HIGH SCHOOL BOARD.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 13430, 11 July 1914, Page 2

HIGH SCHOOL BOARD.

INTERESTING DISCUSSIONS

A meeting of th© Gisborne High. School Board of Governors was held yesterday afternoon. Present: Messrs E. H. Mann (chairman), A. F. Matthews, J. \V. Bright, and J. R, Kirk, and Captain Tucker. Mir F. Foote, rector of the school, was also m attendance. The Palmerston North High School Hoard wrote, asking for information regarding tlie endowments the Gisboriw Board was provided with. — The secretary said lie. had supplied the information. DAY TECHNICAL .SCHOOL. When the letter from the Education Beard, enclosing. Mr Loten's report .upon the question of a day technical school at Gisborne, was read, the Chairman, explained that lie had been unable to ■arrange a conference so soon, -bitt liad informed Mr Loten that he would arrange for some suitable' time iv the immediate future. It was a matter ..for a full Board meeting, and they .should go mtojt- fairly fully. Mr Kirk suggested an evening meeting^ as it would be. impossible to discuss the matter fully m part, of. an afternoon. It was a very important subject Captain Tucker: Sunday would be a yer .V good day for me. .. -VMr Matthews concurred. Mr Bright: We could not attohd on ■Sunday, Mr Kirk, could we? It was/subsequently agreed to meet Mr Loten some evening .to be ' arranged later. .. ."• ,'. Mr Bright : What i position does Mr Loten occupy?. - ' .-■ Mr Kirk : Director of Technical Education for the Hawke's Bay district: Mr Bright asked if Mir Loten could give isomething' more than what was m the report for the Board to consider over before conferring with him. Mr Kirk said he had thought, the matter premature, but after several conversations with. Mr Loten, the latter had impressed him with the importance of the suggestion and the practicability of it. He had been inclined to think there was no call for it. Mr Bright: That was always what I thought. "'■"■' / ; . 'Mr Kirk : Mr.. Loten says tljere is^ although -not always apparent, and that it could be gone on Avith without detriment to the High School. \ - -.' The Chairman said he did not think Ma* Loten had^any more information than what was contained m- his report. ': Mi* Kirk: He has. . .. The Chairman remarked that" they had been going along, not realising there had been any such demand. < Mr Matthews said the secretary knew the whole position, and would like to hear what he had to say. • Mr Kirk- said "Mr Loten said r the records showed that many children were passing out of the public schools who were not going- to a high school, apd they did not get any secondary or t&fhnical education. Consequently they, did not become good apprentices. If had a day technical 'school here, ins&ad of the children going into offices or some other employment, they would .^p&dtpr matically into the school. It hacl "been experienced at Napier and Hastings, :aiid more so m the older countries;,; partial-, lady Germany, where the masters 'were compelling apprentices to go into such schools m the masters' tixne: '— Tliat was a point they might find a, good deal.. in: :;- Mr Matthews : I have heard some people who employ apprentices say they >' much preferred to "get the children i?be a fore they had been to these schools at all. .-.■.... ' l\vZ - .'• ' •"•■" The Chairman did not. think they could discuss the matter just then. -»The secretary might communicate, ; ,■ with Mr Loten, and ask him to supply what JEijrther information •he could, and the secretary could pass it on to' the members. . . This was agreed to. ■"* ."'" : GIRLS' HOSTELRY. : ;. . "Mr Bright 'reported that m .pursuance of the - resolution passed at "a' special meeting of the Board, the Chairman, and himself had ''attended an auction sale, and the goodwill 'of the lease of • a section (an education reserve) at the comer of Gladstone road - and Stanley road' for £100 He thought the Boardhad every reason to congratulate themselves upon the deal. The secretary said when m Wellington he had interviewed Mr Hogben, and showed him a plan -'of the/fown attdithe position; of the High School and-.reetory and 'the section, on which he told, him ■• the Board proposed to erect a. girls* hostelry, and asked him if it would be possible for the Board to get the freehold. Mv\ Hogben informed him they Hvould have to arrange with the Land Board. Mr Morgan said he saw the Commissioner of Crown Lands, and he was sympathetic