HASTINGS HIGH SCHOOL

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXI, Issue 304, 8 December 1931, Page 5

HASTINGS HIGH SCHOOL

ACTIVITIES FOR NOVEMBER REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL In his repor' for the month of November. the principal of the Hastings High School (Mr W. A. G. Penlington) states: — “Attendance The roll-number during the month averaged 364 and the daily attendance 342, or 94 per cent, of the roll number. At the end of the month 360 pupils were in attendance (206 boys and 154 girls). These figures show an increase of about 20 on the attend mice at this time last year, “Examinations: Public, examinations commenced On November 18 and will continue until December 11, when the University entrance examination tin ishes. The Training College entrance, intermediate and public service exam inations were held at the school. “Employment: The news that n:> probationers are to be appointed was a great disappointment to a number of our senior pupils who were expecting to enter the teaching profession next year. Several of them have since found positions in other directions and a few will continue at school until the ap pointment of probationers is resumed. This, together with the general depression and the non-appointment of cadets to the civil service, makes it difficult to find good openings for boys and girls seeking employment. Nevertheless, the position in Hastings does not appear to be such as to cause alarm as is said to bo the case in larger towns. A good many boys take up work on the farms or orchards of their parents and relatives. which relieves the difficulty n great deal, “The majority of those unable to find work are the boys who wish to take up engineering or plumbing, and girls and boys in search of positions as clerks. An increasing number of employers have recently been applying to the school when requiring to fill vacancies on their staffs. Of the 36 girls who were in the senior commercial division seven have taken up employment during the year and seven are still at school. By enquiring among the boys I have ascertained that of the 36 boys leaving school at or about the end of this year 25 have secured employment, or a definite promise of it. It is reasonable to expect that the remaining 11 will find positions during the next few months, although some of them may have to alter thei. plans. A number of pupils are remaining at school until suitable vacancies offer; and wisely so, as idleness is demoralising. “Games: We received a visit from the first cricket eleven of the Dannevirke High School the visitors defeating our team by 18 runs. A team of junior boys paid a visit to Hereworth School, The first eleven is doing very well in the junior grade Saturday competition, being at present the leading team. “General: Mr Savage the department's architect, visited the school on November 18, and inspected the work which has recently been done in the restoration of the buildings: he expressed his satisfaction with the result. The erection of the three wooden class rooms and two workshops is now being started, but, owing to the unfortunate delay which has occurred, we shall require to continue using two 6r three marquees during next February and March until the new rooms arc ready. “We have received, from a parent, who wishes to be anonymous, a most acceptable gift of about 40 numbers of the 'National Geographical Magazine.’ ’’