High School Governors.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7862, 13 June 1904, Page 7

High School Governors.

The monthly meeting of the Board of Governors of the Palmerston High School was held on Saturday. Present—Rev. I. Jolly, Messrs P. Pirani, \V. Park, G. Hirsch (secretary), j' L. Barnicoat, W. Rutherfurd, W. Collingwood. r< An apology for absence was received from Mr W. T. Wood1. M.H.R. (chairman), and in his absence the Rev. I. Jolly was appointed to take the chair.

RECTOR'S REPORT. _ The Rector reported as follows for the three, weeks ended June 10 th as fallows :-Thc. school was open 27 hali-days, borng closed one half-day on account of the weather and two w i ??»■ ? a Jlmc 3rd > Pri"ce of Wales' Birthday. The staff had been .regular and punctual in the discharge of their duties. One boy had been admitted. The roll number therefore stands at 130 (75 boys, 55 Girls). Ihe attendance had not been "quite i so good. This had been caused by the unfavourable weather and by one i or two cases of sickness. The averages have been 117, 122, and 121 respectively, or a little over 92 per cent. 1 have handed to the secretary a cheque for £6 17s 6d, beinogrant earned by school under the Manual anc Technical Instruction Act. This money is supposed to be spent in apparatus or material for use ot school. I ash permission, therefore, to get four more blackboards, total cost about £3 10s, to be paid for out-of this grant. Owing to the change from quarter to terms, this term will be an extra long one, and I would suggest a mid-term holiday, say of 2* days from Wednesday at mid-day to Friday, June 22—24. THE AGE LIMIT. Lengthy letters were received from the Otago High School Board of Governors and tho Department on the subject of the age limit. The latter submitted a number of questions for an expression of opinion theron. It appeared that as t&o regulations were now drawn up, .scholars entering the school in September after the annual examinations would only be entitled to iifteen months' free tuition, the two years promised counting from the preceding .January. The Rector said he had drawn up some notes of replies to the questions. The age Kniii, would certainly |be a hardship on some children, especially to the country children, who were generally older than town chilc'ren when they passed. Standard "VI. The age limit would tend to make teachers push the children through the standards, a thing- not to be desired. If the age limit had been in force after last examination as well as the addition to clause 12. only about half of those who were admitted free to the District High School would have received the privilege. The age limit would not. act so harshly if regulation J2 were amended as suggested, "if they could get it amended to read *'" 1 st of January nearest to the date of admission," he could not see how an amendment 'as follows could be., refused :—" The two years'-.'tenure of a free place to count from the beginning of the term in which the pupil is admitted."

The Chairman, Secretary, and Rector were appointed to forward replies to the Department's questions.

MISCELLANEOUS. The procuring- of the blackboards asked for by the Rector was authorised ; also the granting of tho midterm holidays.

Messrs Rutherfurd and Barnico.it were appointed a ground committee. They were authorised to revise tho list of caretaker's duties.

Tho liability on tho school piano was taken over from, the Rector, who was passed a vote of thenks for his efforts to reduce the liability, he having collected £16 for this object. -

It was decided to meet in future at 2.30. p.m. instead of 4 p.m. '

Mr Hirsch was authorised to sign .cheques ■with. the other' members appointed. '•'■■;

The meeting then adjourned.