VACATION "SCHOOL"

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 91, 19 April 1939, Page 7

VACATION "SCHOOL"

NEW .VENTURE

CORRESPONDENCE PUPILS

Personal contact as between teacher and pupils, and between the pupils themselves, is essential to the success of any course of instruction. This is fully realised by those responsible for the administration of the Education Department's Correspondence School, the headquarters of which are in the old Terrace School, Clifton Terrace, Wellington. The correspondence school caters for those who, through invalidity, residence in backblock districts, or for other reasons are unable to attend school in the ordinary way, and much has been accomplished. From time to time the activities of the school have been increased and special attention has been given to the establishment of greater personal contact with the pupils and between the pupils. Radio lessons, for example, are given regularly and teachers are sent out to visit the homes of the pupils.

Another step decided upon is the holding of a vacation school for the correspondence pupils, and the first will be held at New Plymouth next month.

An outline of this new scheme, which is part of the effort made by the correspondence school to make up for its pupils in some measure what they lose in not being able to attend ordinary school, was given to a "Post" reporter by the headmaster, Dr. A. G. Butchers. The vacation school is to be held at the Girls' and Boys' High Schools, New Plymouth, from May 8 to May 20. The splendid hostels of these well-known schools have been made available for the accommodation of the correspondence pupils, of whom, it is estimated, approximately 200 will attend. Pupils will come from Auckland Thames, Hamilton, Gisborne, Napier, the Manawatu, Wairarapa, Wellington, and from the South Island, and Taranaki pupils will also be in residence. While travelling, and at the school, pupils will be in charge of members of the teaching staff of the Correspondence School, and for this purpose two teachers are being sent to Auckland and one to Napier. SOCIAL EDUCATION. Dr. Butchers said that not only was the New Plymouth venture the first of its kind in New Zealand, but as far as he was aware, it was also the first in the world. New Zealand, he added, had pioneered in a way the idea of providing social education for correspondence pupils. The vacation school was the latest' effort of the Correspondence School to bring a greater measure of. personal contact and socialised and practical education into the lives of its pupils. At New Plymouth the pupils would live with the teachers for a fortnight in one of the most modern of New Zealand's largest boarding schools. They would rub shoulders with one another in and out of school, and they would enjoy the health exercises, the games and sports that would be a feature of the school. There would be the opportunity to carry out practical work in handcraft, woodwork, needlecraft, cooking, typewriting, art and scientific experiments in classrooms specially fitted and equipped for such subjects. In addition, there would be singing lessons, band work, and preparation J;or a school concert, to be given towards the end of the school. Speech training would be a prominent part of the programme, and with this there would be organised in all grades some dramatic work. Nature study rambles and historical and geographical excursions would be undertaken. There was no park in New Zealand more suitable for learning about New Zealand's native trees and plants than Pukekura Park, and all around there were places of great historical, geographical, and commercial importance.

From various sources an excellent collection of 16-millimetre motion picture films had been obtained to take to the school for the instruction. and entertainment of the pupils. Provision would be made for members of the school clubs and societies to meet members of similar New Plymouth organisations. Individual as well as classroom teaching would be given, and students of foreign languages are to have special lessons in pronunciation. GRANTS TO BE MADE. ; The Railway Department is granting concession fares to the pupils, and the Education Department is allowing in respect of each pupil either 7s 6d a week boarding allowance or actual travelling expenses by the cheapest practicable route up to a maximum of 22s 6d. _ Expenditure beyond these grants has to be borne by parents. It is estimated that the cost of board per pupil for" the> fortnight will probably be approximately 2s 6d a day. Precautions have been taken against anyone attending the., school who has. recently suffered from, or been in contact with infectious sickness. Dr. Butchers will be in charge and he will have with. him a speciallychosen staff. In addition others will co-operate. Appreciation of this cooperation, and assistance that has been ' received, was expressed by Dr. Butchers, who said that at New Plymouth not only had the greatest cooperation and help been shown by the High Schools Board of Governors,, but various clubs and other organisations there were giving a helping hand. It was a wonderful gesture on the part of the High Schools Board to make available the hostels and the whole of its plant free of charge and also its domestic staff. In addition, the Health Department was sending two doctors and a nurse, and the pupils attending the school, subject to the consent of their parents, would be medically examined. STAFF ENTHUSIASTIC. Giving some details of the programme, Dr.. Butchers said that the pupils would arrive on a Saturday. On the Sunday morning there would be a church parade, and pupils would attend church according to.their respective denominations. In the afternoon there would be a "house warming" at which the staff and pupils would meet their hosts and others interested in the school. On the Monday morning the school would be down to business. In the evenings the motion picture films would be screened, and during the fortnight there were to be outings to Mount Egmont and other places of interest. On the Wednesday of the second week the school would have a sports meeting and athletic display, | and'on the Thursday night of the second week the school concert would be given. Full use would be made of the woodwork, cooking, and other practical rooms.

Dr. Butchers added that he and the staff were looking forward with great keenness and enthusiasm to the fortnight to be spent at New Plymouth ■with 200 of their pupils.

A person who waits seventeen years to cash a cheque does not deserve the money, the Hillsborough County Commission, Florida, ruled recently. Request for payment on a cheque for £1 10s issued by the county to an auto* mobile repair firm in 1922 was refused.