RECTOR TELLS PARENTS REASONS FOR CLASS MOVEMENT AT G.H.S.

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22612, 15 April 1948, Page 4

RECTOR TELLS PARENTS REASONS FOR CLASS MOVEMENT AT G.H.S.

IN a lucid description of the organisation and administration of the Gisborne High School, the rector, Mr. J. Lcggat, last night gave his reasons to the Parents’ Association for the non-provision of a form room for one form in the school.

"I have deliberately refrained from answering newspaper criticism on this subject as there is a correct place, to air any grievances," said Mr. Leggat, “but I am glad of the opportunity to explain to vou how this position arose,

the next day’s work, or they could leave them at home, bringing to school each day those necessary for the day's lessons. Each child had a timetable and knew in advance what subjects would be iaken. Will Not Take Responsibility “However, I am no longer prepared to take the responsibility for them leaving books at school," continued Mr Leggat. ‘There are 43 evening classes each week in the school and when books were left in the desks last year they disappeared. There was no hope of tracing them. "These night class students are, many of them, well grown-up, but just the same books and materials disappeared [ admit that lockers are unsatisfactory, when we tried them we equipped then, with padlocks, which were wrenched off. the lockers were shaken and con tents fell out Therefore. 1 will not accept the responsibility for books left at school T also fail to see that this is any harder on children in Gisborne than it is on children in any other part of New Zealand There is absolutely no need for pupils to struggle round jvitl141b of books. •‘Finally, I strongly object to the implied suggestion contained in one letter to the newspaper, that this moving about scheme is to pamper teachers, and Site reference to 231 hours of work a week. "It takes just as long to prepare a lesson, especially for a senior form, as it does to deliver it, and. there is also a great deal of marking. "The staff also gives up a great deal of time to supervising sport for the benefit of vour children, without pay. Teachers have no Saturday afternoons oil—they are supervising sport, and are one of the few sections of' the community which does not have that day free. I do object to that imputation against my staff.” Sustained applause greeted Mr. Leg gat's remarks, the chairman, Mr. L. Stichbury, voicing the feeling of the meeting when he said that the explanation had completely exposed the unfairness of blind criticism. The following motion was also placed on record: “This meeting of parents wishes to express complete satisfaction in the principal and his staff in the administration of the school.”

"We have 21 classrooms here — that is. rooms with desks—and 28 forms in the school. Therefore, there must always be four forms without desks. "There is nothing new in this —it has been the practice since the school reached a roll of 700 pupils. We can not build extra rooms so it must con tinue." j There were, the rector continued, in j addition numerous specialist rooms, in | eluding the library, dress-making, art. music, cooking, typing rooms, eng) neering and motor workshops, woodwork, trade drawing, four laboratories and in addition two classes each period were outside for physical training. Under this system there were, every period, 14 classes moving at least-three-quarters of the school. There was also nothing new in this —it was stand arri practice. "Your children must go to these specialist rooms," said the rector. T can't have teachers taking typewriters machines, lathes and charts ail over the school.' Departmental Roque-a "These specialist rooms, 1 must stress, are built at the specific request of the department and are stocked with expensive equipment. For my own information T have checked with the senior inspector o! schools and found that there arc only two schools bigger than the Gisborne one in New Zea land —Auckland Grammar and Wellington College They have the same system and I am quite satisfied that it is the most efficient method. It is normal practice both in New Zealand, in England, and in Scotland. "I am. therefore, satisfied that the trouble is not the moving round, but the lack of desks," continued Mr. Leggat It had been said that the children had to carry round 141 b of books. This was entirely unnecessary unless the pupils liked to carry them round. There were formerly two courses open to them. They could leave their books at school, taking home each night those required for the preparation of