TIMARU BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21154, 29 September 1938, Page 11

TIMARU BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL

Preparation Room Essential Appeal to Department At the meeting of the Timaru High School Board of Governors last night, it was decided to renew the representations to the Department of Education for assistance in the provision of a preparation room at the Boys’ High School, in which the boarders, who now use the classrooms, could prepare their work for the following day. In the course of his report, the i Rector, Mr A. G. Tait, said that he had made enquiries concerning the provision of preparation rooms in other boarding schools in New Zealand. In the case of the smaller schools a room was provided in the boarding department and was used solely as a preparation room. In the case of the schools having over 100 boarders, some | were divided into houses and each house had its own preparation room. Two schools used the school classrooms as preparation rooms, but, in both cases, the rooms were large, and two adjoining class-rooms were sufficient to accommodate all the boarders. The Timaru classrooms were not suitable for preparation work and five were required to seat all the boarders. The practice of using the class-rooms for this purpose had always been unsatisfactory. The provision of a room for the use of boarders for preparation w’ork only would solve a number of problems that now were impossible to solve. Mr Tait recommended that a request be made to the Department of Education for some assistance in the matter. On the motion of Mr J. W. Preen it was decided to make further application to the Department for the provision of a preparation room. School Hospital Patients In reviewing matters since the last meeting two months ago, the chairman, Mr H. H. Fraser, said that there had been a fair amount of sickness towards the end of last term, and he was glad to say that the school had got through fairly well. He had paid two visits to the school and the Rector had escorted him through the hospital quarters. The boys in the hospital had been tended just as well, if not better than would have been the case in their own homes. Personally he was very proud of the matron, Mrs J. Forbes, for the way she had looked after the boys, especially when it had been practically impossible to get outside help. The other portion of her duties had been controlled by the undermatrons and everything had been conducted satisfactorily. Mr Fraser added that a similar state of affairs had occurred at the Girls’ High School where the matron, Miss Fynmore. had excelled herself. No one who had not visited the schools during that time would realise the amount of extra work involved. In referring to general matters Mr Fraser said that the Girls’ High School was now fully staffed. The school was very unfortunate in losing the services of Miss Wilkie from the home science staff. Miss Wilkie tad done a great deal of work and was a successful teacher. She would be very hard to replace as a teacher in the home science section. M!r Fraser mentioned that the recently purchased Oxford Street section had made a splendid acquisition as a drying green. The new section in North Street had been tidied up, and there was no doubt that the improvement would enhance the value of the ..adjoining properties. Principals’ Reports The Rector of the Boys’ High School (Mr A. G. Tait), reported that Mr A. Anderson had joined the staff on September 19 as a temporary assistant. He would remain on the staff until Mr McDonald returned. Messrs Caradus and Tomlinson, secondary school inspectors visited the school on September 14, 15 and 16. An officer of the Public Works Department inspected School Park and would report at a later date on the question of drainage. Mr Tait acknowledged with thanks donations to the library 'rom Messrs A. P. Matthews (Ashburton), G. Nicholls and G. S. Cray. The chairman remarked that Mr Cray had done a great deal by way of donations of books to the library. The headmistress, Miss L. A. Hurle, reported that at the beginning of the term the roll number totalled 331. There were 19 pupils on the preparatory roll, and 43 on the School House roll. There had been no changes in the staff, except that Miss Baker had gone to Wanganui and Miss Wilkie would leave to-morrow. Three gas stoves in the cooking room needed replacing, as they were worn out and were uneconomical. Tire report was adopted and it was decided to secure permission from the Department to replace the three gas stoves. An application by the Y.W.C.A. (Dunedin), for permission to use the Girls’ High School Hostel for a camp for a fortnight after Christmas was declined. The Board decided not to advertise in a booklet dealing with the amenities of South Canterbury to be published by the South Island Travel Association. The meeting was attended by the chairman, Mr H. H. Fraser, Dr. L. S. Talbot, and Messrs J. W. Preen. W. Scott, J. E. P. Cameron and A. Bisdee.