PARENTS MEET

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 54, Issue 32629, 3 October 1945, Page 3

PARENTS MEET

SOCIAL AFTERNOON function held in paeroa PROBLEMS OF THE TEACHERS Tlie Presbyterian hall. Paeroa, was recently the setting' for what was easily the best-attended and the most enjoyable social afternoon that the Paeroa Parent-Teacher Association has wer held. The president, Mrs S. Wheeler welcomed the guests in a few well-chosen words, and then proceeded to announce the items. These weie varied and bright, and were thoroughly enjoyed by the large audience. The programme was opened by Mr and Mrs 'Kay, with two instrumental duets on violin and piano, “Macus'hla” and “Londonderry Air.” Then followed two recitations by Mr G. W. Moore. “A Literary Lapse” and “Siprmgtime;” vocal duets by Misses B. Saunders and B. Smith, “Mother M'achree” and “Beautiful Isle of Somewhere;” Mr R. Greenslade songs “Pale Moon” and “Tarings;” Std.. 2 (trained 'by Mrs Fulton) choral items, “The Butcher of Nottingham,” “The Outlaws;’’ recitations by Colleen Jenkins, “Brown Woolly Bear,” and Donald .McDonnell, “Apple Dumplings,” Violin solos, Campbell Gallagher, “La .Serenata” and “Minuet in G;” tap dance, Desiree Sewell.

Mw Wheeler then introduced the headmaster, Mr G. M. Ruscoe, who wished to say a few words to the

.parents. Mr Ruscoe, in opening his remarks, said the teachers and school were grateful to the association for the the 'work it had done in recent years. It had, he said, raised tremendous sumy without much effort, and without- its help the school would have been -poorer. “It is necessary for us,” he said "from time to time, to raise money for various equipment necessary in the school. The capitation which the school receives from the Education Board does not meet the requirements of the school, and it is only by the efforts of the parents that the money can be raised. The association has raised considerably more than a hundred pound’s in the last two years and without their efforts would not have the cinematograph and various other facilities that the school possesses.

"Then again, the (Parent-Teacher Association 'brings closer co-operation I between the home and the school, and -j unless that- co-operation actually ex- , ists we are going to get nowhere. I Without it education can never sue- j ceed as it should. (Parents and teach-' er» need to work together. We need i to understand each other’s problems. I think,” said Mr Ruscoe, “we have more problems in the school today than ever before. Problems that seem - insurmountable, but with your help and your co-operation they can be overcame, We are confronted with our worries, and 1 we know you have yours, but if there were a pooling of those worries we know they could be overcome—they are not insurmountable. You pay the teachers’ salaries, and‘you want to know what happens in the schools. So we invite you into

the schools to see the various methods and examine the class rooms, and we

' do hope you will avail yourselves of ! this opportunity.” Mr Ruscoe then spoke on the size of the classes at Paeroa and the problem ' of discipline of the children. , Mrs Wheeler thanked Mi' Ruscoe for his remarks adding, “It is not very often we mothers are told we are not doing a job of work, but we . can take it.’ As a business woman,” she went on, “I am in a place where I come in contact a great deal with the children, and I am going to put a feather in their caps. I have never seen a more polite crowd of children anywhere than in Paeroa. I don’t think I have ever seen a child accept his ice-cream without a ‘thank you. Mrs Wheeler then thanked the artists for their items, also Mrs Brown for the able and willing manner in i which she always accompanies at J these functions. She also thanked the Mayoress l , Mrs Edwin 'Edwards, foi J her presence, and the interest she has I always taken in the association. i Mrs Wheeler introduced Mr R. P. Callaway, who rose to say a few words to the parents.

“There are one or two important problems cropping up in the Secondary school,, and I have been asked to bring them to the notice of parents at a meeting like this,” said Mr Callaway,“ and the problems are those dealing with examinations. I want to explain just what is required for certain examinations that aie held by the Education Board and the University of New Zealand.. Last year the examination scheme was changed considerably in New Zealand. The old University ex-

amination known as Matriculation becoming extremely narrow, and the Education department called together a committee to discuss the matter. They brought down a very important report regarding the subjects to be taught in Secondary schools, and the examinations to be held.

‘“(Briefly, (first of all, they suggested that a School Certificate examination should take the place of the University examination. The Universitj Entrance Examination is required only by pupils who are going to the University to obtain a degree, such as Achitecture, Law, Commerce, Engineering, etc., and boys who intend to go into the Civil Service are advised to take the University examination, in order to qualify for a Unless they have some degree the cannot reach the top; such degrees as Bachelor of Commerce, Engineering, etc., required in various departments. The regulations governing the University examinations are these: the candidate must have been at the school for four years; he must have passed the School Certificate examination; he must be over the age of sixteen. In the University examinations there are only three subjects to be taken, previously there were five, and no particular subject is compulsory, provided of course English has I been passed in the School Certificate. They may choose three subjects from twelve.

The School Certificate: This is the examination which takes the place of the University Examination, and 1 all pupils should have this certificate. It is required as an entrance to Nursing, teaching, Banking and Public Service. As to the scope of the School Certificate, it has now a considerably broadened choice of subjects. In the Matriculation, a pupil had to have a foreign language and a science, which

in many cases, caused man,> deceiving pupils to miss the examination. Tn the School Certificate , a pupil has to have English and any four subjects from a choice of thirty-two, which means that pupils who have practical ability can obtain a certificate which will enable him to enter into most positions. All Secondary schools must teach the core subjects: English, M'aths (simple), 'Social Science, General Science, Arts and Crafts or Music, and Physical Education.

“We, as teachers, see the work done by the children at school. M e know what theycan do; we know the limit of their ability, and we want to encourage them to take the correct subjects, so that those subjects will be of use to them in their future occupations, and also will enable them to pass their examinations. “I should 'particularly like parents to come along to the school and discuss what they would like their childto be or to do, and we can tell them, quite candidly, what type of work their children should take for the rest of their time in ary department. UnfortunaW, we are not sufficiently staffed, and there is a limit to what we are enabled to teach. For instance, we cannot teach thirty-two subjects; but we will try, as far as possible, to give the pupils what they require. We hope, some time in the future, to have the eaching staff we need; but until that time arrives, we will do our best to carry on as we are.” The sumptions afternoon tea, proved once again, the ever-readiness of the Paeroa people to provide toothsome delicacies.