HIGH SCHOOLS' GOVERNORS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18612, 21 July 1922, Page 3

HIGH SCHOOLS' GOVERNORS

The usual meeting of the High Schools Board of Governors was held yesterday; present—Dr Thompson (chairman), the Mayor (Mr J. S. Douglas), tho Hon. D. T. Fleming, Messrs J, C. Stephens, J. M. Gallaway, H. Webb, and W. R. Brugh, The financial statement showed a debit balance of £6llß ISs lid, being a reduction of some £BOO since the last meeting. A request from the rector for scientific appliances, which wore estimated to cost £BO 6s, was left for the secretary to inquire as to the advisability of purchasing from local firms. It was resolved to send a letter of thanks to the municipal authorities for lending the services of Mr Tannock in connection with beautifying work at the Girls’ High School. Circulars were received from the Education Department regarding the second cut in teachers’ salaries and the procedure to be followed in appointing teachers in Order to obviate' undue delay. A letter from the Napier High School Board inquired if the board was favourable to the proposal of the principal of the Napier High School for the formation of an association of boards to discuss matters of common interest.—The board resolved to approve heartily of the proposal. An application from the Girls' High School for e fives court had to be refused, owing to a report from Mr B. B Couston that the site was unsuitable. Tho Ex-girls’ Club asked permission to establish a library as a token of appreciation of Mies Flora M. Allan, ex-principal, and president of the club. The club also invited suggestions as to the best books for the library.—Permission was granted, and a committee, consisting of Dr Thompson, Miss Allan, and Miss King, appointed to look into the matter of books. JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS. In a circular letter the Education Department asked for the board's opinion as to the moet suitable localities for the throe junior high schools which it is intended to establish next year. Mr Callaway suggested that the board should confer with the Education Board. Mr Stephens agreed that the Education 80, rcl was tho body which was most competent to deal with the matter. He expressed a fear that a pupil, on, going through tho junior high school, might consider Iris education completed, and suggested that it would be better if the schools were established as a junior department of tho existing high schools. The Hon. D. T. Fleming said the Education Board was not satisfied as to the desirability of junior high schools, but it had resolved in favour of a district high School being established at South Dunedin. The matter was referred for a report to e committee consisting of Dr Thompson, Messrs Stephens and Gellaway. PRINCIPALS’ REPORT. The Principal of the Girls’ High School reported that the roll stood at 449, as compared with • 387 in July, 1921. There are at present three part-time pupils. On July 3 three new pupils were entered two from Mosgiel District High School and one from Garston Primary School. All were holders of junior free places. The work of the school had proceeded a® usual, save for the absence through illness of three members of the staff, two of whom have resumed their duties. The Rector reported that the total number of boys upon the school roll was 570. of whom 148 wore seniors, 373 juniors, and 49 paying pupils. The corresponding totals for July, 1917-1921, were respectively ’429, 454, 477, 478, and 61& COMMITTEE REPORTS. The committee which was appointed to consider the expenditure on printing school reports and prospectuses, school prizes, and sports material reported as follows;—We have obtained from several other boards copies of fie prospectuses, etc., published by them. We have also conferred with the rector and lady principal, and now recommend that the pamphlets, the printing of which has in recent years cost about £6(l per annum, should bo amended by omitting the reports of the rector and lady principal, school class lists, and the course of study, by curtailing the prospectuses where possible, and by reducing the space occupied by prize-lists, etc. The economies suggested would very considerably reduce the cost of printing, without, in our opinion, detracting from the effectiveness of the prospectuses. If the board adopts the above recommendation regarding the omission of the reports .of the rector end lady principal, we suggest that those 'officers should bo requested to submit curtailed annual reports to the board in the month of December in each year. Under the heading of prizes there was referred to us tho department’s communication etoting that there is no necessity , for, expenditure out of the board’s funds for prizes, the money for which, it considered, should be raised by entertainments or'subscriptions. We find that in the years 1919, 1920, and 1921 the net cost to the board for prizes (not including dux medals and prizes awarded from special prize funds) was ns follows; —Boys' School—£l2 3a lOd, £l2 4s lid, and £ll 10s respectively; Girls’ School —£3o 16s 7d, £3l Is 7d, anil £3l 12s 6d respectively. A number of ex-pupils and friends of both schools donate prizes, the cost of which is not included in the above figures, and we , feel that many more will do ao when they know the need. We therefore do not recommend that the expenditure on prizes be curtailed at present.—The report was adopted. Tho Physical Training Committee reported that it had considered letters from the rector and lady principal concerning tile course of physical training in tho schools, and had decided to recommend that Mr J. P. Northey, whoso present appointment as physical instructor terminated on December 31, be reappointed for one year at tho same salary, and for the same number of hours as at present, the appointment to be subject in all other respects to the same tonus and conditions as wore contained in tho agreement made between the board and Mr Northey in July, 1920. The committee suggested that tho pupils' term reports should contain records of their physical development, coupled with any suggestions as to necessary remedial treatment for physical defects. The committee had investigated the report that a High School boy whs playmg for an outside football club. It had been informed that the boy referred to played for the Southern Club, and that another played for the Kaikorei Club. The committee recommended that a statement concerning the matter b$ requested from the rector An application from the ladv principal for the provision of a hookey circle and goal posts in the upper part of the Girls School grounds had been rectte'ed, and the committee recommended that it be granted.—The report was adopted.