OTAGO HIGH SCHOOLS

Evening Star, Issue 22084, 18 July 1935, Page 2

OTAGO HIGH SCHOOLS

MONTHLY MEETING OF BOARD The monthly meeting of the Otago Boys’ and Girls’ High Schools Board was held yesterday afternoon, the chairman (Dr G. E. Thompson) presiding over an attendance which comprised the following;—The mayor (the Rev. E. T, Cox), Bishop Fitchett, Messrs J. Robertson, D. T. Fleming, and J. C. H. Somerville. ACCOUNTS PASSED. Accounts amounting to £2,966 19s were passed for payment. BROWN TRUST FUND. A report on the Robert Brown Trust Fund was received from the rector (Mr H. P. Kidson), and was read by the chairman. Mr Kidson suggested that the prize should be in the form of an order for books, to be awarded to the dux of the school. The dux would then receive the dux medal and the Robert Brown Memorial Prize. The books would not be University text books, but would, as a rule, be books of such a nature as would help the boy in his University career. The Chairman remarked that the purchase of books was often a big burden for boys, and to have a fund fronf which they could draw would be a great help. It was decided to approve of the rector’s report and the adopt his sug-, gestion. EXCHANGE OF TEACHERS. A circular letter was received from the Acting Director of Education stating that a request had been made by teachers in secondary schools that should be provided for the exchange within tlie Dominion of teachers in post-primary schools. The letter added that exchanges between teachers in the various post-primary schools would enable them to widen their experience and would, in the opinion of the department, ultimately be to the benefit of the schools, provided the exchanges were not too frequent. They would, of course, be possible only between assistants teaching the same subjects to approximately the same standard. It was decided that copies of the full circular be sent to, the schools for the perusal of the staffs. VALUE OF SCHEME No. 5. The chairman of the Unemployment Board wrote asking the board to supply a report on the value of work done under No. 5 Scheme for the information of the Unemployent Board when considering any fresh relief measures. The Secx-etary said that the wox-k which had already been done had consisted of clearing scrub at Strath Taieri, planting willows for river protection, and clearirxg and levelling the site for the new high school. The matter was left in the hands of the chairman of the Works Committee for a report. RELIEF WORK PAY. The Town Clerk wrote advising the board of the City Council’s decision to subsidise relief rates of pay to bring them up to standard rates, and requesting the board to adopt the same scheme The secretary said that the money which was being spent at the South Dunedin High School was Government money, and the board had no authority to adopt the proposal there. He had comunxcated with the department asking for advice on the matter, but so far no reply had been received. It was decided to leave the matter in the hands of the Works Committee, with nower to act. RECTOR’S REPORT. The monthly report of the rector of the Boys’ School read: — “ The total number of boys on the school roll is 690, of whom 262 are seniors, 416 juniors, and 12 paying niils. The corresponding totals for y, 1930-34 are respectively 691, 757, 762, 722, and 747, “ On July 1 a very interesting lecture on a cruise among the islands in the extreme north of New Zealand and on tlie mutton-bird industry in the islands of the south, illustrated by moving pictures, was given to the school by Captain G. M. Turner. “ Seven boys have this year entered for a section of the professional examination of accountants, conducted by the New Zealand University. “ Boys who have their lunch at school were again given the opportunity of having hot cocoa supplied to them at a very small cost. There was very little demand for it, however. “ A very largo number of boys have left school since it opened in February to take u'p positions. The following table shows their destination. A great majority of these boys continue their studies in evening classes, mainly at the Technical School; —Clerioal, 36; insurance, 3; law, 3; warehouses, 5; shops, 5; trades and industries, 9; i Government, 8; farming, 1; total, 70.” The report was adopted. LADY PRINCIPAL’S REPORT. The lady principal of the Girls’ School states that the roll number is

oLJJUUI Hlil l/t'o tiUlt tJiu lull miuiuui 10 las follows: —Senior free place, 151; junior free place, 383; paying pupils, 4; total, 538. The figures for the four preceding years are:—s4s in 1934, 545 (1933), 559 (1932), and 480 (1931). “ The attendance is good for the winter season, doubtles owing to the prevalence of fine weather ” (continues the report. " The winter games are in full progress, but several successive match days have been wet, thus delaying the contests. Outdoor drill is held on four afternoons in the week, and has rarely had to be abandoned. “ Of those found definitely to have left during the month, the following table shows the destination ;—Factory, 1; shop, 1; dental clinic, 2 (Wellington) ; home, 5 (mostly seeking'employment); commercial college, 2; convent school, 1 ; Auckland, 1. “ Miss Garratt has gone home to Auckland. It is somewhat questionable whether she will be able to resume her work next term. Miss Dalrvinplo has returned after a short absence, but Miss Dallaston will be absent at the least until the end of this term. The relieving teachers are doing good work, and the usual routine of school life proceeds. “ The annual choir contest was hold on Juno 28, Mr 0. A. Martin kindly acting as judge. The trophies were awarded to JII.c, IV.c, and Vl.b respectively. Owing to Miss Garratt’a absence I have definitely decided to postpone the entertainment until next year. Kven if she should return next term, the extra work involved would bo too much, and the earliest possible dato would be too late in the year for the concert to be given without interfering with end-of-year fixtures. “ The Young Helpers’ and Student Movement branch hold their usual concert on Friday, July 5, when there was a fair attendance of friends of the school. In Miss Dallaston’s absence Miss Aitkon has undertaken the

work of secretary and suvervisor of the Barnardo League." The report was adopted. CAMPBELL HOUSE. Tho following is an extract from the monthly report of Mr 0. J. Begg (manager of Campbell House) : " During the month I obtained, with the sanction of the chairman, an eightvolume encyclopaedia (dated 1934) for tho library,' and that should prove a great boon and profit to the boys. At the last entertainment here the bovs were addressed by Miss Saker, the Indian woman principal of a girls' college in Calcutta, who is at present taking a home science course at Otago University. Her address was both charming and instructive. The boarders on this occasion also entertained their own friends." ARBOR DAY. The Town Clerk (Mr G. A. Lewin) wrote stating that notification had been received from the Minister oi Internal Affairs to the effect that ii was intended to fix Wednesday, Aug ust 7 for this year's observance of Arbor Day and asking for the ation of the council and other local bodies in arranging fitting celebrations for the dav. The Reserves Committee had resolved to call a conference of representatives of the council, the High Schools Board, the Education Board, the Headmasters' Association, and the Dunedin Amenities and Town Planning Society, for the purpose of considering and arranging a suitable programme for the day. The board was asked to appoint representatives to attend a conference on the subject to be held in the Town Hall on Monday. Mr J. Robertson was appointed to attend the conference.