TECHNICAL SCHOOL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 17 December 1927, Page 6

TECHNICAL SCHOOL.

PRESENTATION OF PRIZES. The annual breaking-u’i ceremony of the Masterton Tcchnhmi School was lu-ld in the St. Matthew's i’aii-h Hall yesterday afternoon. Bouquets were presented to Mrs Jordan and Airs Bavror. The prizes and certificates won by pupils were presented by Dr. Alarsden. At the conclusion of the ceremony the visitors were entertained by the pupils at afternoon tea. and every guest is now prepared to bear witness to the fact that the Technical Schoolgirls are excellent cooks. Air Jordan said that the first item was an address by the chairman. He had taken the chair on the understanding that he was not to make a speech, but there were one or two things he wanted to say. Since the last similar function twelve months ago they had lost one of the .oldest members of the Board, Mr C. E. Daniel], who had devoted much time, thought and money to the interests of 'the school. They would be pleased to know that the Board had recorded on its minutes its appreciation ■of the very great services rendered by Mr Danieli to the school. He was one of those who believed that if schools were to play their full part in bringingout into the life of the community potential men and women, the discipline of the playing fields was essential. He hoped that when the Department built a new school they would provide it with adequate playing fields. Air Jordan congratulated the boys and girls on the examples of their work displayed in the Industrial Exhibition last week.

Dr. Alarsden, in the course of his address, spoke particularly to the boys and girls who were leaving school. “I suppo-so, ’’ he .said, “that you are a little tired of being lectured, but the trouble is that your elders, some of us, have made such a mess of it that we don’t want you to make, the same mistakes.’’ Clever though they might be, it was far more important to keep and maintain a good character. Of a good deal of organised effort in New Zealand, one felt that there was not the spirit of co-operation behind it. There was need of the co-operation made possible by willing effort and a readiness to work with others. Observing that he wished to congratulate Air Martin on his ox-ccllent report, Dr. Alarsden said that five years ago he discussed, with Air J. Al. Goradine, whom he was sorry not to see there that day, and Air C. E. Daniel!, the future of the Ala'sterton Technical Sehool. The development they then foresaw had been delayed a little by the discussion of junior high schools, but ultimately there was going to be a big future for flie technical school. The needs of the country were bound to give technical education a prominent place. He was not, of course, denying the necessity for a good general education, nor was he suggesting any narrowly vocational aim. It would never do to teach a man his trade and nothing else.

Introduced by Air Jordan as the latest recruit ‘to the Board, Air A/ D. Low said he hoped to lake -a close personal interest in the affairs of the schools. He congratulated the pupils on the Quality of the work shown at the Exhibition, and told them that the boys and girls who got on were those who took most interest in the work they were called upon to do. Air G. R. Sykes, ALP., also delivered a brief address, and Air G. Selby moved a vote of thanks to Dr. Alarsden, which was carried by acclamation. PRINCIPAL’S REPORT.

In the course of his annual report, the principal (Air F. W. Alartin) stated that the session commenced on February Stli, the enrolments in day classes showing a substantial increase over those for last year. The number of pupils -enrolled for various day classes throughout the year were as follow: Commercial course, 6 boys, 50 girls; industrial course, 67 boys; home science course, 2S girls—a total of 73 boys and 78 girls. Fifty of our day pupils travelled to Masterton by train, some coming from beyond Ekctahuna in the north, and from as far as Cross Creek in the south. Twenty-nine evening classes were held. The divisions were: —Commercial’: Book-keeping, 2; shorthand and typing, 5. Trades: Building construction and woodwork, 4; plumbing, 2; motor mechanics, 1; electrical engineering, 1; mechanical, engineering, 3. General: Art, 3; dressmaking, 1; millinery, 1; ticket-writing, 1; elocution, 1; English and arithmetic, 2; wool-classing, 2. The total number of individual students attending these classes were: Alales, 149; females, 102. During the year the school has provided instruction for a number -of classes from local institutions. Two classes from the Wairarapa High -School and one from *St. Patrick’s School have attended for woodwork. A special class in invalid cookery has been conducted for nurses from the Wairarapa Hospital. At the- beginning of the year the roll numbers entitled the school to an additional full-time teacher, and Aliss C. J. Callanan, of the Feilding High School, was appointed to .the position of art teacher. Aliss Callanan took up her duties at the beginning of the second term. The appointment of a full-time art teacher supplies a long-felt want at the school, and it has been gratifying to note the ready response of both boys and girls to Aliss Callanan’s efforts. Air AlcNaught, of the Napier Technical High School, was appointed early in the year to the position of senior commercial instructor. The follow-