m the matter. Mi* Hogben and the Commissioner thought the Board had acted wisely m securing the section. . Tlie Chairman said he did not, think there would be any trouble, ,and he suggested a subHjommittee . should,! be appointed to interview: the Commissioner. , . Mr Matthews said the Board should thank the two ,-rentlemen. appointed -jto attend the sale for the satisfactory manner m which they, had carried out their, functions. He thought they hsd got /.the goodwiH_at a very cheap' rate. The .Chairman and Mr Bright were appointed a committee to wait on, the Land Board next Monday. Captain Tucker: Have we voted any sum for expenses m attending this sale? Mte Bright (laughin?) • No. CSaptain Tucker : I . propose we vote two. guineas each/ to these gentlemen. Mr Matthews : They deserve it. Captain • Tucker : It has been worth two guineas each to us. , - Mr Matthews: It has vbeen worth fifty. . ..".•■' Captain Tucker : Hence the moderation of my proposal. . • The legality of such a vote was questioned, and the matter dropped, ..the . Chairman and Mr Bright expressing thanks- for \the appreciative remarks \made. .- The Chairman : If we cannot get;: a straight-out grant, it will come within the functions of the •sub-committee to arrange for an exchange.Mr Bright said he did not' think the Board, had any . right to expect anything other than that as atiasis.J They shbuld'inake good to the primary department. ', : .'■■/. '■..•; •Mi' Eirk remarked that the' exchange must be the basis of the deal. \He did not think they had any. chance of getting , the section otherwise. They, should, have ■ some, suggestion to. put forward as to. an exchange. The Chairman : We- have that. He. said it was suggested to .exchange the seven acres k at the Waikanae, andi ' the. - .rent was £2 against the Board. ' \- ' Mir- Bright': We are quite prepared to make that? up. '. • In. reply to Captain Tucker, the secre;- . . tary, said -the seven acres : were at -the end of- Northcote road. "■-..■ THe Chairman: Is the .time ripe yet to consider the question of .building ?" Are we going to/ aim at having anything ready for the * beginning of next year,or, are we going to lose next year's "■ benefit? r ■ „• . .Mr Bright : I think the Board is probably v' agreed that,. considering 1 we hdye secured a site, this building is of jnjpf& importance than building an assembly hall- ■•...; :a Mr Matthews said he thought ai; special meeting should bo held. ■/ ;/^\ Thkjbhairman : When we' ha f ve some- , thins? •definite about the section. / Mr Kirk asked if, before ;the special meeting was held, they could hav^'a balance-sheet prepared showing the funds available. • The, secretary said that could be supplied. * ','.'""'. Mr Bright. said the committee might be authorised to inform the Land Board that the School Board had m immediate view the erection of a v hostelry. That would show they sought the exchange for legitimate purposes. Mr Kirk: Is it suggested to have a separate school? The Chairman:. That is dipping far. into the future. , The ijector remarked that ther© was sufficient ground to provide for a schooL Tlie Chairman mentioned that they had lost pupils this year because of . insufficient accommodation for girls. SHORTHAND AND TYPEWRITING. Amongst the recommendations of the visitin/r committee was one. that no fees.' be. charged for shorthand and typewriting. . ,

Mr Kirk: 1 disagree with that. I Would lii;o to see snore-hand and typewriting put out ot the .school. Th<- Ciiuirmuu: 1..s ihat m view of the Technical School': Mr Kirk : .No, it, i.s not, but as it general principle. Ho said 'typewriting and shorthand <li<l not come within tnc scope of a. secondary school's course. It "would be remembered that when they Were having trouble last year, their late master .suggested that the pupils were wasting too much time over shorthand pjid typewriting. The Chairman: How many pupils are there m, these classes ? • The rector .