PETONE TECHNICAL SCHOOL

Hutt News, Volume 9, Issue 29, 24 December 1935, Page 2

PETONE TECHNICAL SCHOOL

ANNUAL msm% YEAR'S ACTIVITIES, i The following is the annual report oi the Petone Memorial Technical College compiled by the principal, Mr, A, Mc Fadyen. The year, just concluding, lias been 8 very strenuous one; it has also been on( of changes. There has been a change it the personnel of the board. We hav< lost Mr J. W. Longman, who was elect ed to the board in 1930 and was thus t member for live years. We have als< had changes in the staff of the Technica High School. Then this year wo havo had an abno: mal number of pupils leaving school t< go to work. More positions have beei available than formerly ftqif onr pupil: have always been very apt at obtaining positions. Changes have already taken place ii regard to our workshop building an( the brick building is to be demolishec and replaced —by a modern building 1 o: two storeys. This is a matter for con gratulatioir, it will provide those facili ties which*-in view of the rapidlj growing ne&cls of the district have be come imperative.. The existing brick building wa planned long before the idea of the tech nical high school had arisen clearly ii the minds of the board. It was intend ed chiefly to house a group .of evening classcs and it served its purpose in tha respect, but it was never adequate fo the needs of a Technical High. School and so it had outlived its usefulness. The question of accommodation an< conditions has been a burning one, am the matter has been brought before th notice of the board in each of the an nual reports since 1930. It gives u cause, therefore, for gratification t know that the accommodation and con ditions of working will bo greatly improved by the provision for building now being made. The extra accommc dation should result in greater flexibii ity in the courses. Tho scope of th work has been cramped in the past b; the lack of accommodation. Thcr should be room for development in th art courses; the opportunity for copiu with such has certaintly been granted t us. We are, therefore, looking forwar with hope to the further developmen of the College in the near future. Technical High School. The Technical High School opened o Tuesday, February 5. The total nun; ber of enrolments was 238. The numbe of new enrolments was slig'htly less tha in 1934 this being accounted for by fall in the number of boys entering th commercial course. The number of firs year pupils was also slightly less tha in 1934, but the number of second yea pupils was greater. As time went on w lost students from the higher classe until finally severe inroads were mad into 1 the second year classes. AH bu one of our third year boys have gon and about 50 per cent, of our secorn year. Luckily the first year pupils hav maintained their numbers mucih Wtei Undoubtedly our experience testifie to a general improvement in employ ment possibilities for youths. The with drawal of promising boys and girls froi: school is rather a saddening cxperienc* | There is but little risk for pupils o proved ability in remaining at schoC for the usual period even under abnoi mal conditions. Panic action, on th other hand, not only robs many an ex cellent boy and girl of a real chance ii life, but it often opens up other goo< job 3 to mediocre applicants after th' best are no longer available for selec tion. The total enrolment for the year wa; 238, the number iu 1934 being 240. The number of pupils on the roll a the end of November were: Junior fre< place students: Girls 57, boys 74: tota 131, Senior free place students: Girls 3 boys 1; total 4. Grand total 135. Part Time Day Classes. Manual training classes in cookeri and woodwork for pupils of Standard; V and VI of the primary schools hav< also been conducted in the colleg'e. Miss T. Clarke has been in charge of th< cookery classes and Mr E. W. Miller oJ those in woodwork. The details are ai follows: Cookery. Number of classes 11 number of pupils -37; wookwork, 13 272; total number classes 24; totai number of pupils 510, Part time day classes in woodwork,, metalwork, farm mechanics and drawing have been attended, during the year, by 13 pupils from the Hutt Valley High School. These classes constitute part of the joint agricultural course and havo been conducted by Messrs H, W. Miller and A, \V. Ifiddolls. Aims. The Technical High School aims at providing for both boys and girls full time courses which combinc a sound •general education with a real insight into the principles and practice of some oalling. A practical education imparted in an interesting way is the purpose of the courses, due attention being paid to the fundamental principles underlying practice of the pupils' future yflcajticjij Due regard is also given tq the as well as the mental and physi?ai aspects of education. One of onr chiel aims is to develop character and an at tempt has been made both by precepi and example to carry out thii import ant branch of our activities. .Curriculum. Tfee ftigh School eurriculun this year, as hitterj;o ; lias providet three distinct courses, viz.: (aj com mercial course for girls and boys, nearl] all of whom entered with proficienc] certificate, (b) A home science coura for girls, suitable for holders of ciency or competency certificates an i others, (c) An industrial course ix boys, suitable for holders of profici/cy ( pr competency certificates and othej. All pupils of the Technical Jigh k Schoql take English, civics and .ftrdthmetic or practical mathenmcs, some,branch of drawing, physical/rain-

