HIGH SCHOOLS GOVERNORS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17936, 15 May 1920, Page 15

HIGH SCHOOLS GOVERNORS

Hie regular monthly moating of the High School Boaid of Governors, held yesterday afternoon, was attended by Dr iMton (ahairmaa), Bie&os W. H_ Brugh, J. Rt G*Uaway, J. (1 Stephana, T. K, Sidey, M.l J s, H. Wobb, Piofeeew Thompson, and the Hon. D. T. iteming. The rector of the Boys' School reported {hax the total number of boys now upon tho school roll waa 488, oi whom 128 wei-a fioiriofß, 323 juniors, and 36 paying pupils, 'i'ho oottrespomding totals for May, 191M9 wera 395. 436, 441, 460. and 489. The attendance hod lately been affected 6omowhaJ seriously by the prevalence of influenza of the milder type. The number of daily absences during the post two or three Greeks gradually roee fjrom about 30 to 90, tha figure attained at the. end oi the week. Th© present week had seen a very distinct abatement. Several menu bens of the &taf£ had aleo been affected, and for aomo weeks one or two masters had been away. Mr R. W. Batting, who wan recently agpoitrtied to the school statf, reported himself for duty on Monday, May 3. The report was adopted. Tho report of the principal of the Girls' School road as follows: —The roll number for tho month wa4. 346—113 senior free pupils, 220 junior free pupils, and 12 paying pupils. The roll numbers for tho same month in 1916, 1917, 1918, and lSlb wero respectively 238, 310., 361, and 379. Messrs T. It. Cresawell, M.A., and E. J. Parr, M.A., B-Sc., the inspectors of the Education Department, had visited the school on May 4, and remained for throe days inspecting tho methods of teaching and the work done in the various forms. Mrs Baxter had awarded a bursary for proficiency in domestic science, to bo called tbie David Baxter Memorial Bursary. As this benefaction was the first bursary offered for competition to the girls while they were still pupils ,it marked a now epoch in the development of the school. —Tho report was adopted. Tho oommitte© appointed to consider tho results of the annual examinations presented its report, which stated that tho committee deprecated the idea that the work of a school wafl to be gauged by tile success of its pupils under examination. It appeared to the members that by a system of unnatural selection it would be a simple thing for any head master to obtain suoh results in examinations as would give no indication of the teaching done, or of the results obtained by the average pupila r the school. It was better in the interests of education that the average pupil should receive a sound training than that a few pupils 'should distinguish themselves in an examination which, although it might be a test, could not possibly bo regarded as 4 final criterion of the training given in a eohooL The committee was glad to be able to state that it had high authority far the conclusion above stated, which, it submitted, would also appeal to the common sense of the board. T!w committee had compared and analysed the results of last year with the results of the High Schools in previous years, and had taken, into consideration the various circumstances with Which the schools had to contend during that period, and it was satisfied that the rector and lady principal were fully justified in expressing satisfaction with the results for the year under re-view.—Tho report was adopted. Mr Stephens moved: That a committee consisting of the chairman, Professor Thompson, and Mr Gallaway, be appointed to consult with Mr B. B. Cons ton and report as to ways and means for the better provision of athletic facilities at the Girls' High SchooL" In speaking to the motion, Mr Stevens said that the girls were without any facilities for tennis at all, and it was evident that they must make provision for-the girls as well as the boys. 'Hie board - had never refused a request for Hie betterment of athletio conditions at the boys' school, if it Bad done nothing for the girls it was because it hod not previously been approached in the matter.—Mr Gallaway seconded the motion, which was carried.

The following amounts 'were noted a? having been paid into the board's account: Free plafco capitation, £850; capitation for home scaenoe and swimming classes at girls' school, 1919, £101 8a The Treasurer , suggested that the board should adop4 a system for the payment o 1 the salaries of teachers and other employees similar to that used by the Otago Education Board. The Hon. Mr Fleming' said that the system of writing out on< cheque for the total amount of salaries payable and of providing the bant with a detailed list of the "amounts drawable by" each employee eaved a groat deal of clerical work, and, in his experience, had worked' admirably.—Tho idea met with the approval of the board, which decided to adopt the system as outlined by the Hon. Mr in ing. Messrs Stephens and Brugh. were granted leave of absence for three months and five months respectively. The Chairman stated that he had consulted with tho rector and lady principal, and it was agreed that it would be expedient, on accownt of the visit of the Prince of Wales, to defer the term holidays for a week.—Tie oh airman's action was approved. The matter of the transfer of the lease of the board's property, sectipna 4 and 6, block 14, Strath Taieri district, from Jacob Fetharston and another, by direction of A. Campbell, to George Riithvcn, was referred -to the chairman and Mr' Sidey, who were given- power to ajpprove arid seal the transfer.