TECHNICAL SCHOOL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 16, 16 December 1937, Page 2

TECHNICAL SCHOOL

YEAR IN REVIEW. DIRECTOR’S ANNUAL REPORT. Mr G. G. Hancox, the retiring director of the Palmerston North Technical School, in his annual report for the scholastic year just terminating, records that, despite the broken period caused by the infantile paralysis epidemic, the standard of attainment has been almost as high as usual, this being due partly to the pupils working with great earnestness when they did \et back to school, and partly to extru activities being curtailed. Altogether 1380 students were enrolled, 992 being free, 265 paying, and 123 manual. The weekly hour enrolments were the highest yet recorded. They were for the first term 16,252 (13,490 day and 2762 evening), second term 15,371 (12,619 day and 2752 evening), and third term 13,816 (Hr 163 day and 2653 evening). The evening school was the strongest it had been for five years. At March 15, the full-time equivalent roll of the Technical High School, excluding manual students, was 500- That the school continued to attract students from a wide area is shown by the fact that 144 pupils travelled by train and 37 by bus. According to the annual returns of the Education Department, the school, in point of part-time students, ranks fifth in the Dominion. Mr Hancox supplies the following interesting details of the occupations of the 684 part-time students on the roll at July 1: —Engineers and mechanics, 76; electricians, 20; plumbers and metalworkers, 15; woodworkers, 19; painters and plasterers, 7; printers, 6; agricultural pursuits, 19; professional pursuits, 18; clerical pursuits, 231; domestic pursuits, 79; dressmakers, etc., 10; shops and warehouses, 140; trades and warehouses, 40; labourers, 4. “The course in aeronautical engineering which was commenced last year has been welll attended by the right type of student. Our policy of restricting the aero engines class to those with sufficient general engineering or trade experience is sound, and will prevent more being trained than the industry can absorb. We are indebted to the Minister of Defence and his advisers for making the Bristol Fighter a free gift to the school,” states Mr Hancox. EXAMINATION RESULTS.

The success of the students in the various public examinations indicates that the quality of the work is being well maintained, the particulars being: Proficiency, 31; competency, 6; intermediate certificates, 93 (extensions 6) ; senior free places, 60 (extensions 3); Manawatu A. and P. Association, 32 first prizes, 25 second, 14 third, four v.h.c.; accountants’ professional, 22 gained sectional passes; N.Z. technological, two intermediate and one senior; invalid cookery certificates, 16; Government shorthand typist, 1936, 7 juniors (1 credit pass) and 4 seniors; for 1937, 17 juniors (4 credit passes) and 6 seniors; school certificate, 6 passes; University entrance, 7 passes; medical preliminary, 2; engineering preliminary, 2; B.Sc., 1 sectional; Chamber of Commerce bookkeeping, 4 (1 with distinction); plumbers’ registration examination, 1 (complete) and 2 practical; speed shorthand certificates, December, 1936, 24; June, 1937, 8. Diploma in Fine Arts preliminary: Drawing from common objects, 1; painting from still life, 2; elementary modelling, 2; design in colour, 1; English, 2; history, 2. Pitman’s typewriting certificates: Junior grade, distinction, 18; pass, 14; senior grade, distinction, 1; pass, 11; speed typewriting, 3. From the school in 1936, all candidates qualified for Pitman’s typewriting certificates, ali candidates qualified for Pitman’s speed shorthand certificates, all candidates for University entrance passed, two gaining engineering preliminary as well, and all candidates passed the school certificate examination.

BUILDING PROGRAMME. “During the year a considerable sum has been spent in providing up-to-date machinery for the new motor, electrical and junior engineering shop, and for the woodwork shop. We have continued the effort to modernise the general equipment of the school. The department has purchased the adjoining properties of Messrs Levy and Davis. It is hoped that early next year the building programme will be commenced, because additional accommodation for tuition and administration purposes has been urgently wanted for a long time. “The school has continued to be used as a bureau for placing young people in positions; throughout the year the demand for boys and girls has been greater than the supply. The staff has consisted of 18 full-time, one student, and 40 part-time teachers, the full-time equivalent being 27.8. As a result of the good team work of the staff and students and of the co-operation of the parents and the general public, our daffodil day effort realised £IOB 12s Id gross and £9B 0s 2d net, which was £3B 9s lOd higher than last year’s record. Our First XI were runners-up in the third grade cricket competition; we won the challenge shield for the games played against the Masterton Technical High School, and our soccer team won the fifth grade competition. DIRECTOR’S THANKS.

“I would like to record our appreciation of the valuable services rendered to the school by Messrs T. R. Hodder and J. W. ltutherfurd in their capacity as member and chairman of the Board of Governors, and by the late Mr W. Hunter as secretary,” adds Mr Hancox. ‘‘l wish to thank the members of the staff for their loyal co-operation in all activities for the welfare of the school, and for sound advice in matters affecting their special departments. I also wish to express the gratitude of the school to the Minister of Education and the officers of his department for their sympathetic consideration of our many requirements; to the parents for their interest and generosity; the Palmerston North City Council and the Kairanga County Council for their donations; Misses Pauline Winter, E. E. D. Smyth, 8.A., Mr and Mrs H. M. Essex for their donation of cups; Messrs Clark and Co., for their embroidery challenge shield; Messrs G. H. Bennett and Co., for gifts of books; Mr and Mrs J. C. Neil, for a piece of statuary by Alfred Turner, R.8.A.; the Coronation Committee for medals for shooting; Mr Roy Robinson for a valuable dictionary; the ladies’ and old students’ committees; the Press; the Board of Governors for their generous support; and all others who have helped us. In conclusion, I would like to thank all those who have helped the school or me during the last fourteen years.”