TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21245, 17 August 1934, Page 17

TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL

MEETING OF ASHBURTON BOARD SATISFACTORY PROGRESS DURING YEAR The Ashburton Technical High School Board of Managers as at present constituted for a technical school held its last meeting last evening. There were present Messrs A. L. Jones (chairman), L. A. Charles, W. Bromley, C H. F. Maynard, W. G. Hillier, R. ' Houston, E. Buchanan, and A. Brown. The financial statement showed that there was a credit balance of £sl, with £4OO on fixed deposit The report of the principal (Mr It. J. Thompson) stated that the attendance in day and evening classes was still affected by measles and influenza. The school would close for term holidays to-day, reopening on September 10. The school was represented at the reception to Miss Jean Batten and the Arbor Day tree-planting ceremony organised by the Ashburton County Council. The sum of £3 12s 6d had been raised for the relief of distress fund. In addition, the girls had forwarded 57 woollen singlets and one set of babv's woollen clothes to the relief depot. Quilts were also being made for the unemployed. Five girls and three boys had obtained permanent positions during the month. The Education Department wrote that a grant had been passed to_wards the cost of the new laboratory at the I school. I Tlte Director of Education (Mr N. T. Lambourne) advised that the incidental grant for each technical school and technical high school had been increased from June 21. The Baptist Young Women's Bible Class Movement was granted the use of the school for the annual camp at. Easter 1935. Mrs' Mary C. MacGregor (Windermere) wrote that many country parents were worried because two advocates of amalgamation had been asked to go into ways and means. Did that mean that the chairmen of both boards were to see in what way amalgamation could be brought about? she asked. If so, she would respectfully ask that parents be given an opportunity to express their views before anything further was done. As a parent of two girls attending the Technical School, she was quite satisfied that any change from the present conditions would be for worse. She did not see why the High School should be practically forced on the Technical School, when it was not wanted. If parents had been desirous of high school education their children could have been sent to the High School in the first place. The chairman said that Mrs MacGregor was possibly under a misapprehension She could obtain all the information she required when the report was brought down by the chairman of the High School board" and himself.

it was des&otai to reply, tfaa* the

board had not committed itself to amalgamation, but that the chairmen of the two boards were obtaining further information, which would be submitted to the board before any further action was taken. Annual Report In his annual report, the chairman stated that for some years the board had received cuts in its income, but this year it had received an increase in the grant towards incidentals in common with other educational institutes. The only practical effect of the alteration of the status of the scnool to that of a Technical High School was that three parents' representatives would be added to the board of managers. Mr T. Hayes, an old and valued member of the board, had resigned, and had been replaced] by Mr E. Buchanan, while Mr W. Sparrow, who resigned owing to ill-health, had been replaced by Mr A. Brown. Tne new laboratory was the first instalment in the plan for future building operations and was already in use. The drop to 252 in the roll of the day classes was due to the elimination of the Mount Somers train, with a consequent loss of between 30 and 40 pupils. The evening classes totalled 132, approximately the same as last year. The board had been unsuccessful in endeavouring to reopen the evening wool-classing class. Standards V. and VI. primary .school pupils had dropped from 579 to 570, while the number of High School students attending was 23, the same as last year. The total number of students attending all classes was 977. Although the school did not pretend to cater for examinations, it had done exceedingly well in that direction. One girl gained fourth place out of 81 entries in the Domiaion for typewriting. "I would like to congratulate the Education Department on the institution of a school leaving certificate," said Mr Jones. The matriculation examination was unsuitable for the majority of students taking a technical school course, but the certificate would show employers that the students had reached a standard of work equivalent to that of matriculation. There was a better demand for students of the school in shops and offices. Large numbers of boys had been placed m suitable permanent positions, and more girls than usual had been satisfactorily placed.

CHARGES AGAINST CHAIRMAN

FURTHER MEETING TO BE HELD Two charges which the principal of the Ashburton Technical High School (Mr R. J. Thompson) alleged that he had to make against the chairman of the school board of managers (Mr A. L. Jones) were to be placed before the board at its meeting last evening, but owing to some time having been! occupied in discussing whether the matter should be taken in committee and the lateness of the hour, the meeting adjourned until to-morrow evening. After abount two hours had been spent discussing in camera other business which was not reported in open meeting, the chairman said he under-

stood that the principal had charge* to make concerning him and he did not wish to occupy the chair during the hearing. The chair was taken by the deputychairman, Mr W. G. tfillier. Mr Jones explained that he did not know the nature of the charges nor did he care what they were, but ha said a promise had been given to the principal at the last meeting that they would be heard at this meeting. "I don't think that it would be for the good of the school to have thiß matter threshed out in public," said Mr Thompson. Asked to give some indication of the nature of the charge* he said they were just a matter of the chairman overstepping the bounds in some ways. He said that if the meeting was going to be open he felt like handing the charges to Mr Jones to see if they could arrive at a settlement. The chairman: Do you think there is any hope of a settlement without an arbitrator? Mr L. A. Charles moved that the matter should be held over until the next meeting in the hope that there would be an amicable settlement. Mr Jones: I have never overstepped the traces. The board members have been fully conversant with everything I have done. I want the discussion tonight, otherwise I will resign from the board. Special Meeting Suggested Mr Hillier asked Mr Jones if bejdid not think it would be wise to hold » special meeting to deal with the Mr Jones: In the meantime the public has information that there are certain charges pending. I say they should be made now. otherwise the position is grossly unf air to meßea4 them out now, it will not take long for m Mr°Charles said that he thought M* Jones was taking an over serious view of the matter. Mr Jones: Of course I am. They are all piffle. He said that if the matter was not gone on with his position as chairman would be untenable. If Ml? Thompson would hand over W» charges to the press he would do the same with his reply, and there would be no need for discussion. Finally it was decided to adjount the meeting until to-morrow evening. Mr Jones dissenting.