Page fifty-three

Preface
Contents
Chapter I
Chapter II
Chapter III
Chapter IV
Chapter V
Chapter VI
Chapter VII
Chapter VIII
Chapter IX
Chapter X
Chapter XI
Chapter XII
Chapter XIII
Appendix

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Contents

The great advantage of providing suitable employment for leisure hours can hardly be over-estimated. Young people, after they leave school, have a certain amount of time thrown on their hands, and their future is often much influenced by the use they make of it. One thing is certain, if they are to be kept from hurtful things, they must have something to employ both mind and body. The saying is as true as it is trite: “Satan finds some mischief still for idle hands to do.” To complete a child’s education he should be trained not only to learn in school, but also to utilise his time out of school.

It is one of the great advantages of a training in the schools of Friends, that so many ways are open for the profitable use of leisure time. Much has been said in favour of natural history; at the same time it is not a study that can be easily followed by those who are confined to town life, so that it is too frequently dropped for want of the necessary stimulus.

Whilst it is advantageous to have a hobby of some kind, a youth wants more than one string to his bow, so as to be able to bend to circumstances. It might interest the general reader to know how this problem has been worked out at Ayton School.

The children are encouraged to cultivate small patches of garden ground, and prizes are annually given for the tidiest garden. Many after leaving school have much valued the taste thus acquired.

Those who are mechanically inclined can find abundance of employment in the workshop. A joiner spends a couple of hours every week in giving advice and assistance; there is great diversity of employment in this direction, some are specially fond of lathe work, whilst fretwork and carving have great attraction for others. Some excellent specimens of shipbuilding have been shown of late years, requiring much patience and care; besides these, many useful articles have been turned out, as clothes’ horses, boxes of all descriptions, book shelves, book cases, &c. The girls, too, have exhibited a variety of articles as the outcome of their leisure time, both in sewing, knitting, and fancy work, and most of them have had some experience in the art of bread making, specimens of which have been occasionally shown. Printing, drawing, mapping, painting, &c., have been encouraged and practiced on both sides of the house.

Mention must also be made of the out-door games, which occupy so large a portion of time. Cricket is an old favourite; in early days the bats were sometimes of a primitive make, and although not able to do the same amount of execution as their cane-handled successors, there was no lack of enthusiasm when playing. A portion of the play-field has been levelled for the purpose; recently the game has been played more systematically and many matches have been won on the home ground, but none have as yet been played from home.

Paper-chase was at one time very popular and many miles were often traversed on Saturday afternoons. Skipping has occasionally had a turn, but neither boys nor girls have shown much proficiency. For many years croquet was a favourite occupation on the girls’ side, but this has entirely yielded the palm to tennis. Of late years by far the most absorbing game has been football and numerous matches have been played.

The boys’ school diary during the winter months records the various games, with the success attending them, which are duly forwarded to the Natural History Journal.

The want of a gymnasium has been long felt, as well as more shed accommodation during wet weather. This is intended to be remedied if the Jubilee subscription list is well responded to.

In looking back upon the last 50 years, we cannot but feel thankful to those who, by their enterprise and zeal, sought to spread the blessings of education. The good work which they begun has gone steadily on, and others have been raised up with the same earnest desires for the welfare of those around them. The blessing of God has rested on their labours, and with the continuance of His favour many years of prosperity for Ayton School may be looked forward to in the belief that the good seed sown in many youthful hearts shall be fruitful in results to His praise.

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