• About nine or ten. Mr Kirk said it was optional lor the children to take short hand and type■wxitnig instead of other subjects, typewriters were- merely playthings. There was nothing to learn m them. Une should be able- to learn sumcient type■wiiting within a month. The Chairman :j What subjects ' does it knockout? The rector : Nothing ;^-it Ls done out of school hours. He said that was done with tho idea of keeping .down the numbers, especially m typewriting. If it was done m school hours they would want fifty typewriters, and tho clasa Would, become unwieldy. Mr Bright : It was on your suggestion ihat the recommendation was made. The .rector : Xot exactly. The idea of the recommendation was to show that we cater for all subjects. Mr Kirk condemned the idea of children working outside school hours. Why should they be kept at -school lor "shorthand, and., typewriting? X It did the school no good. Other schoolmasters condemued it. Shorthand was a thing that had to be practised regularly or it soon became as useless and as dead Mr Bright : Latin. Mr Kirk : Yes ; just about. / Mr Bright disagreed with Mr Kirk's view. Anything that would better equip a child for the battle "of life was well worth encouraging. He referred to the difficulty m finding boys and girls who were able to take a correspondence position. - Mr Kirk : How many good correspondence. clerks have been turned out from the Gisborne High .School? , Mr Bright : All the m'dre reason why we should persevere. Mr Matthews said the Board was responsible for technical education m this district, and surely shorthand and typewriting were technical subjects. He felt strongly on the matter. He referred to shorthand as a tiling that took a long time to learn, and said typewriting was an essential thing; m business. If they were going to maintain the school for technical education^ more especially as Mr Loten said they Were not teaching these things, surely, it was their duty to do all they could m the direction of technical education? If not they abrogated their position to Mr Loten. The Chairman remarked that he thought they were wandering from the point. Ho Vould asfo tlie Rector if lie knew of secondary schools where such subjects were taivjlifc. The Rector said they were taught at Palmerston North, although there they ■were careful about keeping the numbers down, and they made a charge. Mr Kirk: What about the Waitaki Hijrh School? The Rector : I could not tell you. Mr Kirk • What about King's College.. Auckland? The Rector : I don't know. Mr Kirk!: Well, these are both bigger schools than Palmerston North..- I hope we are not going to follow Palmerston North. / • The Chairman ■ ■ pointed out that the matter was only a recommendation. Mr Kirk: No technical subiects should Be taught at that school. Hr said tho only reason given for those subjects was that they wore taught out of school hours. Tf they were rood they should be taueht within .school hours. Mr Matthews : Hear, hoar. After further remarks Mr Bright moved tho adoption of the recommenda- 1 tion. Mr Matthews seconded. The Chairman- said he wanted tf> do the right thing, that would help the Rector. . The Rector .said tb> present system was working satisfactorily. Their school was largely a technical school. '" The motfin was . canned. Mr ■ Kirk voting m the negative. GEXKIUL. Amongst other recommendations adopt ed was one that preparatory work for a tennis court and croquet lawn should be proceeded with. The Rector : L hope you are not losing sight of the assembly hall. I don't know how I am going to get on next year without It. j Tlie Chairman said that matter would have to stand over until they heard further about the girls' hostel. Mr Foote said they had 81 new pupils m the third form this year, and. with a reasonable- number coming back next year they would be crowded out. Mr Matthews inquteed about the dairy instructor. . : The secretary said the local dairy companies had agreed to the suggestion of the Department that they should find half the salary of a, -grader.- Mt -Ouddie said he was sending a man, and during his spare time he would give instruction to farmers. ,• The Chairman : When, is this man coming? ♦ The Secretary :• In- the spring. The rector's' report stated that the school york had gone on without interruption since last report. , The roll number wa-- now 153 (boy* 04; girls 59), the same r '"Ft month. Of the above 15 boys and 6 .rirls were m the preparatory department The members of the staff had been regular and punctual m the discharge of their duties. Mr O'Connell, who was relieving during the month, left on July 1, on which date Mr P. C Edmondson, 8.A., arrived to take «p his duties as mathematical master. At the house there were 14 boys m residence and 13 extra came for lunch. Accounts amounting to £512 8k lid were pasfied for payment. > Mr Kirk urged the necessity of observing Arbor Hoy. .and the. matter was left to the Rector to make suitable arrangements for the occasion.