HIGH SCHOOLS BOARD

Evening Star, Issue 14962, 23 August 1912, Page 1

HIGH SCHOOLS BOARD

The Otago High Schools Board of Governors held their monthly meeting vesterdav afternoon ; present—Hon. T. Fergus (chairman), the Mayor of Dunedin (Mr J. Wilson), Messrs L. Harxi6*and G. C. Israel. The Hou. H. D. Bell and the Hon. A. Herdman wrote thanking the board for congratulation on their appointment as Ministers of the Crown.—Received. The Secretary of the Ladies'. Hockey Association applied for permission to hold a hockey match on the Girls' High School grounds', and to charge, for admission. — Application was refused .on the ground that tho place was not really suitable for the purpose mentioned, and that to grant permission to make a'charge for admission would be to establish an undesirable precedent. . ,■■ The Secretary'of the Girls' High School Hockey Cluk'.vvrote asking a donation towards" the .charge for rent made by the Forbury Park proprietors for use of their ground*—Application refused, as the board had no funjcls available for euch a purpose,-./,-'.. ~ ■;„-'}^rr\ : $£*¥- \ r —School Reports. — The Rector (Mr W. J. Morrell) reported, inter alia, that the total number of boys now upon the school roll was 318. The number of senior free pupils'was at present 89, of junior free places 200, and of paying pupils 29. The totals for August. 1911, 'and August, 1910, were respectively 324 and 296. The amount of sirknefs in the school during the past month had been exceedingly large. At the date of last report the number of absences was 36, itself unusually high. It rose at one time to 67, and though things were now beginning to mend, there were still 46 absentees to-day. During the last six years, at least, they had had nothing to touch these figures. Ihe causes of absence were mostly measles, German measles, and influenza colds. The work in Several forms had been seriously interfered with by such breaks of attendance.—Received. The Principal of the Girls' High School reported that the number on the roll was 181. Appreciative reference .was made to the'late teacher, Miss N. M. Campbell, who. the report said, had endeared herself to the staff and the pupils by her usefulness, unfailing cheerfulness, her enthusiasm for her work, and for all that pertained to the school.—The report was received, and it was resolved to forward a letter of condolence to Mrs Campbell, and record on the minutes the board's appreciation of the late teacher's services, a, copy of the same to be forwarded to Mrs Campbell. —General.— Mr Anscombe reported with reference to the alleged defective ventilation at the Girls' High School, and forwarded a patent ventilator for inspection.—The matter was referred to the Works Com.mittee for consideration and Teport. The secretary was authorised to advertise for a teacher of typewriting, shorthand, and bookkeeping for the Girls' High School.