MARTON HIGH SCHOOL.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10402, 16 July 1912, Page 5

MARTON HIGH SCHOOL.

The above committee met last evening. Present : Messrs McDonald (chairman), Richardson, Lloyd. Gomez, Way, Ryder, Sutcliffe and Rev. Porter. A circular was read from the Board re Arbor Day, but it was decided on account of the grounds at the new school not being in a St stale to plant, to postpone the celebration till a future date. It was decided to enter a protest against the side school' at the Martoa Junction being made a main school' The fencing and gates for the new school grounds were left in the hands of the Works Committee to report on. . The architect for the new school to be Instructed to advertise in the Hangitikei Aovooate for tenders for levelling the school grounds The secretary reported that Jthe ladles bad met in the afternoon and ail details in connection with the school ball snpper had been enthusiastically taken up. The headmaster reported The averages in the various divisions for the DF.st month are as follows Primary. 134.7 bovs, 129 3' girls; total 264.0 out of 140.5 boys, 185 2 girls; grand total 275 7. Secondary: 11 boys, 10.5 glrla, total 21.5 out of 11 6 boys, 10 75 girls; grand total 22 25 Side School; 34 6 boys, 14 7 girls, total 39.3 out of 25 boys. 16 girls; grand total 24 Whole school: 170 3 boys. 154.5 girls, total 324.8 ont of 178 boys, 161 95 girls, grand total 839.95 Sickness.—Towards the end of last week a number of pupils in the Primary Department had to be away on account of tbe “mumps,” and to-day there were only 236 present la the morning and 289 la the afternoon out of a possible 281. There were thus 52 children, or nearly onefifth of the roll number, absent this afternoon mostly on account of sickness. The averages in the Prima.ry Department this year so far entitle it to an increased staff, and it will be a great pity If anything occurs to prevent this. Staff.-~I regret to have to report that Miss McDonald has had to ne away on account of illness, 1 have notified the Board, and asked for some one to take her place for a few days. Work of the various departmenst. —The various members of the staff and the visiting instructors give, on the whole, satisfactory reports of the work of tbe pupils. Primary Department.—The work la following the usual lines, and the Board’s instructors —Mr Anker, woodwork Standards V, and Yl boys, and Miss Grant, cookery Standards V, and YI girls—give very satisfactory reports o£ the diligence of tbe pupils. Secondary Department.—l fe-.l satisfied that tbe puipls in this division are being led to understand the value of steady persistent work. It is very pleasing to find a large number of them working so welll The visiting instructors Mr Martin, science; Miss Grant, cookery; Mr Anker, woodwork; and Miss Ryder, drawing, bed that the leading pupils do vary satisfactory work It may be well to note that pupils in thld division who make satisfactory progress ace entitled to certificates as follow without further examination : —After two years’ satisfactory work the intermad'ata certificate; after three years’ work the junior leaving certificate; and after four years’ work the senior leaving certificate. In addition to these, it la, I believe, the intention of the Board to issue a special agricultural certificate for those completing the rural course satisfactorily The intermediate and junior and senior leaving certificates are of considerable value, and entitle the holders to special privileges. The senior certificate, for instance, is accepted by the Education Department in place of the matriculation examination from candidates for entrance to tbe training colleges, while holders of the others are entitled to special consideration |oi» similar lines. It is well that parents should be informed of the valne of these certificates, and of the fact that the Government is prepared t 1 issue them for a stated number of years’ satisfactory work without subjecting pupils-to examination. Side School. —Work seems to be going on quietly in this division, and Miss Blase reports satisfactory progress.