THE HIGH SCHOOL

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 68, Issue 5940, 8 May 1944, Page 4

THE HIGH SCHOOL

Sir, —As might be expected, Mr Donaldson’s reply to Mr Maloney evaded arguments that could not be met; and developed into the usual at-

tack on me. Unfortunately, Mr Donaldson cannot ’ understand the beginnings of the subjects he treats so wordily and carelessly.

He is pleased to read that agriculture is suggested as a subject for the School Certificate course. It was in this course years ago when it was first established, so that Mr Donaldson has been asking me in vain for “the past two years” for something which he has had for about seven years. Mr Donaldson says I sabotaged the committee set up to further agriculture in the High School. The facts are these. At a committee meeting held some time last year, Mr Donaldson, then chairman, concluded the evening by producing a statement on Agriculture in the High School, condemning what was being done, and suggesting that a committee be set up •to put things right. The committee was set up to include Mr Maloney and myself. I was amazed that Mr Donaldson had prepared such a statement without one single word to me about the matter, and wondered how anyone could be so lacking in courtesy and good taste. I considered a protest there and then, and decided to say nothing. I imagined that when the committee met, they would find out now ill-founded Mr Donaldson’s statements were. The matter was disposed of without any reference to me, and I did not speak to it. Three members of the committee whom 1 have met since Mr Donaldson’s latest effort are quite positive that I did not say, “I will not act on that committee” or words to that effect. I know the other members present will agree with them, and I have no hesitation in writing that Mr Donaldson’s statement is absolutely untrue. He told the Farmers’ Union the committee had not worked because I did not want it to. The only comment I ever made was to Mr Maloney to the effect that he and I were on the committee and that it would be interesting to see what the committee could do to help the course along. Mr Donaldson to my knowledge never mentioned the committee again till he claimed that I wrecked it. Would there not have been much more to do if I had refused to act?

Some time ago Mr Day told the committee he thought the woodwork course might be more practical. I said 1 would write to Mr Wild, technical inspector, and arrange for some interested committee members to meet him at the school. Mr Wild came, saw the work being done, talked it over with the committee members, apparently to I heir satisfaction, and then had a conference with Mr Gittos, and they made plans in accordance with Mr Wild’s suggestions. These, by the way, did not seem to be very different from the course then being pursued. Farm gates, pig pens and so forth are not too difficult for the few older boys we have, but boys of 11 and 12 must learn simpler things first, and all by stages. I thought I was treating the whole matter with consideration. Mr Donaldson knows all about the poultry project, as it was discussed at last meeting. In spite of my approaches to local shopkeepers, a large wholesale firm, and applications to Wellington for permits, I cannot get wire for brooders. I do not consider running a few hens a poultry course, and until I can demonstrate incubation, hatching, brooding and rearing, I will not start the course. Members of the committee know how I have several times visited a local poultry farm with Mr Maloney and Mr Stancliffe to gather information, that I made contact with Massey College, at which I had eggs on order last year, but that essential materials hold up the scheme at present. Mr Donaldson may not be able to add congratulations, but he should refrain from offering cheap jibes. '

The remarks about the School Art course do not make sense, so I cannot reply to them. Last year’s examination results dd not “show up the school in a glaring light.” Miss Lehndorf, Mr Maloney and the other teachers who did the last of the examination preparation, have every reason to be proud of their results. Of eleven presented for School Certificate, seven gained the full certificate, and three obtained partial passes—that is passed in all but one subject. There were three passes and three failures in matriculation. On the three who failed, one pupil was with us only one year, another only two years, and the third failed through absence from school from ill health and other reasons. A sixth form pupil gained a University scholarship at an age considerably younger than that of most of her competitors.

Mr Donaldson says nothing about my efforts to make the school environment what it is to-day. If he had even come to me to talk things over, to see the normal activities of the school in progress, I could have made him see what others see—a busy, happy little world of fine boys and girls, interested, polite and keen to play their part in a well-knit social unit. I could have shown him the steps by which we have advanced, the little gains we have made from time to time along the way. lam intensely proud of what we have done, and no criticism will ever deprive me of my satisfaction of having helped to build up such a school.

Mr Donaldson talks of my being dealt with by some tribunal. I place his ill-informed, biassed and malicious attacks upon me before a tribunal he has himself invoked—that of your readers.—l am, etc., W. G. S. SMITH.

Sir, —Without wishing to prolong the discussion re High School agriculture, I feel obliged to make the following statement with regard to that part of Mr Donaldson’s letter in your issue of Friday, sth May, which refers to woodwork. There are two very ambiguous statements that could easily be misunderstood by the general public. First. “ That practical woodwork classes have not been established.” In this matter I can assure all concerned that the school woodwork done in Te Awamutu has always been practical woodwork, having regard to the age of the pupils and the progressive trends of education. In fact, it is practical education in its most comprehensive form. The ages of the pupils are from 11 plus to 15 plus. Second, “ That a chicken run and house have taken two and a half years to build.” Actually the poultry (not chicken) house was constructed during the schools periods of

about one month, in very bad weather, working intermittently, and concurrently with the other essential work of the school.—l am, etc., VIVIAN L. GITTOS, Woodwork Instructor.