Saltus Grammar School - Yearbook (Hamilton, Bermuda)

Page 16 text:

11 parents prefer the established BriLish ideas of education and disci- pline to experimental schools for wealthy boys in America. With these sources of supply it is hoped that the Saltus Boarding School may expand and be able to continue to give an opportunity to those who are in siympathy and agreement with its aims and objectives. EMPIRE DAY AT SALTUS GRAMMAR SCHOOL. STIRRING ADDRESS BY THE VICE-ADMIRAL., COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF. Empire Day was celebrated at Saltus Grammar School on Mon- day morning by a service conducted by the Headmaster, Mr. R. E. E. Booker, in the School Hall. Vice-Admiral S. Meyrick was present, and gave a stirring address to the boys. Mrs. Meyrick was also pres- ent with the Flag-Lieutenant and Mrs. Lawrence, and Mrs. C. G. G. Gilbert represtented the I. O. D. E. The service opened with the singing of the School hymn, and the Lesson, Let us now praise famous men. . . . was read by the Head of the School, N. H. Williams. The School then joined in singing two verses of the song, Land of Hope and Glory. In the cours e of his introductory remarks the Headmaster paid special tribute to the valuable work done by the I. O. D. E. He believed that the Islands owed a great debt to the I. O. D. E. for instituting in 1911 the observance of Empire Day in their schools, and for keeping it alive since. The Admiral said that it gave him very great pleasure to be once again in an atmosphere of youth; though they might be inclined to look upon him as an admiral, he would like to remind them that he had recently occupied for thiree years a position very similar to that of their own Headmaster: he referred to his appointment as Captain of the Royal Naval College at Dartmouth. And so hoys were no strangers to him, and he hooped that he had benefitted a little by a study of their point of view. The future of the British Empire would very soon be in the hands of youth, of the boys of today, and he believed that it would be a great lapse of duty on the part of their elders if they did not take every opportunity of passing on their own experiences of life, which might be useful to those boys when the time came for them to choose the direction in which their duty should lie. When they thought of the British Empire, let them turn their

Page 15 text:

10 at fault and to emphasize the unpleasant aspects of home life. But there are the discussions and nervous reactions between adults, the clashing of temperaments between brothers, which may impair a child ' s health and thus effect his aptitude for work or games a mani- festation of mental upset far removed from the cause. The attractions of living at home are numerous and obvious; more comforts, spasmodic affection from someone, freedom to choose one ' s playmates. But these can and will be enjoyed more fully in the holidays when parents can be more indulgent having turned over the disciplinary training to experts. Parents relieved of this responsi- bility will have a pleasanter relationship with their children. At school a boy is punished impersonally by a master. When the ordeal is past, the boy returns to the other boys and plays in a normal man- ner. It is a les ' son learned and over. Punishment meted out by a mother or father, in order to seem consistent, has to be followed by a period of disapproval when neither child nor parent is happy and the results are far from satisfactory. It is a subject vast and important but one is limited for space. It is reminiscent of an English boy of five who once demanded of a leading citizen in Bermuda, Hartley Watlington, Sir, tell me all you know about boats . The English system of education, of which the preparatory school is an integral part, is the outcome of years of educational experience. The best type of school has been a model for schools the world over. The Saltus Boarding School endeavours to be a preparatory school, but adapted to local needs. Because of small numbers, due to limited accommodation, it can only make a start in the right direction, but it is trying to instil in the boys the proper attitude to their environment. It is trying to teach good habits, and, by s et times for all things, en- able them to distinguish at an early age the difference between work and play, and to realize that work comes first. With the full time boarders the effort expended, which is just as great as if there were thirty boys, has been amply rewarded in the form of gratification expressed by parents. Who are the boarders? Bermudian children whose parents are doing what they think right regardless of their persional desires to have the constant companionship of their own children. It is sad but true that the wrench of separation at an early age is felt more by a mother and father than their son. There are sons of English boys here whose parents living in America wish to have them educated in a British Colony near at hand. And there are American boys whose

Page 17 text:

12 minds to those illustrious people who had built it up. Let them pick cut th ir heroes. He could commend to them one of the greatest, Lord Nelson, who had made Duty an outstanding feature of bis life: they would doubtless remember the story of how Nelson, when lying mortally wounded in the cock-pit of the Victory, had spoken to Hardy those famous words, Thank God I have done my duty. They must not get the idea that duty meant being a Bill Heavy- weather, a pessimis ' t; duty required them to be charitable, sympathe- tic and helpful to their fellows, and to Play the Game, and that was an attitude to be applied not only in their work and games, but in all their activities and in their dealings with their fellows. If they play- ed the game in that Vay, then like Nelson they would be able to say, Thank God I have done my duty. He advised them to go ahead cheerfully, and he felt that he could trust them to prove worthy trustees of the Empire. When they gazed at the Union Jack, in it they would see the symbol of Unity in the Empire, and in their King — God bless him — they would see the cornerstone that binds the Briti£ h Empire. CRICKET AND FOOTBALL. Last year ' s cricket season was greatly curtailed by inclement v eather and lack of suitable opposition for the first XI — they played only three matches, of which one was drawn and the other two were lost. However, a combined team of staff and boys defeated the Police and a team from the Sherwood Foresters, while the 2nid. XI lost one and won the other of their two matches. The Colts, after having a good fixture list arranged for them, had to cancel their remaining fixtures, due to the unsuitability of grass wickets, after having played only two matches. However, this term we have obtained another concrete wicket and are looking forward to having some good games and realising an improvement in the standard of play. The past Football season can be reckoned as the most success- ful that the School has had for a great number of year. During the first half of the season the 1st. XI drew three games, lost one and won one. Mos ' t of these games were against older players, but the school gained valuable experience which was useful to them during the last half of the sieason. Playing return matches against these teams the school was victorio ' us in all except one, which they again