311 PUPILS IN 1937

Southland Times, Issue 23537, 17 June 1938, Page 4

311 PUPILS IN 1937

Enrolment In Boys’

High School

REPORT OF BOARD OF GOVERNORS

The enrolment in the Southland Boys’ High School for 1937 totalled 311, according to the annual report of the Southland Boys’ and Girls’ High Schools Board of Governors presented at the annual meeting yesterday. Of this number 118 were senior free-place pupils, 191 junior free-place pupils and two were paying pupils. The biggest enrolment for the last 10 years, was in 1933 when the roll number was 368. This is shown in a table giving particulars of the roll number and average attendance of pupils at the school for the last 10 years. This year’s number is 57 less than the total for 1933, and is the lowest for six years. “Another successful year of school, out-of-door and other activities has been experienced,” continues the report. “The school entered five teams in the Southland Rugby Union’s competitions and won the sixth grade cup. House and inter-form matches were played throughout the season. The first fifteen beat Otago Boys’ High School by 12 points to 6, Waitaki Boys’ High School by 18 points to 14 and lost to Timaru Boys’ High School by 8 points to 3. The second fifteen beat Gore High School first fifteen by 15 points to 9, South Otago High School first fifteen by 14 points to 13, and lost to King’s School by 8 points to 3 and to Waitaki High School by 19 points to 11.

“Ten cricket teams played weekly matches, four hi the Southland Cricket Association’s junior A and third grade competitions and six in the inter-house competition. The first eleven journeyed to Oamaru and played a drawn game with the Waitaki Boys’ High School first eleven.

“The hockey season was a successful one, teams being entered in the Southland Hockey Association’s senior and junior competitions. Two members of the senior team gained Southland representative honours. The senior team beat Otago Boys’ High School by 5 goals to 1. “At the Otago and Southland secondary schools’ athletic meeting at Oamaru, the school team won the intermediate and junior championship shields and was runner-up in the senior competition. The school also won the senior relay race for the tenth year in succession. ’ “Because of the late opening of the school due to the infantile paralysis epidemic, none of the usual swimming classes was held, and the annual swimming sports were abandoned. Four championship events were decided, however, and at the Otago and Southland secondary schools’ championships held at Oamaru, the school was successful in gaining first and second places in the life-saving events and in winning the relay race for the thiyd year in succession. “The cadet company this year comprised six platoons, five being infantry and one a machine-gun and Lewisgun platoon. “The physical development of the boys has been excellent during the year, and has been due almost entirely to the judicious blending of team games, Swedish drill and gymnastics. “During the year 330 new books have been added to the library and 50 withdrawrij’ the total number of books being now in excess of 5000. In addition there are some hundreds of magazines on the tables. “One-act plays varying considerably in type were studied and enjoyed during the year by the drama club. To conclude the year’s work a three-act play was presented in the school hall, much of the work beihg of a very high standard.” GIRLS’ SCHOOL “The enrolment in the Southland Girls’ High School for 1937 was 266,” states the annual report. “Of this number, 98 were senior free-place pupils, 164 were junior free-place pupils and four were paying pupils. “Much attention has been paid to physical instruction and games with excellent results, although the school playing area is so limited. The ground on which the school stands comprises one and a-quarter acres. “Teams were entered in the secondary schools’ basketball competitions and the school senior A team was successful in winning the cup. This team also performed very well in the Southland Basketball Union’s second grade matches played on Saturdays, drawing in the final match with the Pirates team. Matches were played in Invercargill against Gore High School, the school winning the senior game, and Gore the junior. “In the Junior Lawn Tennis Association competition, the school senior A team won the senior cup and the junior team the junior cup. In matches against the Gore High School, this school won in both the senior and junior sections. “Very successful athletic and swimming sports were held towards the end of the school year. “The balance of the general account at the beginning of the year was £251 17/8 and at the end of the year, £413 2/7. The incidental grant was £1535 13/1 and the total payments from this allowance, £1489 16/3, being £921 2/8 on account of the boys’ school and £568 13/7 on account of the girls’ school,” concluded the report. There were present: Messrs R. M. Strang (chairman), J. Miller, W. Bell, F. G. Stevenson, J. T. Carswell and Mrs J. N. Armour. • GIRLS’ HIGH SCHOOL ROLL 292 PUPILS AT END OF FIRST TERM The roll number of the Southland Girls’ High School, which was 299 on March 1, was 292 at the end of the first term, according to the first report for the second term, of the principal (Miss A. Eastwood), presented at a monthly meeting of the High Schools’ Board of Governors yesterday. This meeting was held before the annual meeting of the board. “Two pupils were transferred from other schools and nine left,” continued the report. “Of those who left, five went to positions, one was transferred to another school, two joined a private commercial school and one remained at home. “The increase in the staff permits an extension of our work in art, handcraft and physical culture to groups of the second-year girls. This widening of the pupils’ interests is of the greatest value. “Because of the late opening of the

school last year, the Royal Drawing Society’s examination was postponed until tho second week in December and results came to hand towards the end of the first term. Again these are thoroughly satisfactory. Two girls, Ailsa McLean and Joyce Mackrell, completed the examination for divisions one to six, gaining honours in all divisions. gained honours in divisions one and two and two gained second-class certificates.

“At present the very inadequate playing area at the school is supplemented by the use of two of the Rugby Park tennis courts for practices and the use of three of the Invercargill tennis courts for matches. Though we are grateful to the Rugby Park tennis committee for permission to use its courts, this arrangement is far from satisfac* tory. The courts are not the correct size for basketball and we are not permitted to mark them. We have about 180 girls playing basketball. With only two courts at the school, the work of mistresses, who are most willing to give their free time to the work of coaching and refereeing, is made very difficult indeed.” REPORT OF BOYS’ SCHOOL “The roll number now stands at 310,” stated the report of the rector of the Southland Boys’ High School (Dr G. H. Uttley). “Thirteen boys have left since the beginning of the year.” A discussion took place about Miss Eastwood’s request for more adequate playing areas at the Girls’ High School and it was decided to take immediate steps to provide four additional basketball courts.