TECHNICAL SCHOOL

Grey River Argus, 18 February 1942, Page 3

TECHNICAL SCHOOL

BOARD MEETING HELD The ordinary meeting of the Technical College Board of Managers was held on Monday evening. ine chairman (Mr T. E. Coates), presided, and there were present: Mrs C. H. Lindsay, Messrs J. B. Kent, E. B. E. Taylor, C. F. Shapcott, D. S. Kennedy, A. A. Adams, P. J. McLean, T. Pratt and W. M. Stewart (Principal). Referring to enrolments, courses, and attendance, the Principal’s report stated: The total present enrolment of pupils, not counting a few who have not yet returned to school, is not less than 346, which represents a drop of 13 from 1941 However, as last year we were un-der-staffed to the extent of four halfdays’ teacher power, there will be no fear of losing a teacher through a fall, in enrolment. This roll number comprises 182 boys and 164 girls, the numbers being allocated among the different courses as follows: General Secondary 120, Commercial 103, Trades . (engineering and woodwork) 85, Domestic Science 38'. The new enrolment for 1942 was distinctly good; 6 pupils enrolled from other secondary schools. Of the 125 new first year pupils, 32 enrolled in the General Secondary, 40 in the Trades, 39 in the Commercial and 14 in the Domestic Science. From this it will be seen that the usual alternation in the strengths of enrolments has taken place; the General. Secondary is considerably lighter than last year, while the Commercial and Trades are considerbly heavier. I regret that the new enrolment for Domestic Science is lighter than for some years past; there is, however, quite a chance that this will improve before long. The average attendance for the two weeks of school is hard to compute, but is certainly not less than 97 per cent. The report dealt with staffing as follows: "Miss McNiven, the senior English and senior lady teacher is still absent on sick leave. She is, however, making steady progress and hopes to be back early in March. A much greater handicap has been suf-i fered through the calling up of Messrs Hutton and Ormandy, the former to the National Military Reserve and the latter to his Territorial regiment, both ostensibly for the duration of the war. The absence of these two teachers means that the school is without its only specialist teachers in History, Geography and French, which are three vital subjects to the General Secondary course and its examinations. After careful, consultation with the chairman I submitted an appeal with respect to both teachers; the result was that the appeal is to be reviewed on March 7, and in the meantime , I have taken steps to advertise both positions as • wartime vacancies. While I have no desire in a semipublic report to comment on the comparative values of these men as teachers and as soldiers, there is no doubt that the school at present is hopelessly handicapped in its work by their absence, and, unless theycan be restored or substitutes found for them, the interests of the pupils must inevitably suffer badly.

“On the other hand, I have been fortunate enough to secure the services of one temporary teacher for a few weeks. Mrs F. G. Reddell, 8.A., who has qualifications in all four subjects in question, has consented to fill the gap until Miss McNiven’s return. For this help I am deeply grateful. It will, however, be recognised that the constant changing of staff members and the consequent re-distribution of subjects among teachers involve constant changes of the weekly timetable, which in turn mean enormously increased work and much confusion. I have to thank the members of the staff for loyal and whole-hearted co-operation, which is going far to reduce the handicaps of the present situation.”

There was some discussion on the problems of staffing, and it was decided to endorse the action of the Principal in appealing for Messrs Hutton and Ormandy. Mr Adams said that neither of the men had asked to be appealed for. This was referred to also by Mr Stewart, who said that they were willing to leave the matter to the school and the Appeal Board. He said that Mr Hutton, after a full day’s soldiering had been working preparing schemes for his subjects, history, geography and social science in order to keep them going.