ing, these* subjects comprising' about two-fifths of the course. Girls take in addition a certain amount of home science, hygiene, dressmaking, and all the boys take woodwork. All first year pupils take book-keeping and science. Commercial Courses. > Sound training continues to be given in shorthand, typing, book-keeping, commercial correspondence and office routine as well as in the general subjects of the course. In the new building, whi<& is to replace the present brick one, the room comprising the commercial department will be together on the first floor. The* rooms will be commodious and when fitted with modem furniture and equipment will be **}U suited for their purpose. Home Science Course. 1 This course is a practical as well as a most interesting one. The general and art subjects provide an important part of the course which is designed to meet the need of training 1 girls for homelife. The co-operation of the needlework and art teachers is especially valuable. Individuality or originality are being successfully fostered in the study of colour and design, and in the girls' needlework abundant opportunities occur for the effective application of this training, For girls who intend taking up nursing as a profession the course offers a good foundation of general and home science, hygiene, anatomy, home nursing, first aid, and cookery. For those more likely to follow the practical arts cookery, dressmaking, millinery and needlework give the necessary fundamentals. For all girls the training 1 in cookery and dressmaking 1 , including textiles and patternmaking, will bo an advantage in after life, no matter what the future may hold for them. The home science department will be housed on the bottom floor of the new building; the cookery and dressmaking rooms will be adjacent to ono another, with the home scienco laboratory on tils same floor. The conditions of working 1 will, therefore, be greatly improved. The rooms will be commodious and when fitted with modern equipment and furniture should be well suited for their purpose. [Industrial Course. This course is suitable for such boys as intend entering any of the trades of going on to farms. Metalwork and needlework are popular subjects of the course and good work has been done in these subjects. Instruction in smithy work has also been given and it is expected that when the new forge is erected in the motor room much better work will be done, as the conditions will be greatly improved. First year boys Ij.lcc experimental science, second year boys electrical engineering and third year boys motor engineering, and steady progress has been made in these subjects. Good work has been done in practical mathematics, practical geometry, and mechanical drawing, Close attention hag been paid to lettering 1 during the year, and in conscquence a very definite improvement in standard is noticeable The new class room, the Mechanics Laboratory and the" CabihetmaTcing workshop which constitute the. second 1 storey to the workshop building and the new motor engineering workshop on the ground floor will not only greatly add to the accommodation, but will also make the facilities for technical instruction much more adequate. It should now be possible to set a room aside for a spccificj purpose and this is a decided advantage. It should also be possible now to increase the scope of the work of the College. In all courses the College provides a sound general education in addition to the specialised training. Classes in art, literature and vocal music have also been conducted during the year. The cultural education of the pupils has therefore received attention. Art Course. So far no special art course has been provided in the College. This has been due to lack of accommodation. Facilities, however, arc being provided in the new building for adequate instruction in art, applied art and crafts.

The art department will be housed in ! the first floor of the new building : directly above the home science departi ment and will comprise two lai>ge r6oms, one for art, the other for crafts. It is hoped to have those fully equipped in order to provide children with the means of doing creative work. The crafts course will be taken in conjunction with the art and applied art courges, and it ia hoped that facilities will be available at the beginning of 1936 to enable home science students to carry out practical and creative work in art needlework, brass, copper and pewter, basketmaking, weaving, batik, linoleum cutting and printing, leather work and book-binding'. This room is also to contain the necessary equipment for stencilling and claymodeUing-. The work will be essentially practically, and tlit' crafts studied 'will be dependent the aptitudes and inclinations of th«' pupils, the aim being to give each pupil a grounding in a craft or crafts w&ich will be of recreational and active value after the school course is competed. i -Music. f Increasing recognition is being given (to njugip as pup of the most important if the cultural subjects, and it is intended mak«s a special feat\irp pf this in ftie worlfin the College. Musical approbation will have a place in the 193G Srllabus, and if there is sufficient intyest a school orchestra will be formed. $lk dancing should prove, in 3,9£1>, an {'njoyable addition to the girls'. ac.tmies.' The aim is the preparation o£ students for a fuller and. more satisfying use of leisure hours in the future, anJ the creation of an enthusiasm which will lead to further participation in musical activities. Physical Training. This continues to occupy a regular daily place in [the timetable and aIL teafelers co-operate ia the instruction, given under the direction of Mr Ritchie. The system followed has been as ifi previous years that of Dr. Renfrew Whyte. Combined drill and marching lias beci) taken regularly each week under the

