SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11714, 23 April 1900, Page 7

SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT

LAWRENCE:

The following is the report of ths District High School Committee for the year ending March, 1900:— ' i '■•■"■

ii our committee liave mucli pleasure in making their aruial, statement iv connection with .the finances and work of the school. During the year the receipts have been J!116 153 Tel, and xhe disbxirsoments have been £1.06. 7s 2d, leaving a balance in the bank of £10 Ss sd. The only work undertaken this year was renewing and mending the asphalt .at the school and attending to minor repairs. The work of the school has gone on as usual' with considerable success. At the annual examination there were only two failures iv the str.ndards, and the class and additional subjects were highly eommer.ded for their efficiency. The report o:i the extra subjects was published along with that on the standards, and showed thai our District High School still continues to do excellent work. The results were very good in the public examinations. Two passed the matriculation and solicitors' general knowledge examination of. the University oil New Zealand.. Two passe:! the teachers' I: examination and one the ?i examination. Jfiue passed the civil service examination, and six were examined Tor the entrance examination for pupil teachers. Tlie pupil teachers passed their animal examination iv a very satisfactory manner. In many of the subjects they received " Excellent." The following appointments were made i-.iaii the school during the year:—One cadet, in the Government Insurance, Tnnaru; two l<"upi\ teachers in the Roxburgh and Kaittuiguta schools respectively: one-cadet in the Bank of New Zealand; one law student in the Otago University. The attendance has risen considerably this year, the highest attendance being 273. The following is the attendance for each quarter up to March, 1000: —

Notwithstanding the public acknowledgement of the board as to the usefulness of our school, the board have given notice that from the first of July the fees for the extra subjects for the first year will bo ±'5, second year £i, nnd the third year £3. Hitherto the fee for the year has beer, i'l. Your committee, considering that the exorbitant fees will bo disastrous to the usefulness of the school, have taken action, along with other district hi^h school committees, to get the regulation amended. ' The cadets under Captain Da.rton have been drilled weekly, and the fact that they have received the full capitation grant of £20 shows that they are nol only efficient, tmt well equipped. The Bible-reading class has been carried on daily, and almost all avail" themselves of the opportunity of reading daily a portion of God's Your committee have to thank the parents and those interested in the schools who were so liberal in donating 'prizes. By such liberality the committee were able to reward all those who made first-class and second-class attendances. The dux medals were kindly provided by Messrs D. M'lntosh and Jeffery. It is pleasing to state that the children attending the schools contributed to the patriotic fund £0 Is lOd, which was duly remitted to the Education Board. We notice with pleasure those who, after leaving this selleol, have advanced themselves in passing higher examinations. Robert M'lntosh received his diploma from the School of Mines. (Ite is the first' from this school who has passed Uirouch tho School of Mines.) Bavid Smith, John ScoU, James Patrick, William 'Stevenson, anrl James Campbell passed their senior civil service examination. George Urquhart the first section of the LL.B. degree. Drs Sutherland and Evans have taken extra degrees in medicine, and A. Martin has gained two medals for medical subjects. Your committee cannot' but take notice of the very cordial relations which exist between the teachers and the committee, and your committee have to thnnk the stnft' for the energy and labour bestowed by them in keeping up th» efficiency of the school. There were I'l committee meetings held during the year, with an attendance as follows- — D. M'lntosh, 13; J. Gibson, 12; John Thompson, 11; J. Chalmers, ]3; H. Lca'ry, 13; ]?. Uren, 13; J. C. Arbuckle, 11; J. C. Browne, 7G. Jeffery, 13.

Average Average Highest I-S99. Boll So. Attenaanoe Dav. fune .. .... 272 .. 223 .. 249 September .. 254 .. • 231 .. 26C December .. 2St .. 254 „ "71 1900. ' March .. ,. 2S9 .. - 251 .. 273