S 3r-ears, nor be permitted to
remain after he was 18 years old, unless he intended to
entem as university ; in that case he may stay until he
has attained the age of 19 years. No boys should be
admitted who were not of good character, or were not
living at home with their parents or guardians. There
would be no exclusion of strangers for the future, and the
boys wishing to enter the school would be examined in
reading—easy narrative, writing—small text; and be ex
pected to have some knowledge of the geography of Eng-
land. The subjects of scholastic instruction would be
as follows :—Reading and Writing, ancient and modern
history, at least one breech of national science, Latin,
drawing, geography—political and physical, arithmetic,
and music. He could not help saying that the boy who
gets all that into him must be rather a clever boy and
he wonderful powers of retention. Greek would be
taught as an extra, at an extra charge. The money from
Glover's Charity was no longer to be distributed among
the poor. but would be devoted to providing exhibitions
for boys from the public elemAitary schools of Stour-
bridge, and other exhibitions were to be established as
the funds admitted. Mr. Welch contrasted the new
rules with those laid down 200 years ago, several of
when, were very quaint; and he afterwarasdistributed
the prizes to the following boys :
Latin: Ist class, Terry; 2nd, Evers; 3rd, J. H.
Simms; 4th, W. H. Scott ; sth, Cornweli ; 6th, Lewis.
Greek : Chettos. Greek Testament: Terry. Holy Scrp-
ture : Upper school, A. W. Scott; middle school, A. J.
Otter ; lower school, Cornwell. .English: Chettoe ;
middle, G. It. Deeley ; lower, Cornwell. Mathematic- :
Ist djvlio, Chettoe ; 2nd Cartwright; 3rd Maltby.
French : Terry. Chemistry and Physics : Weinwaring
Geology and Physical Geography : Stanwell. Practical
Geometry: Mainwaring. Book-keeping: J. 11. Penn.
Drill and Sword Exercise: Ist division Coldicott ; 2nd
F. Blakeway.
The Rev. J. S. Bolder() said he rose to propose a thing
which he knew all of them would have great pleasure in
doing, it was that of according a most hearty vote of
thanks to Mr. Welch, the head-master, to Mr. Goddard,
and the other masters of the school, for the way in which
they have worked during the last term, and for the able
way in which they have conducted the education of the
scholars in that school. He did not know whether he
was the proper person to propose this vole of thanks, but
tie had been asked to do so by the senior of the late go
verning body and he was the junior of the same body.
and he supposed he was asked to do it because it was
usual for the seniors to throw the work on the juniors—
(laughter). He was, hewever, only too glad to have an
opportunity of expressing his great gratification with Mr.
Welch, for the very admirable way in which the school
had been carried on, and for the success which had - at-

tended his efforts. There was one thing with regard to
the new scheme of which he should like to speak, end
that was with reference to the sum of £3O, which it was
stated would be given away yearly. He thought some
of those present might go away with the impression that
it was possible for one boy to gain that amount. Such
was not the case, as that sum included the prizes and ex-
bitions that were to be distributed in the elementary
schools in the parish.
This was seconded by Mr. Terry (Dudley), who said
he considered the Stourbridge school was fortunate iu
having se able a head master, and one so thoroughly
devoted to the interest of the school.—The Rev. J.
Richards supported the motion, and in doing so referred
to the state of the school sixty years ago, when he and
five others were the only boys attending it Latin was
all they were taught, and though not taught it at the
point of the bayonet, they were in constant fear of the
list, cane, and foot, which were in daily reqisition.
Mr. Welch acknowledged the vote of thanks, and the
proceedings closed.
[ We have since learnt that the negotiations had
been concluded satisfactory and that the boys of the
Grammar School will be permitted to play on the Cricket
ground at Amblecote.]