TECHNICAL SCHOOL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 287, 15 September 1933, Page 3

TECHNICAL SCHOOL

BUILDING PROGRAMME.

NEW CLASSROOM PROPOSED MR JONES AGAIN CHAIRMAN. The Ashburton Technical School Board of Managers met last evening, when there were present Messrs A. L. Jones (chairman), J. Watson, W. Bramley, W. J. Sparrow, L. A. Charles, C- H. Maynard, E. Buchanan, R. Houston, and W. G. Hillier. The financial statement showed that there was a credit balance of £228 19s Id. The incidental allowance in the past month had been £55. The chairman welcomed Mr Hillier, who had been re-elected to represent the School Committees, and Mr Buchanan, who had been elected to represent the employers. The Principal and staff were congratulated on the satisfactory nature of the inspector's report. The Principal (Mr R. J- Thompson) reported that the school reassembled after the spring holidays on Monday, with a full roll. During the vacation opportunity was taken to repaint "the" dressmaking room, typewriting room, room A, office, and the corridor. Since his last report, positions had been obtained by six boys and one girl, three on farms and four in

offices. A number of the girls had been knitting clothing for necessitous children during the winter term. The election held during the month had resulted in Mr S. Buchanan being elected as representative of employers. The Education Board's nominee had not been decided upon. The annual dinner would be given to members of the Borough and County Councils on October G. As a comparative test, several students from the school entered in the Dominion contest for typewriting held by the Association of Commercial Science, Dunedin. Detailed results had not come to hand, but Miss Mabel Weston came fourth in tbe junior contest out of 81 entrants from all parts of the Dominion. This was particularly gratifying as she was two years under the age limit. It was stated that repair work and renovations at the school im the past week had cost £49, of which £3O would be supplied by the Department. Examination Requirements. The chairman presented his annual report, which read as follows: "The year has been an important one in many respects. From the educational aspect of the school life, the introduction of the Intermediate Examination necessitated a big change in the scope of the work and, cuie to lateness of information, seriously curtailed the work of the staff in the teaching of technical subjects not included in the examination list. The Department, however, sanctioned inclusion of certain of these subjects and, although much temporary inconvenience was caused, the net results comparative with other years was much the same. This year the examination will not be held, and the opportunity will again be taken to concentrate on technical subjects. "While not entirely against the principle of some universal standard of

examination in Secondary Schools for re-admission, in our school we serve a very definite and useful purpose in

the concentration of the teaching of commercial, manual, domestic, and agricultural subjects which are not

definitely limited to certain examina-

tion standards, hut endeavour to fit ■boy or girl to take his or her place in a chosen course of work in life. The examination requirements did limit this scope. "I would like to congratulate and thank the Principal and his staff for the excellent manner in which they filled the breach and brought the pupils up to the required standard. The cessation of the Mount Somers train service had an unfortunate effect on the school roll—about 30 children being debarred from attending. The drop in roll numbers resulted in the loss of one teacher, Miss S. Baird who, on appointment to Paeroa District High School, was not replaced. "The roll numbers are as follows:

Day school 289 (310 last year), even-

ing school 134 (158), Primary School p pupils attending for manual training 579 (571), High School pupils attending for woodwork and woolclassing 40 (30); total number of students 1042 (1069).

Reduction of Classes. "Factors tending to reduce the evening numbers were that the Department's decision not to grant extensions of senior free places, the holding of a woolclassing class for unemployed which automatically cut out the ordinary woolclassing class, and the effect of the present economic conditions which have caused the dropping of the senior class in Arithmetic, English, and Sign and Ticket-writ-ing. "The loss of Primary pupils from the Mount Somers line was somewhat lessened by the fact that we were able to send two instructors to Metbven to take extra classes for the Lyndhurst school, a,iul also because we were able, after a long-continued correspondence, to obtain a conveyance allowance for the pupils of the Mayfield and Westerfield schools. "We regret that in spite of pressure from all sides we were unable to secure assistance towards the conveyance of postprimary students from the same line. "On the administrative side of the school we have suffered a severe reduction in the incidental allowance .necessitating the utmost economy in the working of the school. The introduction of a budget system during the course of last year will be of value to all members in obtaining the exact posit ion of school finances. "A comprehensive statement brought down by a isub-committee revealed our financial position as sound for the ensuing year and, with judicious expenditure, we will be able to adequately attend to the needs of all departments of the school. In the .past, the Board of Managers has had a definite plan in view regarding Hie acquisition of lands for playing areas. This plan has been accomplished. "I think the time has now arrived when we, as a Board, must plan a campaign for buildings. I would

suggest that this be done during the course of Jhis next year and, whilst tbe realisation of it may' be delayed, it will eventuate if we lay down our policy with care. The piecemeal policy of renovating a room here and a room there is unsatisfactory and, whilst it has in the past fulfilled the exigencies of that time, it has really not been conclusive and entirely satisfactory from the educational point of view.

"During the year the boys of the agricultural classes had the good fortune to inspect the farms of Messrs J. Moore, junr., and W. J. Allen, lluapuna, and Messrs Cochrane Bros., Elgin, at all of which they received most interesting instruction. They also attended tbe Agricultural and Pastoral Association's lectures on 'Draught Horses' and 'Ailments of Sheep,' besides taking part in the judging competitions at the Show, and attending the various horse and sheep fairs, and the sheepshearing class held bv the school.

"The grounds are in a satisfactory condition and the interior of the main building has been renovated. During the winter the firepot in the heater burnt out. The Department made a grant towards the cost of a new one and the work necessary. This work has been completed. "It is with regret that we record the loss to the Board of Messrs T. Hayes and W. J. Sparrow. Mr Hayes has been a member since the inception of the Board, and chairman for one and a-half years. Mr Sparrow, another valuable member of the Board, has been compelled to resign on account of ill-health.

Developments Followed. "With a view to keeping in touch with development in education, I, in company with the secretary, attended during the year meetings of the. Standing Committee on Education. This committee is a very live one, and gives much time to study of educational problems, and I trust the Board will again appoint a representai-ifc.

"I would like to place on record the effort of the senior boys in making a book-case for the school, and -who are at present constructing a filing cabinet for the commercial room. To members of this Board who have always assisted me during my term as chairman, and who have thus made my term a happy, and 1 hope a useful one, I extend my thanks and appreciation." The report w f as adopted.

The Executive's action in moving toward the building of a new classroom and in applying for a subsidy on the labour cost under the building scheme was approved.

A vote of thanks was accorded Mr Bramley for the plans for the new class room, submitted by him at short notice at the request of the Executive.

The new. room will be 34 feet long and 22 feet wide, and is intended for use as an art room.

The following officers were elected: — Chairman, Mi: A. L. Jones; deputychairman, Mr W. G. Hillier; treasurer, Mr J. Watson.

The election of the executive and the grounds committee was held over till next meeting, when the appointment of a full Board has been completed. Thanks to the Board for the consideration extended to him during the time he had been a member was expressed by Mr Sparrow, who was attending his final meeting as the Education Board's appointee. It was agreed to retain the evening meetings.

The Board went into details regarding the proposed new classroom, and it was agreed that the executive should go into the question of a building programme to cover the next few years, and present a full report to the next meeting of the Board.