TECHNICAL SCHOOL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 107, 15 February 1935, Page 7

TECHNICAL SCHOOL

DECISIONS OF THE BOARD. EXAMINATION SUCCESSES. The Ashburton Technical High School Board of Managers met last evening, when there were present Messrs A. L. Jones (chairman), W. Bramley, L. A. Charles, A. Brown, R. Houston, H. Watts, C. H. F. Maynard, E. Buchanan, Mrs Tinker and Dr. J. Connor. The financial statement showed that there was a credit balance of £289. The chairman referred to early closing of the school during the hot weather and said that the difficulty lay in the fact that there were so many pupils from the country. They travelled' Ipng distances to get to school and he had agreed with the Principal that in the cooler weather tne school should be open continuously, and this had "been done. Classes had been le-ai-ranged to suit any break that might be occasioned. Primary school children were able to go home, ’but the Technical school children had nothing to do till their trains or buses left town but wander about the school The action taken was approved. Mr Watts agreed that the action taken had been in the best interests of the pupils under the circumstances. The chairman said that, rightly the Principal had been annoyed over the suggestion made by the Department. The Principal (Mr R. J. Thompson) reported as follows: “Roll.—The day school opened on February 5 with, an enrolment of 239, an increase of eight over that of last y ear First-year enrolments on the opening day were 120, compared with 107 last year. Owing to the large number of pupils placed in positions last year (65), in addition to those returning to their home farms, the senior classes this year will he smaller .than usual.' There were 12 fourth *and fifth year students in the commercial class last year; this year there are none. In the third and fourth year trades, only 10 students are left, as against 16‘last year. Similarly the fourth and fifth year domestics show a drop of eight in numbers. The decrease in. the numbers of senior classes shows that the school is fulfilling one of its functions, that of co-operating with trades and business, and the .increase in the first-year classes promises well for succeeding years. “Examinations.—ln the NovemberDecember examinations, the following were the results.: —48 obtained Senior Free Places; 3 obtained extension of Junior Free Places; 1 passed Bookkeeping, Stage II.; 1 passed Entrance examination; 16 were successful in the examinations of the Association ot Commercial Science, Dunedin; 7 passed in the Technological examination for carpentry, joinery, and building construction; 4 for engineering trades; 4 for motor mechanics; 6 for electrical wiring and fitting ; 1 passed the Government examination for junior sliort-hand-typistes, and 2 for senior; 3 passed in shorthand at over 110 words a minute, and 2 at over 100; 1 passed in typing at 64 words a minute, 2 at over 60, and 3 at 50. “Grounds.—During the holidays, 1200 square yards of asphalt have been top-dressed. The bath was cleaned and filled for the opening of school. “Early Closing.—According to the instructions from the Education Department, the .school was closed on Wednesday afternoon, the 6th, because of the hot weather but, owing to the large number of train and ’bus students attending, the afternoon closing was found to be inconvenient. Arrangements were therefore made that the afternoons, intil the 18th, would be tfiken up by drill and games, including swimming, except when the weather was excessively hot. On wet afternoons the ordinary school timetable will be carried out.” The report was adopted and the Principal and staff and the pupils were congratulated on the large number of passes at the recent examinations. " For the Visiting Committee, Dr. Connor presented a report regarding a number of requirements in the school and on the grounds. He suggested that the asphalting should be continued to the entrance at Havelock Street. It was agreed to make extensions to the electric lighting in tne engineering shop and to extend the asphalting. Mr Charles referred to a meeting of the executive, and said that a good deal of work had been carried out. It recommended a quantity of equipment for the school. Air Charles said that the time had arrived when the Board must make a certain number of replacements each year. Four new typewriters were required and two new sewing machines. The executive recommended the purchase of both machines and two typewriters. Air Houston said he would like more information on the question. He was not prepared to “swallow” everything the staff said it wanted. ' Mr Maynard said he had sufficient faith in the staff to believe that what they asked for was required to enable efficient tuition to be given. , Mr Houston: You may have sufficient confidence as you say, but we are here to see that everything is done properly. It was agreed to send to Mr E. F. Nicoll, who was the Board’s representative on the recent Teachers’ Court of Appeal, a letter thanking him for having acted on the Board’s behalf.