Transport Question Raised At Meeting Of School Board

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 March 1948, Page 3

Transport Question Raised At Meeting Of School Board

The question of what arrangements were in force for the transport of pupils from outlying districts, such as the beach-end of Cobden and South Beach, in wet weather was raised by Mr J. Haddock at last evening’s meeting of the Board of Governors of the Greymouth Technical High School. He stated that quite a number of pupils came from the Cobden aria and that in wet weather some arrangements should be made for their transport. He also asked if any allowances were made for pupils who had to use buses in order to get to school in wet weather.

The chairman, Mr F. L. Turley, said that the matter of arranging for allowances was hardly one for the board to decide, but he assured Mr Haddock that the board had always considered the requests for transport to school in wet weather sympathetically, and would make every endeavour to continue to do so. He pointed out that similar arrangements were already in force for various areas and were proving quite satisfactory. Advice from the Department of Education to the effect that no further action was being taken regarding the board’s request for typewriters until a full report from all schools on the matter had been obtained, was received at the meeting. It was expected that the compilation of this report would take some considerable time. The Minister of Education, Mr McCombs, also wrote congratulating the school on its annual magazine. Old Pupils’ Request A Jetter from the Greymouth Technical Old Pupils’ Association stating that the association was desirous of erecting a suitable memorial to old pupils of the school who were killed during the war, was also received. It was stated that the memorial would probably take the form of gates, probably of stone. The association also asked what plans the board had made to commemorate the school’s silver jubilee. On the motion of the principal, Mr Stewart, it was decided to ask the association to proceed with its plans for the war memorial and to approve of the plans and offer all assistance in celebrating the jubilee. It was also decided to grant permission to the Technical Old Boys’ Rugby Football Club to affix high-powered lamps to a suitable part of the school buildings to enable football practices to be carried out at night. The visiting committee, Messrs North and Haddock, reported that they had visited the school and hostel and had found everything up to standard and in order. On the motion of the chairman a roster is to be drawn up detailing members to the visiting committee, but for the next month Messrs McNulty and Gillespie were appointed. The resignation of Miss Marshall from the position of registrar at the school was received with regret, and it was decided that a letter be sent to her, expressing the board’s appreciation of her work. Mr Turley presided at the meeting and also present were Messrs D. S. Kennedy, W. Braithwaite, J. Haddock, S. Gladstone, J. H. North, J. M. McNulty, Gillespie, J. B. Kent, M.P., E. O. Henry and the principal, Mr W. M. Stewart. Principal’s Report The number of first-year new entrants, while well below the record entries of 1944 and 1945, show a considerable increase over 1946 and last year, stated the principal, Mr Stewart, in his report. New entries totalled 82 boys and 78 girls, a total of 160. • They were divided among the various courses as follows:—General secondary, 46; commercial, 30; domestic science, 30; boys’ technical, 54Of last year’s very large fifth and sixth forms, a considerable number had left school, with the result that the balance of the school roll was restored to normal, being: first year, 160 pupils; second year, 132 pupils; and third year and upwards, 129 pupils. The total roll of 421, which was not quite definite as pupils were still returning to school, comprised 221 boys and 200 girls, the total strength of courses being: general secondary, 142; commercial, 81; domestic science, 70; and trades, 128. The average attendance to date was in the neighbourhood of 95 per cent. The strength of the teaching staff of the day school remained at 18, all of whom had reported for duty on February 3. The Department of Education had approved the appointment of Miss E. S. Wallace to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mrs V. M. Mitchell. There were no further changes in the* staff personnel, Mr Stewart added. The principal reported that for the four weeks during which the opening of the school was delayed, full use was made of the correspondence assignments which were posted out to pupils. The staff shared the extra burden of work loyally, and though it could not be suggested that correspondence work was an adequate substitute for personal tuition, it could be fairly said that useful work was done, and a good foundation laid for the year’s programme, continued Mr Stewart.

Referring to the manual training classes, Mr Stewart said that these classes had commenced work at Greymouth and Hokitika along with the Technical School on March 1. The year’s time-table for all classes had been in operation for some time. The fact that evening classes- had commenced at the same time as the day school had entailed a heavy burden of work, but this department was now in running order. Enrolments were still being received and the indications were that the number and range of classes would be practically the same as last year, namely, six classes at Hokitika and 24, or more, at Greymouth. The trades and technical .classes and the dressmaking classes showed promise of very adequate enrolments, and the commercial side of the department was also in a healthy condition, , said Mr Stewart. A few classes, notably some of those established for examination purposes, were still awaiting sufficient enrolments to make them safe, but the indications were that these could also be established in the veijy near future.