Eccles
Grammar School
This year the Union is offering
a wider field of activities. There has already been a visit to the Library
Theatre, to see "As You Like It," which was very successful, and we
shall arrange more.
Besides these visits to the
theatre there will be debates, lectures and music appreciations. Two lectures
have already taken place: one was given by Miss Robson, whose subject was
"Child Care" and the other by Dr. Lees of Manchester University,
whose topic was “Can a Scientist be a Christian and be Honest?” The Committee
hopes to be able to arrange unusual activities for Easter.
Although the Union is
meant primarily for the fifth and sixth forms, members of the Lower school will
occasionally be invited to join us.
The Union is a School
society: it was not created for the sole amusement of the Committee. A great
deal of time and effort is being spent in trying to infuse new life into the
Union and to provide something for each sector of the senior forms. If we are
to be successful we need your support.
If anyone has any constructive ideas which he
and she feels would be useful to the Union, don't hide them — bring them to us!
S.
A. Twigg, 6UA, N. Knight, 6LA.
DEBATES AND YOU
If you want to join into
the debating society you have to be able to express and punctuate your speech so
as they can understand you and it is quiet clear what you meant for to mean
this is needed if you is too win any debates what you enter I now that
because I has been in several bedates but as yet am not won any I does not know
why because I think I am quiet good at intelectuel speeching and me mum agrees
with me;
R. Sandercock, 4Sc.
JUNIOR DEBATING SOCIETY
REPORT
At the Annual General
Meeting B. Jones was elected chairman of the Junior Debating Society and fourth
form representative J. Rayner was appointed vice-chairman. P. Reed was
appointed secretary and third form representative. A. Davies was appointed
vice-secretary and P. Jones and S. Higginbotham were appointed second form
representatives.
During the year, the
committee met with enthusiasm not only from pupils, but also from members of
staff. In February a "Teachers' Debate" was held. Mr. Chapman and Mr.
Coles proposed the motion: "This house believes that teachers should wear
school uniforms, and Mr. Thomas (geography) and Mrs. Boireau proposed the
motion: "This house believes that Eccles needs brightening up."
The motions were opposed in
these debates by members of the third and fourth forms. The attendance at this
meeting reached 114, which is a record attendance for a debate at this school.
Other debates included a "Brain of Eccles" contest, which was won by
A. Lingard 5A, interhouse debates and a "One-Minute Please" in
November, which was so popular that another one was held in February. In a
"Top of the Form" competition IS proved themselves to be the
"top form" in general knowledge. A balloon debate in September proved
George Bernard Shaw (B. Jones) to be the most popular character.
The committee was sorry to
lose Penny Reed when she left and wish to thank her for her service and also
the catering department for giving their time. Last but not least we thank Mr.
Riley for his guidance.
This year so far we
have already had five meetings, which have been well attended. During the term
we are to hold a Staff v Pupils debate, a "Top of the Form" contest
and a series to discover the "Brain of Eccles.".
A.D.
MUSICAL HOLIDAY
This summer, we spent a
very enjoyable week at a school orchestra course, which was held at Downe House
School, situated in the beautiful countryside of Berkshire, a few miles from
Newbury. We arrived there amid a confusion of luggage and instruments after a
long and tiring journey, which included the intricacies of the London
underground.
There were about two hundred and fifty young musicians present, all of school age, whose ability and talent ranged from the potential Royal Academy standard to mediocre ability. However, one of the things which impressed us most was the common love of music and spirit of enthusiasm which pervaded the atmosphere for, even though the weather remained glorious throughout the week, many chose to spend their afternoons making use of the private practice rooms, or playing chamber music together, with obvious enjoyment.
On the first day, we were
assembled into four orchestras, and sent off to rehearse with our respective
conductors. We were quite alarmed at first to discover that we were expected to
be able to sight-read through a symphony! There were three rehearsals per day,
but we had the afternoons and evenings free.
There was plenty of
entertainment provided for the evenings in the form of film shows, concerts and
dancing. It was interesting to observe the same people who had been playing
classical music with such verve during the day, dancing to pop records in the
evening with equal enthusiasm.
At the end of the week, the orchestras gave their separate concerts, consisting of the works which had been rehearsed, and that brought an unusual and unforgettable holiday to an end.
Kathleen
Howard and Tim Reed
[Table of Contents]
[Previous Page] [Next
Page]