GIRLS' COLLEGE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 496, 1 May 1909, Page 6

GIRLS' COLLEGE.

IMPROVEMENTS NEEDED. DISCUSSION BY THE GOVERNORS.While th 6 Wellington/Boys' College Has been materially improved by the addition of a new annexe, equipped with furnifcuro and appliances of the most up-to-date description, too Girls' College, in tie opinion of Mr. Robert Lee, a member of the Board of Governors, has been somewhat neglected; He reoently inspected the school building, aJid at the monthly meeting • of the Board of Governors, voiced his impressions vrith considerable emphasis and persistence. The gen oral equipment of tho girls' sohool, he said, was out of all proportion to that now installed at the boys' sohool. There was no properly-equipped. science room, and the teaohing siatf was thereby labouring under a serious disadvantage. The extent to which science was covered in a,school wa3 usually an indication of its up-to-dateness. Tlio general lighting, he continued, was poor; the blackboards were, some of them, "white with age," and he thought that the board's architect might be askea to report upon tie requirements he had indicated. He moved accordingly. . , The Chairman (Mr. A. de 8.. Brandon): Do you suggest that s, new science room should be built? . ; • Mr. Lee: Yea. The cost should not be considerable; about £400. . The Chairman: At tie present time J. doubt whether we can run an expendture of £400. It was, a question, he went on to say, j whether it would not be wise to wait until they had the neccssary cash in hand. It was quite possible, he said, that very material developments in the direction of modernising mothode /in science teaching would be evolved. Educational science was continually advancing. ..•Mr. Leo,, thought that at least'something should bo done with regard to improving the lighting of the interior, by painting a brighter tint on the walls. Modern hyloplate blackboards, screwed to the walls, should replace the antiquated easil boards now in They were spending the bulk of the money in tho boys' school, and neglecting the girls'. Tho present position, of affairs was discreditable to the board. The chairman remarked that they were already subsidising the girls' school to the extent of £800. annually. In the meantime

they were already pledged up to the hilt. On the figures, ( thoy might actually have the cash, but when tho contingencies were taken into account, tfcey were compelled to consider whether it would be wise to draw upon' their reserve, i It was absolutely necessary that at the, end of the year they should have in reserve a sum. sufficient to meet the payment of the January salaries. He, personally, was not prepared to , oonsider ,a bank guarantee in 'respeot- of an overdraft. If the reserves were.touched upon it simply meaat that thoy.wouldj at some future time, probably have to go to some financial institution for assistance. ' Mr. Lee' insisted that the finances appeared to be sonnd enongh. They had a surplus. The Chairman: Have you abandoned all hope of -getting that £5000 from the Government? Mr. Lee was: quite in accord, with' the suggestion that the Government should be pressed for payment of the sum of £5000, advanced,' in the first instance, in connection with $e establishment of the school, and at present' a mortgage burden on . the Board of Governors. There was an under - standing that the Government should refund that. amount.' Reverting. to the • requirements of the' girls' school, he pleaded strongly , for serious 1 consideration of his proposals. •Miss Richmond suggested tiiat the old blackboards would be very acceptable for use in. her free kindergarten, school. • Members smiled. ' It ■ was ultimately > decided that fc M'Lean", Lady Principal of the Girls' College, should be asked to report, upon the requirements of the school with-respect to science teaching,- and the appointments generally, and also with' regard to tho condition of the blackboards. The! matter of painting the interior walls of the school, the board considered, could be attended to during the next long vacation, at Christmas time. • ■ "I trust;" concluded the Chairman, with a I smile, ."that Mi. Lee won't bribe the Lady ■Principal" Mr. Lee laughed. '■ '