SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 168, 17 June 1936, Page 2

SECONDARY SCHOOLS

t BOARD OF GOVERNORS. ANNUAHMEETING. The monthly and annual meetings of the High School Board of Governors and Technical School Committee were held last evening, Air J. A. Nash presiding. Also present were Messrs 0. Monrad, T. D. Lynch, J. W. Rutlierfurd, W. It. Birnie, M. H. Oram and A. J. Graham. There were apologies for absence from Airs Al. Aitchison and Alessrs T. It. Hodder and G. Tremaine.

Mr J. Murray (rector of the Boys’ High School) ‘reported that the roll number was 409 and the average attendance 395. Miss S. J. Robinson (acting principal of the Girls’ High School) reported that there was ft roil number or 284 and an average attendance of 2G7.8. Miss Horton and Miss French had commenced duty on May 20. “Work has commenced in preparing extra accommodation for bicycles. r J lie increased number in the school makes this accommodation very necessary. At the hostel the grounds are being put in order. The board is asked to consider installing special desks for typewriters. Desks of the type required are in use in the commercial departments of many schools and mean a great saving in accommodation. At present it is necessary to have tables for the typewriters and also desks where other class work can be carried on. These new desks allow the typewriter, when not wanted, to slide under the lid, and the lid then serves as an ordinary desk top. The typewriter is, at the same time, better protected when not in use. On hei return from England, Miss Hume prepared a report on the teaching or music in England. This report now lies before the board. On A\ ednesday, June 10, Miss Hume gave an interesting address to the whole school on her travels in Denmark, Sweden and Germany. On .June 3, the school was addressed by Miss IteeyesP a Inter, who described the conditions under which women live ill Egjpt, Miss Robinson added. Mr G. G. Hancox (director of the Technical School) reported that the following donations had been received: £lO from the Old Students’ Association for the kitchenette fund ; £lO f rom the Kairanga County Council. • Ihe average roll nlimber over all groups in the evening school lor the week ending June 5 was 18.1. This permits the division of several classes, but in making adjustments we are greatly tampered by lack of accommodation, Mr Hancox continued. The total roll or day students was 601 and evening students 1181, as compared with 031 and 1183 respectively at the same period in 1935. On June Mr A. o. Newman supervised for the Defence Department a practical examination for applicants for the armourer section New Zealand Ordnance Corps. All the applicants selected by the Defence Department for the test were ex-stu-dents of the school. I have to recommend that we purchase a balopticon and reference books for the libiary, the department to be asked for a grant of half the latter amount; also. to bring the woodwork department up to date and in line with present-day trade practice, that ve lristal admtional machinery,” Mr Hancox addea. The report were adopted, and Mr Hancox’s recommendations were agreed to lt was decided to express appreciation to Miss Hume of her excellent report." . : Consideration is to be given the installation of the typewriting furniture at the Girls’ High School Mr H. Lin lev Richardson wiote thanking the hoard for its congratulations on his having a picture hung at the Royal Academy .—Received. The Wellington executive of the Women’s Division Farmers Union wrote expressing appreciation ot • the use of certain rooms during the country girls’ education week. — Receued. PROGRESS OF SCHOOLS. The board then conducted the business of the annus 1 meeting. Mr Nash presented a lengthy report covering the activities of tho three schools, of which the iollowing .are excerpts: “Girls’ High School.—The roll has lincreased, the number being 289, com- ! posed of 114 new entrants and l/o returned to school, as against 261 lor the previous year. Tho school went up Ito Grade YIII and, being entitled to lan aditional teacher, Miss A. C. \\ cs>ton was appointed. The destinations •of 78 withdrawals were: Teaching 11, home 33, offices 10, shops 6, transferred to other schools 18. There have been numerous changes m the stall during the past twelve months. Miss Hume resumed her work alter a year s leave of absence, and will l‘ leaving shortly to take up an important position in Wanganui. Miss McLeod was granted leave of absence from April, her position being filled by Miss Rogers as relieving teacher. Miss 1 eglar and Miss McFadden loft to be married, Miss Horton and Miss Griffiths being appointed to the positions, lhe school, unfortunately, lost the services of Mrs Rhodes, principal, who left for Eng land in May. Mrs Rhodes rendered excellent service over a period of years, and her resignation was received with regret by the hoard. Her position is being filled by Miss Stephens, of Gisborne, who conies to the school very highly recommended, and we join m wishing Miss Stephens success in her new position. Pending the arrival of the new principal the position is in the hands of the capable senior first assistant, Miss Robinson and the opportunity is. taken of thanking Miss Robinson and members of the staff lot the excellent results obtained during the year. The Field Club had a number of successful outings during tho year. The play-reading circles, introduced last year, have proved very successful and carried on this year again with enthusiasm. Rev. J. Hubbaid, M A., was the speaker for Anzae Day this year, and the school was fortunate in securing Miss Reeves-Palmer, who delivered an address to the girls on the life of women in Egypt. The board and ’the school are grateful to Mr J Grant and mem hers of the Parents Association for their continued interest in the school. Funds were raised per medium of a garden party and a young people s dance held during the ycai. “Bovs High School.—The roll commenced with 432. but the number on April was 420. Staff changes have taken place, Mr C. B. Beatson having left for Nelson and Mr E. W. Espinei for Christchurch. The new science block has proved a very valuable acquisition. The examination results in preparing pupils lor degree, accountaucy professional, training college ontrance, school certificates, higher leaving certificates and university entrance were excellent, reflecting credit upon the rector and staff. The school was ! fortunate in having addresses deliver‘el bv distinguished visitors. I desire again to refer to the excellent work being done by the Parents’ Association tinder the guidance of Mr A. A. Lang- | ley as chairman. The rector and his I staff are deserving of the best thanks l for the splendid services they render lin the interests ol the boys, and the | assistance they give in furthering the

