SCHOOL CHILDREN'S COMPETITIONS:

A BURNS CLUB'S EXPERIENCES.

At the recent Conference of the Council of the Federation the trend of the discourse and argument on the President's resolution anent the preserving of the Scottish vernacular seemed to get mixed up with what was to come later-the Report on School Children's Competitions. There was a unanimous opinion that something should be done in the matter, and that any avenue which would lead to success, ever so small though it be, should be explored. The view that seemed to come first in every one's mind was to make, if possible, the study of the vernacular part of the school curriculum. And with that end in view it was intimated from the Chair that the Scottish Education Department had been approached, and that the President of the Federation had been invited to offer suggestions for discussion between the Secretary of the Department and the Chief Inspectors of Schools. This was heartening news for delegates.

Perhaps the actual experiences of a Burns Club in endeavouring to carry out the wishes and recommendations of the Executive of the Federation with regard to School Competitions may be interesting as well as instructive. Three years ago this work was first attempted in a group of four schools in a country town. The Education Authority was asked for, and gave, permission to approach the Headmasters for their co-operation and assistance. These gentlemen were most sympathetic, and they in they in turn solicited the help of their staffs. Everything went as merry as a marriage bell, and enthusiasm was rife. The preparation was left with the teachers and their scholars. The selection of those who

were

to go forward

to the finals was left to the children themselves. In making their choice they were told what to look forgood and bad points-and were at the end asked to write down their choice in order of merit. This was highly educational, as well as a valuable exercise in appreciation. The results were most satisfactory. Meanwhile the Burns Club also was active. A hall was booked and

a public concert arranged. A well-known Edinburgh artist was secured as adjudicator, and his expenses were paid. The slogan was "Come and hear the bairns." The public came over nine hundred of them. The venture was a huge success. Gold medals were given to the winners, and book prizes to all who appeared in the finals. The scheme cost over £30.

Was everybody satisfied? No! Mothers of unsuccessful bairns were loud in their denunciations, and teacher jealousies crept in, perhaps because one school was more successful than others. It was good to know that the children themselves were real "sports" in the whole matter. We heard all these things and many

more.

Factors that arose to create difficulties were evident. Every school does not have on its staff one eminently suited for the production of a first-class platform show. Any school having such is bound to have an advantage over the others. Again, it is not every teacher who will enter into competition with his or her colleagues. There are "back-deskers " in every walk of life, and wise is the one who knows, and admits, personal limitations. It may happen that the teachers, however willing, may not be able to take up such work in the vernacular because they themselves have little knowledge of it; it may happen, too, that the Headmaster is not very sympathetic, and his apathy may well be communicated to his staff. The Hon. Secretary of Children's Competitions could cite such cases. The writer has heard him speak of a socialistic Headmaster who succeeded an

enthusiastic Burns admirer. The successor refused to countenance such work. His view was "I'm here to look after the school and to teach the scholars, and I'm not going to do any more." The other side of the picture is more cheering. There are many teachers who, without incentive from any outside source, but simply from a real love of their ain mither tongue, can find a place for an odd lesson in the general run of their work.

Next year we again brought our proposals forward. There was little encouragement, except in isolated cases, among the teachers. The seed of jealousy had flourished and animosity was rife. However, we determined to carry on. The Headmasters kindly announced the competitions and gave the lists of selected pieces, and the competition was advertised. In view of events, a smaller thing was made of it, and the very young ones were left Senior professional artists were brought in to make up the programme. The children themselves were enthusiastic, and most competitors showed the results of coaching. Two adjudicators were required-one for elocution and one for singing-and they spent a long preliminary session in picking out those who should go forward to the finals at the concert. Medals and books were again given.

out.

The public again turned out to support us, but it was not just the success of the previous year. We wanted more wholehearted support from the schools. Recognising this, a meeting was arranged between the Club and the Headmasters concerned. One thing emerged clear and outstanding from the discussion-the teachers would have nothing whatever to do with the thing if there were to be medals for prizes. They undertook, however, to arrange a meeting of the staffs concerned and to find out just the cause or causes for the falling off in support. This meeting was very tactfully guided by an enthusiastic Club member towards a favour

able settlement. It was this. The teachers would do something for us if we would drop the medal prizes and would have no competition between schools; they suggested that we should provide book prizes to each school for competition in several sections, and that the winners, with perhaps others, might come forward to give a concert, at which there would be no prizes. The psychological aspect of competitions entered largely into the whole discussion, and the decisions arrived at were based on that viewpoint.

Thus we have had to waive our point on the giving of medals. But that is a small thing compared with our gain. We are thus enabled to continue to do something definite along the same lines.

But why make the school staffs the panacea for our ills? Why make others bear our burden? The school curriculum is more than full. However, a new viewpoint is on the horizon in the awakened interest of the Scottish Education Department. Nevertheless, what is to hinder members of Burns Clubs, who in many cases are parents, themselves doing something if they are as keen as they profess themselves to be? They may not feel versed in much beyond the "Three R's," but being versed in these is sufficient to enable them to do something; and their something, little though it be, coupled with all the other efforts, may make a very big whole. In every Scottish home there is still a love for the old national songs. The range of these songs is wide. There is something somewhere in them to appeal to the healthy Scottish child. Every child is something of a poet; every child is more or less musical; every child is a patriot at heart. The most undiscerning and bigoted critic cannot maintain his charge that the vernacular, as preserved in the Scottish songs, is "vulgar." And if the young ones are encouraged to love and revere the masterpieces of Scottish song, to the exclusion of the cheap modern rubbish of the music-halls, surely the seed

so planted will in its own good time come to fruition. And not alone through music can this end be achieved. The wise parent who keeps an eye on his child's reading can have no qualms in placing in his hands the works of Sir Walter Scott, who, at a time when our mother tongue was in disfavour, rescued it from the extinction which threatened it. And last, but not least, would we had more Scottish parents who would realise that in the writings of our Immortal Bard lies the material that will foster in the future citizen many virtues which too often are allowed to decay with the advancing years.

Musical Festivals are another avenue of approach, though we, as a Club, have had little success in that way. For the past two years a gold medal has been given to our County Festival for competition in the adult (over twenty) Elocution competition (Scottish). The support has been poor. But that does not mean that there has been no good in it. We shall continue our support, so that in time, when the efforts and propaganda work of the Federation have borne fruit, we shall find in keener competition a consolation for the lean times of yesterday. FRANK TAYLOR.