leadership of Mr. Ritchie, assisted by othef members of staff. Cadet Drill. The cadet company has had a fairly successful year. During the sccond term the members of the company were equipped with uniforms by the Defence . Department, and the general appearaace of the company was much improved thereby. The company was divided into three platoons and n.c.o's were appointed to Control them, a valuable training, which should serve these n.c.o. 'a well in after life. Arrangements have been made for a party of the pupils to attend the camp for n.c.o. 's at Trentham in January and for a barracks at the College at the beginning of 1930. The services of the instructors sent out each drill day have been greatly appre- ' ciated. Bugle Band. The bugle band has been particularly strong this year. It has been well equipped, thanks to the kindness of the St. Augustine Scouts and Petone Sea Scouts who have kindly loaned the College trumpets, drums and cymbals. The band has materially assisted the military drill and combined marching 1 of boys and girls. Swimming. The school again had the use of the McKenzic Baths each Wednesday during the swimming season. The weather was beautifully line at the beginning of the year but it has been somewhat disappointing 1 since the new season opened. The second annual swimming sports were held in the McKenzio Baths on Wednesday, February 27. Entries were large and there is no doubt that the standard of swimming has greatly improved. The champions were as follow: Senior boys, B. Eitzema and S. Robsonj junior boy, H. Jones; girl, E. Little.

Organised Games. On the sports side the school has again been particularly active. Girls have played basketball, hockey, rounders and tennis. Boys have played Rugby, Association football, cricket and tennis. Two teams were entered in the secondary schools' basketball competition, the A team taking first place equal in their grade. Miss Marston coached the teams; Mrs Hartley and Miss Burnett travelled with them to their matches. Three teams played in the Wellington Ladies Hockey Association competition. Though not so successful as last year these teams nevertheless performed well. Three teams were entered for the annual seven-a-side when the intermediates reached the semi-finals of their grade. Miss A. E. Anderson coached the teams and travelled with them on Saturdays. Two teams were entered in the secondary schools' Rugby football competition. Due to the abnormal number of senior boys leaving for positions it was difficult to field teams, with the result that these were not so successful as they might have been. They, however, acquitted themselves .well and the boys had plenty of enjoyment from their games. Mr Ritchie had change of Rugby; he coached the teams and travelled with them on Saturdays. Two Association football teams were entered in the Hutt Valley League. The A team again won the championship, gaining possession of the Heseltine Cup. In the knock-out competition this team reached the final. One of its players, McLaggan, travelled to Auckland as a member of the "Wellington junior secondary schools representative team. This same player also captained the Hutt Valley League representative team. Mr Riddolls coached the team and he and Mr Lowry travelled with them on Saturdays.

One cricket team was entered in the secondary schools' competition. At tie beginning of the year the team was one of the strongest the College has ever fielded. The team has suffered in the present season, however, from so many boys leaving to go to positions. Certlin of the boys arc being coached by Mr Keating', the Wellington Cricket Association's professional coach from Australia. Mr Riddolls has again been responsible for the organisation and control. He has coached the teams, and Mr Lowry has travelled with them on Saturdays It is pleasing to note tint many of our former players are still taking aa interest in the game, having joined up with the Petono teams } and are doing' well.

There arc not many playing tennis this year, but those who are playing are making full use of the courts. The boys and girls control their own sections and the tennis court is providing pleasure to those who have taken up the game,. Sullivan; senior boys, Barry C. Ritzemaj junior boys, Alex V, Humphrey

Cross Country Runs. Piiur .to the opening of the cricket season three cross-country runs were held, with the following results:—First run: B. Uitzema 1, H. Koeble 2, Taylor 3.. Second run: B, Uitzema 3, Taylor 2, J. Lane 3. Third run: T. Mclvor 3, J. Jane 2, D. Jonasseh 3. These threo runs comprised senior. Junior,—First run: B. Burt 3, K. Amies 2, E. Mudge 3. Second run. Marshall 3, B. Burt 2, J. Hayes 3. Third run: Arthurs 3, 3£. Amies 2, E, Mudge 3. Those teachers who have taken such an interest in the sporting activities of the school are to be commanded not only for the time they have given but also fo.r the achieved and for the fyw spjrij of sportsmanship displayed by the teams. It has again to be emphasised) that the aim in thus encourage i;n,g sport i;,s nol) only to ensure a means foj; physical; development, -but also to cultivate in pupils, a spirit of selfreliance, a to recognise the merits of opponents and. a readiness to accept defeat with a smije, to in.culcato in them loyalty to their school and its ideals and to teach them under all circumstances to play the game. The house, competition has continued; to fulfil a useful: function snd to play (Cotttinued; on Page ?;)