CLASSROOM AND PLAYGROUND.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13746, 30 May 1910, Page 4

CLASSROOM AND PLAYGROUND.

When the cooking and caipentr.classes f<ir senior pupils were first started, considerable oppo<=iti>:i v as experienced from parents who preferrcQ to per.-onulh instruct their girls in the culinary art, or desired that their boys should receive instruction in subjects more closely connected with theii school work. The children, as one would expect, .velcomed p.nytliing that; would take them from the drudgery of lesson banks, and entered eageily into this addition ta the syllabus. This interest lias iKon well sustained, witfi the- result that the good work done by tic various classes has dispelled ail doubts as to their value, and parents have beon quk-k to recognise the benefiis accruing from such useful ami practical instruction.

Ei'ipii'' Day wj>s celcbratel at the West Christcliurch District Hign School this year by the children saluting the tiasi. The pupils were then murchof , inio school, and the various flosses wero p.ddre&sfd by the hentlmaster. after which the ordinary work •jt the day was resumed.

The value oi lady members of school committees was apparent at the la.st meeting of ihe .S>clenham Coii'imtteO, when zlie quocion* oi possible iiiiprov.--jnerits in the cleaning and sanitation o\ the school \.-is being (ii:ciis- ; <xl. 1 he committee promptly :ipp.'»int? 1 its two iiulv nienili. , !-'; a sul>-v.i:in.iitiee to investigate ::;i<! report, and proceoded t-i the next bilsiiß'.vS witii an air of .satisfaction.

During tlie loccnt Holidays a number <;r the boys of the "West Chri.-t----diurch District High School, 1:1 charge of one oi th- masters, paid a visit to thir.G)dk<y Her.d lighthouse. Miov an e7.iovr.blc' walk the liglitiinisc wx? reached about. il.;U>. The 1 oy«r tlien entered tin; lighthouse itself, where they spent a \ery instructive hall-li'iur, the' lighthouse-keeper going to considerable trouble in explaining am: demonstrating the working of the ii.-2.iit- After lunch panics were indulged in for some time, and a return v.i- n.iide via the Summit road. Tie jr.rt.v rcMfiir , ;! C'hri .lehurcli ;bout ').'•> J p.m.* having .'.pent a nio.it enjoyable day. The boys' best thanks are due to the liirMlioi'se-kecprr and his uife for their kindness to them during their visit.

Though tlio action of tlie Education Board in pvovidinc fr< r lesson books hai> done muc-li to lessen the burden of school expenses, the innovation has not, it would appear, tho approval of everyoiif. In tlie lirst place, the books cannot be taken home; but perhaps, from the point of view of those who find ihat the children of to-day aiv overworked, this is greatly in their favour. Unfortunately, opinions differ. Then, seoendly, ther« ii> the time wasted in giving out and recalling the hooks each day. Finally, and most important of HI, there is the risk of contagion from books which change hands from day to day til! the ten years -which is their allotted span <;f life are consumed, ond thi-y are consigned to the rubbish heap. One schoolmaster happily suggests that the prant should be transferred to perishable books, such as copy-books or drawing hooks, thus, doing away with the disadvantages.

A noticeable improvement to the Sydenham School is the construction of a miniature rifle range. Though not yet completed, the range looks a serviceable one, and every precaution lias been taken to render it perfectly safe. The boys have : bet>ri very keen" on obtaining this .asset and have materially assisted in tho raising of funds. Tli<> ranpo should certainly do a, grcot .deal to luaintain tho standard of cadet shooting in Chrjstchureh, and will no doubt do its share townrds- producing the marksmen cf the future.

■..Among the prize winners in the recent Musiocil, Literary and Elocutionary Competitions were two-Sixth Standard pupils of tho West Chn'stchurch District High School—Anne Bell and Sophy McClillounh, "ho were successful in the class for junior essays.

The grounds of the Bfomvcod school present a- very ou.sy scene at this time. Lust winter a portion of the playground was generally under water, and always unfit to play on. This may not peem a very serious matter, but the ground i.s. for the eizo of the school, small, and all the available spflco i:< urgently nced- <■(!. Anxious to ovoid a repetition of this, .the headmaster and some of the older boys have, with the assistance of a man, -with horse and cart, been busily ongagod in fillina the hollow. A new fence is also being constructed, so that with the completion of these improvements, the school should have it decidedly smart appearance.

Jhe little- Nature study collectors belonging to the Addington infante were very busy during the recent holidays and various were the specimens brought ior approval. One" sturdy boy pulsated with delight when lie. Presented a ,piece of stone hurled from ierror weary." Many had taken keen interest in the comet, and eouldl give good oral compositions on early rising in general and the "long-tailed visitor -n particular. OJiers had collected pictures of King Edward the Peacemaker, and had imbibed from their mother many a etory of our oailor King, George V.

