GREY TECHNICAL SCHOOL CLASSES

Grey River Argus, 24 March 1947, Page 3

GREY TECHNICAL SCHOOL CLASSES

In his latest report to the Board of Governors, the Principal of the Greymouth Technical High School, Mr W. M. Stewart, stated: —

The number of pupils on the school roll up to March 1 was 448—236 boys and 212 girls—which might have justified a claim for 13.8 teachers. However, quite a number of boys and girls have left School during the past few days, attracted by well-paid though not always advantageous positions, and quite a number more will probably leave from the same cause before very long. Moreover, Mr Tindale’s absence on leave fits in quite well with the slightly reduced numbers, and in present circumstances a suitable temporary teacher would be difficult to obtain. For these reasons, I have thought il best to be conservative and enter the staffing return at the exact IS teachers, a number which would be justified by a total roll of 422. I should welcome some formal aijd specific consideration by the Board of what has always been my policy for advice ■to parents, viz. that in the great majority ,’f cases the welfare of the pupil and the interests of industry and commerce alike make it desirable for pupils to remain at school, preferably up to or near the School Certificate stage. This is not universally true; in the not infrequent cases where the aptitudes, attitudes, interests and social adjustment of the boy or girl makes it desirable, I do not hesitate to recommend leaving and taking a job on reaching the 15th birthday. But in the main the principle remains sound. As this is a matter of major educational policy, it is fitting that a board such as this should take the opportunity of stating openly its findings on the subject. The average attendance for the five weeks of the school year so far elapsed lias been 94.6 per cent. Further schools continue to seek and receive admission into the Manual Training section of the board’s control. At Greymouth, Miss Reid has assumed her duties as Cookery and Housewifery mistress, and is doing excellent work. At Hokitika, arrangements are in hand for the installation of the Homecraft equipment, granted by the board and approved by the department. At both centres, a certain amount of repair and renewal has become necessary—none of the items entailing any considerable expense. Some of this outlay is the charge of the Canterbury Education Board, and a few minor renewals to equipment etc., at a charge on this board. All these details are either in hand or in train.

I propose, as soon as enrolments, at present coming in steadily, assume permanent shape, to 1 submit a report to the board on the evening school and its functions. At present, it can be stated that 21 classes are in operation 19 at Greymouth and 2 at Hokitika, while enrolments coming in indicate the likelihood of at least five more reaching the stage where a request to the department for approval will be justified. Subject to the board's consent, it is proposed to advertise these as in prospectus and to call for immediate enrolment. The Rehabilitation Department is not yet in a position to supply information as to the number of students available for a Building Theory class, the scope of the syllabus laid down by headquarters, or the availability of a suitable instructor.

At date, there are 150 evening students enrolled, the average number of classes per student being approximately two. The 21 classes include: — Trades Woodwork Practice and Theory; Engineering Practice (General and .Welding) and Machine Drawing; Motor Practice and Theory; Plumbing Practice and Theory; Third Marine Theory; Electrical Wiremen’s Theory; Homecraft. Woodwork —men’s and women's classes at Greymouth and men’s at Hokitika; Arts and Crafts; Dressmaking; Nurses’ Invalid Cookery (Greymouth and Hokitika); ?Jathematics; Shorthand-typing; bookkeeping; English and Arithmetic. School subscriptions received since the Board's last meeting amounted to £6 10, making a progress total for the year of £25 ss, while payments for sundry services total £1 Is. With accounts ■■ outstanding for sundry equipment and administration to the amount of £6 0s lOd, the balance in hand is £39 10s 6d.

The annual swimming sports, held on February 26, were an outstanding success as regards both numbers of entries and standard of performance. The Athletic Sports, just completed can probably take rank as the most successful in the history of the school and one of the highlights of athletics on the West Coast. In the senior and intermediate seceions, no fewer than 16 records were broken and 2 were equalled. A scroll embodying (he school’s Roll of Honour in the 1939-1945 War has been designed and executed by Pat. Hughes, a senior girl of the Domestic Science Course, and presented to the school. This beautiful piece of work will be suitably framed, and hung in the Assembly Hall or the Library, when either of these long awaited necessities takes material shape.