THE HIGH SCHOOLS

Evening Star, Issue 21900, 11 December 1934, Page 3

THE HIGH SCHOOLS

REVIEWS OF THE YEAR'S WORK ' At yesterday’s meeting of Hie Otago High School Board of Governors the rector (Mr H. P. Kidson) submitted the following report on matters concerning the Boys’ School: — School Roll.-r-There was a considerable increase in the roll number this year. The roll on March 1 was the highest so far reached. This accentuated the .accommodation difficulty, and led to further representations by the board to the department concerning the building of a new High School in South Dunedin. As a consequence the Minister of Education, and later the director, visited the school. One hundred and twenty-four boys left at the end of 1933, and an unusually large number—l3B—have left during this year to tak* employment. Almost the only boys who are causing anxiety in connection with employment are those of indifferent ability in academic work, though not necessarily of indifferent character, who have been kept too long at school by their parents in vain hopes that they will pass the University entrance examination. The Dunedjn Vocational Guidance officer has again done valuable work in placing boys in employment, and many business firms have again’appealed direct to the school for boys. ' Work and Organisation.—The increase in roll number made necessary the appointment of another assistant master. A part-time teacher of music /was also added to the staff. This brought the total staff up to thirtytwo. 1 The school was organised into seventeen'professional and ten modern forms. Good steady work has been done, almost entirely on the lines of previous years. A very good spirit of endeavour is shown by almost all the classes. School ceremonies and games and visiting speakers add to the interest of school life. Of ,the twelve speakers who addressed the school during the year perhaps the most distinguished were Sir Montague Barlow and Sir Andrew Russell. During the third term an epidemic of influenza swept through the school, as many as 200 boys being absent at one stage, and the work was seriously affected for some weeks. The school uniform, has been onore definitely specified and a more suitable cap is being obtained. Staff and Mr Campbell’s Retirement. —The assistant masters remain the same as last year, except that Mr G. B. Beath, M.A., was appointed to a D grade position at the beginning of the year to fill a position created by the increase in roll number. Mr C. Roy Spackman has been appointed a parttime teacher of music. This is the last year of service of Mr F. H. Campbell, M.A., first assistant and manager of the rectory, one of the most respected members of the teaching professions in New Zealand, who is retiring on superannuation. His retirement will create an A grade vacancy which is to be filled by the promotion,*)! Mr B. H. Howard, M.A. The consequent B and C grade vacancies will be filled by the promotion of Mr R. W. Glasgow, M.Sc., and Mr A. G. Chisinau, M.A., respectively. An additional D grade assistant will probably be appointed in February. It was with great regret that we lost the service in May of one who for efficiency and his sterling character had been respected and loved by many generations of boys. I refer to Mr E. Carter, who retired after serving the school faithfhlly as janitor for thirtyone years.

Public Examinations.—ln, the public examinations held at the end of 1933 one junior University and two University national scholarships were obtained, three hoys gained credit, and two were awarded University-bursaries. The one candidate for Training College entrance secured a partial pass. 1 n the University entrance (matriculation) and allied examination seventyfive secured passes. Of these fifty qualified also for the medical preliminary and solicitors’ general examination. Twenty-eight higher leaving certificates were awarded. : The provisional awards.

of higher leaving certificates and senior free places, made by the secondary school, inspectors at their _ visit in August of this year were thirty-three and 154 respectively. The Rectory. —Mr F. H. Campbell reports as follows:—“The total enrolment for the year was twenty-seven, the numbers for the three terms being twenty-six, twenty-five, and twentyfive. That is considerably better than _it was last year, when the number for the third term was nineteen. At the same time, it is considerably lower than it was in 1930, when we had an enrolment of forty-six. Cadets.—By the end of the training year the Cadet Battalion reached a satisfactory standard of efficiency, the work of the specialist sections again deserving special commendation. Our one public appearance was on Anzac Day, April 25, when the inclemency of the weather spoilt what would otherwise have been a successful parade. Losses.—A number of old. boys and friends of the school have passed away this year. Mr J. C. Stevens had served the school well as a’ member (and for a period chairman) of the board, and Dr B. E. Morrison, English master was a prominent and_ interesting figure in the school in the ’eighties. He had in later years a splendid record of public service in Scotland. The report also covered sports, the work of the societies, and other matters, and was concluded by a comprehensive vote of thanks to all those who bad helped the school .in its various activities. LADY PRINCIPAL’S REPORT. Miss M. H, M. King in her report states;— Roll and Attendance- —The numbers have again been well maintained, being now slightly higher than last year. The number of new entries was four more than last year, and' the withdrawals during the year eight less. Attendance averages were: Term 1, 614; term 2, 490; term 3. 463; year, 489. The attendance has been good except during the early part of the third term, when owing to the prevalence of influenza there were about a hundred absent a day for about three weeks. Staff.—Only one change has taken place in the staff, Miss D. Cowie, an ex-pupil of the school,'being appointed in place of Miss Fotheringham. who left to he married. In view of the approaching retirement of Mrs Kerr, I should like to express my warm appreciation of her work and the value of her personality in the school. Class Work.—A good standard has been maintained in the various departments. In languages, Anglo-Saxon has been added to the work of the Upper Sixth, largely owing to the longer stay of girls in that class. In Latin and French a wide range of reading has been kept up in the senior classes, and the translation carefully graduated in the lower forms. In English literature a fairly wide range has been secured by the use of judiciously chosen texts, and all classes have read three or more Shakespearean plays in the year- The Sixth has taken a review study of English literature. A good deal of attention has been given to social history, and pupils, especially in the lower classes, encouraged to learn from pictures, etc. In science and mathematics the work has been carefully, planned out so as to cover the ground required for the University entrance and scholarship examinations. The classes on the domestic side in the third and fourth forms have been given a simple course in observational botany. In the art department, more time has been given to craft work, and the scheme widened accordingly for the fourth and fifth forms. Leather and pewter work, elementary book binding, and reed loom, work have been attempted’successfully and have proved of great interest. The third form domestic classes have concentrated on needlework. The third form drawing classes have worked with pencil and crayons through a scheme of design, poster work, model drawing, and illustration. More advanced work was attempted by the fourths with water colours and pencil, and towards the end of the year a little outdoor sketching was included. The fifth forms followed a course of work partly based on the University entrance syllabus, while the sixth practised model and blackboard drawing for the Training College entrance examination. Work in the gymnasium has been freatly facilitated by the, assistance of lias Johnston as pianist'and assistant instructress. Swimming classes were very well attended during the first term, but fell off considerably in the third, owing to the influenza epidemic. Library,—This continues to be well patronised. Miss Fotheringham, before leaving, almost completed , the classification of the reference books under a modified Dewey system. Miss Dalrymple is_ classifying the science section and Miss Forde looks after the periodicals. School Music.—A very large number of girls joined-the choir this year, and regular practices have been held on Thursdays after school. It is pleasing to note that many-of the choir members. both past and present, assist in church and Bible class choirs in and around the city, thus putting to practical use the , experience gained', at school. The same applies to main- of the orchestral players, who are taking their places in the ranks of the junior and adult orchestras in the city.' The school orchestra this year is better than ever before.

Other matters covered in the report were the junior- French Club, . the Musical and Dramatic Club, the Navy League, the Ramblers’ Club, (the school branch of the New Zealand Student Christian Movement, Barnardo Helpers’ League, Junior Red Cross, lectures given at the school, and an expression of appreciation of the cordial relations existing with other schools was included. , The reports were adopted.