A teacher in one of our suburban rcliook had an amusing story to it) 1 of one of his pupils. The " ttoy in question had listened eagerly to the tales of certain Boy Scouts 'who had, experienced nil the joys of camp life m an excursion to tho Waimakariri. J , ired by their enthusiasm, and, of course, unknown to his parents, he determined to give xhe matter a practical test, and. accompanied by a nioro youthful -elmm. set out for the same river. The bays were nuVsed, and night came on without any signs of the truant pair. Xoxt morning parental anxiety gave way to alarm, and just a.' , - search parties were being thought of, the heroes returned. Only an illustrated paper can <lo justice to the finale.

The rontaininp classes of the Schools' Garden .Comunition for ISXW-1O are to be decided very shortly. In the first t-hreYk cl'vssps it will be rememberetl that* Bromley, Halstvell and Spreydon, wore mo"t successful, and it should be interesting to note the final result. In the dried grasses section Ilromley have a very fine selection. Tin's i.> practically the samp exhibit with which they won the fir&t prize la-st year, and won. at the same time, much praise, not only for the-completeness of the collection. l>ut also for the excellent manner, in wliiclj the had been preserved am! mounted.

The governing bedy of the Sydenham ■Srhool recently turned its attentions to the paper tlnst "adorns" , tho ivalU of the. infant class room. Their opinion was not flatter in;.; to the W3llpp.v.?r. and ihc- lul ligation Eoard. on beinjc conKult-JKI in the matter, have decided tc suhstitutc sometltinii irort , artistic, and less likely to injure tho t»\"\?sij»hfc of tiie pupils.

"Of late years the increase in clerical work has been very marked." said a local schoolmaster, ,: aiu.J we welooi.ie .invthing th.it. tends to le-ssen nir duties in this re?pi>"i!" This remark wa.s in reply to a question asking whether he found the telephone of much service. At present there are three schools in this district having telephonic connections, but other large schools are not so weif serred. Most of the advan-

t".:;es ol ■ possessing a telephone are cvi(.ini. and perhaps the disadvantage too; but on? master suuss that it lias been known to perform the duties of a tiuar.t oliicer with remarkable promptitude, and by its aid "little 'Jomniy has been hunted tin and packed off to M-hool. when ♦■therwiye he Might have l:wn m.iking a risky, hut "o doubt enjoyable, fishing excursion.

Sport at the Lyttelton District Hig» School is eon-iderably handicappetl as there is neither a fresh-water bath m the district nor a suitable practice ground nvar the school for iootbnll, the playground itself ixMiig asphalted. Jlowover. the boys are keo 1 and willing enough under the existing conditions, amt enter all branches oi sport with zest. In swimming'A. KeeU secured tho coveted lionour oi eham-r-ion swimmer of the Canterbury Public Schools for two years in succession and 1909), while this yeai H. Lewin mule a fair showing in tlie «u:n:e contest. ;iettin«i a third Mid threo fourth places. A lite-savin.<j team hi. , * competed twice lor the Sir John Hall .Shield, and this year gained .second place. The school football team were winner* ot the Junior Flag for la.st sea. son, and they also won the seven-a-side tournament for boys under iutcen. !n tennis J. has apiield h:s sc-iiool by winning t!ie Singles Championship of the Canterbury Public >chaols for tlie last two y.-ar.-. liKlft and 1901. As :i result, also, of the hoc-key played at the tchool. the two existing President's teams in Lyttelton have benefited considerably, and it is pleasing to record n schoolboy. H. LivinsiJ-t.uie, gained a place in the President':, representative team of two years ago.

Some years ago a <io:n.iiii was bough' for St. .Martin.-:. Hill>.horough. :UKI Opr.\v:t. A .-ron was taken oti it. nivi now it has been nut clown in gnu-s. The Domain .Hoard has decided to lay it out, aiul lor this purpose Mas invitee thr h:iys of the Opawa School to assirsT by digging hole.-, and. under supervisiiin. iilanting the trees, ot wlii-'n there are several hundreds. The worK n to ho done on Friday next, ami tlio day is to In , legardcd a.-> a picnic-day i')r the wliole school, parents and all interested being invited to attend. The children will take their own eatables, but will be supplied with tea. A framed plan of the ground is 10 be 1111115; in tlio school, and all children arc to be taught to look uiion the domain as their phvyyround, .md to respect it accordingly.