RANGIORA HIGH SCHOOL BOARD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16353, 16 February 1921, Page 7

RANGIORA HIGH SCHOOL BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the Rangiora H i-ri- School Board was held on Tuesday evening, when Mr W. A. Banks presided clcv a full attendance of members. Tho principal (Mr J. E. Stracban) reported that the school reopened with a 101 l number or 159—80 boys and 79 girls, approximately ha!f the total roll being n«v; pupil.-. 'the total number of new pupils enrolled in l-lg four years 1918-1921 was 915. This equalled the number enrolled in the previous eight years. It was, of course, obvious that the introduction of the wider curriculum in 1918 T.-Uh the only fact that would satisfactorily explain the sudden and decided change iu the enrolment. There v.a?, however, another fact that required explanation. The total mil of the school should have a certain relationship to the steady annual influx of new pupils. In. this seiij >1 total was considerably lower than mi?.;S have been expected. He liad gone carefully into the matter, and was certain in his own r.'.iud tliat the lowering of the figures was du • to the number of first and second year pupils who leave during the winter months. He trusted, therefore, that the board would do everything in its power to see that the new- acnool was completed in time to have ihe children comfortably accommodated for th ’ winter term <4 this year, otherwise they might expect to lose a considerable number ot nupils. There, was another matter ho wished to mention. A considerable number of pupils, chiefly from Amberley and SouiJibiook. travelled to Christchurch on free school season tickets in order to take courses provided in the Rangiora School. Owing to lack -of accommodation he had not hitherto dene anything to prevent this, but he thought the time had come when the Minister s attention should be drawn to tlie fact. Ti(.veiling to Christchurch was not in the best interest of the pupils, and. moreover. I 1 **? issue of free school season tickets was ir. these cases contrary to the regulations. ll' would recommend, therefore, that from no*-- on steps be token to stop the practice. \\ her this and other matters ho had discussed were put- right, the school should iipvt- a roll number of 200. It was decided to follow up tho principal’s recommendations in regard to the issue of school rail tickets. The chairman referred to tho gratifying success of the school pupils in tlie recent publje examinations, and a motion was passed warmly congratulating the principal an-i his staff on the results. Messrs It. Bell. J. Marshall and C. TV. Bel. were associated with the principal in t. 15 preparation of a roll of honour -of ihe Tiß-mer of the old boys of tho. school who served in the war