school’s aim to develop character, personality and citizenship. “Technical School. —Altogether 1215 students were enrolled, 759 being free, 289 paying, and 167 manual. The weekly hour enrolments ior the first term were 14,756, second term 14,187, third term 13,002. It is gratifying to know that the evening sciiooi was the largest for the past four years. At March 1, the full-time equivalent roll for the Technical High School (excluding manual students) was 462, _ and it is to note that 125 pupils travel by train and 34 by bus. The recent annual returns of the Education Department place the school, in point of part-time students, fifth in the Dominion. The staff consisted of 16 fulltime and 39 part-time teachers, the full-time equivalent being 26.3. Messrs \y. L. Birnie, 8.C0m., A.R.A., N.Z., ami 1). M. Scott, 8.A., were added to the full-time staff, while Mr W. A. Bryden, 8.C0m., A.R.A., N.Z., left to enter private practice. Miss J. Morgan, B.Sc., in H.Sc., was appointed to relieve Miss C. H. Mac Gibbon, B.Sc. in H.Sc., who was granted leave of absence until the end of 1936 in order to studv abroad. In the office Miss Lorna Perrin was promoted to registrar. Special thanks are due to the school for raising funds per medium of gala and flower days. The director and staff are to be congratulated upon the excellent work done again during the past year; also our thanks are due to the Parents’ and Old Students’ Associations, the City Council, the Kairanga County Council, and many others who so generously help the school.”

Mr Nash referred to the excellent services rendered by several members of the hoard in particular. “I especially desire to thank Mr Rutherfurd and Mr Tremaine and the committees for the care and attention given to the schools during the year; also the members of the hoard for the kindly help and assistance given to me as chairman, and the principals and staffs of the three schools for their loyalty and co-operation,” he said. Mr Nash paid a very warm tribute to Mr Birnie’s seiwices as treasurer, and thanked Miss Robinson for her excellent work at the Girls’ High School. He also thanked the secretary (Mr W. Hunter) and his assistants for their admriablo work and co-operation.

Mr Birnie traversed the financial position, submitting statements which were considered satisfactory.

Mr Oram was unanimously elected chairman.

Mr Birnie was reappointed treasurer, appreciation of his services being placed on record.

The various sub-committce’s were reelected eii bloc.