OTAGO HIGH SCHOOLS

Evening Star, Issue 22909, 17 March 1938, Page 17

OTAGO HIGH SCHOOLS

BOARD'S MONTHLY MEETING The Hi"h Schools Board held its monthly meeting yesterday afternoon. Mr W. R. Brugh was chairman, and also present were the mayor (Rev. Jli. T Cox) Dr G. E. Thompson, Bishop Fitchett’ Mrs E. E. M‘Millan and Messrs J. Robertson and F. H. Campbell. GROUNDS AT BOYS’ SCHOOL. A suggestion that the board again approach the department or the Minister of Education with a request that the grounds scheme be proceeded with was received from the rector of the Boys’ High School. Mr Campbell commented on the unsightly state of the bank siding of the school green, saying it was very unfavourably spoken of, as it spoiled the ftpperaanc© of the whole grounds. * The Secretary suggested that representations be made to the Minister of Education, and it was decided to interview him when he visits Dunedin and discuss various renovations to the buildings and also to the grounds. CORRESPONDENCE. The board’s proposals for the employment of part-time teachers at the Otago Boys’ High School and the King’s High School for the current year were approved, advised the Education Department. As Mr W. L. Francis was now wholly employed by the Otago High Schools Board, there did not appear to be any need for him to be retained on the Otago Education Board’s manual staff. His salary should accordingly be paid by the High Schools. Board. —Received. _ ■ Approval of the issue in future of geometrical instruments, where necessary, and class room requisites to postprimary pupils whose parents or guardians are not in a position to afford them was advised by the Education Department. This is in addition to the free suply of test books which was previously authorised.—Approved. An application was received from the rector of the King’s High School for the provision of. tables and chairs for class rooms and chairs for the library. The secretary’s actions in ordering 25 single tables and 10 chairs was approved. _ Permission was granted Messrs W. G. M'Clymont and O. G. Cox to teach evening classes at the .King Edward Technical. College. - CONFERENCE OF BOARDS. “ Will anything be achieved by holding a conference? ” asked Bishop Fitchett when a letter was received from the Auckland Grammar School Board with reference to a proposal to hold a conference of secondary school . ' hoards to consider the proposed Education Amendment Bill. The Mayor said he thought the conference would bo worth while. The chairman and the secretary of the board (Mr C. 18. M'Lean) are to attend the conference, the date for which has not yet been fixed. FINANCE. Accounts amounting to £2,449 10s lid were passed for payment. THE BATHS PROPOSAL. The erection of the proposed swimming baths at the Macandrew Road School was discussed, following a re£ort from the Works Committee that fessrs Robertson and Campbell had. ■" attended a meeting convened by the head master- (Mr A. M. Davidson). The board was asked by Mr Davidson whether it favoured the erection of the baths so that the position could be placed before a further meeting on March 28. Mr Robertson suggested that the proposal was too comprehensive to be 'considered by the meeting. It concerned the city, and he expected the City Council would take an interest in the scheme. The Mayor: “The Government, I think, is to consider a scheme embracing the Dominion.” He suggested the board should stay its hand in the meantime.

The tentative site for the baths—the Macandrew road entrance to the King’s High School—was commented on by Mr Campbell, who said that were the baths built they should be on that school’s property. Reasons why the site would not be suitable, owing to drainage problems, among others, were discussed, and the Mayor said that St. Clair might be a good locality, with the water heated at night by electricity. He quoted figures proving that the Municipal Baths were pot a paying proposition. The board is to reply to Mr Davidson that the proposal will be given serious consideration when a scheme for the bath’s establishment is placed before it. BOYS’ HIGH. The rector of the Boys’ High School (Mr H. P. Kidson), in his monthly report, stated that the official roll on March 1 was 421. Mr I. Garden’s place was being filled until his return from Europe by Mr Colin Beatson, M.A. A cricket match was to be played with Timaru Boys’ High School on the grounds on Wednesday and Thursday, March 23 and 24. It was hoped that this would be the first of a long series of games with that school. The remodelling of the main chemical laboratory was completed during the holidays. It was now most up to date in arrangements and appointments. Distinctions gained by old boys recently were as follow:—W. G. Davidson (1929-1934), who was dux in 1934, had gained the senior scholarship in medicine. Dr M. H. Watt (1900-1904), Director of Public Health, had been made chairman of the New Zealand Medical Council, and Dr P. S. Foster (1899-1903) a member. R. A. Farquharson, M.A. (Oxon.), M.Sc., F.G.S. (1898-1901), ex-Rhodes schollar, had been given the 0.8. E. distinction for his geological work in the Somaliland Protectorate. R. N. Vanes (1899-1901), of London, was the architect for the New Zealand pavilion at the Empire Exhibition, Glasgow. J. Maxwell Clarke_ (1909-1911) had been appointed surgical director at the Auckland Hospital. Alexander Kilgour (1864), aged 88, was the oldest player on elderly bowlers’ day. It

was interesting to record that R. Leslie, who left school in 1936, won the Canterbury championship belt in shooting for the 1937-38 season. The report was adopted. KING’S HIGH. The rector of the King’s High School (Mr D. S. Chisholm) reported that the present school roll was 316. Mr T. L. Bailey, M.A., Dip. Ed., joined the staff on February 25, thus bringing the staff to the numerical strength allowed by the grade of the school. The following officers of the Parents’ Committee were appointed at the annual meeting:—President, Mr G. Stratton; vice-president, Mr A. Moller; hon. secretary, Mr H. A. Sapsford; hon. treasurer, Mr J. Macilree. The work on the new ground was being steadily continued under favourable weather conditions. The present cricket ground had suffered through lack of rain, and from present indications would not be in good heart to bear any extra strain for the coming football season. The report was adopted. GIRLS’ HIGH. The principal of the Girls’ High School (Miss M. H. M. King) reported that the school roll was 542. _ Miss Dallaston had taken up her duties 'as relieving teacher in place of Miss Littlejohn, released to go to the Epsom Grammar School, and on Monday Miss Vida Sheddan was to join the staff, thus, it was hoped, completing changes for some time to come. An interestj ing donation was made to the school ( library by Miss Sidey, of Merivale, Christchurch, who sent a volume of a_ La Fontaine’s Fables (in the original), which had been won as a French prize at the school by her mother, nee Annie Campbell, an expupil. School music had received some official recognition from the new regulations regarding music for University entrance. There were this year two beginners’ violin classes under Mr Spackman, and the orchestra and 1 choirs had made an excellent begin- . ning. The report was adopted, '