SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11951, 28 April 1902, Page 6

SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORTS.

DE,VONPOR'i. The annual report of the Dovonport School , Committee, to :be presented to <ho house, holders' meeting to-night, states that the attendance and efficiency of the school havo ' been uniformly successful throughout! the ;: year. The present roll number is 6*o, as ■'■■''- against 580 for the corresponding;,: period :': last year. The average attendance for the '')': past week was 570. The staff of the school has undergone many changes during tho year, which has somewhat' militated against successful teaching operations, especially as theso have to a largo extent occurred about the time of annual examination. Your committee again wish tc record an '', emphatic protest against tho overcrowded ; state of ''.' tho present syllabus, and consider that in the public.interest steps should be promptly taken to reduce the numbjr of subjects required to be taught. Reference in, then made in the report to the retirement ov '" Miss Hume, the first lady assistant in the - school, and the resignation of Miss H. Burgess. In both "cases tho committee recorded their high appreciation of the services rendered. Miss Hume has been succeeded by Miss D. .7. Grant, 8.A., and Mrs. Wildman has boon promoted to. till 'Miss Burgess' place, Mrs. Wildmari's place being filled by Miss Robertson. During the ' yeartlw Revs. R. Ferguson and J. (i. Chapman have attended on alternate Fridays afte». school hours to give religious instruction to such scholars as choose to remain, and they have been lately joined in the work by tho Rev. Lee, tho recently appointed Congregational minister at - Dovonport. The attendance has. not always been satisfactory, or such as greatly to encourage the-minis-ters in their labour of love. The committee desire to record their high appreciation of these voluntary services in the cause of religious education of the .children "':attending our, school. The school maintained its ■ credit at the last scholarship examination by gaining three certificates—one a junior district scholarship worth £15 per annum, granted to Cyril Handley and tenable' for three- years at the* Auckland ''.Grammar School, one of free tuition at tho same ""' school for tho same period granted to W. ' IJ. Alexander, and one a certificate of proficiency granted to Miss Gould. During tho past six years the pupils of tho school have gained eight district scholarships.' Tho school grounds have been greatly improved since last report, and the Education Board had promised as soon jas funds arc available to build a new workshop on the grounds of the upper school and utilise tho rooms now occupied by tho carpentry class for the primer classes, which are constantly increasing in numbers.' Shelter sheds, long urgently needed, are also to bo provided as soon as possible. The carpentry class is still as popular as ever among tin} boys, and has been in full operation dur-. ing the year under the direction of Mr. John Harvey, the very able and enthusiastic instructor. Kindergarten ' work hah • also been steadily taught during the year.: About 200 articles made by the boys in the school workshop, and the many unci various products of the kindergarten classes, will be on view at the school exhibition, which it is proposed to hold during next month. In every class of work exhibited certificates and one or more prizes will be given, provided a satisfactory standard of merit has been reached. The chairman has been collecting funds for ibis laudable object and has so far been very successful. The estimated ;ost of the exhibition is £30, of which £17 10s has been raised. It is also' intended, if funds will permit, to act upon the suggestion of the headmaster and award suitable prizes to scholars whe have gained tho highest certificates for regular attendance, efficiency and good conduct, during the past 12 months. The school cadet corps has made excellent progress under the, i direction of tho first assistant teacher Henry Mucky—whose hard work in connection with this popular movement ha., been heartily appreciated by the committee.*' A bugle has been purchased by subscription* collected by the treasurer, Mr. J. F. Buddie, while Mr. S. O. Macky has undertaken to » ask for donations to a fund for purchasing. a shooting tube and a couple of rifles for practice. The balance-sheet shows that' the committee is now practically out of debt, as tho assets are more than sufficient to discharge all liabilities. The committee " . held 11 meetings during the year, at which the attendances have been as follows —The chairman (Mr. O. Mays), 11; W. Wilkinson, 11; S. 0. Macky, 9; J. F. Buddie, 9; the Rev. R. Ferguson, 7; the Rev. J. U. Chapman, 6; .P. H. Mason,; 6; F. Bartlcy, * ; G. L. Peaeocke, 2.~,, ■.■■:■• ".■■"'y.'-l**-PARNELL. Tho annual report of the Parncll School Committee!, which is to bo presented to-night, ' states: The total number of pupils presented for examination during the year-war 645. This number includes infant.; and pupils in standard seven, and the inspector reports that the passes have been satisfactorily determined, and the scholars are well classified. The inspector's remarks on, the quality of the work go to show it was of a very satisfactory character, and the report bears testimony to the efficiency and ...the faithful work of the teachers. The school was examined in July last. In December last the following pupils were successful' in the competition for scholarships: Alexander Hutton won the first place in the Grammar School foundation scholarships; Henry C. Mealing won one out. of two Rawlings scholarships; and Heh'ry Vallaniacrc gained a certificate of proficiency, entitling I-irn to three years' free tuition at the ii'-ammar School. A Williamson scholarship becoming vacant, it was offered to, and accepted by, Henry Mealing, who was next in order on the list to the late holder. Inspector Peine paid his annual visit ti> the-school on March 12 and 11, and his report was in terms of high praise. The average roll number for tho year ending March, 1902, was 620,1 and the average attendance was 553. The attendance shield has been won 'by standard one during the first, third, and fourth quarters, with averages of 90 per cent., 92.5 per cent., and 93.5 per cent.; m the second Ctuar- ' ter standard four held the shield with 92.9 per cent, of the total roll.. * Considerable attention has been demoted by the committee! to the improvement of the school grounds, ' and the Scenery Conservation Society has given generous assistance. I Material alteration has, been made to the school buildings, and through tho geneious support of the public the infant-room is now provided with . a piano. An endeavour is being made to establish swimming baths for the children. Attention is drawn to the desk-anility of pioviding two or more scholarships annually for i the school—a male scholarship, to entitle a boy to free technical training, and u.iotlei to entitle a girl to free tuition at/i school of book-keeping, shorthand, and anting.