TAKAKA DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 11 December 1940, Page 10

TAKAKA DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL

MEETING OF COMMITTEE PROVISION FOR TEACHING OF COMMERCIAL SUBJECTS DISSATISFACTION EXPRESSED j Dissatisfaction with the commercial course available to pupils at the Takaka District High School was expressed at the monthly meeting of the committee. The chairman (Mr C. P. Reilly) reported that he hod brought the matter of a revision of the commercial course at the school before the Education Board on the occasion of its recent visit to Takaka. The board’s secretary (Mr H. J. Thornton), he said, had since written to him as follows: —“I have to say that the senior inspector reports that the number of pupils taking commercial subjects at the Takaka District High School has decreased and any extension to the services to be given by the parttime instructor is not now warranted.” “In other words,” said the chairman, “the board is apparently of the opinion that the commercial instruction at present being given, amounting in all to 21 hours per week, is sufficient. I consider that it is not sufficient. I have already pointed out to the board that it is a ridiculous position. We are only playing with the thing and the commercial course at present is nothing more nor less than a farce.” Members expressed agreement with the views of the chairman. In reply to a question, the headmaster said there was no examination for the pupils taking shorthand and typing. Mr Maunder said that actually there was no commercial course in the true sense of the term and he doubted if under the circumstances, it was fair to endeavour to encourage commercial students. Dr Aylv/ard: “Is it possible to bring pressure to bear on the board to grant an extension of the hours of tuition?” The chairman: “We have had the board’s reply and if we intend to proceed further, I think we should refer the matter directly to the Education Department.” After some further discussion, it was decided, on the motion of the chairman j and Dr Aylward, to write to the Mo- | tueka, Murchison, Reefton, Denniston and Granity school committees for information as to whether they have parttime instructors giving tuition in commercial subjects, and if so, the number of pupils participating and the hours of instruction given each week. Members present at the meeting were:—Messrs C. P. Reilly (chairman), H. Petterson. G. Maunder, A. C. Strawbridge (secretary), Mrs J. H. Small, Dr A. E. Aylward and the headmaster (Mr J. A. Lockhart). OPENING OF SCIENCE ROOM The Education Board acknowledged receipt of the committee’s invitation to the garden party to be held on Monday next to mark the end of the school year. It was regretted that as the board's meeting fell on that date, it would not be possible for a member to be present and officially open the science room. The secretary stated that he had invited Mrs Skinner to carry out the ceremony. REFERENCE LIBRARY The Nelson Education Board advised that it had made a special grant of £5 towards incidental expenses and agreed to the committee spending a sum not exceeding £5 out of its capitation on the purchase of books for the reference library, during the current year. After a short discussion, it was decided to expend £5 from the committee's special account (making a total expenditure of £ls) on the purchase of the first instalment of reference books for the school library. HEADMASTER’S REPORT The headmaster’s final report for the year gave the secondary roll as 45, while the primary roll had risen to 10L Term examinations had been completed and the pupils had shown sound progress in all subjects. He was very pleased with the standard of work in all classes, particularly when staff changes j were borne in mind. During the past 3 weeks the school had had visits from the senior inspector (Mr C. A. Cumming) and the Instructor in Agriculture (Mr A. G. L. Cork). Swimming instruction was commenced that day (Monday) and would continue every day during the week. Grass had been cut on the playing fields and the hay removed, effecting a great improvement. In conclusion, the headmaster took the opportunity of thanking the members of the committee for their help and co-opera-tion during the year and. wishing them on behalf of the staff. and himself, a merry Christmas and a happy New Year. The chairman thanked the headmaster for the seasonal greetings and assured him that the committee heartily reciprocated the good wishes expressed. general Mrs A. Thomas (the only applicant) was appointed caretaker of the school as from Ist January, 1941. Mrs Small reported that a meeting of parents had been held and arrangements for stalls and catering at the garden party had been completed nn.' 16 he ® dmaster stated that Miss S P U P^ S would commence their •Christmas carolling tour” of the town at 7.30 on Friday evening, when collections would be taken up in aid of the funds - Mr Lockhart added that during the past two terms pupils of the school had subscribed £ll through the Red Cross boxes The chairman said the children were to be congratulated on this very fine effort. Arrangements were made to keep the school grounds in reasonably good order during the Christmas vacation . In extending the compliments of the season to members of the committee and staff, the chairman said that all had worked harmoniously together and good progress in school administration had been made during the past year. The way in which members had attended the meetings and dealt with the business, he said, had shown that they had the interests of the school at heart and it was to be hoped that the good work would be continued in the coming year