SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 175, 25 June 1932, Page 3

SECONDARY SCHOOLS

BOARD OF GOVERNORS. MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of tho Board of Governors of the Palmerston North Boys’ and Girls’ High Schools and tho Technical School Committee was held last night, when Mr W. L. Fitzlierbert presided. Others present were Mrs Aitcliison, Messrs J. A. Nash, M.P., Durward, Birnie, Oram, Rutherfurd and Hodder. Mrs Rhodes (principal of the Girls’ High School), Mr J. Murray (rector of the Boys’ High School) and Mr G. G. Hancox (director of the Technical School) were also in attendance. BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL.

The rector of the Boys’ High School reported on the month’s work as under: —“The roll number is 360, and the average attendance is 342. Inspectors E. Caradus and J. B. Mawson visited the school on the 6th, 7th and Bth inst. The school observed Wednesday afternoon, 15th inst., as a half holiday for the Show, when the annual football match was played with Te Auto College, Te Auto winning by--13-3. Boys of the agricultural class competed in the Show milk-testing competition. The senior competition was won by W. Payne, and the junior by R. Stevenson and A. Ploen (equal). Dr. G. M. Moir, of Wellington,,a member of the New Zealand Alpine Club, gave an interesting lantern lecture on New Zealand alpine scenery, in the Assembly Hall, on the 16th inst. Adopted. INSPECTOR’S REPORT.

Tho report of the Education Department’s inspectors who visited the Boys’ Higli School stated, inter alia i “The roll number is 359 and the staff comprises, in addition to the rector, 14 full-time and five part-time assistants. Forty-eight pupils came to school daily by train, and 21 by bus. The school offers a very broad curriculum of differentiated courses, and the classification is on the basis of ability, so that a form may contain representatives of any one of the courses. The school makes a feature of specialised sixtli form work.” In commenting on subjects of the curriculum the report points out that tho work in English continues to develop on sound modern lines and should be productive of good results. “A good selection of books is available in tho main library, which is used extensively, and class libraries have wisely been established in addition. Very valuable practice is also being given in dramatic work a feature which is deserving of every encouragement, acting as it does as a tonic to the whole of the work in English. In other la.nguages teaching is also sound and thorough, and a verv good standard is being maintained. The organisation of the teaching of history was described as extremely thorough. “The mathematics of the school left quite a good impression and very good work is being carried out in both the physical and the natural sciences.” 'Che work of the commercial side was a so described as having let a verv satisfactory impression, and the report pointed out that nt the Sixth Form stage the school made a feature of accountancy work in preparing bojs for the professional accountants examination. Other subjects of a wide curriculum were also favourably commented on, and the report concluded by stating that the standard of the teaching and of the work was distinctly good, and the organisation, tone and discipline were very good indeed.

GIRLS’ HIGH SCHOOL. The principal of the Girls’ High S hool presented the following report “The roll is now 252, and the average attendance 234.6. The average attendance has been poor during the last week] or two owing to the rough weather and the prevalence of colds. The school was closed on June 3, on the occasion of the living’s Birthday, and on the afternoon 'of June 15, for tho Winter Show. The basketball A team won the tournament hold on 3rd June, and thus become holders of the Graham Cup. Miss Betty Sheppard, M.A., an old girl of the school and former dux, has been nwauled an Arts Travelling Scholarship by the University of New Zealand, with a passage to England. Miss Sheppard will continue her studies at London university.”—Adopted. DIRECTOR’S REPORT.

Tlio director of the Technical School reported as under: —“A voluntary donation of £lO has been received from the Kairanga County Council. The destinations of pupils leaving the dayschool in 1931 were: Commercial, 2. boys, 8 girls; engineer, 1 boy; trades, 21 boys, 6 girls; shops, 3 boys, 7 girls; farming, 33 boys; home, 65 girls; mcssengers, 5 boys; unknown, 6 boys. Grounds: A first-class job has been made of the sealing of the girls yard under No. 5 scheme. The additional bicvcle shed has been erected and the making of the racks is in hand. Four sports teams travelled to Levin on June 9 and suffered defeat after very keenly contested games. Our basketball team lost by 22—20; the B team 10—9 ; our football A team lost by 19 0, and the B team 11—5. The return games are to be played on June 28. louth Employment: The number of youths enrolled is 13. Of these one obtained employment on a farm, one is unable to attend classes for a few weeks owing to sickness in the home, one is joining the ordinary technical classes, and the remaining ten are attending or are prepared to attend special classes. Mr Nash mentioned that the matter of unemployed youths had been carried further nnd a public meeting would be called, when various organisations would be represented. It was hoped that a permanent committee uould bo set up and he would like Mr Kutherfurd to represent the . High School Board. . , Mr Kutherfurd was appointed, while Mr Nash was also asked to represent the board. The directors report was adopted, a vote of thanks being extended to the Kairanga County' Council for its douatIOIUTHE ANNUAL MEETING.

At the conclusion of the regular business, the annual meeting was held when the report (previously published in the “Standard”) was read and adopted on the motion of the chairman, seconded by Mr Nash. In moving its adoption, the chairman took the opportunity to thank the members for their valuable assistance during the year, which had, he stated, made bis duties very plepsant. In seconding the motion, Mr Nash stated that the report was a very satisfactory one, for it had been very extensive "in its review of activities of the schools and the chairman deserved congratulation on his effort. The speaker then formally moved that the board’s appreciation of tbe excellent work performed by the chairman throughout the year be placed on record. Mr Birnie seconded, and the motion was carried unanimously. Mr Fitzherbcrt was reappointed chairman and Mr Birnie treasurer for the ensuing twelve months, while various sub-committees were also appointed.