Examination successes were dealt with as follows: “Pupils sitting from this school in various public examinations at the end of 1941 secured successes as follows: Public Service Commissioner’s examination in short-hand-typing, 8 passes; Chamber of Commerce examination, 3 passes; Public Service Entrance, 9 passes (including one from evening school); University Entrance and School Certificate, 13 passes (including one from the evening school), and pne partial. M. L. McGlashan and T. Parsonage secured University National Bursaries in the Junior University Scholarship examination, the former being well up on the credit list. G. W. Patterson was awarded the Westland Centennial Memorial Scholarship, being the school’s second winner of this scholarship, and intends to proceed to Otago University for a degree in Science and Mineralology.” The Principal said that the winner of the Westland Centennial Scholarship, G. W. Patterson, was to be congratulated. EVENING CLASSES Referring to the evening classes, the Principal stated: It is quite likely, both from the present situation with regard to young men and from blackout conditions, that the number of evening classes will be less, and the attendance at them smaller. It is intended to start evening school, on Monday, March 2, soon after which date it will be possible to get some more definite idea as to the probable course of the evening classes this year. The Principal expressed doubt as to the possibility of continuing some of the classes, because of young men going away and the blackout. He would be able to report on the matter to the next meeting of the board. Dealing with sports and school activities the report stated that at the end of 1941 the credit balance in hand was £BO 13s 3d, representing an improvement of about £3O on the year’s working. For this year school subscriptions received to date amounted to £l7 and payments nil. The balance in hand at present is £9B 16s sd, with accounts outstanding amounting to about £lO. All the out-of-school activities of the pupils; were in train or in process of being organised, cricket, tennis, cadets, physical training, swimming and lifesaving, orchestra, literary, etc. With the absence of three members of the staff the senior pupils were rendering loyal and invaluable co-operation. It was hoped to have .a visit from Christchurch West cricket and tennis teams

The report stated that the programme of manual training was now under full, way, very few changes having been necessary from last year’s programme. The Principal was instructed, after letters on the proposed assembly hall had been received from the Canterbury Education Board and the Education Department, to write to the department, stating that tenders had been submitted. It had been

suggested that the School Board should decide whether it or the Education Board should apply to the department for a subsidy. The School Board was of the opinion that the present was not the time to ask for the carrying out of such work, especially in view of the large amount of building material involved, but hoped that the matter would be favourably considered when times improved. The Education Department wrote suggesting that the industrial representatives on the board should be appointed by the local Trades Council. This was approved. The department wrote advising that the school had been moved up to Grade 6.

A request was made that the board should arrange to assist in making engineering and woodwork vices. This was agreed to. Mr Taylor reported for the visiting committee, mentioning that the wire round the tennis courts needed attending to. He spoke highly of the condition of the hostel. Messrs Adams and Kent were appointed the visiting committee for next month. Accounts totalling £246 14s 8d were passed for payment. There was a credit balance of £BB6 6s 7d. AIR RAID PROTECTION. In reply to a letter from the Principal, asking if any arrangement had been made with the Public Works Department, for the digging of shelter trenches for the protection of the pupils at the Technical School and at the manual training school, in case of emergency, the Department advised that the Canterbury Education Board had been asked to include the manual training centre in the plans being executed by the Public Works Department in connection with the public primary schools. In regard to the Technical School, it was stated that the Board should approach the local E.P.S. authorities with regard to plans, and then secure the approval of the Public Works Department. The work would be paid for by the Government.

Mr Taylor said that Mr Kitchingham had stated that the E.P.S. was not concerned with the provision of protection for school children at schools.

Mr Kent said that in the event of an emergency, the school would be required for another purpose, and there would not be any children in the school when an emergency came, as there would be at least two weeks’ notice of the fact that the school was to be taken over, and as far as school work was concerned the school, would be closed. The preparation of the school for emergency purposes would be made in advance of the emergency.

Mr Taylor pointed out that in the past two years and a-half there had not been an opportunity to make preparations in advance. He thought that some steps should be taken to give protection to the children and to allay any anxiety that parents might feel.

Mr Pratt said he could not accept the statement that New Zealand would get so many days or so many weeks’ warning, and he thought that the Board should go ahead and have some protective trenches dug. The chairman said that plans had already been made for the trenches, and the Board had now been instructed to confer with the E.P.S. and then approach the Public Works Department to get the work done. It was resolved that the sub-com-mittee already acting in the matter proceed on the lines 'suggested by the Department. Mr Taylor asked if there had been any evacuation drill at the school. The Principal said that before Christmas there had been a trial, and in exactly four minutes and aquarter all pupils and teachers had been off the premises, and out of the grounds. He intended to carry on with the drill. x Appreciation of the standard of work in the School Magazine was expressed by Messrs McLean and Pratt.