ing junior students have been awarded senior free places:—Arthur Adderson, Sidney Fisher, Kenneth Grant, Ronald Grantham, Arthur Hathaway, Oswald Jones, Roderick Ale Donald, Clarence Bosyth, Ronald Salisbury, Raymond Watkins, Maurice Wayne, Frederick Fuge, Robert Clarke, William Iledley, Harry Armitage, Robert Jenkin, Kenneth ' Atills, John Watt, Charles Lurcher, John Baikie, Edward Saver, John Stone, Alexander Mc-Calniont, Trevor "Walker, Thomas McCord, Alovven MeIver, Hubert Marsh, John Edward Horne. Edna 'Burridgc, Namoi Cotter, Eunice Wellington, Annie Chisholm, Iris Freeman, Doris Harrap, Locta Ilodge, Stella Humphries, Lilian Hutchins, Margaret Halbert, Mavis Jones, Alar inn Kjnr, Thelma McLeod, Edna Newbould, Eva Phillips, Edna Robinson, Athol Stnckwood, Daisy Ward, Gwen Carle, Joyce Elder, Marjorie Fnnthorpe, Jean Hooper, Edna Hubbard, Alarjorie Silvester. Ccrtiacates: —'Thomas Vincent passed the City and Guilds examination in mecn-anie-al engineering, stage L Thirty-five students sat in December for theory or speed certificates in Pitman’s shorthand, but results are not yet to hand. The school’s junior certificates have been awarded as follows: —Certificates for book-keeping: Thelma AlcLeol, Edna Robinson, Agnes Colder, Una I-loltham, Edna Newbould. Certificates for shorthand and typing: Edna Robinson. Una Holtham, Alarion Kjar, Agnes” Colder. Certificates for typewriting: Thelma AleLeod, Alargaret Hub bert, Lilian Hutchins. Certificates for dressmaking: Edna Burridgc, Namoi Cotter, Avril Simmons. PRIZE LIST. Home Science. —First year: First ;n class, Annie Lawrence; home scienc.', Katie Palmer. Second year: First in class, Edna Burridgc. Commercial Classes.—First year: First in class, Annie Hubbard; commercial subjects, Jean Stalker. Second year: First in class, Edna Robinson; commercial subjects, Thelma McLeod. Senior: First in class, Agnes -Colder. Industrial Courses.— First year: First in class, Phillip Al.illichamp; first in general subject;, John Eastwood; first in practical subjects, Percy Currie. Second year. First in class, Arthur Hathaway; practical subjects, Oswald Jones. Best bo/ i i art subjects: Harold Stevens. Best- girl m art subjects; Lillian Hutchins. Prizes awarded to Train Pupils.—Best first year train boy: Allan Hare. Best fiist year train girl, Ellen "Wilkin (home science subjects). Best senior train bov, B. 11. Bull. Best second year train girl. Iris Jones. Prize for special merit, Kenneth Grant. Chamber of Commerce Prizes for Commercial Work.— Best senior clerk, Thelma AleLeod; best bookkeeper-cashier, Lillian Hutchins, best tvpiste, Eva Phillips; best junior clerk, Gwen Scott. Air Jackson’s special prize for English in commercial classes: Doris Harrap.