HEAVY ROLL

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 290, 7 December 1944, Page 6

HEAVY ROLL

MT. ALBERT GRAMMAR FUNCTIONS OF SCHOOL . "This year we were forced to open our doors to a far greater number of pupils than could be conveniently handled," said the headmaster of the j Mount Albert Grammar School, Mr. j F. W. Gamble, in his annual report at to-day's prize-giving ceremony. There had been an increase of 1501 in the roll, he said. Defections during the year totalled 5 per cent. The final leaving list promised to be light, so that 1945 would probably see a return entry of about 650. "It seems at the moment that difficulty will be found in controlling the number of new pupils so as to i keep the roll below 900," said Mr. Gamble. "Nor in the interests of j the future life of the school is it a ■ sound policy to bring about a reduction only -in the numbers of | next year's third forms. The establishing of any new school in a district makes adjustments necessary, I and we are involved in problems I arising from the opening of the Avondale Technical High School. "In my opinion it is a mistake not to have made that school serve immediately the needs of first, i second and third year pupils from its natural geographical area, and thus spread the withdrawals from this and other schools over three divisions of pupils. As matters stand our reduction will be made only in the case of first-year pupils to the extent of 100. Academic Strength "This might prove satisfactory enough if it were not for the fact that quite a third of the boys directed here may be needing an; agricultural course. I am much troubled by this threat to the. academic strength of the school, j Agriculture is a necessary and splendid course for a section of our own population, but it is another I matter to make Mount Albert the headquarters for all agricultural instruction in the metropolitan area., The likelihood Qf a special farm college being erected in the province is so small that the work we are now being asked to do must be regarded as fairly permanent. Our choice lies between refusing admis-; sion to more than a limited number I of agricultural students or of allowing the school to be built up into a semi-agricultural college. "As the Avondale Technical High School will absorb a fair number of boys from our old territory, I want to warn parents that the name of that school may create a wrong ; impression. The term ' technical high' gives the idea of a heavy ; technical bias, and it will save pos- \ sible trouble later if parents in the \ area concerned realise that at Avon- i dale pupils who so desire will receive '• all the secondary tuition customary ■ at a grammar school. '■ '. Teachers Not Appreciated i i Referring to the attractiveness of ■ the teaching profession, Mr. Gamble | said university professors and lectur-' ; ers and teachers in primary and post-primary schools found it hard to reconcile the magnanimous eulogies of their work so often expressed : in words with the parsimonious appreciation given in a practical , fofm. I j Salaries for secondary . school . teachers were helplessly out of pro- ] portion to the advancing costs of i iving. It could not be said that the : 1944 scheme was worthy of much ( approval. Further alterations were '■' expected sooner or later, but it was ' regretted that the scheme was ever.' allowed to aggravate the present < feelings of unrest and futility J among a class of professionals who. ] had for years waited patiently for' ] attention to their just claims. i', "I have no hesitation in saying i ] that the popularity qf teaching is suffering a severe decline, nor can it j expect to recover its place in the j field of competition to-day until the j remuneration is commensurate with the responsibilities and importance of the duties rendered," said Mr. Gamble. g