TECHNICAL SCHOOL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 51, Issue 128, 12 March 1931, Page 6

TECHNICAL SCHOOL.

THE PRINCIPALS REPORT. The following report was presented to the Ashburton Technical School Board of Managers this afternoon by the Principal (Mr R. J. Thompson):— Classes—Both day and evening classes have settled down to the year’s work. On March 1, the day school roll was 287, (122 l>oys and 165 girls), an increase of 16 on that of the same date in 1930. Six double and 15 single desks additional are required to supply sufficient seating. Pupils from standards V and VI of the Primary Schools attending the manual training classes number 576, against 604 lasi, year. Eleven High School pupils are taking woodwork and four woolclassing as against 17 and 4 respectively. Aliss Vesty and Air Hobbs are again assisting at the Methyen District High School, ATiss Vesty for two days and Air Hobbs for one day weekly. Evening classes commenced on February 23. Seventy students enrolled for dressmaking, necessitating three full classes. Shorthand, typing, bookkeeping, invalid cookery, plumbing and carpentry classes are approximately equal to those of last New classes are matriculation English and arithmetic, under Aliss Spiller, and political economy and v mercantile law under Mr Willoughby. Since Mr Willoughby took charge of these classes three years ago he has not had a single failure in economics and 95 per cent of the mercantile law students passed. With the exception of plumbing, the trade classes have been slow in starting and, unless new enrolments are received this week, it may be necessary to drop building construction, metalwork, physics, and mathematics. The work in these, classes prepares apprentices for tlic Government technological examinations in which a high standard is required and, as the theory as well as practice is required to make a good tradesman, it. will he a loss to the trade in the town if the classes are discontinued. Equipment—The engino purchased from the Borough ouncil some time ago has been, mounted so as to act as a stand-by plant in the engine shop. Staff— Aliss E. E. Stenson, ALA., (Napier Girls’ High .School) was transferred to this school by the Education Department and commenced duties on A larch 2. .Sports—The girls’ swimming sports were held in the school pool on Alonday last and the boys’ sports held, that afternoon. Mr Penlington (Education Board’s architect) and Mr Lnngbein (Public Works Department) inspected the school last week. Up to the present the school has forwarded £l7 to the Hawke’s Bay Earthquake Fund.