A Visit to the High Schools

Southland Times, Issue 18057, 29 January 1903, Page 2

A Visit to the High Schools

As it was confidently expected that ' a large number of pupils from the. secondary schools, who had qualified for admission to free places in the Southland i High Schools by virtue of passing the 1 sixth standard under 14 years of agewould avail themselves of the new regulations, a representative of the Southland Times, accompanied by Mr W. Macalister ifChairuaan of the Board of Governors) visited the schools yesterday morning to observe the different c6nditions prevailing. -Tho largest number at the schools during tho previous year was 101, and it was needless to say that this number has been increased to a very great extent. Tho new pupils received this year totalled yesterday 100, and more are expected, which, with 72 old pupils expected returning, will make the school roll for 1903 between 180 and 190. The 10G new scholars are made up as follows :— 56 boya, 50 girls; 7 boys and 2 girls hold scholarships 7-4 boys and 3 girls pay full fees. Tim Hoard of Governors is required to provide a. free place every year for one scholar jor every £50 of revenue they recelvo from their endowments. *If this is stilt insisted on by the Department the g'^ant will only be paid on 70 now! pupils instead of 90. Tho Board have acted \ery generously in the past in giving free places to 30 pupils instead of • only 20, ond have frequently extended the Education Hoard's scholarships in deserving cases. The revenue derived fronv the department for the 70 free places will be. Bay, £400, and with this amount the Board will be obliged to find extra staff and accommomodation for the efficient working of the school. The most important considerations are, of course, sufficient accommodation for pupils and staff and suitable stalling to meet new requirements. As regards accommodation,, the boys' school does not appear so far to be so severely overtaxed. There ia one large class room which is fairly well filled, but. there is t:tiU room for more in it without constituting any impediment to the (cachet* or overcrowdihg to any degree. The smaller room, for the senior boys, is ample for requirements, so fur and will probably b$ sufficient for some considerable time. The I other class room was slightly over-taxed,, but this could be remedied by extending the room, and it may bo added that ! this particular room would lend itself readily to extension. In the girls' school there is urgent necessity for additions. Miss .Stevenson, tho mistress, has the senior girls in a fairly large room, but the additions which have been made in the shape of new beftches make a severe demand on the floor space, which- nsust be 'trying to the teacher, and '.''militate * against the successful handling of a large clags. The new pupils are grouped in a much larger room, but space is too limited for the class winch occupies it. and an additional room must be considered imperative. As regards staffing, tho matter was discussed by the Hector ; (Sir Fowler) and Mr- Mricallster, and sc-i veral methods of meeting the tumculty wore suggested. At present tho staff, consists of tho Rector, Messrs llllgondorf (late of Lincoln College, Christchurch) and McKay, Miss \ Stovenson (mistress) and Miss Barr (at present temporarily ongagea* in place <jf Miss Brown, resigned). A fair class* in a high pchopl ie, sny 23, pupils, but a «?iYMonef tlw pr&ent bvwpw ct 1 w^ila

"^■^m^t^mmmmgfomm mm .mmi www— — l» | among the teachers would, on an. avor. age. give 35 or 36 in n.i.h clns9. This division of course could not I<g nadc in practical work, as one tlr.ss r.ig'it number only nine or ten, nrnl \.ne residue of the average would be thrown «i e.mtther of *(he staff. A simple Kit . vpftiiiKuciory course was suggested by the Rector that of taking the boys' and girls' Matriculation classes together, which would ob> viate the necessity for repetition in the work. For various reasons this r/iust be considered highly unsatisfactory, and It is hardly likely that the suggestion, will be seriously considered, and l^ was not seriously put forward. The only practical anh effective method of meeting the difficulty seems to be the appointment of two extra • teachers, one for each, school, which would reduce the class* average to 25 or 20, and roliovo members of the staff from taking some of fne subjects. It must be apparent that extension pupils must suffer under the present cal and effective method of meeting the allot a good deal of time to those pupils intending to qualify for a University course, but with the influx of a large rank and file the consideration must be for the many, and the few must make the beat use of the 'means available for gaining the distinctions sought. It. is pleasing to note that the science room hss undergone somo alterations, which ■will now be appreciated in view of the larger attendances. The benches have been arranged round the room, the boys standing on the wall side, facing the science master, who will direct operations from a raised platform at one end of ihe room. The accommodation !s ample for 40 . pupils, and this is all that .it is likely to be called on to provide for at one particular lesson. The apparatus lias also been added to,, and makes the room perhaps one of the most complete, for ' its size, in the colony. It is probable that the | Board will meet at an early date to conI sider the questions of increased" etaff and [ accommodation.