HOKOWHITU SCHOOL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 21, 22 December 1937, Page 11

HOKOWHITU SCHOOL

SCHOOL YEAR REVIEWED. MEETING OE COMMITTEE. The final meeting of the year of the Hokowhitu School Committee was held last evening, Mr H. W. Cox presiding. A letter was read from the Palmerston North Methodist young women’s Bible class asking for the use of the school for its annual Easter camp.— It was decided to obtain the views of the Education Board before giving a reply. A deputation from the Hokowhitu Tennis Club waited on the committee and sought a reduction in the tee or £lO charged for the use of the courts, it was pointed out that other cluns in similar positions paid a much lower rental. After some discussion it was decided to charge a rental of £5 for tiiis season, which, with £2 10s the committee already has in hand, leaves £2 10s to be found by the club in cash.

It was reported that tho gala day had shown a profit of £l6 13s 6d, arid it was decided to place on record appreciation of the services of the ladies and all who had asssisted to make the day a success. The secretary reported that • tne credit balance was £IOB, which was considered very satisfactory. The 'receipts from the baths so far had been £32, while last year the receipts had been only £22 for the whole season. Accounts totalling £l3 17s 4d were passed for payment. A tribute was paid to the particulargly good work of the secretary (Mr P. Crowtlier) who has ably handled the finances.

The headmaster (Mr A. H. McLean) reported that the roll number was 302, the average attendance being 288.5. With the conclusion of the year the school had lost the services of Miss E. M. Bland and Miss NLouissop, and he wished to express his appreciation of the work and loyal cooperation of both teachers during a difficult year. Mr McLean expressed the regret of the , other teachers at losing their services and wished Misses Bland and Louisson success in their new spheres. “While it would not be correct to state that the interruption due to tne epidemic of infantile paralysis 'during the early part of the year has had no effect upon the final results for the year,” added Mr McLean. “I am pleased to be able to report that hard work and sustained application on the part of teachers and pupils has minimised the handicap imposed by lost time; this is borne out by the annual examination results. The chief effect of the broken time seems to have been a spreading of the usual differences between the quicker and the slower children, and this has been more mariced in the lower classes where children are more dependent upon the actual teaching of the classroom.” The report stated that the school had been visited by the school medical officer (Dr Platts-Mills) who had made a complete examination of the children; also by the Placement Officer of the Department of Labour who had given good advice to the upper standards upon the choice of a career. With reference to swimming instruction good results had been obtained. Already about 40 children hud learned to swim and a very pleasing number had increased their efficiency. Mr McLean gratefully acknowledged tne donation of a handsome shield by Mrs W. M. Huntington, which had been appreciated by the staff and pupils, it had been -won for the first time by Ngatiapa House. The headmaster' extended his best wishes to the committee and thanked members for their co-operation, tile good wishes being heartily reciprocated.