| The
Autumn Term brought a great deal
of sadness to those of us who
have been associated with the
School for two or three years
for, in addition to the personal
grief of Mr. Baxter's death, and
our sorrow for Mrs. Clare who
taught at the School for barely a
week, we lost two of our most
memorable former Masters Ernest
Wood (1922 - 1962) and Ewart
Heywood (1948 - 1969). Both men
in their very different ways had
enriched the School and had
endeared themselves to many
generations of students. Both
were remarkable men with a
breadth of culture reinforcing
their specialist abilities as
mathematician and English
scholar. Tributes to them in
former editions of the Prescotian
are there to remind us of them. These
several shocks to our system
called for a great deal of
adjustment. Not only had we
started the year with a large
number of new staff, but at
Easter we were also to lose Mr.
J.D. Swain who as Head of Middle
School had brought such common
sense, sympathy and good order to
the special problems of that age
group. For his sake we could not
regret his translation to the
Deputy Headship at the Selwyn
Jones High School,
Newton-le-Willows.
Mr. L.N.
Atkinson's arrival as Deputy from
Hindley and Abram Grammar School
was therefore most welcome in
April, and he has already shown
himself in full control of a
difficult brief.
Fortunately
this summer a number of
departures in the staff room has
been fewer than in past years.
Mr. and Mrs. Freestone's move to
Pudsey has deprived us of
immeasureable talent in matters
creative and technical and the
fact that we called on their
assistance on "Zigger
Zagger,' and the Dent Camp at and
beyond the end of term indicates
how much we owe to them.
Adjustment
has also been necessary to the
new system of local government.
It is trying enough to remember
that our postal address has
changed from Lancashire to
Merseyside; what has to be
realised is that the whole
structure has changed and we can
only hope that improved services
will compensate for the loss of
our Lancastrian birthright. At
least Knowsley is a direct
descendent of the County Palatine
and should surely inherit some of
its qualities of character, if
not much of its wealth.
Adjustment,
too, is anticipated with the
plans for comprehensive
reorganisation. The waiting has
been long but inevitable.
Meetings of the Education
Officers with teaching staff and
parents, and the proposals of the
Education committee add a touch
of certainty to the prospects for
1975.
Most
school events are recorded in the
papers and all have been
mentioned in the half term
newsletter to parents. The new
arrangements for Prizegiving
permitted more intermingling and
conversation, and avoided the
boredom of long processions and
intermittent applause. This
year's sermon at Founder's Day by
Dean Patey of Liverpool Cathedral
was surely the most invigorating
for years.
Within
the School the increasing size of
the Sixth form has made our
accommodation problems more
insoluble but the greater freedom
the pupils have been permitted
has reduced the pressures and
brought encouraging results.
Whatever
the controversies that surround
us, it is deeply pleasing to know
that over 905% of our boys are
engaged in one or other of our
successful activities, giving a
sense of identity which itself
promotes loyalty and high
standards.
J.C.S.
Weeks
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