Alexander Road High School
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 Civic heraldry of South Africa |
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ALEXANDER ROAD HIGH SCHOOL
Country: South Africa
Campus/location : Adcockvale Extension, Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape
Official blazon
- (af)
Wapen: Omgekeerd gaffelsgewys verdeel. I, in groen, 'n diskuswerper van silwer; II, in rooi, 'n oop boek van silwer; III, in silwer, 'n groen antieke lamp, rooi gevlam.
Wapenspreuk: NIL SINE LABORE
- (en)
Arms: Per pall inverted, Vert, Gules and Argent, dexter a discus thrower Argent, sinister an open book Argent and in base an antique lamp Vert, inflamed Gules.
Motto: NIL SINE LABORE
Not mentioned in the blazon but included in the illustration are a fillet pall and a narrow border in gold. Also, although the blazon mentions an antique lamp, the drawing shows a candlestick with a distinct candle below the flame.
Origin/meaning
The arms were officially granted on January 15, 1965.
The first division of the shield shows a classical statue of a discus thrower, blazoned as argent but clearly taking its colour from the white marble used for vast numbers of classical statues, both Ancient Greek and Ancient Roman. Since the drawing is in the Ancient Greek style, the athlete is naked and male, as the athletes of the ancient Olympic Games always were. This figure represents the physical component in the education offered at Alex, as the school is popularly known.
The book is a symbol of learning, and its pages are blank, symbolising the fact that the pupils are writing their own futures.
The third division shows an antique lamp, symbolising the spiritual component in what the school offers.
The motto translates as “Nothing without work”, pointing to the school’s emphasis on the pupil’s contribution to his or her own education, as well as to the effort put into education by the staff.