TECHNICAL COLLEGE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22293, 20 June 1934, Page 13

TECHNICAL COLLEGE

BOARD OF MANAGERS A meeting of the Technical ' College Board of Managers jyas held yesterday afternoon, and was attended by the chairman (Mr T. Scott), Mi's W, Herbert, Messrs G. Clark, W. W. Batchelor, J. Sheppard, R. 11. Todd, 11. H. Johnson, E. F. Duthie, C. _J. Hayward, H. H. Leary, and J. E. Wheeler. A letter was received from the Minister of Education expressing his inability to permit the training of specialist teachers by members of the Technical School staff. —Received. The Auditor-general returned a certificated copy of the balance sheet and the accompanying accounts, and it was decided to protest against the charge. Ifc was decided that the board should express its appreciation to the DunedinKaikorai Tram Company for inaugurating the concession ticket scheme for young workers. . . , „ It was reported that the following board members were due to retire after the August meeting:—Messrs T. Scott (parents). W. W. Batchelor (employees), G. Clark (employers). J. Sheppard (Education Board). J. J. Marlow (local authorities). PRINCIPAL’S REPORT. The following is the principal’s report for the month of June; — The half-yearly examinations began on Wednesday, June 13, and will be completed on the morning of Wednesday, June 20. Seven hundred and eighty-eight pupils were on the roll a fortnight ago, a number greater than we have been called upon to examine hitherto. There has been much absence of both teachers and pupils since the month of April ou account of colds and influenza,, but the attendance has almost reached normal figures again. All swimming practice this term is before or after school, with the exception of a short period on Monday afternoon. Teachers have willingly accepted swimming supervision duty both before morning school and alter afternoon school, in order to prevent the otherwise unavoidable interruptions of lessons. After four months’ trial it seems that the majority of the free work groups wil prefer to continue unaltered until the end of the year. I was prepared for a decision to continue with the system, but hardly for such a sustained interest among the groups already formed. The decision shows that the pupils as a whole realise the value of the special opportunities provided in this period. The Director ot Education and one of his senior officers visited' the school ou Friday morning, June 8. in connection with recent correspondence. It will be necessary for the board to determine soon the exact terms of proposals it is to make to the depaitment, Tlie Otago Golf Club ha's written asking that the board should commence at once wholly to renew the boundary fence between its property and that of the Technical College at Balmaecwen. Ibis work was to have begun about three years ago, but various delays culminated in Mr Pearson's serious illness of last year. The Golf Club is now providing all the posts necessarv. and Air Pearson has not only purchased all of the wire but lias actually begun the work. The report was adopted.